As the cannabis sector continues to expand, the competition is intensifying. Dispensaries can no longer count on opening their doors to find customers flocking to them simply for having good quality merchandise. Today’s cannabis user is well-educated, discerning, and connected digitally than ever before.

For dispensaries to get noticed in a jammed marketplace, they need a marketing strategy that builds trust while creating awareness of their business to generate repeat sales. Whether you are an established company looking for growth or just starting out, implementing the proper cannabis dispensary marketing tactics could yield enormous results.

These ten tried-and-true methods will help improve sales and increase your dispensary’s visibility in the market.

1. Build a Strong Brand Identity

Customers typically see your brand before seeing anything else. Creating brand recognition and trust requires creating a recognizable logo, using consistent colors and professional messaging, and establishing a unique brand voice.

Attempting to reach all potential customers is counter-productive. Determine what sets your dispensary apart from others, whether it’s premium product offerings, education, customer service or values such as affordability, and communicate that message consistently during each contact with your customers.

A solid brand creates a loyal following and establishes future purchasing opportunities with your customers to remember you by.

2. Invest in Cannabis Social Media Marketing

Social media continues to be an effective method of engaging with customers. Good cannabis social media marketing allows dispensaries to promote products, educate consumers, advertise their specials, and build a community around their brand.

Some cannabis advertising restrictions exist for most platforms, but you can always come up with other content that is appealing, including:

• Product spotlights
• Educational posts
• Customer testimonials
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Industry news and trends

Consistent posting keeps your dispensary visible and encourages customer engagement.

3. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

If you want to make more sales in your shop, you need to be seen online by your local customers before they walk into your store. If your site isn’t ranked high on the search results when customers search for cannabis near them, your chances of making those sales could be lost to your competitors.

Your site should:

• Load quickly
• Be mobile responsive
• Include location-based keywords
• Have accurate information about the business
• Have product menu information

Good local SEO means customers will know your store exists when they search for cannabis within driving distance to you.

4. Create Valuable Educational Content

Cannabis users often have questions regarding specific products, their effects, different strains, dosages, and ways to consume them. By providing them with educational resources, you position your dispensary as an authority in the cannabis industry instead of merely acting as a store.

Here are some suggestions for ways to provide these types of resources:

• Blog posts
• Buying Guides
• Product Comparison charts
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
• Cannabis Tips

This type of content will develop your reputation over time and help build your organic web traffic.

5. Develop a Customer Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs are typically designed to stimulate repeat visits and offer higher dollar amounts spent by encouraging existing customers to keep coming back.

Loyalty programs typically offer various forms of rewards, such as:

• Points earned towards purchases
• Special discounts that are only offered to current members
• Free items or services during birthdays
• Early access to new products before the general public
• VIP Member Benefits 

Customers LOVE to be rewarded for their loyalty, which creates additional motivation for them to shop at your dispensary rather than at a competitor’s store.

6. Leverage Email Marketing

Email marketing continues to be one of the most affordable ways to market your cannabis dispensary.

By creating an email list of your customers, you’ll be able to stay in touch with them and keep them up to date on:

• New products coming into your store
• Promotions you are offering
• Educational information
• Upcoming events
• Seasonal specials

By using personalized email campaigns, you can increase engagement rates and sales.

7. Encourage Online Reviews

According to surveys conducted in 2017 and 2019, 80% of Internet users trust reviews by other consumers as much as they would recommend a friend. Reviews have a tremendous impact on how consumers make purchasing decisions.

Encourage happy customers to provide feedback through sites such as Google or through cannabis directory sites. Responding to both positive and negative reviews professionally helps bolster your customer service reputation.

More reviews will enhance your credibility as well as increase the visibility of your business in local search engines.

8. Partner with Cannabis Influencers

By partnering with influencers, a dispensary can quickly establish or solidify trust in its products and services while reaching potential customers that may not yet be familiar with the brand.

When selecting an influencer, find one that has an engaged audience and is authentic to your brand. Consumers are much more likely to trust an influencer’s recommendation than a traditional advertisement.

Micro-influencers can also be very effective if their audience matches your target market.

9. Host Community Events and Educational Sessions

People love connecting with brands that offer something more than just their products. Hosting events can build a meaningful relationship between the business and its customers, while increasing engagement within the community.

Some great ideas for events include:

• Product Education Workshops
• Wellness Discussions
• Vendor Meet & Greets
• Community Networking Events
• Product Launch Celebrations

These types of experiences will increase foot traffic and create unique ways to interact with your brand.

10. Use Data to Improve Marketing Performance

Effective marketing uses facts and data to understand how the marketing efforts are going. By measuring how different pieces are performing you can determine what is working, what is not working, and make adjustments.

Here are metrics to track:

• Website traffic
• Conversions
• Social media
• Emails opened
• Retained customers

Using these measurable data points to make logical decisions will help you improve your marketing dollars’ efficiency and return on investment.

Final Thoughts

As the cannabis industry constantly changes, businesses that adapt to current tactics stand a better chance of continuing their success. Strongly establishing a brand image; using social networks; focusing on local search engine optimization are all ways to create and maintain a loyal fan base who ultimately spend their hard-earned money supporting you.

Some forms of best cannabis social media marketing techniques for cannabis sale will include combining consumer education, digital presence, and customers’ frequency of visits to create a competitive edge. 

In order to build a larger clientele leading to future success, get in touch with KeplerLeaf in the ever-evolving marketplace.