SEO for dispensaries.
If you operate, own, or invest in the cannabis field, you need to understand the ins and outs of cannabis SEO. This allows you to market properly, so your dispensary will be seen in the search engines, generate more web traffic, and reach more potential customers. Below, you will learn more about the importance of SEO for cannabis brands, what cannabis SEO is, and the best ways to improve it.
PT. 1
SEO for
Dispensaries
What Is cannabis SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is a process utilizing a range of different techniques to help bring high-quality, organic traffic to your website rather than relying solely on advertisements. The goal is to bring in traffic that is likely to convert and want to buy what you have to offer. Most companies today utilize SEO as part of their marketing strategy.
However, it is often even more important for a cannabis dispensary to use SEO and to get it right for a host of reasons.
Why Is cannabis SEO important?
As everyone in business knows, marketing is an essential part of growing a business. SEO is a huge part of this, as it can start to bring in organic traffic that is already inclined to want to do business with you. They are people who are seeking out the content and products you are offering. You just need to reach them using various SEO tactics and strategies.
One of the biggest reasons to focus on SEO is the fact that it works well for most industries, including cannabis. Over the long haul, it is more effective than using social media, paid ads, and similar channels. That’s not to say that you should ignore those other dispensary marketing methods, only that you need to put a lot of your focus into SEO.
Of course, SEO success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and dedication to start building the content, links, etc. that will continue to serve your dispensary for years to come. It can take your MJ ecommerce to the next level.
Contact our expert dispensary strategist.
Why does my dispensary need a website optimized for search engines and conversions?
When you are running a dispensary, some of the “standard” means of advertising are going to be more difficult, limited, or impossible to use. for example. Google ads and PPC tend to be restricted for dispensaries. This means that if you hope to be competitive, you will need to make use of proper SEO strategies with link building, content marketing, and other strategies discussed below.
One of the other reasons to work on SEO is the cost. This is a form of marketing that will work for you in the long term and can keep working for you. It also happens to be one of the most affordable methods of marketing in the cannabis industry—or any industry for that matter. This is true even when you work with a professional SEO agency.
How SEO stacks up against other cannabis marketing channels
Let’s get a closer look at how SEO differs and why it tends to be a much more viable option when it comes to both cannabis dispensary branding and SEO purposes.
Cannabis SEO vs. PPC and Google Ads
Remember, you are going to be restricted when it comes to using Google Ads and other pay-per-click options for advertising if you are running a dispensary. You aren’t going to be able to use those paid ads when advertising marijuana, even though it might be legal in your state. It’s still illegal at the federal level, and there are a lot of restrictions across the nation on how weed can be advertised.
However, SEO is different. Cannabis digital marketing with SEO works remarkably well when compared with paid advertising. You will also find that it is a cost-effective marketing approach, and it can allow you to try out various dispensary ideas for marketing and promotion through your blogs, articles, etc.
SEO vs. Social Media Marketing
SEO can potentially work well with social media. However, you are likely to run into some of the same problems with social media paid ads that you do with Google Ads and other PPC options—cannabis social media marketing marijuana is restricted.
However, you can still use the cannabis business social network you’ve been building. You should be using them to connect with your followers and to promote the content you are putting on your website. Creating quality cannabis SEO content that you can then show your followers on social media will get them to click and visit your site. It can also increase the chance of them sharing the content with others on social media.
Key components of cannabis SEO
If you want to get the most out of your cannabis content marketing, you need to consider all of the varied elements that go into marijuana SEO. Below are components you will want to understand when thinking about marketing for cannabis and web design for your dispensary.
Google ranking factors
You want your dispensary to rank highly in Google, the biggest and most-used search engine in the world. This is where most people go when they are looking up just about anything online, including where to buy marijuana.
Google wants to put only the best information and content in front of people using their search engines. To do this, they take a range of factors into account including the quality of the content, search intent, keyword optimization, user experience, page speed, a mobile-first design, on-page optimization, backlinks, and domain authority.
To help improve your ranking with Google, you may want to consider using a Google My Business optimization checklist, which can help to ensure you make the right improvements. You should also merge Google My Business listings if you find you have more than one for your dispensary.
Keyword Research
One of the first things you will want to consider is your keyword research. When people are searching online, they enter keywords or key phrases into the search engine. You want to utilize keywords that will help you rank, and that people are most likely to be using.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the best ways to improve your SEO and climb in the rankings. Product information, descriptions, blogs, articles, etc. all help to add more content to your site, which the search engines love. Having regular, new content is important.
However, you might not have time to write all of that material. Work with cannabis content writers to help add more to your site. This will take a lot of work out of your hands for cannabis content marketing. Just make sure the content they provide is accurate before posting it.
On-Site SEO
On-site SEO, which is sometimes called on-page SEO, entails optimizing the various elements of your website. Cannabis on-site SEO will ensure that the right keywords are being used, that the content is high-quality, and that it is user-friendly, unique, and trustworthy. On-site SEO also ensures a fast page load speed, mobile friendliness, quality of links used, etc.
Local SEO
One of the most important things to remember with the content created for your dispensary website, along with other marketing materials, is local SEO. This will help to ensure your business is more visible when it comes to local search results on a search engine.
With cannabis local SEO, for example, you would want to include your location or the locations where you can deliver on your site and on the content you create.
As a simple example, you wouldn’t want to use the term “marijuana dispensary” on its own. You could add the name of the city where you are located, such as “Joplin marijuana dispensary”. This increases the chance of your content showing up when people in that area start looking for places to buy marijuana.
Link-Building
Links are a major factor when it comes to ranking in search engines. High-quality links to and from reputable sites can help to increase your ranking factors. This needs to be done with particular care when it comes to cannabis link-building. You need authoritative sites that offer quality content.
Measuring SEO
Once you have your SEO strategy in place, you can’t rest on your laurels. You need to make sure it is working properly. Measuring SEO success will give you a better understanding of where you need to make further improvements and where you are doing well. Professionals can handle measuring your SEO efforts and can provide new strategies to improve further.
Dispensary-Growth SEO services
Marketing your dispensary sounds like a lot of work because it is. You already have a lot on your plate. You have to think about the products you carry, the layout and design of your stores, and how to provide excellent customer service. To make matters easier for you, consider working with a professional cannabis SEO agency like Dispensary-Growth.
Make sure you book a time with Dispensary-Growth today to talk about your marketing needs. We have the knowledge and experience to help drive more customers to your site and through your doors. We’re ready to help you grow your dispensary the right way.