Local SEO for dispensaries.
Operating a cannabis dispensary comes with a lot of challenges. Proper cannabis content marketing is one of those challenges. What makes it difficult is the fact that you can’t simply use paid ads. This is because there are often restrictions when it comes to advertising cannabis.
Instead, it needs to be done organically with the right type of content, website architecture, etc. This is where local SEO can help immensely. Of course, you need to understand local SEO ranking factors to see how it works and what you will need to do.
PT. 1
SEO for
Dispensaries
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO is used to ensure that your dispensary is more visible in local search results through Google and other search engines.
Naturally, you want to have a strong local presence. You can achieve this by incorporating effective local SEO tips on your site or by working with a local SEO expert, who can handle it for you.
Benefits of Local SEO to Your Dispensary
When selling cannabis, local SEO provides some excellent benefits. It can help to ensure that your site and location are still easy for people to find. You will find that it can enhance traffic, meaning you get more visitors who are better suited for your business. More of them may be ready to convert.
The advertising costs tend to be low, you can get local reviews, and you can start to stand out from your local competitors.
Contact our expert dispensary strategist.
Google’s Top Three Local Search Ranking Factors
A lot of people head right to Google when they are searching for just about anything online. Therefore, you want to make sure your dispensary and website rank highly on search engine pages. This is particularly true for local SEO, which ensures you are seen by those who are in your area.
The following are the main Google ranking factors when it comes to ranking locally—proximity, prominence, and relevance.
- Proximity – Naturally, proximity is important when it comes to local SEO. The proximity refers to the distance of the visitor to the dispensary. Closer locations are going to come up first in most cases.
- Prominence – This is a measure of your credentials and authority, which Google perceives through your website, online ratings, reviews, links, etc. The more you work on your dispensary SEO and authority, the more prominent your site and dispensary will be in Google’s eyes. Work on cannabis link-building to help improve prominence, for example.
- Relevance – Relevance refers to ensuring that your content is the correct target for what customers are searching for on the search engine. Some of the best ways to improve relevance for sites talking about cannabis is on-site SEO which includes good keyword research, blog or article content, optimized titles, URLs, etc.
How Does Local SEO Work?
If you aren’t sure about the quality of how your website holds up, consider having a local SEO audit. This can help to give you a better idea of what needs to be done to improve, such as getting more local SEO backlinks. Below are some of the important things you will want to think about regarding your local SEO.
Leverage Local Keywords
You might have already researched the keywords for your overall niche, but you can’t forget about your local keywords. These need to be added to the other keywords you are using, as this is often how people search for businesses in their area.
They tend to add their location, such as their city, to their search results. For example, they might search “cannabis dispensary near me” or “marijuana edibles in Denver”. The location text is going to ensure that the results are in proximity to the person searching for them.
When using local keywords, don’t limit yourself to just your location, but also nearby and distinct locations. As with other keyword usage, you will want to experiment with different keywords and combinations to find out what works best for you.
Identify Your Main Competitors
A good way to see what you might want to use for your local SEO is to check out what your competitors are using. Find those who are in your area and see what local keywords they are using. You don’t need to copy what they are doing, but you do want to see how they are using local SEO. If they are doing well, you can learn from what they are doing.
Google My Business Page for Local SEO
One of the best ways to rank highly in Google for your local dispensary business is to set up your Google My Business Page. Make sure it has all of the important information including location, phone number, website, hours, etc.
Establish Directory Listings
You will also want to make sure your dispensary is added to reputable directories serving local businesses or dispensaries in particular. Two of the best options for cannabis dispensaries include Weedmaps and Leafly. Get added to these directories with link building and make sure all of your information is up to date.
Optimize All Your Locations
Always take the time to optimize all aspects of your website and online presence. Naturally, this includes your website, but it also includes mentions of you through those directory listings mentioned above, as well as any local SEO citations you have on other sites. Go through all of them to ensure they are accurate, and optimized with local keywords, up-to-date hours, etc.
Have a Dispensary Local SEO Strategy with Dispensary-Growth
Perhaps you aren’t ready to get a local SEO checklist and go through it to make improvements. It takes a lot of time and work, even when you use various local SEO tools.
The best option, and the simplest, is to work with a company providing local SEO services like Dispensary-Growth. We are SEO experts and can help to ensure you have a strong online presence and that you start to rank well in the local search results. Get in touch with us today to set up a meeting. We look forward to helping you grow your dispensary and measuring your SEO success.