Looking for marijuana marketing techniques? You’ve come to the right place!
For those marketing cannabis products and services, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and understand what works (and what doesn’t).
This guide will outline some key marijuana marketing techniques that can be used to reach and engage your target audience. By the end of this quick read, you’ll know how to:
– Use social media to your advantage
– Create engaging content
– Host events and promotions
– Make the most of cannabis SEO
– And more!
Keep reading to gain insight into marijuana marketing techniques that will take your operation from average to extraordinary.
420 Marketing Ideas: Thinking Outside the Box
In this budding industry, thinking outside of the box is essential; this is especially the case when considering marketing strategies.
Here are some out-of-the-box ideas to get your creative juices flowing and help you better engage with your target market:
1. Sponsor a Local Event or Sports Team
By showing your support for local events and teams, you’re able to associate your brand with positive vibes and good times. Not to mention, this type of sponsorship usually comes with some pretty sweet marketing benefits (like event signage and social media mentions).
2. Give Back to the Community
Giving back is always a good look – especially for cannabis businesses. There are a number of ways to get involved, such as hosting a food drive, sponsoring a charity event, or volunteering at a local non-profit.
3. Get Social
In today’s digital world, it’s important to have a strong social media presence. This is one of the easiest (and most effective) ways to connect with your target audience. Make sure to post engaging content, run social media ads, and interact with users regularly. We’ll talk more about this a bit later in this guide.
4. Collaborate with Other Businesses
One of the best ways to grow your business is by teaming up with other businesses in the industry. This could involve anything from co-sponsoring an event to partnering on a new product or service.
5. Create Compelling Content
Content is still king! In order to drive traffic to your website and social media pages, you need to create content that is interesting, informative, and engaging. Not sure where to start? Check out our blog for some great content ideas.
Best Ways to Sell Marijuana
If you’re selling marijuana as a physical product, there are a number of ways to market and sell your wares. Here are some of the most effective techniques:
1. Retail Stores
One of the most common (and convenient) ways to purchase marijuana is through retail stores. If you’re running a dispensary, it’s important to create a welcoming and inviting space – complete with helpful and knowledgeable staff.
2. Online Stores
In addition to retail stores, many consumers also purchase cannabis products online. If you’re running an online store, it’s important to optimize your website for search engines and create compelling product descriptions.
3. Delivery Services
For those who don’t want to leave their home (or can’t), delivery services are a great option. If you offer delivery, make sure your customers are aware by promoting it on your website and social media pages.
4. Cannabis Cafes
Cannabis cafes are becoming increasingly popular – especially in states where recreational use is legal. If you’re running a cafe, it’s important to create a comfortable and inviting space for your customers to enjoy.
5. Pop-Up Shops
Pop-up shops are a great way to reach new customers and promote your products or services. If you’re considering a pop-up shop, make sure to choose a location that is high foot traffic and promote it heavily online and through social media.
Marijuana Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business
Everyone wants to grow their cannabis business with long-term success in mind. However, without the right marijuana marketing strategies in place, this can be difficult to achieve. Here are some of the best ways to market your business and grow your brand:
Advertise Marijuana Products & Brands Using Native Ad Networks
Native ad networks aren’t always willing to advertise marijuana products and brands. However, if you find one that’s willing to work with you, it can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business.
Some of the most popular native ad networks include:
- Outbrain
- Taboola
- Content.ad
- Revcontent
- Mgid
- Dynamicyield
- Aol
- Yahoo!
Utilize Facebook Groups for Marijuana Marketing
Facebook groups are excellent for content marketing; this is especially helpful if you’re in the B2B space. You can use these groups to share blog posts, infographics, and other types of content that will help educate your target audience about your products or services.
Some of the most popular Facebook groups for marijuana marketing include:
- Cannabis Entrepreneurs | Marijuana Marketing & Business
- Cannabis Industry Professionals
- Marijuana Marketing & Advertising
- Cannabis SEO, PPC & Social Media
- Marijuana PR & Communications
Email Marketing for Marijuana Businesses
Email marketing is a great way to reach your target audience with the right message, at the right time. If you’re not sure where to start, consider using an email marketing service like MailChimp or Constant Contact. However, keep in mind that some of these email marketing platforms will not allow email marketing for dispensaries and other cannabis operations.
These types of platforms make it easy to create and send beautiful email campaigns, and they also provide valuable insights that can help you optimize your campaigns for better results. Ultimately, email marketing is an excellent way to stay in touch with your customers and grow your business.
Work with Marijuana Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs are a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. Essentially, you partner with other businesses in the cannabis industry to promote their products or services on your website or blog. In return, they pay you a commission for every new customer you refer.
Some of the most popular marijuana affiliate programs include:
- Bloomgrove Affiliate Program.
- The Bud Grower Affiliate Program.
- Aero Garden Affiliate Program.
- DaVinci Vaporizers Affiliate Program.
- Air Vape USA Affiliate Program.
- Gorilla Grow Tent Affiliate Program.
- Herbalize Store Affiliate Program.
- Lotus Nutrients Affiliate Program.
Online & Local Marijuana Directories
Utilizing local marijuana directories is an excellent way to promote your dispensary, delivery service, or other cannabis-related business. These directories provide valuable exposure for your business and can help you reach new customers in your area.
Some of the most popular online and local marijuana directories include:
- Weedmaps
- Marijuana Business Directory
- THC Finder
- Leafly
- Cannabis Yellow Pages
Marijuana Marketing on Reddit
Reddit is a great platform for content marketing. You can use it to share blog posts, infographics, and other types of content that will help educate your target audience about your products or services.
In addition, Reddit can be a great place to connect with other cannabis industry professionals and learn about new trends and developments in the industry.
Some of the most popular subreddits for marijuana marketing include:
- r/Cannabis
- r/Marijuana
- r/Trees
- r/Vaporizers
- r/treeedibles
- r/edibles
Market on Marijuana-Friendly Ad Networks
While not all ad networks are willing to work with cannabis businesses, there are a few that do. These networks can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business.
Some of the most popular marijuana-friendly ad networks include:
- CannaAds
- Mantis Network
- WeedAds
- Cannabis Ad Network
- 420 Media Network
Build a Website & an Online Store
Having an online presence is essential for any business, and that includes cannabis businesses. Your website is often the first point of contact between you and your potential customers, so it’s important to make a good impression.
In addition to your website, you’ll also need an online store if you plan on selling products or services online. There are a number of different eCommerce platforms that you can use to build your online store, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce.
Make sure to include clear and concise calls to action on your website and online store, so that your visitors know what you want them to do next.
Some of the most popular calls to action for cannabis websites include:
- Sign up for our newsletter.
- Shop now.
- Learn more about our products/services.
- Get discounts and exclusive offers.
- Stay up to date with the latest news and developments.
Target Keywords & Use SEO
If you want your cannabis business to be successful, it’s important to invest in SEO (search engine optimization). By optimizing your website for search engines, you’re able to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your site.
However, keep in mind that SEO is a long-term effort; you’re not going to see results overnight. It takes time, effort, and patience to see results from SEO.
Some of the best ways to improve your SEO include:
- Targeting keywords related to your business.
- Creating quality content that is relevant and informative.
- Building links to your website from other high-quality websites.
- Using social media to promote your content and build links.
- Monitoring your website’s analytics to track your progress.
- Hire a Marijuana SEO Specialist
If you don’t have the time or resources to invest in SEO, you can always hire a marijuana SEO specialist. As hired professionals, we can help improve your website’s ranking in search engines and drive more traffic to your site.
At NSC, we specialize in cannabis SEO and have a proven track record of helping our clients achieve their desired results. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you grow your business.
Write Guest Posts
Besides using white space, it’s also important to consider where you’ll publish guest posts. For instance, if you have a site selling CBD, you probably wouldn’t want to guest post on a furniture blog. However, if you have a blog about entrepreneurship, then guest posting on a site like Forbes could be beneficial.
The key is to make sure you’re writing for an audience that is interested in what you have to say. Not only will this help you get more exposure for your business, but it will also help you build relationships with other influencers in your industry.
Utilize Influencers
The fact that 60 percent of consumers have felt influenced by social media or blog content while shopping makes this marketing technique one that should always be considered, particularly if you operate in the cannabis space.
Influencers tend to have sizable and engaged audiences, which makes them the perfect people to help promote your business.
When working with influencers, it’s important to find ones that align with your brand. For instance, if you sell eco-friendly cannabis or CBD products, you’ll want to work with influencers who focus on sustainability.
You can also use influencer marketing to build relationships with other businesses in your industry. For instance, if you’re a dispensary owner, you can reach out to an influencer who writes about cannabis and see if they’re interested in doing a review of your products.
Educate Readers
Educating readers is one of the most important marijuana marketing techniques, especially if you want to build trust with your audience.
When creating content, it’s important to focus on providing value and educating your readers. For instance, if you have a blog about cannabis, you can write informative articles that teach people about the different types of cannabis, how to consume it, and the benefits of using it.
By providing value and educating your readers, you’re able to build trust and credibility with your audience. This, in turn, can help you convert more leads into customers.
Use Social Media Platforms (Instagram & Pinterest)
Social media platforms have been known to be quite restrictive when it comes to cannabis; however, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them to market your business. In fact, social media can be a great way to connect with your target audience and promote your products or services.
When using social media for marketing, it’s important to focus on platforms where you’re likely to reach your target audience. For instance, if you sell CBD products, you’ll want to focus on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, as they tend to have a more relaxed stance on cannabis.
On these platforms, you can share photos and videos of your products, as well as educational content that will help promote your business.
Focus on the Local Market
If you’re a brick-and-mortar cannabis business–namely, a dispensary–then it’s important to focus on the local market.
The fact is, most people who use cannabis live in states where it’s legal. This means that if you’re a dispensary owner, you have a built-in customer base that you can tap into.
To reach the local market, you’ll want to focus on local SEO and ensure that your dispensary is easily found online. You can also use traditional marketing techniques, such as print advertising and billboards.
Additionally, you can use word-of-mouth marketing to reach the local market. For instance, you can offer discounts or coupons to customers who refer new patients to your dispensary.
By focusing on the local market, you’re able to reach a larger number of potential customers and grow your business.
Use Radio Advertisements
Advertising marijuana on the radio can be a great way to reach your target audience.
The fact is, radio listenership has been on the decline in recent years; however, there are still a significant number of people who listen to the radio on a daily basis.
Additionally, radio advertising can be quite affordable, especially when compared to other marketing channels.
To reach your target audience, you’ll want to focus on radio stations that appeal to your target demographic. For example, if you sell CBD products, you’ll want to focus on adult contemporary or alternative rock stations.
Once you’ve selected the right station, you can work with the sales team to create an advertising campaign that will reach your target audience.
By using radio advertisements, you’re able to reach a large number of potential customers and promote your business.
Utilize Event Marketing
Sponsoring events or even attending events and interacting with people can be a great way to market your business.
Cannabis events are becoming increasingly popular, especially as more states legalize the use of cannabis.
By attending these events, you’re able to interact with potential customers and promote your business. You can also use these events to generate leads that you can follow up with at a later date.
Furthermore, if you’re in the B2B cannabis space, you can use events to network with other businesses. For example, you can attend trade shows or conventions and meet other business owners who may be interested in your products or services.
Final Thoughts on Implementing Marijuana Marketing Techniques
As you can see, there are a number of marijuana marketing techniques that you can use to promote your business.
It’s important to focus on the channels that are most likely to reach your target audience. Additionally, you should focus on creating quality content that will help educate your audience and promote your business.
By utilizing these marketing techniques, you’re able to reach a large number of potential customers and grow your business. Ultimately, this will contribute to your cannabis business’s success and as it grows, so will the industry.
