Being a cannabis business owner is unique in many ways, but there’s one thing that MMJ businesses have in common with businesses across all industries: the goal to grow and expand a solid customer base. The profits and success of your cannabusiness depend upon your customer base above all else – odds are, you’re well aware of this fact. Understanding the importance of gaining new customers for your cannabusiness may be simple enough, but knowing exactly how to make it happen can seem more challenging.
As the cannabis industry grows at an incredible speed, with advocacy and legalization efforts gaining steam across the United States, the potential for cannabusiness growth is nearly limitless. Developing a solid strategy for gaining – and keeping – new customers for your MMJ business can help you establish your place in the cannabis marketplace and work towards long-term success.
Here are six must-know tips to reach new customers and grow your cannabusiness:
Use Social Media to the Fullest Potential
If you haven’t created active accounts for your business on a handful of the most popular social media channels, your first step is to tackle that immediately. Today’s consumers expect to be able to use social media as a way to “get to know” a brand and being absent from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is a missed opportunity.
Most major social media channels offer resources and tools for businesses, so take advantage of those as much as possible. Learn how to use hashtags effectively, evaluate post activity to determine the ideal time and content to share, and respond positively to user comments and messages.
It’s important to keep in mind that creating several social media accounts and sharing a few posts here and there isn’t enough. Your social media strategy should address key ideas like frequent, high-quality posts, user engagement, and more. In the eyes of consumers, your social media accounts are a direct representation of your brand, so handle the task accordingly.
Establish Your Brand as a Source of Useful, Interesting Information
The cannabis industry is still very much in its infancy, making it important for MMJ businesses to work hard on educating customers and building a solid sense of trust. As your brand develops a solid reputation, you’ll find that word of mouth and brand identity can work together to bring in a steady flow of new customers.
Helping potential customers see you as an industry expert and reputable business requires a multi-faceted strategy, but one straightforward tactic is focusing on content. Whether you’re sharing content via a website blog, social media posts, or a combination of the two, it should be valuable, accurate, and relevant to the interests of your target market.
Online users who discover your brand to be a solid source of cannabis information and resources will be able to develop a stronger connection and sense of trust in your business, helping you forge long-lasting relationships and a loyal customer base.
Take a Thoughtful Approach to SEO
Search engine optimization, or SEO, may seem like a complicated, highly technical science – and it’s even trickier for cannabusiness owners. At present, most major online ad platforms don’t allow MMJ advertising, including boosted posts and pay-per-click ads. As a result, cannabis business owners have to think outside the box to reach a maximum number of potential customers.
Organic SEO is the key to unlocking improved search engine rankings, driving relevant traffic right through the virtual doors of your website. Finding an effective combination of SEO-focused keywords can help you beat out competing businesses and move up the search rankings, making it more likely that Internet users will visit your page.
Create a Website that Gives Users What They Want
While having a user-friendly, functional website might seem like a no-brainer, you might be surprised to realize that many businesses miss this step. Online users are highly likely to leave your website if it loads slowly, displays errors, or has a confusing design, ending the potential customer relationship before it even begins.
If possible, work with a professional team to create an intuitive, attractive website that meets the needs of online users and delivers a high-quality experience. With the help of an expert, your site can appeal to the widest audience possible, making use of mobile functionality, cannabis-specific tools, and more.
Get Your Business in a Professional Listing Directory
It wasn’t too long ago that potential and existing customers flipped through the pages of a physical phonebook to find businesses that offered the products and services they were searching for. Now, those cumbersome books have become a relic of the past, but that doesn’t mean organized business directories are no longer. Now, listing directories can be found online, many of which are created with a niche customer base in mind.
Herban Planet is one such directory, offering users an easy-to-browse selection of cannabusinesses. For your MMJ business, a listing in an industry directory like Herban Planet is a simple but effective way to get your name in front of people who have a high potential of turning into loyal customers. Of course, don’t forget about the king of online directory platforms – Google My Business. Although GMB doesn’t necessarily look and function in the same way a freestanding directory does, it serves customers in much the same way. Make sure your Google My Business page is accurate and complete, making it easy for potential customers in your area to find you with a relevant Internet search.
Your listing can provide potential customers with a wealth of information including your business location, contact information, social media handles, website, photos, and more, increasing your odds of connecting with potential customers are an excellent fit for your brand.
Don’t Rule Out Print Advertising
We may be living in a digital age, but that doesn’t mean print advertising is off the table. There’s still considerable value in developing and implementing a solid print strategy, especially because choosing the right publications for your ads can put your brand in front of an array of potential customers for your cannabis business.
While some mainstream publications may reject MMJ content, there are excellent options for cannabis business owners interested in advertising in print. A range of publications like the Phoenix New Times, Miami New Times, and Denver Westword is open to cannabis business advertising, catering to audiences that may just contain your newest customers.
There are also several niche magazines catering to the cannabis community, making it easy to connect with an array of readers that already have a solid interest in the products and services you have to offer. If you decide to run advertising in an industry-specific publication, keep in mind that your competitors will likely be doing the same – so make sure your ad design can grab attention and stand out from the crowd.
Let Marijuana Marketing Xperts Help You Reach Your Cannabusiness Goals
Ready to give your marketing strategy a much-needed boost? Marijuana Marketing Xperts can help. Our marketing team has the industry know-how, tools, and resources to implement a smart, effective cannabis marketing plan to fit your needs, navigating the MMJ industry using our specific expertise. We know what it takes to help businesses stand out and succeed in the cannabis industry and have a clear understanding of the unique challenges and considerations that come with being a cannabusiness owner.
Contact Marijuana Marketing Xperts today to learn more about creating a tailored marketing solution to fit your cannabusiness needs.
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