Cannabis SEO Agency
Working with Dispensaries is our specialty
Every passing day we get better and better at marketing for our clients. Unlike other agencies who work in 10 different industries from dog walkers to dental firms.
We ensure that we keep up to date will all Cannabis SEO strategies and more! Just like you wouldn’t go to a family doctor for brain surgery. Why would you go to a general SEO agency for cannabis SEO?
Cannabis SEO Strategy in Play
Step 1
Google maps is an essential platform to rank on if you run a retail Dispensary
Over 30% of clicks go to the top 3 listings.
We will ensure to funnel that traffic to your store
Step 2
Underneath your Google Maps listing is the organic listing of your website.
We ensure to properly rank your website here.
By showing up in both the Google Maps & Organic listings you’ll be sure to have tons of traffic to your store.
Cannabis SEO Guide
Cannabis SEO is complicated. Both the cannabis industry and the online world are in constant flux, forcing cannabis companies, including cannabis dispensaries, to adjust their. processes almost on a daily basis.
At Materia Prima Advertising, we always stay on top of the latest trends to ensure that we can provide you with the highest-quality dispensary SEO services on the market. Here are some of the main elements of our signature search engine optimization process:
1. Technical SEO
Great dispensary SEO starts with building a great cannabis dispensary website. This is what we call technical SEO, or all the technical elements that make it easier for Google to find, index, and rank your website. A professional and easy-to-navigate design, mobile responsiveness, and a fast loading speed are all key aspects of technical SEO.
Page Loading Screen
Research by Google shows that decreasing page load time from one to three seconds leads to a 32% inc1 Columnrease in bounce rates. If you think that’s bad, check this out: When the page load time drops from one to five seconds, bounce rates plummet by a whopping 90%!
Page load time is crucial not only to visitor experience but to your SEO ranking as well. Google tends to prefer and promote websites with faster page load speeds — especially when loading on mobile devices, which often use slower 3G and 4G connections.
Website Design
Web design is important for the user experience, sure, but did you know that it also has a direct impact on your search engine rankings? Google and its likes just don’t rank poorly-designed sites. They prefer high-quality websites.
So, before exploring more advanced SEO strategies, be sure to cover the basics. Your website must be attractive, informative, and accessible. First-time website visitors should be able to easily find what they are looking for using the menu navigation and strategically placed internal links between pages.
Mobile Optimization
In March 2021, Google switched to mobile-first indexing for the whole web. Indexing is a process in which crawler bots “crawl” the internet to discover, analyze, and store web pages in the Google index, a massive digital library. Once a page has been indexed, it can appear in Google search results and start generating traffic.
Mobile-first indexing means that from now on, search engine crawlers will use the mobile versions of most web pages for crawling and indexing. What does this mean for you? Simply that if you want to get on Google’s good side, your website must perform and look equally well across devices and screen sizes.
Note that being mobile responsive
isn’t the same as being mobile friendly.A mobile-friendly page is a shrunken-down version of its desktop counterpart. It may be easier to view on a smartphone, but it’s not necessarily easier to use. The tiny buttons and microscopic text boxes can be a pain to click.A mobile-responsive page is not a shrunken-down but are formatted version of the desktop original. The goal is specifically to enhance the user experience on smaller screen sizes. Clickable items are bigger, images are resized, and the content flows vertically rather than horizontally.
Crawl-ability & Indexing
Search engines need to efficiently crawl and index your cannabis site to ensure timely and accurate visibility. Implementing proper XML sitemaps, robots.txt strategies, and addressing any duplicate content issues become paramount in cannabis.
SSL & Security
Security is of utmost importance in the cannabis industry. A secure, HTTPS-enabled site not only safeguards user data but also aligns with search engine preferences. Regular security audits are essential for maintaining the trust of cannabis enthusiasts and search engine ranking.
2. On Page SEO
On-page or on-site SEO is all about your website content. From your blog posts and service pages to your titles, subheadings, and image captions, every word matters and can affect your overall Google ranking and web traffic.
Here are some of the most important aspects of on-page SEO you want to keep in mind when creating your written content:
MetaData
Getting your meta titles and meta descriptions right is an easy and effective way to boost your search engine rankings.
Meta titles are the titles of individual pages or posts on your site. They may not be the same as the headings displayed on the pages and may be invisible to the reader but are visible to the search engines.
Optimizing your meta titles by using the right keywords and character length is one of the cornerstones of good marijuana SEO. Meta titles must also be descriptive — to give the reader an instant idea of what the content is about — as well as original and engaging — to entice users to click the search result and read your text.
The meta description is the short blurb under page titles in Google search results. Meta descriptions provide a summary of the content and an additional opportunity to pique the reader’s interest. Google may not use a meta description you provide word for word, but it’s always a good idea to make it as engaging and keyword optimized as possible.
Internal & Outbound Links
Internal links connect different pages on your website. For instance, in a blog post titled “What Is CBD?” you could have the anchor text “CBD vs. THC” linking to another blog that discusses the differences between those substances. An anchor text is a highlighted and underlined text you click to open a linked page.
Internal linking helps readers discover other content on your site or take the next step in the buyer’s journey, such as talking to a customer rep or browsing your online store. It also helps Google locate, understand, and index all pages on your site.
Outbound or external links go from your site to other websites. For example, in a blog post discussing the health benefits of cannabis, you could link to a research paper in a respected medical journal.
Much like internal links, outbound links help search engines connect the dots and understand what your content is about. However, outbound links to high-authority domains can also boost your domain authority. Domain authority is a measure of how likely it is that a website will rank based on its overall quality.
KeyWord Optimization
Keywords are terms or phrases that people look up using search engines. We marketers call the shorter ones, like “marijuana dispensaries,” short-tail keywords, and the wordier ones — such as “What’s the difference between cannabis and marijuana?” — long-tail keywords.
Optimizing your web page copy and other site content, such as blog posts or case studies, for relevant and popular keywords is critical if you want that content to rank high for a specific search term.
Here’s what the keyword optimization process looks like:
The first step is to use keyword research tools, such as Moz, SEMrush, and Ahrefs, to identify high-volume yet cost-effective keywords. It can be near impossible to rank for vague short-tail terms like “cannabis” — the sheer size of the competition can be prohibitive. However, you can most definitely rank high for a less globally popular, long-tail keyword that’s more relevant to your cannabis products and customer base (“best cannabis dispensary in Maine”).
Once you have a shortlist of your main keywords, you need to identify the secondary and semantic keywords for each main keyword. These are terms and phrases that are closely related to the main keyword. Their presence in the copy allows search engines to better understand the topic of the content. Keyword research tools, related Google searches, or “People Also Ask” can be great resources for identifying secondary and semantic keywords.
Keyword optimization: Next, you need to pepper your content with main, secondary, and semantic keywords. You don’t want to overdo it and drown your copy in keywords — we call this “keyword stuffing” in SEO lingo — as you risk getting a penalty from Google. The key to success is strategically inserting the right keywords at the right places, such as titles, subheadings, first and last paragraphs, image alt tags, and more.
Keyword optimization never stops. The things people search for are always evolving, so you want to periodically refresh your content to reflect the changing market and stay relevant.
3. Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO for a cannabis dispensary involves optimizing elements outside of your website to enhance its online visibility, authority, and reputation within the cannabis industry. Here are key components of off-page SEO for a cannabis dispensary
Link Building
Acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable cannabis-related websites, industry directories, and local business listings. Links from authoritative sources can positively impact your dispensary’s search engine rankings.
Online Reviews & Online Reputation
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on cannabis review websites, Google Business Places, and other platforms. Manage your online reputation by responding to reviews and addressing any concerns promptly.
Cannabis Directories & Industry Platforms
Ensure your dispensary is listed on relevant cannabis directories and industry-specific platforms. This not only improves visibility but also reinforces your dispensary’s association with the cannabis industry.
Press Release & Media Coverage
Distribute press releases about noteworthy events, product launches, or community initiatives related to your dispensary. Seek coverage from local and cannabis-specific media outlets to enhance your online presence.
Collaborations with Other Local Businesses
Build partnerships with other local businesses, especially those within the cannabis industry. Collaborative efforts can result in cross-promotions, backlinks, and increased visibility.
Guest Blogging
Contribute guest posts to cannabis-related blogs or publications. This not only provides valuable content to the community but also earns you backlinks and establishes your dispensary as an authority.
4. Cannabis Local SEO (GBP)
Local SEO helps you optimize your website so that it attracts a local target audience. This is particularly important for dispensary businesses due to the ban on interstate trade in cannabis products.
Thankfully, with a few tweaks and optimizations, you can increase the odds of getting on the radar of cannabis customers from your state, county, or city. Some tips for boosting dispensary local SEO includes.
Basic Info & Profile Setup
A. Claim and Verify Your Listing:
– Visit Google Business Places (https://www.google.com/business/ ). – Claim your dispensary listing and complete the verification process.
B. Complete Your Business Information:
- Ensure accurate details: dispensary name, address, phone number (NAP), website, and business hours. – Choose relevant categories for your business (e.g., “Cannabis Store” or “Dispensary”).
C. Upload High-Quality Photos:
-Add high-resolution images of the dispensary’s interior, exterior, and products. – Showcase the ambiance, staff, and unique features.
Engagement & Visibility
A. Craft a Compelling Business Description:
-Write a concise and engaging description highlighting products, services, and unique selling propositions. – Incorporate relevant keywords naturally.
B. Collect and Respond to Reviews:
-Encourage positive reviews from satisfied customers. – Respond professionally to both positive and negative reviews promptly.
C. Utilize Google Posts:
-Regularly create posts for updates, promotions, and events. – Include eye-catching images and clear calls-to-action.
D. Enable Messaging:
- Activate the messaging feature to allow direct communication with potential customers. – -Respond to messages promptly and professionally.
Enhance Features & Analytics
A. Add Attributes:
– Select and add attributes describing your dispensary (e.g., wheelchair accessibility, veteran discounts).
B. Enable Online Appointments:
– If applicable, enable the online appointment feature for visits or consultations. – Ensure proper integration of the appointment scheduling system.
C. Update Special Hours and Holidays:
– Keep special hours updated, especially during holidays or events. – Provide accurate information to customers.
D. Monitor Insights and Analytics:– Regularly check insights and analytics on Google Business Places. – Analyze data on customer actions, search queries, and photo views.
E. Stay Compliant with Google Policies:
– Adhere to Google’s policies and industry regulations. – Avoid misleading information and follow content guidelines.
F. Update COVID-19 Information:
– If necessary, update the profile with relevant COVID-19 information. – Communicate safety measures, operational changes, or special accommodations.
G. Regularly Audit and Update:
– Conduct routine audits to ensure information accuracy. – Update the profile with any changes to the business, products, or services.
Our Dispensary SEO Services
SEO is hard. Dispensary SEO is even harder. Let us worry about your organic search results while you focus on what only you can do: growing your cannabis business and delighting your customers.
At Materia Prima Advertising, our mission is to improve your search engine rankings, bring more high-quality organic traffic to your website, increase your customer base, and boost your revenue. We only use data-driven strategies and proven digital marketing principles, all tailored to the unique needs of your cannabis business.
Here are the services you can expect from our professional cannabis marketing company:
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