Standing out from the competition is crucial for success in the cannabis industry. One powerful tool that can significantly boost your cannabis business is Google My Business (GMB). By optimizing your GMB profile, you can enhance your online presence, attract more customers, and ultimately drive sales. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to leverage Google My Business for your cannabis dispensary, a valuable resource to elevate your marketing efforts.
Why Google My Business Matters for Cannabis Dispensaries
Google My Business is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. For cannabis dispensaries, this means you can provide potential customers with essential information such as your location, hours of operation, contact details, and customer reviews. An optimized GMB profile can improve your local SEO, making it easier for customers to find you when they search for cannabis products in your area.
This blog post was crafted in collaboration between Cannabis Marketing Association and the AI tool, Perplexity. All content was reviewed and fact-checked by a human.
Setting Up and Optimizing your GMB Profile
Claim Your Business
The first step is to claim your business on Google My Business. Visit the GMB website, sign in with your Google account, and follow the prompts to verify your business. This process ensures that you have control over your business information and can make necessary updates.
Complete Your Profile
A complete Google Business Profile is indeed essential for attracting customers. To optimize your profile, ensure you fill out all relevant fields, including your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. Add high-quality photos of your dispensary, products, and team to give potential customers a visual representation of your business.
When adding photos, consider showcasing your dispensary’s interior, exterior, and any unique features that set you apart from competitors. Include images of your most popular products and your staff, as this helps build trust and familiarity with potential customers.
It’s crucial to keep your profile information up-to-date, especially regarding business hours and any special holiday schedules. This accuracy helps build trust with customers and improves your chances of appearing in relevant local searches.
Consider your own experience when searching for businesses on Google Maps. When looking for a restaurant, for example, you likely want to see menu items, interior photos, and customer reviews. The same principle applies to your dispensary. Potential customers want to get a feel for your products, atmosphere, and overall experience before deciding to visit.
Remember that your Google Business Profile is often the first impression customers have of your business when searching on Google Maps or in local search results. By providing comprehensive and accurate information, along with appealing visuals, you’re giving potential customers the confidence they need to choose your dispensary over others.
Lastly, don’t forget to encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your profile. Positive reviews can significantly influence potential customers’ decisions and improve your visibility in local search results.
Use Keywords Strategically
Incorporating relevant keywords into your business description and posts is crucial for improving your search ranking and making it easier for customers to find you. When selecting keywords, focus on terms that are directly related to your cannabis business, such as “dispensary,” “medical marijuana,” or specific product types you offer.
To optimize your keyword strategy, consider using tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google’s Keyword Planner to research and identify the most effective keywords for your business. These tools can help you discover high-volume, low-competition keywords that your potential customers are using to search for cannabis products and services.
Additionally, think about how your customers might search for you. Are they looking for specific strains, products, or services? Do they use location-based searches like “dispensary near me” or “cannabis store in [your city]”? Incorporate these natural language phrases into your content to align with user search behavior.
Remember to use keywords naturally throughout your profile, including in your business description, posts, and even photo captions. Avoid keyword stuffing, as this can lead to penalties from search engines and create a poor user experience. Instead, focus on creating informative, engaging content that naturally incorporates your chosen keywords while providing value to your potential customers.-
Encourage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews play a significant role in building trust and credibility. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your GMB profile. Could your budtenders ask customers after their purchase to leave their feedback? What other ways could you engage customers to provide reviews? Respond to reviews promptly, whether they are positive or negative, to show that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
How Can You Leverage Google My Business?
Posts and Updates
Use the Posts feature to share updates, promotions, and events with your audience. Are you hosting a 420 event? Doing a partnership in collaboration with another local business? Create a post about it and tell everyone! This keeps your profile active and engaging, which can attract more customers. Regularly updating your GMB profile with fresh content signals to Google that your business is active and relevant.
Insights and Analytics
GMB provides valuable insights into how customers find and interact with your business. Use this data to refine your marketing strategies and improve your online presence. Pay attention to metrics such as search queries, customer actions, and photo views to understand what resonates with your audience.
What Happens When You Don’t Have a GMB Profile?
Without a Google Business Profile, your cannabis business becomes virtually invisible in local search results and on Google Maps. Your competitors with optimized profiles will appear first, capturing the attention and business of potential customers who are actively searching for cannabis products or services in your area. You’ll miss out on valuable opportunities to connect with customers who are genuinely looking for what you offer, resulting in significant lost revenue and diminished brand awareness. Even loyal customers may struggle to find accurate information about your business, potentially leading to frustration and lost sales. In today’s digital-first marketplace, not having a GMB profile is like having your storefront hidden in an alley – people simply won’t know you exist, and your business will suffer as a result.
Elevate Your Marketing with the Cannabis Marketing Association
While optimizing your GMB profile is a great start, joining Cannabis Marketing Association can take your marketing efforts to the next level. CMA offers a wealth of resources, including industry insights, networking opportunities, and educational content tailored specifically for cannabis businesses, with its Member Portal featuring dozens of downloadable guides, and a vast library of webinars and podcasts covering various aspects of cannabis marketing. By becoming a member, you can stay ahead of industry trends, connect with like-minded professionals, and access tools that will help you grow your business.
Membership in the CMA also provides exclusive access to webinars, workshops, and industry reports that can give you a competitive edge.
Conclusion
Google My Business is an invaluable tool for cannabis dispensaries looking to enhance their online presence and attract more customers. By optimizing your GMB profile and leveraging its features, you can improve your local SEO and drive more traffic to your business. Additionally, joining the Cannabis Marketing Association can provide you with the resources and support needed to elevate your marketing efforts and achieve long-term success in the cannabis industry.
Take the first step towards boosting your cannabis business today by optimizing your Google My Business profile and exploring the benefits of Cannabis Marketing Association membership. Your success in the competitive cannabis market starts with effective marketing strategies and the right tools at your disposal — don’t miss out on the opportunity to elevate your business and connect with industry leaders who can help you thrive!
Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.
