As dispensary owners, you know that advertising your business is a necessary evil. However, with restrictions from the Federal government on what you can and cannot say in mainstream advertising channels like Facebook and Google Ads, dispensary owners have to get creative with their advertising.
Here are seven dispensary advertising ideas to help you get customers through your door.
Cautions with Advertising Your Dispensary
Before discussing our advertising ideas, we need to discuss the regulations and cautions you need to be aware of when advertising your dispensary. The Federal government strictly regulates the cannabis industry, which means that dispensary owners have to walk a fine line when it comes to advertising.
The first thing you need to be aware of is that you can only advertise to people who are 21 years of age or older. This means you cannot use mainstream advertising channels like Facebook or Google Ads, which are not age-restricted. You also need to be careful with the language in your dispensary advertisements.
The second thing to remember is that you can only advertise within your state’s boundaries. So, if you’re a dispensary owner in California, you can only advertise to people in California. You cannot advertise to people in other states, even if they are 21 or older.
The third and final caution is that you must be careful about the claims you make in your dispensary advertisements. For example, you cannot advertise that cannabis can cure cancer. This is false advertising, and you could be fined or even shut down for making these claims.
7 Dispensary Advertising Ideas
Now that we’ve gone over the cautions you need to be aware of when advertising your dispensary, let’s discuss some dispensary advertising ideas that will help you get customers in the door.
1. Billboard Advertising
One dispensary advertising idea is to purchase prominent space on billboards. This is a great way to reach many people in your target market. However, you need to be aware that billboard advertising can be expensive. You also need to have a good location for your billboard so it’s visible to drivers.
2. Print Advertising
Another dispensary advertising idea is to place ads in local print publications. This could be a newspaper, magazine, or even a local flyer. Print advertising can be a great way to reach people in your community who might not be reached by other dispensary advertising ideas. However, you can only create print ads for products targeted to people over 21.
3. Local Radio And Television Advertising
Another dispensary advertising idea is to advertise on local radio or television. This can be a great way to reach people in your target market. However, you need to be aware that local radio and television stations have strict regulations about the dispensary ads they will air. You must also be aware that local radio and television advertising can be expensive.
4. Create A Website Or Blog
Creating a website or blog is another dispensary advertising idea. This can be a great way to reach people in your target market who are looking for information about the dispensary industry. You can also use your website or blog to sell products online. However, you need to know that you cannot sell cannabis products online.
5. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is another dispensary advertising idea. This is a process of optimizing your website or blog, so it appears higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). This can be a great way to reach people looking for dispensary information online. However, you need to be aware that SEO is a long-term dispensary advertising strategy. It can take months or even years to see results from your SEO efforts.
6. Content Marketing
Content marketing is another dispensary advertising idea. This is a process of creating and distributing relevant content to your target market. This content can be in the form of blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, or even podcasts. Content marketing can be a great way to reach people who are interested in the dispensary industry. However, you need to be aware that content marketing is a long-term dispensary advertising strategy. Seeing results from your content marketing efforts can take months or even years.
7. Use Cannabis-Friendly Online Directories
Several online directories are friendly to the cannabis industry. These directories can be a great way to reach people looking for dispensary information online. Some of these directories include Leafly, Weedmaps, and 420 Business Listings.
However, you must be aware that not all online directories are cannabis-friendly. You should only use guides that are known to be friendly to the cannabis industry.
You should also be aware that some online directories may charge for listing your dispensary.
Final Thoughts on Dispensary Advertising Ideas
There are several dispensary advertising ideas that you can use to get customers in the door. However, you must be aware of the restrictions placed on dispensary advertising. You also need to be aware that some dispensary advertising ideas can be more expensive than others. Hopefully, these tips will help you choose the right dispensary advertising idea for your business.