10 Essential Local SEO Tips for Cannabis Dispensaries

If you’re running a cannabis dispensary, getting noticed locally online is crucial. This guide offers 10 essential local SEO tips to help your business stand out and attract more customers. Here’s what you need to know:

Optimize Your Google My Business Listing: Ensure your details are accurate, respond to reviews, and use this platform to engage with customers.
Use Local Keywords: Incorporate keywords that are relevant to your local area to improve search visibility.
Leverage Local Directory Listings: Get listed in directories like Weedmaps and Leafly to increase your online presence.
Encourage Customer Reviews: Positive reviews can significantly boost your online reputation.
Create Local Content: Share stories and news relevant to your local cannabis community.
Optimize for Mobile Users: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly to cater to smartphone users.
Utilize Social Media: Engage with local customers through social media platforms.
Build Local Backlinks: Secure links from local businesses and websites to improve your SEO.
Optimize Website for Voice Search: Make sure your content can be easily found through voice search.
Monitor Your Local SEO Performance: Regularly check your SEO performance and adjust your strategies accordingly.

By following these tips, you can improve your dispensary’s local SEO, making it easier for customers in your area to find you.

1. Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Making your Google My Business (GMB) listing better is key for any cannabis dispensary wanting to be seen more online. Here’s how to make your GMB listing work better for you:

Make sure your listing details are complete and correct: It’s important to have the right business name, address, phone number, website, and other details filled in. Also, confirm your listing so customers trust it’s real.

Upload good photos: Share pictures of your shop from the outside, inside, what you sell, and your team. This lets customers see what you have to offer before they visit.

Keep an eye on and reply to reviews: Try to get more positive reviews and quickly deal with any negative ones. Having lots of good reviews helps people trust your business.

Post updates and special offers: Use GMB to tell people about new items, special deals, or events. These updates appear in Maps and can encourage more visits.

Include your website link: Make sure to add a link to your website so customers can find more information easily after seeing your listing on Maps.

Make sure your location is right: If the map pin isn’t exactly where your shop is, fix it. This helps customers find you more easily.

Tell people where you deliver: List all the places you deliver to, like different cities or neighborhoods. This can help you show up in searches from those areas.

By keeping your Google My Business listing up to date, you’re more likely to get noticed by people searching for cannabis dispensaries in their area. Putting in this effort can really help increase how many people come through your door.

2. Use Local Keywords

When you’re trying to get people nearby to find your cannabis shop online, using the right local keywords is crucial. Here’s how to do it in simple steps:

Know your area: First, figure out the places you serve, like specific neighborhoods or cities. This helps you talk directly to those local customers.

Use Google Trends: This tool shows you which cannabis-related words people in your area are searching for. Make these words a priority.

Check out other dispensaries: Look at other local cannabis shops that show up high in search results. See which words they use and think about using them too.

Talk it over with your team: Your staff might have good ideas for local cannabis terms people use. Their insights can be really helpful.

Target location-specific keywords: Use keywords that match your location, like "Denver cannabis shop" or "weed store in Boulder". Google likes these for local searches.

Don’t forget misspellings: Sometimes, people spell things wrong. Include common wrong spellings of cannabis terms to catch those searches too.

Use your shop’s name: Make sure you show up in searches for your own shop’s name and any special products you have.

Keep your keywords fresh: Always be on the lookout for new search trends and update your keywords to stay relevant.

By focusing on the right local keywords on your website and Google My Business listing, you make it easier for people in your area to find you when they’re looking for cannabis. Keep your keywords up to date and in line with what people are actually searching for to get the best results.

3. Leverage Local Directory Listings

Getting your cannabis dispensary listed on local directories is a smart move to help more people in your area find you. Here are some directories you should think about adding your shop to:

Weedmaps – This is a go-to spot for finding dispensaries. It lists menus, reviews, and deals, making it easy for people to see what you offer.
Leafly – Another big name for cannabis info. It lets users find and talk about local dispensaries.
Yelp – Not just for restaurants, Yelp is also a place where people look up dispensaries. Make sure your shop’s info is up to date here.
Local city/region directories – Look for directories specific to your area. These can help locals come across your shop.
YellowPages – An old-school directory that still gets traffic. Be sure to list your dispensary here.
MapQuest – People still use MapQuest to find local businesses, including dispensaries.
Foursquare – A handy app for discovering local spots. It’s worth listing your dispensary on Foursquare.

By making sure your dispensary is listed on these directories, you help make it easier for people to find you when they’re searching online. Take some time to fill out your shop’s details on these sites, and you could see more people coming through your door.

4. Encourage Customer Reviews

Getting more reviews from customers is important for any cannabis dispensary that wants to be seen more online. Reviews help show that people trust your shop and can make your shop appear higher in search results. Here are some easy ways to get more reviews:

Make it easy to leave a review. Put cards that ask for reviews at your checkout counter and a clear link on your website. Make it as simple as possible for people to review your business.
Ask happy customers nicely for reviews. If a customer seems happy with their purchase, it’s okay to ask them if they’d leave a review. Most people don’t mind and just need a little reminder.
Give a small thank you for reviews. You could offer a little discount or a freebie to customers who show you they’ve left a review. This can motivate more people to take the time to write one.
Answer bad reviews nicely. If someone leaves a bad review, don’t fight back. Say you’re sorry they had a bad experience and offer to fix it. Seeing you respond well to criticism can make others feel better about your business.
Learn from reviews. If you see the same complaints often, try to fix those issues. Use negative reviews as a chance to improve.
Show off good reviews on your site. If you have some positive reviews, ask if you can put them on your homepage. This can make new customers trust you more.

Working on getting more online reviews can really help people find your cannabis dispensary. The more good reviews you have, the more likely it is that your shop will show up in search results. Reviews show that people like your shop and can help new customers decide to visit.

5. Create Local Content

Making content that talks about your area is a good way to connect with local customers if you run a cannabis dispensary. Here’s how to do it simply:

Write about your area’s cannabis story. Explore how cannabis culture and laws have changed where you live. Talk about important people and events that shaped it.

Talk about local strains and products. Share stories about the special strains and products from local growers you sell. This gives your customers unique insights.

Chat with local cannabis influencers. Have conversations with people in your area who are known in the cannabis world, like business owners or advocates. Share their stories and views on the local scene.

Make guides for your city. Create lists like "The Top 10 Best Denver Dispensaries" or "Where To Find The Freshest Cannabis In San Francisco." Include your shop in these lists too.

Work with local cannabis groups. Support local cannabis events or groups by sponsoring or donating. Find out how you can be part of the action.

Update on local cannabis news. Keep your customers informed about what’s happening locally in the cannabis world, like new laws, shop openings, or events.

Get your customers to share their stories. Encourage them to post reviews or share pictures and videos of their experiences at your shop. Highlight the best ones.

By focusing on content that’s all about your area, you show you’re really part of the local cannabis community. This helps build trust and keeps local customers coming back.

6. Optimize for Mobile Users

With so many people looking up and buying cannabis products on their phones, dispensaries need to make sure their websites work well on mobile devices. Here’s what you can do:

Make your site mobile-friendly. Your website should adjust so it looks good on phones. Text needs to be big enough to read without squinting, and buttons should be easy to tap. Check how your site looks on actual phones, not just on a computer screen.

Show your location, hours, and phone number clearly. People on their phones should be able to quickly find out where you are, when you’re open, and how to call you. Put this info where it’s easy to see and add a button so they can call you with one tap.

Keep menus simple. Don’t confuse people with too many options. Stick to a simple menu that’s easy to navigate. Big, cluttered menus don’t work well on phones.

Use location services. Let people use their phone’s location to find out how to get to you, how far away you are, and more. This is handy for customers close by who want to visit.

Speed up your site. Pages should load fast on phones. You can make pages load quicker by making images smaller and using tools that help your site run more efficiently. Slow sites make people leave.

Let customers pay with their phones. Accept payments through things like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It’s more likely people will buy something if they can use their preferred payment method.

Think about making an app. An app can make it even easier for customers to look at your menu, order ahead, join a loyalty program, and get updates right on their phone.

Making your website better for mobile users means more than just making it look nice on a smaller screen. It’s about making everything easier and faster for people who are using their phones. This can lead to more people visiting your dispensary.

Social media is a great way for cannabis dispensaries to talk to customers in their area. Here’s how you can use social media to get noticed more and chat with locals:

Set up profiles on different social media sites. It’s good to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This way, you can reach people on whatever platform they use.

Use hashtags and location tags for your area. Add hashtags that mention your city or region to help people nearby find your posts. Also, add your location to your posts so they show up for people looking in your area. Try hashtags like #CityWeedShop or #LocalCannabis.

Post about local weed events or groups. Share info about weed-related events or groups in your area. This shows you’re involved in the community.

Work with local social media people. Find people who have a lot of followers in your area and see if they’ll talk about your products or visit your shop. Their followers might become your customers.

Have contests for local folks. Create fun contests or giveaways for people who live nearby. This gets more people interested in what you’re doing.

Encourage customers to mention your shop. Ask happy customers to tag your shop in their posts. This helps more people see your business.

Answer quickly to comments or messages. Always reply fast to any questions or comments on social media. This helps you build a good relationship with your followers.

Promote deals for locals on social media. Use social media ads to highlight special offers or events that are just for local customers.

Using social media is a smart and cheap way to get your dispensary’s name out there. Focus on connecting with local people to help grow your business.

8. Build Local Backlinks

Getting links from websites in your area can help search engines see your cannabis dispensary as important locally. Here’s how to get good links:

Work with nearby businesses. Ask local shops or companies to link to your site, and you can link back to theirs. Choose businesses that are all about your area.
Help out at local events. You can support community events or fundraisers by sponsoring them. Make sure they put a link to your dispensary on their website.
Write for local blogs. Reach out to blogs or news sites that talk about your city or area. Offer to write about local cannabis topics for a link back to your site.
Try to get on "best of" lists. Talk to local guides and directories about getting your shop listed as one of the best in the area.
Give to local charities. If you donate to local charities, ask if they can link to your dispensary’s website.
Join the local Chamber of Commerce. This can lead to opportunities for links from their website through events and sponsorships.
Post jobs on local sites. When you have job openings, post them on local job boards or college career sites and include a link to your site.
Make sure your online profiles are up to date. Have accurate listings on Yelp, Google My Business, and Apple Maps.

Building links from websites that are well-known in your area can help make your dispensary the top choice locally. Spend time on getting these local links.

9. Optimize Website for Voice Search

With more people using voice to search, it’s smart for cannabis dispensaries to make sure their websites work well with these searches. Here’s how:

Talk like a person – Write your website’s content like you’re having a chat. Use easy words that someone might use when talking, like "where’s the nearest weed shop?" or "cannabis stores in Denver".

Give straight answers – Think about what questions people might ask out loud and answer them directly. This could be about your location, opening times, what you sell, or any special deals.

Show FAQs clearly – Have a section for common questions and answers that’s easy to find. Write these in a way that sounds like you’re talking to someone.

Keep your website simple – Make sure important information is easy to find without clicking around too much. This helps when someone’s using a voice search to find something specific on your site.

Speed up your website – If your website is slow, people using voice search might give up. Make sure your website loads quickly by doing things like making pictures smaller and reducing steps to get to a page.

Use special codes (schema markup) – There are special codes you can add to your website that help voice searches understand your content better. This includes codes for FAQs, your business details, and questions and answers.

Try it out yourself – Use voice search on your phone to see how well Siri, Alexa, or other assistants can find and understand information on your site. If something’s not clear, try to fix it.

Making your website friendly for voice searches can help more people find your dispensary. By making sure your content is easy to understand and your site is quick to navigate, you’re helping new customers find what they need with just their voice.

10. Monitor Your Local SEO Performance

It’s really important to keep an eye on how your local SEO is doing so you know what’s working and what might need some changes. Here’s a straightforward way for cannabis dispensaries to track their local SEO:

Look at your local search ranking often. Check where your Google My Business listing and website stand in search results for key local keywords related to what you sell and where you are. Keep an eye on this to see if your rank improves over time.

Pay attention to your website’s stats. Dive into your website analytics to see things like how many people visit your site, how long they stay, which pages they like most, and if local searches are bringing them to you.

Use special phone numbers for tracking. Put different phone numbers on your Google My Business listing and website. This way, you can see if people are calling you because they found you through local search. It’s a good sign if these calls increase.

Just ask your customers. When people come to your shop, it doesn’t hurt to ask how they heard about you. Notice if more folks say they found you through a local search or saw your listing online.

Look at your Google My Business insights. Google My Business gives you info on how many people see your listing and what they do with it. If these numbers go up, it means more people are noticing you locally.

Keep an eye on the competition. See how you stack up against other dispensaries in local search results and engagement. If they’re doing better, it might be time to step up your game.

Think about using tracking tools. There are paid services like Moz and SEMrush that give you more detailed info on your rankings, where your visitors come from, and other useful stats. These can give you a clearer picture of your local SEO performance.

By regularly checking these areas, you can get a good sense of whether your local SEO efforts are helping to bring more attention and customers to your dispensary. If something’s not working as well as you hoped, you can make changes. Keeping track of your progress helps you know where to focus to improve your local presence.

Conclusion

Getting your local SEO right can really help your cannabis dispensary stand out and draw in more customers from the area. Here are the main points to remember:

Keep tweaking and watching how things are going

SEO isn’t a one-time deal. It’s something you need to keep working on and changing based on what the numbers tell you.
Keep an eye on things like how many people visit your website, how high you rank in searches, how many calls you get, and what your customers say. This helps you figure out what to do next.
Tools like Moz and SEMrush can give you a closer look at your SEO performance.

Put your energy into things that make a big difference

Making sure your Google My Business listing is spot-on should be at the top of your list. Fill in all the details, add photos, encourage people to leave reviews, and keep it updated.
Find and use local keywords that people in your area are actually searching for.
Write about things happening in your community and connect with local businesses and groups.

Handle the unique challenges of marketing cannabis

Since running ads might not be an option, focusing on organic SEO is even more important.
Build trust and show you’re an expert by creating helpful content and getting good reviews.
Pay attention to making your website better and easier to use, which can help a lot when you can’t use paid ads.

By sticking with these local SEO strategies and keeping an eye on how well they’re working, dispensaries can really make a mark in their local market.