10 Tips to Boost Cannabis Email Marketing Engagement

Want to improve your cannabis email marketing? Here are 10 key tips:

Personalize content
Craft compelling subject lines
Optimize for mobile
Use A/B testing
Provide valuable educational content
Include engaging visuals
Set up automation and drip campaigns
Maintain a clean email list
Follow cannabis marketing regulations
Track and improve performance

Tip	Key Benefit
Personalization	Higher open rates
Mobile-friendly	Reach more readers
A/B testing	Optimize performance
Educational content	Build trust
Visuals	Increase engagement
Automation	Save time
List hygiene	Improve deliverability
Compliance	Avoid legal issues
Analytics	Continual improvement

Follow these tips to create more effective, engaging cannabis marketing emails while staying compliant with industry regulations.

1. Personalize Your Email Content

Making your emails personal helps grab your readers’ attention. When you use a subscriber’s name, they’re more likely to open and read your email. Here’s why it works:

Emails with personal subject lines get opened 26% more often
Personal emails can lead to 6 times more sales

To make your emails personal, use info like:

Names
Where they live
What they’ve bought before
What they’ve looked at on your site
Special dates (birthdays, etc.)

This helps you send emails that fit each group of readers better.

Here’s a table showing examples of personal email content:

Type of Personalization	Example
Name	"Marie, thanks for being a loyal customer"
Recent Activity	"Kristin, the items in your cart are 20% off!"
Event Follow-up	"Thanks for attending our event, Andy"
Product Suggestion	"Can’t decide, Jim? Visit our store for budtender recommendations"
Feedback Request	"We’d love your feedback, Jay!"

2. Craft Compelling Subject Lines

Good subject lines are key to getting people to open your emails. Here’s how to write subject lines that work:

Use Names

Adding a person’s name to the subject line can increase open rates by 26%. Use names, locations, or past purchases to make emails feel personal.

Keep It Short

Aim for 6-8 words in your subject line. This helps it fit on mobile screens.

Create Urgency

Use action words and time-limited offers to make people want to open your email right away.

Avoid Spam Words

Don’t use ALL CAPS, lots of !!!, or words that might trigger spam filters.

Try Different Options

Test different subject lines to see what works best. Use A/B testing to compare and improve your results.

Do’s	Don’ts
Use names	Use ALL CAPS
Keep it short	Use too many !!!
Create urgency	Use spam trigger words
Test different options	Make it too long

3. Make Emails Work on Mobile Phones

Many people read emails on their phones. Your cannabis emails need to look good on small screens.

Why Mobile Matters

Here’s why you should care about mobile:

Fact	Percentage
Emails opened on mobile devices	53%
Users who delete emails that look bad on mobile	75%

If your emails don’t work well on phones, you might lose many readers.

How to Make Emails Work on Mobile

Try these tips:

Use a design that fits all screens: Make sure your email looks good on both big and small screens.
Keep it short: Use brief subject lines and email content.
Make text and buttons big: Use large fonts and buttons so people can read and click easily.
Use one column: One column is easier to read on phones than multiple columns.
Check your work: Look at your emails on different phones to make sure they work well.

4. Try A/B Testing

A/B testing helps you find out what works best in your emails. It’s a way to test different parts of your emails to see which ones get better results.

What to Test

Here are some things you can test in your cannabis emails:

Element	Examples
Subject lines	Short vs. long, questions vs. statements
Email content	Brief vs. detailed, text-heavy vs. image-heavy
Buttons	"Buy Now" vs. "Learn More"
Send times	Morning vs. evening, weekday vs. weekend

How to Do A/B Testing

1. Pick one thing to test: Choose just one element to change, like the subject line.

2. Make two versions: Create two emails that are the same except for the one thing you’re testing.

3. Send to two groups: Split your email list and send each version to a different group.

4. Check the results: See which version got more opens, clicks, or sales.

5. Use what works: Use the winning version in your next email to everyone.

Tools for A/B Testing

Some email tools that can help you do A/B tests:

These tools make it easy to set up tests and see the results.

5. Provide Valuable and Educational Content

Giving useful and informative content in your cannabis emails is important. It helps your brand become trusted and stand out from others.

Why Educational Content Matters

Educational content is key in the cannabis industry. It helps clear up wrong ideas about cannabis. By sharing correct information, you can teach your readers about:

Cannabis benefits and uses
Laws and rules about cannabis

Types of Educational Content

You can create different kinds of educational content:

Content Type	Description
Blog posts	Long articles about specific cannabis topics
Videos	Show how-to guides, product reviews, or industry news
Infographics	Pictures that explain complex ideas simply
Webinars	Live or recorded talks that go deep into specific topics

Tips for Creating Educational Content

When making educational content, keep these ideas in mind:

Keep it short: Use simple words and avoid complex terms
Use pictures: Add images or videos to make your content easier to understand
Make it easy to read: Use headings and bullet points so people can quickly find what they need
Be helpful: Make sure your content teaches something new or solves a problem

6. Use Engaging Visuals

Adding eye-catching visuals to your cannabis email marketing can help more people open and click on your emails. Pictures and videos make your emails easier to read and understand.

Why Visuals Work

People understand pictures much faster than words. Using good visuals in your emails can:

Make 25% more people open your emails
Get 40% more people to click on links in your emails
Help people remember your brand better

Types of Visuals to Use

You can add different kinds of visuals to your cannabis emails:

Visual Type	What It Is
Pictures	Clear photos of products, people using cannabis, or info charts
Videos	Short clips showing products, customer reviews, or how-to guides
GIFs	Moving pictures that show products or services in a fun way
Info Charts	Pictures that explain complex ideas simply

Tips for Using Visuals

When you add visuals to your cannabis emails, remember these tips:

Make them work on phones: Most people read emails on their phones, so make sure your visuals look good on small screens.
Add text descriptions: Put words that describe your pictures in case they don’t load.
Keep it simple: Don’t use too many visuals that might confuse people.
Use visuals that fit: Choose pictures and videos that match what you’re talking about and what your readers care about.

7. Use Automation and Drip Campaigns

Email marketing for cannabis businesses can be more effective with automation and drip campaigns. These tools help you send the right emails to the right people at the right time.

What Are Automation and Drip Campaigns?

Automation and drip campaigns are ways to send emails automatically based on certain triggers or schedules. They help you stay in touch with your customers without having to manually send each email.

Why Use Automation and Drip Campaigns?

Here’s how these tools can help your cannabis email marketing:

Benefit	Description
Save time	Set up emails once and let them run automatically
Engage more customers	Send emails that match what each customer wants
Sell more	Guide customers towards buying with well-timed emails
Make customers happier	Give each person the info they need when they need it

How to Start Using Automation and Drip Campaigns

Follow these steps to set up your campaigns:

1. Pick an email tool: Choose a service like Moosend, Mailchimp, or Klaviyo that offers these features.

2. Set your goals: Decide what you want to achieve, like selling more or getting more email opens.

3. Group your customers: Sort your email list into groups based on what people like or how they act.

4. Write your emails: Create emails that fit each group of customers.

5. Set up your rules: Tell your email tool when to send each email. For example, send a welcome email when someone signs up.

6. Check and improve: Look at how your emails are doing and make them better over time.

8. Keep Your Email List Clean and Growing

Having a good email list is key for cannabis email marketing. Here’s why it matters and how to do it:

Why a Clean List Helps

Benefit	What It Means
Emails Reach More People	Fewer bounces and spam reports
More People Read Your Emails	Better open and click rates
Save Money	Pay less by removing inactive emails
Better Data	Clearer info to make choices

How to Keep Your List Clean

1. Clean Often: Check your list every 3-6 months or when you see more bounces.

2. Remove Non-Readers: Take out people who haven’t opened your emails in 6-12 months.

3. Handle Bounces: Remove bad emails right away and watch for ones that bounce sometimes.

4. Use Double Sign-Ups: Make sure people really want your emails by asking them to confirm.

How to Grow Your List

Add sign-up boxes at checkout and on your website
Give away free stuff to get new sign-ups
Use social media to get more people to sign up
Offer special deals only for email subscribers

Where to Add Sign-Ups	What to Offer
Checkout page	Free guide
Website pop-up	Discount code
Social media posts	Exclusive content
In-store	Early access to sales

9. Follow Rules for Cannabis Email Marketing

When sending cannabis emails, you must follow the rules. This keeps your business safe and your customers happy.

Know the Rules

Before you send any emails:

Check the laws about cannabis marketing where you live
Understand age limits for cannabis use
Learn what you can and can’t say in your emails
Find out if you need to add any special messages

Add Required Messages

Put these in your emails to follow the rules:

Message Type	What to Include
Age Warning	"You must be 21 or older to use cannabis"
Health Notice	"Cannabis may have health risks"
Legal Statement	"Cannabis is not legal everywhere"

Check Age and Get Permission

Make sure your email list is okay to use:

Ask people’s age when they sign up
Get them to say "yes" to getting your emails
Use forms on your website to do this

10. Check and Improve Your Email Results

To make your cannabis email marketing work better, you need to look at how well your emails are doing and make changes to improve them. This means checking important numbers, finding ways to do better, and using what you learn to make smart choices.

Key Numbers to Watch

Pay attention to these important numbers:

Number to Watch	What It Means
Open rate	How many people open your email
Click-through rate (CTR)	How many people click links in your email
Conversion rate	How many people buy or do what you want after clicking
Unsubscribe rate	How many people stop getting your emails

These numbers show how well your emails are working and where you can do better.

How to Check Your Results

Use email tools that show you how your emails are doing. These tools give you reports that help you understand what’s working and what’s not.

Using What You Learn

Look at your numbers often and use what you see to make your emails better. For example:

If This is Low	Try This
Open rate	Change your subject lines or who the email is from
Click-through rate	Make your email content and buttons more interesting
Conversion rate	Check your email content and what you’re asking people to do

Wrap-up

To sum up, email marketing for cannabis businesses can help you connect with customers and follow the rules. Here are the main points to remember:

Tip	What It Does
Make emails personal	Gets more people to open and read
Write good subject lines	Makes people want to open your emails
Make emails work on phones	Helps more people read your emails
Test different versions	Finds out what works best
Share helpful info	Builds trust with your readers
Use pictures and videos	Makes emails more interesting
Set up automatic emails	Saves time and keeps customers interested
Keep your email list up-to-date	Improves how well your emails work
Follow the rules	Keeps your business safe
Check how your emails are doing	Helps you make them better

By using these tips, you can make your cannabis email marketing work better. You’ll be able to talk to your customers more effectively and grow your business while following the rules.

Remember to:

Keep your emails simple and easy to read
Use pictures to explain things
Make sure your emails look good on phones
Always follow the rules for cannabis marketing