15 Secrets to Outranking Your Cannabis Dispensary Competitors in “Near Me” Searches
Discover the art of being the first name your local cannabis enthusiasts find.
In the competitive cannabis market, standing out in “near me” searches is crucial. Learn how to build a strong online presence, optimize your Google Business Profile, ensure mobile-friendliness, and engage in local SEO tactics. This comprehensive guide is your roadmap to turning “dispensary near me” searches into a significant business advantage, making your dispensary not just a choice, but the destination for cannabis consumers.
If there’s one consumer sector that’s more crowded than the modern-day cannabis industry, it’s the New York City restaurant scene. Eateries hold grand openings and shutter for good on an almost daily basis in the harsh city.
But one restaurant is taking a novel approach: Thai Food Near Me. Yes, you read that right. In a stroke of SEO genius—or desperation, depending on your viewpoint—this enterprising eatery named itself after one of the most common phrases typed into a search engine.
Forget about fancy branding or traditional advertising. Thai Food Near Me is banking on the sheer power of search engine optimization to reel in the crowds. It’s a bold move, prioritizing online discoverability over the casual passerby or word-of-mouth recommendations.
In the cannabis industry, dispensaries face a parallel challenge. How can you, as a dispensary, transform a general “dispensary near me” search into a profound business opportunity? The strategy of “Thai Food Near Me” offers more than a chuckle—it inspires some real outside-the-box thinking.
In this guide, we’ll unravel the secrets to popping up in search results and dominating them, blending the art of SEO with the unique nuances of the cannabis market. Get ready to turn search engine queries into your dispensary’s front door.
What is Dispensary SEO?
Think of Dispensary SEO as your garden-variety SEO on a specialized diet of cannabis-specific nutrients, aligning traditional SEO tactics with the quirks and twists of the cannabis world. This isn’t just about peppering your content with keywords or ramping up your website’s loading speed (though those play their parts). It’s a deeper, more nuanced game.
Dispensary SEO is where you decode the specific lingo of cannabis enthusiasts, understanding what tickles their fancy, what terms they use, and how they navigate the internet to find their next favorite dispensary. It’s about diving headfirst into the unique needs and desires of your audience while keeping an eye on the legal considerations in the cannabis industry.
Yes, SEO is about getting found. But, more importantly, it’s about making meaningful connections with the searching public. Crafting a digital presence that resonates with the fickle algorithms of search engines—along with the human element behind every search query—just about sums up the “what” of dispensary SEO.
From the carefully worded blog posts that subtly educate and entice (like this blog!), to the savvy use of local SEO strategies that place you right where you need to be, in front of the eyes of local cannabis seekers, it’s a complex but rewarding venture.
Now, let’s learn how you can outrank your competitors when a consumer eagerly types “dispensary near me” into their search bars.
How To Outrank Your Competitors’ Dispensary SEO
- Build an Online Presence
- Create a Strong Google Business Profile
- Maintain Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) Across Directories
- Prioritize Mobile-Friendly Websites
- User Experience (UX) and Site Navigation
- Optimize Individual Dispensary Pages
- Visual Optimization
- Use Schema Markup for Better Context
- Localize SEO Efforts
- Utilize SEO Optimized Ecommerce Platforms
- Focus on Product-Related Searches
- Generate and Respond to Customer Reviews
- Leverage Local Backlinks and Press
- Conduct Competitor Analysis
- Monitor Technical SEO Aspects
1. Build an Online Presence
Before you even think about unlocking the doors to your dispensary, make sure your online presence is as tangible as your physical one. Grab a domain that echoes your brand’s vibe and start feeding Google with regular, engaging content. Make some noise—establish a rapport with the search engine giant, building a history that says, “We’re here for the long haul and we know what we’re talking about.”
2. Create a Strong Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is far more than a digital placeholder, it’s your virtual front window. Claim it, dress it up with all the essential details—from hours of operation to enticing photos—and optimize it for prime visibility. This is your ticket to appearing in Google’s coveted map pack and search results, where visibility is prime real estate.
Don't Forget About Bing Places
While you’re at it, give Bing Places some love, too. It’s like the underrated indie movie that surprisingly outshines blockbusters on occasion. Bing users are out there, and they could be your next loyal customers.
3. Maintain Consistent NAP Across Directories
4. Prioritize Mobile-Friendly Websites
In an era where smartphones are almost extensions of our hands, a mobile-optimized website is non-negotiable. Google loves mobile-first, so build your dispensary’s site so that it’s swift, responsive, and looks dashing on every screen size.
5. User Experience (UX) and Site Navigation
The journey through your website should be as smooth as a well-rolled joint. User-friendly design, clear navigation, and a positive overall experience are good for users and loved by search engines, too. Consider intuitive layouts and URLs that make sense, like “/dispensaries/denver.” This is simple, yet effective.
6. Optimize Individual Dispensary Pages
For multi-location dispensaries, each spot deserves its own spotlight. Create distinct pages for each location, rich with localized information and keywords, especially that golden phrase, “dispensary near me.” It’s about making each location shine in its own right.
On-Page SEO
Under the hood, your on-page SEO needs tuning. Title tags, meta descriptions, and internal linking are your best friends here. They guide search engines through your content and signal what’s important.
7. Visual Optimization
A picture is worth a thousand searches. Optimize your imagery and videos for the web, utilizing compressed files for speed, alt tags for accessibility, and engaging visuals that tell your brand’s story. They’re not just aesthetics—they’re SEO power tools.
8. Use Schema Markup for Better Context
Schema markup is like giving search engines a pair of glasses for better clarity. It helps them understand the context of your content, detailing your dispensary’s story, products, and services in a language they comprehend.
9. Localize SEO Efforts
Think global, act local. Tailor your SEO efforts to target specific communities, neighborhoods, and even local events or landmarks. It’s about making your dispensary a recognized local character.
10. Utilize SEO Optimized Ecommerce Platforms
Platforms like Dispense go beyond being mere online storefronts. They play a crucial role in your SEO strategy, helping list and sell products while simultaneously enhancing your online visibility. This dual function effectively turns searches into tangible sales.
11. Focus on Product-Related Searches
Move to the next level of the “dispensary near me” search. Dive into the world of product-specific searches—strains, brands, accessories. These are the queries of the informed consumer, and they’re looking for what you’re selling.
12. Generate and Respond to Customer Reviews
Reviews are the digital word-of-mouth. Encourage them, cherish them, and respond to them. Each review can sway your SEO fortunes, as they signal to search engines that people aren’t just visiting, they’re also engaging with your brand.
13. Leverage Local Backlinks and Press
Stitch your dispensary into the local fabric with backlinks from community sources and press engagements. Sponsor a local event, get featured in the local news, push a press release to numerous outlets. These all go a long way in making your dispensary a local SEO authority.
14. Conduct Competitor Analysis
Keep your friends close and your competitors closer. Analyze what those higher-ranked dispensaries are doing right and adapt. It’s about continuous learning and evolving your strategy.
15. Monitor Technical SEO Aspects
Last but not least, the technical backbone of your website needs regular check-ups. Site speed, mobile usability, broken links, indexability—these are the nuts and bolts that keep your dispensary’s online presence running smoothly in the SEO race.
Key Takeaways
When that NYC restaurant Thai Food Near Me chose its quirky name, it was a feisty attempt to game the SEO system. This guide equips you to make similar bold moves in the cannabis industry. We’ve navigated through the nuances of dispensary SEO, from building an unshakeable online presence to leveraging local quirks and customer interactions. These strategies work to ensure your dispensary isn’t just a choice for cannabis enthusiasts, but a destination.
Eager to see your dispensary rise in the ranks?
-
Tyler Jacobson
- An entrepreneur’s mindset and 25+ years of marketing strategy and execution. Tyler brings clarity to companies’ ever changing business challenges and identify industry leading opportunities that set them apart from the rest. Audience-oriented, he flows seamlessly at all levels between the high-level strategy of marketing to mission-critical goals to the product management and end user communication - all the while focused on translating complex information into easy to understand formats and channels. I thrive at the apex of opportunity, creativity, and ambiguity within team leadership, communication, analysis, product management, and strategic thinking.
