Both cannabis brands and users are always at risk having their account hidden, banned, or even deleted. And frankly, that sucks. Because social media is one of the most effective ways for cannabis business owners, consumers, investors, and media to connect.

Not all is lost though. Outside of the bigger platforms, there are smaller alternative ones that have become a good place to start building some of those essential connections. And even one of the bigger platforms is currently proving to be more cannabis-friendly than the others.

And the Big Winner Is…

It might come as a surprise, but of the larger and more popular platforms, it’s actually LinkedIn that’s the most receptive to cannabis industry professionals.

There is no clearcut metric that proves this information, but rather it’s based on anecdotal feedback from a number of reliable sources. Our experience has also been the same.

LinkedIn recognizes cannabis as a viable industry. It allows for cannabis brands to share the latest news and press coverage about their businesses. And while some of the other larger platforms will tolerate cannabis content, they employ search features that associate the word cannabis with substance abuse messages. Not the case on LinkedIn.

“Linkedin does an excellent job removing negative stigmas surrounding the cannabis industry,” says Karina Karassev, co-founder and COO of cannabis storage brand Stori.

It’s not all rainbows and unicorns though. Many industry professionals say that LinkedIn continues to be taboo to non-industry members. As such, those folks aren’t interacting with or responding to posts. Even so, it’s the still among the only platforms that allows for organic reach in terms of cannabis content and groups. This eliminates the worry of being penalized (or banned) for cannabis businesses and professionals.

Other Social Media Platforms for Cannabis

Among the other larger platforms, Reddit links fans by hosting AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions that foster topic-specific online communities known as subreddits. In addition, social media giant YouTube has loosened restrictions over the years.

There is also Lantern which focuses on platforms such as Pinterest and Twitch to create strong cannabis-adjacent communities who can share relevant content as long as they stay within certain guidelines. In addition, plant-dedicated platforms like TheWeedTube and MJLink are among the new startups seeking to offer solutions to the cannabis community and industry.

And there are more than a handful of smaller social media platforms, such as Gab and Mastodon, that target specific audiences – including cannabis professionals. These latter examples obviously don’t have the scale and reach of their larger cousins, but they have plenty of room to grow (pun intended).

Turning the Focus from Social Media

Social media is brilliant for making connections and we embrace it. But working with all the rules and regulations of social media platforms can still make it a bit prohibitive.

That’s why we also stress the importance of solid public relations strategies such as press releases, offering quotes to media, orchestrating branded merch giveaways, and connecting with local businesses for word-of-mouth marketing opportunities and referrals.

So if your current marketing strategy isn’t working, then contact us. At the end of the day, it’s about building credibility for your brand. And we do just that.

The post The Best Social Media Platforms for Cannabis appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Traditional advertising mediums and media outlets either prohibit or greatly restrict cannabis advertising. Ever heard of Facebook or Google, for example?

It’s those pesky federal regulations at play.

So what’s a cannabis business to do when it comes to attracting cannabis consumers?

You Could Wait Until Federal Legalization

That’s a great plan if you don’t care about keeping your business afloat or making money isn’t really an issue.

Plus, once it’s federally legal, the cannabis market it going to be SWAMPED. So there’s no time like the present to make yourself known in the current market. It’ll put you ahead of the game.

And cannabis consumers have proven to be very loyal – particularly to business owners who are daring enough to put themselves out there now.

So what all of this means that if you want to gain market reach, you need to think outside the box.

Speaking of outside…

(Strongly) Consider Out-of-Home Advertising

Cannabis marketing experts have found considerable success in utilizing out-of-home advertising. With the ever-appealing acronym OOH, this is any visual advertising media you see outside of the home.

You may know it better as outdoor advertising and it’s typically associated with billboards and signs. But it also includes ads on street furniture like bus shelters or benches, as well as in transit areas like train stations or airports.

And you know those ads you see before a movie at the theater or a sporting event at the stadium? Sure you do. They’re also components of OOH.

This form of advertising is all the more effective when it’s complemented by targeted digital elements. And these multiple formats account for not just thousands of locations in the world, but also millions of screens. Not too shabby.

It’s an exceedingly effective way to offer engaging and informational experiences to consumers while they’re out and about.

What about Your Website Though?

Here’s the thing.

Having a cannabis-centric website that’s getting tons of traffic is great. There’s no reason NOT to have one.

It’s possible to aggregate millions of cannabis-focused impressions with such a creature.

But the truth is, owning the content and the platform in which advertisements are served (such as in OOH) continues to offer the highest value for companies.

This slower and longer path certainly requires patience. Yet, scaling in this fragmented industry is already a challenge that cannabis business owners know all too well. So most are willing to go this route.

And here’s why.

The Future Is Bright for Cannabis Companies

You can’t ignore the statistics.

According to experts, the projected trajectory and overall value attributed to the cannabis industry is like nothing before it.

Nearly 70% of Americans accept cannabis use, and over 66% of the U.S. population live in a state where cannabis consumption is legal at some level.

For those living in states that haven’t yet embraced it, they continue to gain access to it. It’s estimated that over 55 million Americans consume cannabis.

And they spend over $10 billion annually on marijuana.

Most cannabis consumers spend big and shop often. They favor local digs and, as we already mentioned, tend be fiercely loyal.

Therefore, early and well-positioned innovators in this industry are going to be best positioned for long-term growth and value realization. And that means, embracing OOH and target digital elements.

At least, for now.

Are You Having Trouble Attracting Cannabis Customers?

There is so much to consider when running a marijuana business.

So if your marketing efforts have drained your energy and been largely ineffective, let us help.

With vast experience in marketing cannabis businesses, we’ve got the know-how in attracting cannabis customers.

Contact us today to set up a consultation. And we’ll ensure you a place in this burgeoning industry now – when it REALLY matters.

The post The Best Media Options for Attracting Cannabis Consumers appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.