If so, it’s not surprising.

There are some pretty stringent rules about where and how you can advertise cannabis. And this includes legal CBD products.

Plus, the penalties you face if you break these rules can haunt you for a long time. So what are you supposed to do?

Marketing for a Cannabis Business Is Challenging

So you’re just going to have to get creative.

But if you’re in the business of selling cannabis products, this won’t be a problem. You already possess the creative pioneering spirit that got you here in the first place.

So we’re going to offer up some surefire methods that will help you make a bigger name for yourself.

1. Buy a Billboard

If you live in a state where at least medical marijuana is legal, you’ve more than likely seen billboards advertising provisioning centers.

It makes sense. Billboards are big and bold.

In addition to static billboards, there are also digital billboards and other screen-based advertisements (known collectively as digital out-of-home (OOH) marketing) that serve as highly visible placements for cannabis brands.

Marketing agencies and media companies can get you started on this. It’s about, as the old adage says, “location, location, location.”

But it also needs to be fueled by the power of good creative too. So be sure you understand the limitations on what you can and cannot show. A company specific to cannabis marketing can guide you.

2. Invest in Solid Public Relations

It’s not uncommon for those new to marketing for a cannabis business to have to choose between advertising and public relations. Cash can be tight at first.

If you’re faced with that choice, remember that media coverage is worth its weight in gold. In other words, go with public relations.

Having an article about your company on an industry or news site is going to build some serious credibility. It’s also going to gain you search engine optimization.

Just be sure to hire a firm that focuses on cannabis. They know how to work around the unique restrictions of the industry.

3. Embrace the Power of the Blog

Speaking of search engine optimization…

If you don’t have a blog, get one. And if you do have a blog but aren’t taking advantage of it, it’s time you did.

Your blog is like an extension of you. It adds a personal touch to your marijuana business. Whether you write it or hire professional bloggers, having a well-crafted blog is a way to share your passion and prove your knowledge of the product.

Plus, search engines key in on your words. So offer thought-leader articles with a lot of practical advice. You can even augment your posts with video.

All it takes is a good phone to create a five-second commercial you can save as a .gif or mp4 and then post onto your blog.

4. Sponsor Someone or Something

If you have a little more capital to play with, sponsoring is a wonderful way to not only help empower the industry, but to get your name out there as well.

Keep an eye out for cannabis trade shows and conferences. Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo (CWCBE) is one of the bigger ones. Or reach out to a local team who embraces cannabis and would be open to having your logo on their uniforms.

There are even sports stars, musicians and other celebrities who are willing to put your message out there in exchange for sponsorship. For example, MMA fighter Liz Carmouche is sponsored by HempMeds.

5. Let Your Swag Advertise

Falling in line with having your logo on a local sports team, what about getting some quality t-shirts printed with your logo?

You can hand these out at trade shows, conferences, or even at your place of business. Then when people wear them out in public, they’re like human billboards advertising your business.

6. Seek out Weed-Friendly Networks

Is there such a thing?

With Facebook and Google banning cannabis ads, and CBS putting the kibosh on any marijuana ads during the Super Bowl, it can feel like networks discriminate against marijuana.

And that’s because they kinda do.

Because until federal prohibition is lifted, some companies are steering away from what they fear could create problems for them.

Fortunately, there are a few advertising networks that actually want your cannabis company display ads. Sure, you won’t reach the mainstream audience. Not yet, at least.

But these cannabis-friendly ad networks allow you to target your campaign to the audience you specify. You can even do this by state, region, and/or zip code.

So it’s a start.

Ready to Make a Name for Yourself?

There’s no arguing that marketing for a cannabis business is a unique challenge.

Especially while things are in flux.

So if you’re looking for expert marketing and stellar public relations related purely to cannabis, then contact us today.

We’re fellow pioneers in the industry. So let’s travel this path together.

The post Cannabis Marketing Tactics You Should Be Using appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

But what do coffee and cannabis have in common?

Of course, the obvious similarity is their uncanny ability to enhance one’s mood. In different ways, of course.

But it goes beyond that. Committed coffee drinkers revere the mighty bean and the plant from whence it comes – just as marijuana connoisseurs bow at the alter of the cannabis plant and its buds.

Plus, there are multiple processing options for both plants, as well as a multitude of consuming options for their drinkers/users.

So it makes sense then that the cannabis industry is turning an inquiring eye toward the coffee industry for inspiration.

What Are Some Cues from the Coffee Industry for Marketing Cannabis?

Artisan coffee brands that have survived know just how to generate buzz around their product. And that’s no easy feat – given the saturation of the market. (Another similarity to cannabis.)

Starting a cannabis company is tough for the same reason (not to mention a few more).

The following are five ways successful coffee brands have stayed afloat. And owners of cannabis businesses can certainly benefit by learning from these cues.

1. Stick with Your Story and Mission

The cannabis industry is on fire. If you don’t want to get swept up in the flames, then you need to be very clear on your company’s story and mission. Then you need to stay true to it.

What makes your brand unique?

For two different coffee companies, it’s the utilization of distinct visual styles. One company prides itself on products that are artfully sourced. So they’ve taken it one step further by sourcing their artwork from a local school of illustration.

Original artwork is carefully screen-printed onto bags of their coffee. Then they up-sell with designs available as t-shirts, mugs and art prints.

Meanwhile, Dark Matter Coffee in Chicago regularly commissions different artists to develop bag designs. And just about anything goes. This wild and unconventional approach garners instant recognition for their products.

Think of ways you can present a unique visual style that speaks your truth. Something that will really speak to the audience you’re wishing to attract.

2. Educate Your Customers

Nobody likes to look uninformed (i.e. stupid).

That’s why some coffeeshops and roasters are going the extra mile to educate their customers. And not just on the difference between a mocha and a macchiato.

We’re talking a full-blown coffee education. One company even features training centers in its cafés where customers can take lessons on home brewing, cupping fundamentals and the rich cultural history around coffee.

All in the name of keeping their customers from feeling like morons.

The same effort should be applied to the cannabis industry. When customers are informed about things like processing methods or advancements in technology (vaping pens may soon be able to do your taxes) it really enhances their experience.

When looking to enlist new customers, consider what they may not even know enough about to ask. They’ll appreciate your effort to keep them informed.

3. Embrace Your Inner Nerd

If you’re in the cannabis business, you probably have a geeky love for the product.

The same is true for those in the coffee industry.

Many craft coffee brands have taken to listing every detail about their product right on the bag – from the coffee plant species and when it’s harvested, right down to the name of the farmers and what they like to do for fun.

Those who love their coffee “drink” up this information. Because the truth is, they’re geeks too. And this information is cool to share at parties. Geek parties.

But seriously, sharing this information with your customers creates a connection with the source of the product and improves the overall experience.

So be prepared to tell the story – the whole story – of your cannabis and how it’s grown, crafted and processed.

4. Collaborate and Co-Brand

This is not only a great way to make a difference, but it’s a very effective way to surround yourself with like-minded people. And there’s strength in solidarity.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters out of Portland, Oregon, are the experts in co-branded collaborations. They’ve partnered with Mast chocolates, Tilamook ice cream and Jacobsen Salt Company to develop products that contain their coffee.

They even paired up with Rouge Creamery to collaborate on a coffee-stout cheddar. Okay, it may not be your thing. But point is, they’re deeply tied into not just the coffee community, but the culinary community at large.

Yeah, for now there are restrictions cannabis companies face that coffee roasters don’t. But it’s only a matter of time until those restrictions are lifted. So be ready.

5. Be An Activist

The cannabis industry exists because of activism. So keep the activism alive within your business practices.

We all know there are environmental and socio-economic repercussions of the both the coffee plant and cannabis. So giving back maintains some balance.

For example, when customers place an order at The Office Coffee Shop in Royal Oak, Michigan, a percentage of the profits go to their choice of one of three charities. Every purchase, every time. And the three charities are changed out from month to month.

Aware of the potential hazards to birds created by coffee cultivation, another roaster sets aside bird-friendly habitats on coffee farms.

Now is the time to think about innovative ways you can make an impact that is true to your brand, while connecting you with an audience that cares.

Watch Your Cannabis Business Grow

The burgeoning cannabis industry is ripe with opportunities unavailable anywhere else.

But learning through the successes and mistakes of other industries is crucial to keep your cannabis business agile and profitable. So take advantage of the above cues from the coffee industry for marketing cannabis.

And if you could use further support in your cannabis marketing strategy, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.

The post Taking Cues from the Coffee Industry for Marketing Cannabis appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.