Cannabis Marketing Agencies Vs. General Digital Or Advertising Agencies

You may think that a marketing company is a marketing company, and that’s it.

But if your business is part of the wide world of weed, you might want to think twice. A “mainstream” agency is not the same as a cannabis marketing agency.

As cannabis is more broadly accepted, it has become evident that marketing strategies focused on the specific sector with experts in the field can make or break your business. Here’s why it’s essential to choose a cannabis market agency over a general one.

As in any market, working with experts has its benefits.

A traditional marketing company, so to speak, may be very good at what they do. Still, the cannabis industry has so many peculiarities that if you’re not in the thick of it, it’s almost impossible to keep up.

Suppose all marketing agencies – cannabis and traditional – come to the table with the same skill sets and marketing competencies. What the cannabis-focused agency will do best is understand precisely the world of cannabis, the market, its nuances, and its limitations. Who do you want to work with?

We’ve said it before, the cannabis market is unlike any other, so having a team that specializes in this specific market, the regulatory and compliance issues of each state, and the retail and point-of-sale issues, will be a huge advantage.

While the cannabis market is unique in many ways, it also has similarities to regular industries. Such as the need for a marketing team.

Getting the word out about your cannabis business through specialized marketing will make all the difference in the business. For this, a good cannabis-focused agency will be better than a large generalist or “corporate” marketing agency.

Digital cannabis marketing should be part of the business strategy of any cannabis business. And we’re not talking about posting on Instagram every now and then, and that’s it. We’re talking about full marketing with metrics, SEO strategies, search engines…the whole package.

The final decision is up to the individual, but having a specialized cannabis team is a very positive addition to any weed business. The cannabis industry has unique regulations and challenges.

A specialized cannabis marketing agency will have the right expertise to avoid all kinds of headaches and setbacks, as well as make things easier for you with a smart cannabis marketing strategy.

A specialized cannabis marketing agency can help cannabis businesses navigate situations such as:

• Defining and reaching your target audience
• Choosing the right marketing channels
• Develop a messaging, voice, and tone strategy
• SEO and getting found in search engines
• Building an engaged and active social media fan base
• Driving website traffic and converting it into sales

Having a cannabis agency working alongside you can bring many benefits, including:

Brand Consistency: Branding is the embodiment of your company. This includes the font and colors you use, the product packaging, your tone of voice, and the images you choose, just to name a few. These points should be common across all the media you use and should convey a message of consistency and unity.

Comply With Regulations: There are many regulations surrounding cannabis marketing. They are diverse and complicated, varying from state to state and at the federal level, not to mention they can change in the blink of an eye. Knowing what you can and can’t do beforehand will save you headaches and legal troubles.

Laws are strict around cannabis social media marketing and SEO strategies. Agencies that specialize in cannabis marketing know the rules about when, where, and how companies can market and advertise their products. Having a specialized team can especially help you with two things: avoid breaking the rules and put you on the map with an incredible marketing plan.

Content Liability: Due to strict industry regulations, misleading or uninformed content could create liability issues for your client. Having a marketing agency that knows what can and can’t be done will be an ace up your sleeve for every network campaign.

A Dedicated Team: Hiring a marketing agency means that there will be specialized people for each area that involves a consistent marketing plan. It is the definition of having a team working on your behalf. Imagine having a local and organic SEO expert, a social media master, an experienced cannabis content writer, and an amazing web designer, all focused on cannabis.

Market Knowledge: Cannabis-specific marketing agencies have a deep understanding of this unique market.

You can’t expect to know the ins and outs of digital marketing, keep up with industry trends, improve marketing metrics and avoid tactics that hurt your brand’s visibility all at the same time and without being a marketing expert.

That’s why it’s helpful to have an agency that specializes in cannabis. Mastering digital cannabis marketing is an art, and it’s not feasible for one person to do everything. If you delegate digital marketing to a company that specializes in cannabis, you can focus on the other aspects of your business and your customers.

Some of the aspects of marketing a company include factors such as:

• Branding
• Email marketing
• SEM/PPC
• SEO
• Backlinks
• Social media
• Web design and development

Knowledge Of Cannabis: A cannabis marketing agency knows about cannabis marketing. It may seem obvious, but it’s the reality. Are you getting the most out of your marketing strategy while complying with regulations? You may not know the answer to that question, or you may think you do. But are you absolutely sure? There’s nothing like having a team that knows for sure.

Industry Trends: Are you up to date with trends? To be recognized in the cannabis market, you have to be on the trends of that market. Digital marketing may seem simple; maintain a website, share things on social networks, and create some ads. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg and goes much deeper and much further.

Define Goals And Budget: Having your goals and budget defined will help you effectively narrow the field you will and will not work with.

Research Your Options: You already know that a marketing agency specialized in cannabis can be a big plus, but you can further narrow down your search with aspects such as the location of the agency, specialized vs. full-service agencies, type of agency, etc.

Check Their Online Presence: If you want the advice of an expert in marketing networks, the agency should have a very distinct and consistent presence in the media. That’s the bare minimum.