Traditional Marketing Ideas To Market Your Cannabis Business
Marketing cannabis can be painfully difficult online. Luckily, there are some ways to work around the hurdles associated with cannabis marketing. In this article, we look at some traditional marketing ideas that can help your cannabis business reach a larger audience.
Advertising In Print Magazines and Newspapers
Print advertising is one of the most traditional marketing techniques out there. And while you might think print is dead, it’s actually very alive in the cannabis industry.
There are a number of different opportunities to market your cannabis business in print. Cannabis magazines remain popular in the cannabis community and are one of the main ways cannabis enthusiasts remain abreast with the latest industry updates.
Here are some of our favorite cannabis magazines:
- Broccoli, a glossy lifestyle mag for cannabis-loving women.
- Marijuana Venture, an industry magazine for cannabis growers and retailers.
- Vegas Cannabis Magazine, a hyper-local magazine for everything cannabis-related in Vegas, including lifestyle, industry news, and more.
Note that there are other print advertising opportunities outside of getting an ad in a paper/magazine. Try working with other, non-competing cannabis companies in your area and look for opportunities to display marketing flyers or brochures at their points of sale, for example.
Investing In Billboards
Billboards are another great traditional marketing technique that cannabis companies are starting to take advantage of, especially in legal states like California.
And it's not hard to see why; billboard adverts can be very effective. According to research by Arbitron, 71% of people say they actively look at billboard advertisements as they drive, often learning about events or restaurants that they later attend.
The price of billboard advertising really varies depending on the size and location of the board. According to BillboardsIn.com, for example, the monthly rate for a bulletin measuring 48' X 14' in San Francisco varies between $1,500 and $5,000. Smaller boards, like posters (22'8" X 10'5"), on the other hand, will set you back between $700 and $3,000/mth.
If it's possible in your state, investing in a billboard may be a great traditional marketing idea for your cannabusiness.
Sponsor Cannabis Events Near You
Sponsoring cannabis events is a great traditional marketing technique for cannabis businesses. Not only does it help familiarize people with your brand, but it’s also a great way to build up relationships with other cannabis businesses in your area.
Here are some great events to look out for in your area:
New dispensary openings: Dispensaries like to build up a lot of hype around their opening. Keep an eye out for advertising promoting the opening of a new cannabis dispensary in your area and get in touch to see if you can help sponsor the event in some way.
Cannabis celebrations (e.g. 4/20): The cannabis community loves to party. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for iconic events celebrating specific holidays like 420, CBD Day, Herer’s birthday, or Oils Day. Reach out to the organizers of the events and see if there’s some way you can help make the event extra special.
Industry events: Participating in cannabis industry events is a great way to get people familiarized with your brand. Whether its a big national event like the MJBiz Convention or a smaller local event, make sure you get involved to connect with other cannabis professionals and get your name out there. Here’s a list of great cannabis conventions to help promote your brand.
When you sponsor an event, be sure to take a close look at the cannabis laws in your area. State laws can restrict things like using cannabis in public places or giving it out for free. Make sure the way in which you plan to sponsor an event is completely above board.
Run A Street Team
Using street teams to promote your business might seem old-school. But trust us, it’s a great way to promote your cannabis business, especially if you have a brick-and-mortar retail store.
Here are some tips to successfully using a street team to promote your cannabis company:
Target areas close to your areas that receive a lot of foot traffic. Busy intersections, strip malls, or local shopping districts are great places to start.
Give out vouchers, coupons, or other promotional material. Handing out flyers with discounts or special promos, for example, is a great way to incentivize new customers to connect with you at a later date.
Track your results. You can do this using special promo codes that are only available from your flyers, for example. Alternatively, putting QR codes on your promotional handouts is another great way to track the efficiency of your street team.
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