What is Weedmaps?

Weedmaps is an online directory and marketplace aimed at cannabis consumers looking for dispensaries and cannabis products. The platform enables users to search for dispensaries based on location, deals, and products. Lastly, it provides various tools and features for dispensaries to promote their businesses, and products, and connect with potential customers.

Weedmaps Features

1. Directory Listings: Dispensaries can create profiles, showcasing their products, deals, and location.
2. Search Functionality: Users can search for dispensaries based on specific criteria such as location, deals, and products.
3. E-commerce Integration: Dispensaries can sell their products directly through Weedmaps, streamlining the shopping experience for customers.
4. Advertising Opportunities: Weedmaps offers advertising options for dispensaries to increase their visibility and reach on the platform. 

Benefits of Weedmaps for Dispensaries

Attract Potential Customers

Weedmaps is an excellent venue for attracting potential customers due to its robust search functionality. Users can find your dispensary by location, deals, or products, making it a valuable tool for user acquisition.

Generate Sales 

Customers may order directly through the platform, providing a seamless shopping experience that may lead to increased sales for your dispensary.

Premium Visibility

When you’ve subscribed to premium listings, your dispensary may appear higher in search results, increasing the likelihood of being discovered by potential customers. Listings costs range from $300-500 per month. 

Access to Advertising Tools & Other Enterprise Features

Access to Weedmaps' advertising suite allows businesses to create targeted ads, further increasing visibility and reach.  Moreover, dispensaries can scale further with other Weedmaps solutions such as delivery dispatch automation and CRMs to help with nurturing Weedmaps shoppers.
 

Downsides of Weedmaps for Dispensaries

Despite the advantages of Weedmaps, there are downsides that dispensaries should not overlook:

Tough Competition

With thousands of dispensaries listed on Weedmaps, standing out among competitors can be challenging. To consistently secure a visible spot, you may need to spend thousands of dollars on advertising and premium listings before getting substantial traction to sustain your placement.

Loss of Brand Essence

By being listed on Weedmaps, your dispensary risks losing its unique brand essence, as it becomes just one of many dispensaries on the platform. It can be challenging to showcase the fun and interesting side of your biz and your unique selling points.

Limited Brand Loyalty

Weedmaps doesn't necessarily foster brand loyalty. Instead, customers tend to compare your dispensary to others and choose based on factors like price or deals, rather than the value your dispensary really brings. So if a customer shops via Weedmaps once or twice, you can’t be certain that they’ll shop with you once more since there are many options to choose from.

Difficulty Retaining Customers

With numerous options available, customers may ignore your dispensary if you don't have competitive prices or existing ratings. While they do offer CRM functions to help target & retain customers at scale, it may additional investments on your end on top of the listing services. 

Strengthening Your Dispensary Brand Independently

While Weedmaps offers clear benefits, dispensaries can also explore alternative methods to strengthen their brand on their own. Here are some strategies to consider:

Create a Dedicated Dispensary Mobile App

Develop a user-friendly mobile app for your dispensary, making it the go-to source for your customers' cannabis needs. This not only enhances the user experience but also fosters brand loyalty, as customers will have a direct connection with your dispensary through the app. You can also use push notifications to keep customers informed about deals, promotions, and new products.

Digital Awesome creates awesome cannabis apps that keep people shopping. Features the many dispensaries love are:

• One-App-For-All Approach

The app is fully integrated with the dispensary’s existing e-commerce, POS and rewards program provider. Whether you’re using Dutchie, Jane, POSabit, Meadow or Springbig or other leading software solutions, Digital Awesome works with them to package the full shopping experience in one frictionless app.

This means that you don’t have to replace your current providers or if you’re not happy with them, you can switch to any provider of choice without the worry of losing all your data or going through the headaches of migration.

• Custom Milestones & Achievements

A personalized referral and engagement system that encourages customers to continue purchasing, sharing, and interacting. This is achieved by granting badges to users upon accomplishing specific objectives.

• Unlimited Push Notifications

Dispensaries have the option to establish manual and automated push notifications, allowing them to share updates, promotions, and news directly with their customers. This is a fantastic opportunity, considering 80% of app users opt-in for push notifications, providing dispensaries with an excellent chance of conversion and recapturing customers without navigating the complex advertising regulations of mainstream ad channels. 

PS: This is already included in the service. No extra fees like other providers.

These are just some of the many features Digital Awesome’s cannabis app solution provides for dispensaries. More than app features, dispensaries attest to the easy and collaborative nature of the development firm during the process of building the app on top of its affordability (as low as $470 per month). 

Working with Digital Awesome has been an incredible experience. They actively engaged with us, understood our app requirements, and delivered outstanding results that exceeded our expectations.

-Keegan McClung, Cinder Cannabis, Marketing Director

BOOK A DEMO
 

Enhance Your Loyalty Program 

Offer unique rewards and incentives to customers, promoting long-term loyalty. Consider implementing tiered reward systems, exclusive deals, or personalized offers based on customer preferences. 

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Niche Collaboration

Collect information on your loyalty members and discover their interests. If your dispensary serves an artistic community, partner with emerging artists and host an exclusive art event for your loyalty club members. Provide special offers or limited edition merchandise to those who join your club.

Be sure to tailor-fit your offer accordingly. Assess the community you sell to, the culture and of course, demographics. 

• Gamify Your Rewards

Make it fun and rewarding for customers to be in your bud club. You can do so by gamifying your rewards by doing:

• Friend referral challenges
• Exclusive spin to win opportunities
• Bud Club raffles
• Treasure Hunts
• Badges & medals via your dispensary app

Invest in Content Marketing

Utilize various content marketing strategies, such as SEO, collaborations, and podcasts, to widen your exposure and attract more customers. By creating valuable and engaging content, you can establish your dispensary as an industry leader and build trust with your audience. 

Here are some Cannabis Podcasts For Businesses to tap in 2023:

• Canna Vibe
• Dude Grows Show
• Cannabis School
• To Be Blunt by Shayda Torabi
• Cannabis Tech Talks

Alternatively, you can collab with CBD social media influencers. Here are 25 Top Cannabis Instagram Influencers to follow and send your pitches to.

Offer Affiliate Marketing Programs

Encourage customers to promote your dispensary through referral programs, further expanding your reach. By offering incentives for referring friends and posting about the brand on social, you can turn your loyal customers into brand ambassadors. Affiliate marketing programs help grow your customer base organically while reinforcing brand loyalty among existing customers.

By exploring these alternative methods and focusing on building your dispensary's brand, you can create a strong foundation for long-term success, independent of platforms like Weedmaps.

 

In conclusion, the right approach for your dispensary may vary, but one thing remains consistent: the importance of building and strengthening your brand for long-term success. While Weedmaps offers certain benefits, it's crucial to explore alternative methods and focus on developing your dispensary's unique identity. By doing so, you can create a solid foundation that ensures your business thrives, regardless of the platform you choose to use. 

Remember, just like anything else, the key to surviving for the long haul lies in cultivating and nurturing your brand.

Disclaimer: The tips, advice, and insights provided on this blog are intended for informational purposes only and should be considered as recommendations and market news. Readers are advised to conduct their own due diligence and ensure compliance with federal and state laws before making any business decisions. Digital Awesome will not be held liable for any damages or penalties incurred as a result of following the advice or information presented in this blog.