Having a strong digital presence is a must for any business in today’s world, especially for a cannabis business. Without it, your business won’t be found while your competitors will be causing you to lose customers. But navigating the digital space can be complex and confusing. But doing nothing is a disservice to your budding business and will only cause you to lose future customers to your competitors. Don’t be paralyzed by the confusion or get stuck just because you don’t know where to start. Here are a couple digital trends of 2016 to start paying attention to now:
- Mobile is a Must
The use of mobile devices vs. a desktop computer has grown incredibly fast. And as more mobile devices emerge, this growth isn’t anticipated to stop anytime soon. With 80 percent (and counting!) of internet users owning a smartphone, it is not surprising that in 2015 mobile searches beat out desktop searches according to Google. This mobile usage takeover is expected to continue to grow rapidly in 2016 and beyond.
So it’s time to take a good look at your current website and ask yourself how mobile-friendly it is, if at all. Can people also find your business from their mobile devices on local listings like Google Places, Bing Places and Yelp? Is the available info up to date and relevant? Take an honest look at your mobile presence. Your mobile presence is key to your overall digital presence. If after you have assessed your website you have found some areas for improvement, we can help. Some digital trends may fizzle out quickly but one is not going to fade anytime soon.
- Videos for Victory
Video is everywhere now and that should include your business too. Social media channels have not only embraced video, but now also offer you a platform to stream videos live. This is a great way for your business to engage with your communities and for your communities to engage back with your business. Video content can be easily shared with your community and by your community.
So you are thinking “Video? No way! Too hard!” Wrong! Much of your video content doesn’t need to be professionally shot and produced. You don’t need fancy equipment either. Grab your smartphone and a buddy, and spend a few minutes talking about one of your favorite products that you offer. Post it on your social media channels or try it live and repeat the process regularly.
Video content is also great material for your website to help tell your story. For this, professional digital media expert is recommended. With a professional, you can create amazing video content that tells your story. Like high quality photography, a professional video can really help your customers understand what you have to offer and connect with you. Video, like photography is a tool that helps you build rapport with your community before they even step foot inside of your store.
Not sure where to go from here? Give us a call. We can guide you through the process and assess provide your business with a custom digital strategy based on your cannabis business goals. We specialize in working with cannabis businesses and are proud to have been serving the cannabis industry for over three years now.