In this how-to guide, we’re going to cover the basics of building a high-quality website for your cannabis dispensary. We’ll be talking about:

• Why it’s important to have a professional website, even if you’re a local business
• Best practices for web design for dispensaries
• What to include in your website content and design

Launching a dispensary can be a whirlwind, especially when the demand for both medical cannabis products and recreational adult-use cannabis is increasing at a record-breaking pace. From stocking your shelves with the best strains to making sure you comply with local regulations, your to-do list is probably at least a mile long.

But no matter how many things you have to tackle to build a successful cannabis business, there’s one must-do item you should put at the top of your list right now: learn how to build a dispensary website and establish your online presence.

Does Every Dispensary Need a Website?

So many local businesses, both in and outside the adult-use cannabis industry, assume that professional websites aren’t a necessity. However, you might be surprised to learn just how many people could be trying to find your dispensary online at this moment. Consumers are constantly using their smartphones and other devices to conduct of-the-minute local searches for products and services in their area. And then, they’re using that information to decide which local businesses they’ll be shopping at.

Still not convinced you need a website? According to Google, about 88% of people that used their smartphone for a local search visited a related business within one week. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, 76% made in-person visits within one day!

Those numbers are impossible to argue with: a well-crafted website is a necessity for your dispensary. Without one, your business will go undiscovered by countless potential customers – who will likely head to your competitors instead.

Creating a Dispensary Website

The very first step of building a website is choosing and purchasing a domain name. Different online domain search tools (including this one from Google) can show you what URLs are currently available. You might need to make your domain name a variation of your actual dispensary name, depending on what’s already taken.

Purchasing and registering your domain name can be done through domain registrars, as well as a handful of content management systems (CMS). Once that step is complete, it’s time to dive into design and development.

You have two basic options for your website design:

1. Hire an expert.
2. Try a DIY approach.

Hire a Professional Developer & Designer

Hiring a professional dispensary website design and development team gives you invaluable access to experts in the field who have the skills and resources to create an outstanding dispensary website that checks all the boxes. It’s absolutely the easier of the two routes because you won’t have to spend time and energy learning how to do web design, coding, and all of the other intricacies of the process.

Professional cannabis website design agencies, like Marijuana Marketing Xperts, can take your website from an idea to a fully functioning reality. Plus, they can make all of the backend updates to keep your site in working order. The right team will make it a collaborative process, so you can have significant input in how the site looks and functions.

So, how much does it cost to have a website professionally designed? The final price will depend largely on exactly which services you need and the features you want to incorporate. However, in the end, the investment is one that will easily pay for itself in increased brand awareness, profits, and traffic.

Design Your Own 420 Website

Coming up with your own 420 website design is another option, though you can expect to spend more time and effort on it. Website builder software programs and sites can help you navigate the process so that you’re not coding completely from scratch. Using a pre-built template, you can get your site up and running with a basic structure and core elements using ECommerce platforms. Generally, it’s pretty simple to connect your domain/URL to the website design.

It’s common for dispensaries and other local businesses to start out with a simple, DIY website at the beginning of their marketing efforts. Then, as business picks up and goals aim higher, the time for a site upgrade comes. In these cases, a professional developer and website design team can elevate your current site to make it even more effective, both in appearance and how well it markets your medical and/or adult-use cannabis products and/or services.

Cannabis Website Design Basics

If you want to try building a starter site for your dispensary, here are a few things to keep in mind along the way.

Keep Your Site Simple

It can be tempting to go all-out when you’re setting up your site, especially when you’re hoping to attract potential customers. But animations, pop-ups, and other more advanced elements aren’t something you need to worry about at the beginning.

Instead, focus on providing online users with answers to their questions, such as:

• What products or services do you offer?
• Where is your business located?
• What makes your dispensary different from your competitors?
• How can they get in contact with you?
• What are your business hours?
• Do you offer medical or recreational cannabis?
• Can they pre-order online?

Be clear and concise, staying away from overcomplicated templates. Content should be organized into easy-to-scan chunks, displayed in suitable font size (at least 16px), and in contrast to your background color. Photos of your dispensary, cannabis products, and employees are always a good way to catch users’ interest as well.

Prioritize Mobile-Friendly Layouts

If you’re anything like most consumers, your smartphone is your go-to source for information. This means that when you’re searching for a business near you, you aren’t going to hunt down a computer – instead, you’re going to hop on your mobile browser or a search app platform. And any potential customer is going to be doing the same.

This makes it critical that you have a responsive website design and service platform. In other words, your site should work well on all mobile devices (including smartphones and tablets). Not only does this ensure a positive user experience, but it can also improve your search rankings as well.

Display Useful Content

While it’s true that your company website is about your dispensary, it should really be designed with your target audience in mind. Think about the kind of content your audience will find most interesting and useful and how you can create content that encourages them to visit your dispensary in person.
Here’s what to include in your dispensary website, at a minimum:

• Homepage
• Product pages (and/or live menu)
• About your dispensary
• Contact information
• Location(s)

Content like a blog, careers page, and loyalty program details are also beneficial, though they can be relegated to a second phase of development if need be.

Be Aware of Compliance

Whatever you do, don’t forget to implement a security pop-up for age or medical marijuana card verification. This protects your dispensary and minors and ensures you’re within bounds of local laws and cannabis enforcement.

Hire an Expert at Marijuana Marketing Xperts

Building a dispensary website can be a big job, and we’ve only just scratched the surface of what great web design can do for your business. Discover how you can grow and expand your business with online strategies such as local search engine optimization (SEO), device ID targeting, uplifted cannabis industry branding, promotion on social media platforms and more.

Contact Marijuana Marketing Xperts, a cannabis market industry leader specializing in marketing for cannabusinesses, today!

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