6 Trends for 2023 and How To Rank in A Stigmatized Industry
The cannabis industry has experienced exponential growth in recent years. More US states and Canada have legalized its use not only for both medicinal purposes, but also recreational.
As a result, online competition among cannabis businesses has become fiercer and tougher than ever. For businesses looking to stand out and be seen, it is helpful to understand some evolving trends in marijuana SEO.
Let’s look at six of those trends that can assist your efforts to up your discoverability and visibility game!
1. Increased Emphasis on Local SEO
As more brick-and-mortar cannabis dispensaries emerge, the importance of local SEO cannot be overstated. In 2023, cannabis businesses need to prioritize optimizing their online presence for local search.
This includes claiming and updating Google My Business listings, incorporating local keywords into website content, and collecting positive customer reviews.
Local SEO will be essential in driving foot traffic and capturing customers who are searching for dispensaries near them.
2. Voice Search Optimization
With so many people using voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri, voice search is mainstream.
To stay ahead of the competition, cannabis businesses should consider optimizing their content for voice search by using conversational language and long-tail keywords.
Also, mobile compatibility is essential, since mobile-friendliness and fast-loading pages go hand-in-hand with voice search.
3. Focus on Content Quality and Expertise
In 2023, Google’s algorithms will continue to prioritize high-quality, informative, and engaging content. Cannabis businesses should invest in creating well-researched and expert-driven content that caters to their target audience.
This includes blog posts, videos, infographics, and podcasts that cover topics related to cannabis, its uses, benefits, and industry news. By establishing your business as a trusted source of information, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more customers.
4. The Growing Importance of Video Content
Video content is becoming increasingly popular among internet users, making it a powerful tool for cannabis businesses. In 2023, consider investing in video content to showcase your products, demonstrate their use, and educate your audience about the benefits of cannabis.
By optimizing your video content for search engines and sharing it on social media platforms, you can boost your online visibility and engage with your audience more effectively.
5. Emphasis on E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness
Google’s E-A-T guidelines have become a significant factor in determining search rankings. This is an area where cannabis businesses can outperform the competition.
Because everything about the product is individual and personal, companies can build up their reputations by providing expert content to their users and customers.
6. Increased Focus on User Experience
User experience (UX) plays a crucial role in SEO, as search engines prioritize websites that offer a seamless browsing experience.
In 2023, cannabis businesses should focus on optimizing their website’s UX by improving page load times, using mobile-responsive design, and ensuring easy navigation.
A user-friendly website will keep visitors engaged, increasing the likelihood of conversions and improving search engine rankings.
Conclusion
Cannabis SEO is undergoing significant changes in 2023 due to the rapid growth and evolving nature of the industry. As more businesses enter the market and competition intensifies, the need for effective digital marketing strategies, such as SEO, becomes increasingly important.
The changing landscape is driving businesses to focus on emerging trends which include local SEO, voice search optimization, high-quality content, video marketing, E-A-T guidelines, and user experience.
By recognizing and adapting to these shifts in cannabis SEO, businesses can better position themselves for success, improve their online visibility, and ultimately capture a larger share of the expanding market in 2023.
