We recently published an article about social media marketing for cannabis brands, and it got us thinking — what about marketing without social media?
Many of our WEiC family members (that’s you) have voiced opinions and frustrations about marketing on social media as a cannabis brand, and while we’re happy to help provide tips on how to overcome that madness, we would also like to offer you a radical alternative — marketing WITHOUT social media.
So, for those of you who are sick of battling with the algorithm and chasing trends, here are eight ways you can market your personal cannabis brand or business without selling your soul to the Meta gods.
Host a cannabis mixer in your local area
The idea of jumping offline and into real connections is becoming increasingly appealing to us here at WEiC, and apparently, we’re not alone. New studies have highlighted that consumers are experiencing digital fatigue, driving a surge in demand for authentic, in-person experiences.
We understand that this might not be feasible for you, depending on where you live, but if you happen to find yourself in a cannabis-friendly state, now is a great time to get out there and put something on for your community.
It can be a simple socializing event in a public place, a more exclusive paid experience at an event center or rental, or even a small dinner with like-minded women in cannabis who want to network and chat about business in person.
Guest speak on a podcast that aligns with your values
Another great way to grow your cannabis social network and get your biz in front of more eyes is to guest speak on a podcast that aligns with your values. A quick scan of the web shows there are more than 100 cannabis podcasts, many of which are likely waiting for a changemaker like you to jump on and tell your story. Or hey, better yet, start a podcast of your own!
Publish guest blogs with someone who shares your audience
If speaking isn’t your cup of tea, another option to grow your cannabis social network is to look for brands that you align with or that share your target audience and ask them if they’d be interested in allowing you to guest post on their blog.
Some cannabis websites are bringing in 20,000+ readers each month and are eager to get new voices and opinions up on their blogs. The best way to go about this is to look in the footer for guest posting opportunities or to reach out to someone via their contact page and ask about guest posting directly.
Sponsor a cannabis brand to get your name out there
One of the more underrated ways to grow your cannabis business network is to become a sponsor for an event. What’s great about this strategy is that you get your name out there while also supporting other businesses in your community. You can choose to sponsor cannabis brands or other non-cannabis brands that share your brand values.
Sponsorship may look like exchanging a cash payment for visibility, making a donation to a brand, or even providing products or business cards to be handed out at a live event.
Use Search Engine Optimization to reach your audience
Search engine optimization helps your brand be discovered through search engines. This is great for driving organic traffic to your website without having to worry about self-censoring to run ads. Each website page can be optimized for different keywords, and you can also build blog strategies around topics that you’re passionate about and would attract (and inform) your ideal audience.
Attend virtual networking events and groups
We may be biased, but we love a virtual networking sesh! Virtual networking allows you to meet women in cannabis from all over the world. How cool is that?! This can be especially powerful for those of you who are living in more restricted states and don’t have as large a community to discuss cannabis and other plant medicine topics.
If you haven’t had a chance to drop into one of the WEiC virtual networking events, we’d love to have you! It’s free and happens on the first Tuesday and Third Thursday of every month.
Join private offline cannabis communities
To be honest, we’ve been increasingly frustrated with social media. While marketing cannabis brands via social media is absolutely possible and many people claim this is the “easiest algorithm we’ve ever had,” it still comes with plenty of pitfalls.
Being in cannabis or other restricted industries makes it difficult for us to openly share some of the challenges we face and grow our business in authentic ways. On top of that, social media audiences are borrowed, and the risk of having everything ripped away at some bot’s discretion hasn’t been sitting well with us.
WEiC recently launched a brand new private platform for these exact reasons, and we’d love for you to be part of it. You can check out more info on how to join Higher Her Society here.
Sign up to speak at a cannabis event and demonstrate thought leadership
If you’re a woman in the cannabis industry, odds are you have many meaningful things to share. And what better place to share them than at a cannabis event! Both in-person and virtual cannabis events are constantly seeking speakers to demonstrate thought leadership. Whether it’s advice on how to improve an area of your business or a story about something you’ve overcome, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. We need more women standing up, speaking out and taking up space!
Join the WEiC Free Cannabis Community
Last but not least, consider this your invitation to join our free cannabis social networking community! Whether you’re a cannabis lover, business owner or an OG of the cannabis space, we’ve got plenty of room for you at our table.