With the legalization of marijuana happening left, right, and center, it was just a matter of time before the cannabis industry enjoyed unprecedented growth. One specific subset of the cannabis industry is all the rage right now, so much so that it is turning into a multi-billion-dollar industry on its own. According to market analysts, the CBD (cannabidiol) oil segment is expected to be worth around $20 billion by 2024.

As a consequence, more and more players are entering this market.  It is already an uphill battle trying to differentiate your CBD business from your competitors. It therefore becomes obvious that brands need to adopt a proper CBD marketing strategy if they are to rise to the top of the graph and stand apart from their competition.

The CBD marketing craze is well and truly upon us. Everywhere you look online, whether it is in the form of a CBD-focused advert that grasps your attention on Facebook, a search engine optimized CBD advertising campaign that points to an online store via Google, or a captivating Instagram story with a ‘Swipe-up’ link directing visitors to a website, the surge in CBD marketing is hard to ignore.

Tapping into this consumer market requires a great deal of diligence, consistency and patience. By marketing hemp-derived CBD effectively with the following methods, you can master the art of learning how to sell CBD online.

1. Grow Your Content Then Manage Your SEO.

Find a professional outsourced company to help with the content first, like Flocksy.  Content creation can fit in seamlessly with your long-term SEO plan, due to the fact that SEO focuses on the implementation of suitable high-volume keywords and phrases throughout blog posts, articles, product descriptions and web content. Get in the habit of sharing your content on social media platforms and watch the traffic grow! Carefully curated content will bolster your brand.

Perhaps one of the most organic ways to build your brand on the Internet is by paying close attention to search engine optimization, better known as SEO. Although this method can be somewhat difficult to execute, the cost is usually a lot lower than it is for alternative methods of advertising and it all begins with your custom content.  While they don’t do the SEO today, the content Flocksy provides can be written to SEO standards if you give them the terms you want highlighted.  

Additionally, you need not fret about breaking the CBD marketing rules. However, please be aware SEO “key words” will be considered as marketing and advertising materials if the FDA is investigating any health or disease claims. Practicing proper SEO will ensure that you are seen as a trusted thought leader in the nascent industry and will enable web visitors to find your site based on what they are searching online.

2. Attend trade shows.

Word of mouth marketing has always been (and continues to be) one of the most powerful forms of marketing. Consider attending industry trade shows for an opportunity to meet with other industry players face-to-face, as well as to assess the competition. Not only this, but at trade shows like World CBD Expo and the CBD Expo Tour, you can also demonstrate what your brand has to offer and get people on your side. By doing so, there’s a possibility of attracting a new audience and potentially, investment for your CBD advertising strategy.

3. Build an affiliate network.

Affiliate marketers are valuable people who can help to inform the world about your product, without you having to lift a finger. According to industry data, affiliate marketing expenditure will inflate by 10% over the next few years. Worth a whopping $12 billion, affiliate marketing accounts for 15% of all digital media revenue and back in 2017, web users clicked on affiliate marketing links over five billion times! If that wasn’t enough to blow your mind, consider the fact that global affiliate marketing transactions surpassed $170 million during the same year!

4. Use influencer marketing.

Aim to include as many marketing tactics in your CBD campaign as possible. The more diverse your marketing campaign, the better the chance of attracting your target market and turning over a rather healthy profit from CBD marketing. Influencer marketing is a fantastic way of doing this and it is one of the fastest-growing segments in the marketing world today, with 17% of companies claiming to spend more than half of their marketing budget on influencers. This year, 65% of influencer marketing budgets are predicted to inflate. Of course, an influencer that is compensated in any way must follow FTC guidelines and conspicuously disclose their connection to the brand being promoted.

5. Utilize email marketing.

Another marketing method that should not be ignored is email marketing. Although this is one of the oldest forms of online marketing, it maintains its efficacy at attracting customers from all corners and all walks of life. Sending coupons and deals to your existing newsletter subscribers/customers is a fantastic way to get the word out about products and improve customer relationships and retention.

For companies looking for a fast, affordable way to create marketing materials for things such as content and email, try a company like Flocksy. For a low, flat, monthly rate they offer unlimited web development, graphic design, copywriting, and video production. For small and medium sized business, it is a great way to get everything you need to kickstart marketing campaigns.

In spite of the fact that the major social networking platforms do not currently allow CBD advertising, there are ways to sidestep this predicament. Combined, social media and content marketing provides the perfect opportunity for CBD marketers to educate their audience and build brand awareness, without using aggressive selling techniques that could get your account banned.

For the best chance of success at making money from the “Green Rush”, perform adequate research prior to launching a CBD marketing campaign to better understand the limitations associated with the CBD industry,  federally, in each state, and online. Ahead of your brand launch, make sure all claims you make are authentic, substantiated and are accompanied by credible scientific support.