Impact of COVID-19 on Cannabis Industry

Covid-19, the pandemic that has captured the minds, jobs, and lives, of millions continues to rage on. As further guidelines and second and third-wave lockdowns threaten more than just an economy- but a sense of normalcy, many struggle to orient themselves in the multidirectional uncertainty of our future.

Businesses that center themselves around cannabis are not shielded from this unprecedented market. Clawing to maintain a space that is both safe for customers and conducive for the health of a business. While the novel virus has presented us with a time for reflection, and a chance to get better at things that may have bypassed our radars, cannabis focused SEO agencies like Unik SEO are here to help. Offering a leg up to those businesses that have often been left to figure things out on their own.

Impact of COVID-19 on Cannabis

While it may seem like a dream come true, with more people at home having the time to indulge in their favorite recreations. However, this was absolutely not the holiday anyone was looking for. Particularly as loved ones were lost, a virus ran ramped, keeping us from our friends and family, and everyone was caught in the middle of a debilitating economic tailspin.

As more people than ever relied on the cannabis industry for their very well-being, production and brick and mortar retail stood still. Millions lost their jobs, and the cannabis industry clamored to find a way to continue their livelihoods in a safe and supportive manner.

Like any other agricultural business, cannabis requires many hours filled with cooperative labor practices in order to get from the farm to your front door. While covid may have changed aspects of this process, the industry still relied on key workers like farmers and delivery personnel.

The cannabis industry has long had a firm focus on the wellbeing of its customers and consumers, which created a crossroads for many cannabis purveyors. The time to move online had come. For many business owners, online stores had already been a large part of their everyday strategy, but as more were propelled into the online space, the importance of Cannabis SEO became ever more relevant.

An Epic Opportunity Awaits

Things have been tricky for some time, but a historic vote that took place on December 2 has paved the way for a remarkable future. It’s been a long time coming, but the United Nations Commission for Narcotic Drugs has finally voted to recognize cannabis as a medicine…officially.

Acting on advice from the World Health Organization, cannabis has been removed from the list of substances judged to have little or no medical benefit. This doesn’t affect the legality of weed anywhere for the time being, but is nonetheless another major step towards sensible cannabis policy worldwide.

It also sends a powerful message to the world about the potential benefits of weed. One that could play right into the hands of the savvy marketer.

The Importance of Cannabis SEO

What makes cannabis SEO so incredibly important for marijuana business owners isn’t just racking up dollar signs, but instead finding the best way to meet your customer base and provide them with the quality products they want, in a manner that is most convenient for both business and consumer. As more Cannabusiness owners move to an online landscape, particularly as covid takes away the ability to locally provide goods, the race for easy to use and quick websites becomes just as heated as that to obtain good search engine result rankings.

A recent study released valuable insight into why search engine ranking is so important, particularly for cannabis business and their SEO agency. The study focused on the correlation between click-through rate (CTR) and search engine ranking. Which may sound like old news, but what was found wasn’t just about the coveted “first page” result status, but instead the first organic result on the first page.

The study showed that CTR sharply declined for websites ranked outside of the top position. Where the number one spot saw a nearly 30% CTR, subsequent ranks were mere fractions of that. With the second position CTR reduced by almost half- just above 15%.

The CTR is the ratio of page views that come from search engine results, weighted against those that come from other manners of advertising. Things like email campaigns, ad banners, Pay-Per-Click ads, and backlinks.

As any digital cannabis owner can testify- these traditional means of advertising are actually incredibly difficult to pursue, which leaves an increased pressure for high search engine CTRs.

Keeping Your Business Flourishing with Digital Marketing Strategies

Arguably, the best way for any online Cannabusiness to flourish is through the use of Cannabis SEO, specifically the kind that comes from an SEO agency. Creating a useful digital market strategy for cannabis is far from easy.

It requires a number of varied focuses and talents, that are incredibly difficult- if not entirely impossible- for one person to do alone. Which is where niche agencies like Unik SEO step in.

Using varied techniques that adhere flawlessly to strict ethical guidelines set forth by search engines themselves, an SEO agency can help not only obtain, but maintain, good rankings. Which are soon to be the crutch of any online business. Cannabis SEO in particular requires a deep and intimate knowledge of the practices that fit within the lines, as the rules are often much harsher for niche businesses of an age-controlled nature.

With covid still raging and further lockdowns on the horizon- the time to go digital was yesterday, making today the moment to start playing catch up by using an SEO agency to keep your business growing strong.