With CBD sales going up by 15.8% each year, there’s never been a better time to get into the cannabis industry.
So, if you’re looking to boost your online presence and rank your CBD website, then you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to get eight easy tips on starting SEO for CBD and cannabis companies!
Why SEO Matters for CBD Brands
While social media and paid ads can drive some traffic, search engines will be the biggest opportunity to generate online visitors.
Bad news: Google doesn’t let you run CBD ads on Google Ads.
Good news: SEO is the best way to get regular, organic visitors to your website. It doesn’t just give a quick increase in traffic; it helps for long-term success.
Think of it this way: if you nail your SEO strategy, you’ll have people finding your website naturally for years to come. This means more sales and a bigger spotlight on your brand without constantly having to spend more cash.
SEO traffic is super-targeted, bringing you visitors who are already interested in what you offer. By focusing on the right keywords and understanding exactly who you’re aiming to reach, you can see results faster.
8 SEO for CBD Companies Tips to Boost Your Online Presence
1. Write CBD Content That Educates and Helps Your Audience
To perform CBD SEO the right way, you need to start making content that resonates.
Content marketing means creating information about your business and industry and sharing it with your audience.
Google shows preference to content that’s factual, engaging, and genuinely helpful.
When you create content, make sure it’s in-depth and trustworthy, positioning you as an authority in the CBD niche.
Remember, Google’s algorithms can easily spot unnecessary content. Keep your website focused on CBD and avoid unrelated topics.
So, if you’re targeting keywords like “CBD oil and pain,” it’s crucial to understand what users are looking for. They probably want to learn about how CBD can help with pain relief, which means they’re looking for information – this is informational search intent.
Doing this helps Google understand your expertise, making your site more likely to rank well.
Video Source: Ahrefs
Here’s how you can get started:
- Write High-Quality Content: No matter if it’s a blog post, product page, or FAQ, make sure to give useful info that readers can’t find anywhere else.
- Stay On Topic: Keep your content centered around CBD to strengthen your site’s authority.
- Post Consistently: Regular updates keep your site fresh and relevant. Use a content calendar to plan and ensure a steady flow of new material.
- Experiment with Formats: Mix things up with blogs, infographics, videos, and other types of content to connect with different parts of your audience.
- Match User Intent: Look up Google listings to see what people want and then adjust your content to fit their needs.
The best tip I could give you is to hire experienced writers. Because when it comes to writing about CBD, hiring writers with experience, knowledge, or a genuine interest in the subject is crucial.
Experienced writers can produce authentic and credible content, making it more engaging for readers.
If a writer doesn’t understand CBD well, it’s likely their content will lack authenticity, leading to a disconnect with your audience. For impactful results, I suggest you invest in writers who truly understand your field.
2. Target Less-Competitive Keywords For a Better Chance To Rank on the First Page
When you’re new to this, going after popular keywords like “CBD oil benefits” is like trying to climb a mountain without gear. It’s hard, and you probably won’t make it to the top without getting ready first.
SEO takes time. To succeed, use long-tail keywords like “CBD oil massage benefits.” These are three or more word phrases that target specific searches.
These keywords may not have high search numbers, but they are easier to target, especially for new sites. They attract users who know what they want and are ready to engage with your business.
Once you get these keywords right, you can incorporate them throughout your site, but don’t overdo it with repetition, or it will lead to keyword stuffing, which badly impacts your SEO.
As your site grows, you can gradually use those keywords with much more traffic.
Here’s how you can integrate this strategy:
- Identify Long-Tail Keywords: Look for keywords with three or more words. Use specific and relevant to your products or services.
- Research Search Intent: Understand what your potential clients are genuinely looking for. Match your keywords to this intent.
- Use Keywords Naturally: Increase their presence in a way that feels normal and helpful, not forced.
- Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Use keywords wisely to prevent your content from looking spammy.
- Grow Gradually: As you gain authority, start aiming for more competitive keywords slowly.
- Secure Backlinks: Build quality links to strengthen your site’s credibility.
By starting with these less-competitive keywords, you’ll set a solid foundation, attract the right audience, and prepare for more ambitious SEO goals.
3. Speed Up Your Website for a Better User Experience
Google reports that most people will leave your website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. The slower a site is, the higher the bounce rate.
According to KissMetrics, 47% of consumers expect a website to load in 2 seconds or less, and 40% would abandon a site that takes over 3 seconds.
So, if your site is slow, almost half of the visitors will leave before they even see what you offer.
Luckily, there are several ways to boost your website’s speed. Here are the standard ones:
- Clean your plugins by removing unnecessary ones to speed up your site.
- Optimize images to be small and quick-loading for faster website speed.
- Minimize code by keeping it simple for quicker load times.
Use Google PageSpeed Insights to get a detailed report on how your pages are doing right now.
4. Build EEAT into Your Content
To boost your rank in Google searches, you need to focus on EEAT:
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
This framework is especially crucial if you’re dealing with health topics like CBD. Because Google prioritizes content that showcases a deep understanding of the subject, you’ll need to tap into your knowledge about selling CBD products to show experience.
Make sure your content is crafted or reviewed by experts to establish expertise. To show off authority, link to reputable sources.
Trustworthiness comes from having an updated privacy policy, clear terms, and secure SSL certificates.
Video Source: Rank Math SEO
Here’s how to optimize your content with EEAT:
- Experience: Highlight your journey in selling CBD products. Share stories or stats that set you apart.
- Expertise: Ensure that your content is created or checked by CBD or wellness experts. Consider expert guest posts.
- Authority: Link out to authoritative sites in the CBD field, like scientific studies or respected health blogs.
- Trustworthiness: Keep your privacy policy and terms clear and simple. Make sure your site security is top-notch with SSL certificates.
Building trust and authority isn’t an overnight process, but starting today will pay off as you grow your audience and improve your SEO.
Working with an SEO agency like ours can really boost the results you’re looking for. For example, a $200 article can earn over $3,000 in returns, and sometimes even more.
5. Improve Your Search Ranking by Optimizing Meta Tags
Meta tags are key to improving your search rankings. Google relies on these tags to assess your page’s relevance, ensuring your site appears in the correct search results.
Video Source: Neil Patel
Here are some important meta tags to optimize:
I. Title tags
The first tag to optimize is the title tag. It’s the first thing people notice in search results.
When writing your title tag, aim to attract your audience and make them want to click on your link. Keep it exciting and engaging to drive more visitors to your site.
Make sure to keep your title tags within 60 characters to avoid getting them cut off. Truncated title tags look unappealing and might leave your audience guessing the rest of your title.
When creating your title tag, place your main keyword near the start. This signals to search engines and users that your site matches the search results.
II. Meta description
The next element to focus on is your meta description. This is a brief summary of your webpage that shows up under the title in search results.
Although meta descriptions don’t directly affect search rankings, they influence click-through rates. By using relevant keywords, a meta description helps users decide if your listing matches what they’re searching for.
To create an effective meta description, write a brief summary of your page. Keep it under 155 characters and include your primary keyword for best results.
III. Header tags
Header tags are essential elements that organize your content and give your audience a sneak peek at what to expect on your page. They appear at the top and throughout your content, making it easier for you to guide your readers.
Google and users rely on these header tags to grasp your page’s context, so it’s crucial to optimize them to provide clear and helpful information.
Also, ensure you include your main keyword in these header tags to demonstrate your page’s relevance.
6. Create a Plan for Internal Links
If you want your CBD website to climb the search engine rankings, internal links are your secret weapon.
Internal links are those handy little connections from one page on your site to another—like a blog post about CBD capsules linking to the product page.
They help search engines see your content as relevant and current. Plus, they guide your readers to more information, enhancing their site experience.
When done right, these links are not just useful but powerful for SEO.
Video Source: Osborne Digital Marketing
SEO link best practices for Google:
- Choose Anchor Text Wisely: Use descriptive, keyword-rich text for links. This helps Google understand your content better.
- Strategic Link Placement: Position your links higher in the content for maximum visibility.
- Connect Related Pages: Ensure links are relevant and connect to high-value pages you want visitors to notice.
- Use ‘Dofollow’ Links: This tells Google to follow your links, boosting your site’s authority.
- Drive User Engagement: Link blog pages to product pages; it can turn readers into buyers.
Internal links are not just about ranking; they’re about making your site a useful and engaging place for visitors.
7. Improve Your Local Presence to Attract Quality Leads
When you’re doing SEO for CBD, don’t overlook boosting your local presence. Many people search for nearby CBD companies to purchase from.
If you’re not targeting these local searches, you could be missing out on valuable traffic.
Here’s how you can boost your local presence:
I. Claim Your Google Business Profile
Start by claiming and completing your Google Business Profile. This listing shows up in local searches, especially in the local SEO 3-pack.
Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct. Add your business hours, website link, and photos.
Completing your profile enhances visibility, a crucial element of SEO for CBD Companies, because it makes you more visible and attractive to potential customers.
II. Keep Your NAP Updated
Your business info appears on sites like Yelp and Yellow Pages, so keep it consistent and updated. Mismatched info can lead to suspension of your Google listing, costing you traffic.
To keep everything correct, use tools like Moz Local to update all directories at once. This ensures your audience finds accurate info about your business.
III. Focus on Increasing Positive Reviews
Positive reviews can dramatically boost your local presence by building trust and credibility with potential customers.
Take Leafly’s reviews as an example; they helped build their reputation, resulting in over 13 million monthly visitors.
This enhanced reputation can lead to increased traffic and more local sales, making reviews a powerful tool for growth.
IV. Use Local Keywords
Optimize your site for local keywords like “CBD companies in Los Angeles.” These keywords help you show up in local searches.
By targeting specific location keywords, you attract more visitors looking for CBD in your area. This SEO strategy is crucial for driving local traffic to your company.
Video Source: John Reinesch
8. Learn from Competitors to Step Up Your SEO For CBD Tactic
Studying competitors can provide helpful ideas on successful strategies.
- Keyword Analysis: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find important keywords. Focus on keywords that can give you the best results.
- Backlink Opportunities: Look at where your competitors get backlinks. Try to get some for your site to boost your authority and search rankings.
- Content Ideas: Observe the trending topics that your competitors are covering. Add your unique twist to make them interesting and engaging.
Studying your competitors gives you a roadmap for your own SEO journey.
Begin Developing Your SEO for CBD Strategy Today
Crafting a killer CBD SEO campaign takes effort and smart planning. If you’re short on time or resources, JAS can help.
We have over 15 years of experience and have worked with many cannabis companies. Our team of marketing experts will create a custom SEO plan for your business.
With our experience, you can be sure we’ll help you craft a campaign that stands out.
For more information – contact us online.