Blog : CBD

Full-Circle Marketing

Full-Circle Marketing

We hear it all the time: I don’t have budget to do what I should do for marketing.  Or: How can I be guaranteed that marketing will work for me?  Or: My budtenders handle my marketing.  At Cannabis Marketing, Inc., we get it!  As business owners, every single dollar that you put into the business needs to be accounted for.  This can mean cutting corners when it comes to marketing, or tasking employees to handle your marketing in order to save money.  In this blog, we will discuss candidly why hiring a team of cannabis marketing experts makes sense over fragmenting your marketing strategy among separate people or multiple agencies.

When you first started your business, like most entrepreneurs, you probably did not have a lot of capital for marketing.  So maybe you assigned email campaigns to one person on your team, and then assigned social media to a savvy family member, and then assigned graphic design and printing to someone on your management team.  Then, as you started gaining traction and your business started to grow, you probably got bombarded by outside sales people trying to sell you print ads, or coupon book sections, or digital service packages.  Without having the connections or experience in marketing (because after all, you are a business owner, not a marketer), maybe you elected some additional marketing campaigns that did not pan out.  Maybe you spent money on a new concept that promised return and found that nothing happened.  Maybe the marketing company wasn’t transparent about what your campaign did, so you actually have no idea where your dollars were applied, or what those dollars accomplished. 

WE GET IT! When you start a business, it can be incredibly difficult to understand what makes the most sense when it comes to spending money on marketing. This is where Cannabis Marketing, Inc. can help.

Cannabis Marketing, Inc. is not like other cannabis marketing agencies that you’ve encountered.  We pride ourselves on becoming a part of your team, not simply a vendor or a yes-man.  Our team is carefully compiled of experts in each leg of your marketing campaign.  This means, that our social media team lives and breathes social media every day; attending seminars, webinars, and ingesting articles so that our knowledge is on trend and we can change your strategy as quickly as the social media landscape changes.  Our SEO team has decades of experience, and we make sure to use only the best proven strategies for Search Engine Optimization so that your website goes farther.  Our compliance team is constantly researching and learning about the newest changes in legislation and cannabis compliance so that our clients are first in the know when changes could impact your marketing strategy.  Cannabis Marketing, Inc. also has strong connections nationwide for every type of marketing avenue.  This means, we know the companies who are reaching out to you.  We know what to ask for and how to research new strategies to make sure that anything that comes across your desk is vetted before implementation.  Our team works closely together to ensure that we are doing what’s best for you and your cannabis business, every single day.

The other thing that sets Cannabis Marketing, Inc. apart from other agencies is that we eliminate fragmented marketing.  Fragmented marketing is when you have one person in charge of one thing, one department in charge of another thing, and more often than not, those people do not communicate effectively.  This means, that instead of your social media, email, radio, SEO, website design, and print advertising all working together to promote your message, your brand, and your specials; each advertising piece is instead working alone.  We all know that there is strength in numbers, and Full-Circle Marketing works when your entire team and strategy is on the same page.  Cannabis Marketing, Inc.’s team helps to make sure that all of your marketing pieces are branded, beautiful, and cohesive.  We analyze and plan every piece of your chosen marketing strategy so that radio is supporting social media, social media is supporting email, email is supporting specials, and your print ads are driving traffic to your website.  Every piece of your strategy works together to promote your brand or storefront, resulting in increased sales over time.  Eliminating fragmented marketing is the number one way to make sure that your marketing dollars are being used as effectively as possible.  After all, you are running a business to make money!

If a straightforward approach to marketing is something you can appreciate, let’s see if we are a good fit!  Utilizing Full-Circle Marketing with Cannabis Marketing, Inc. will get you the results that you are looking for.  Our expertise in the cannabis industry is unmatched, and our team is passionate about the cannabis industry.  Check out our case studies on the home page of our website, and give us a call to see how we can help you grow!

Marketing CBD to Your Older Demographic

Marketing CBD to Your Older Demographic

  • By Cannabis Marketing Inc.
  • February 22, 2019
  • CBD

On our January podcast, we talked about the booming industry of CBD and how you can effectively market to your older demographic.  CBD may seem like a no-brainer way to get into the cannabis industry, especially with the recent legalization of hemp, but many business owners and resellers are finding it difficult to explain to their older customers how CBD and THC differ.  There is still a lot of confusion as to what CBD is and what it can do.  There are ways to help educate your customers about your CBD brand while making your website stand out, though!  Cannabis Marketing, Inc. is the expert in getting your voice heard while creating outside-the-box strategies that will help your business grow.

Advances in the CBD Marketplace

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a compound from the cannabis plant that has none of the psychoactive elements you may think of when you think about cannabis.  CBD has become popular in recent years because of its claims to help relieve anxiety, inflammation, spasms, seizures, and pain, even though none of these have been verified by the Food and Drug Administration.  Because of the FDA’s stance on CBD, not enough tests have been done to verify exactly what CBD does or does not do; or how it can potentially help chronic pain, among other ailments.  In December 2018, even after the Farm Bill was passed to legalize hemp, the FDA started cracking down even harder on companies selling CBD, sending letters and warnings to those who tout the health benefits of CBD.  According to the FDA, “three ingredients derived from hemp – hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil – are safe as foods and won’t require additional approvals, as long as marketers do not make claims that they treat disease.”  This poses a huge roadblock for education about CBD, as studies are few, and any claims as to the benefits of CBD, can be flagged as non-compliant.

Compliance

So, how does one stay compliant in the eyes of the FDA while educating consumers about the benefits of CBD?  The short answer is: Don’t say anything that could be construed as advice about health.  This may sound like the opposite of what you’re supposed to do when marketing a new and exciting product, but until the FDA accepts CBD as a health supplement and products gain approval, every time you post about the “benefits” of CBD, you are putting your entire company at risk.  This includes information on your website, social media profiles, newsletters, and print materials.  Without FDA approval for your CBD product, it is against the law to make health claims.  Think of any supplements you purchase at a health food store.  They typically have some sort of disclosure, “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”

Even without FDA approval, CBD sales in the United States last year were over $350 million, and projections indicate we’ll be seeing over $1 billion in CBD sales by 2020.  With continued projected growth in this industry, it’s important to set your brand above the competition.  So how can you educate consumers about why your product or website is the best, without making health claims?

Baby Boomers are curious about CBD and its potential benefits, but without science to back up claims and with SO MANY products to choose from, it’s no wonder there is confusion instead of acceptance.  This demographic grew up in the “Reefer Madness” landscape; heck, they created it.  Cannabis of any form was evil, would make men violent and women promiscuous, and all that nonsense.  As times have changed and research has moved ever-so-slowly forward, studies have found that CBD may provide certain health benefits without any of the “high” feeling, although there is still more research needed.  The psychoactive feelings associated with cannabis are a turn-off for many, so CBD presents an alternative to those who are willing to experiment with something that is not FDA-approved.  Your older demographic may be experiencing undesirable side effects from prescription pills, but are also wary of substituting their doctor-prescribed medication with anything different.

The best way to remain compliant while helping your older demographic learn about your brand or products is to create content that is educational without making health statements.  Some examples would be to write a blog about the amount of CBD your products contain per milliliter, create an infographic about how CBD differs from cannabis and THC, or record a video about how to use your product for the maximum effectiveness.  The key is differentiating your company while educating about proper use.  Our team at Cannabis Marketing, Inc. is experienced in marketing CBD with compliance initiatives that will keep your company or brand in-line while reaching your target demographic!

In short, the CBD industry is an exciting one, and we want to help the right company become THE name in the game.  How could your CBD company benefit from a strategic marketing plan while ensuring compliance?

CBD and Professional Sports

CBD and Professional Sports

  • By Cannabis Marketing Inc.
  • September 11, 2018
  • CBD

As CBD awareness and acceptance rises in the world, many are asking how CBD can be used in fitness and sports and how athletes can take advantage of the multitude of benefits.    How does CBD effect an athlete’s body, exactly?  Is it legal for athletes to consume CBD?  Should it be?  Before we get to these essential questions, we want to make sure you understand what CBD is.

What Is CBD?

There is a lot of noise out there when it comes to CBD and we want to clear the air.  CBD stands for cannabidiol.  This is a chemical compound which comes from the marijuana plant.  Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the part of the plant of which CBD is derived, does not have cause any psychoactive effects when consumed.  CBD will not cause the someone to ever feel “high” like THC.  So, why doesn’t CBD get you high?  That’s because CBD effects different receptors in the brain than THC does.   In the 1990’s, scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system which transmits signals from cannabinoids in the body.  There are over 100 known molecular targets of CBD in the body which leads to a multitude of benefits when CBD is ingested on a regular basis.

Consuming CBD

There are thousands of CBD products currently available on the market, giving users a wide range of options for consumption methods.  CBD can commonly be found in the form of oils, tinctures, vaporizers, liquids, and even pills.  The easiest and most effective way to ingest CBD is through tinctures.  Sublingual tinctures are considered the “old standard” of the CBD industry.  Tinctures are comprised mainly of raw hemp oil that has the actual cannabinoids from the plant present.  It is important to do a little bit of research and verify the extraction methods and lab in which the CBD was manufactured.

Over the last year, one of the most popular forms of CBD has become the gel capsule.  Users who are switching from their typical medications to CBD often prefer this method because of the easy transition as well as the similarity to traditional medicines.  People who have smoked in the past are also finding it easy to transition from cigarettes and e-cigs to CBD vaping.  CBD vapes will always taste better, feel better and have far less health risks and traditional smoking.  For someone suffering from concentrated joint or muscle pain, topical CBD lotions and salves are the best recommended option for fast and effective results.  Those who suffer from chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and MS, agree that topicals are essential to their pain management and help to maintain a high-quality of life.

CBD Benefits for Athletes

Even though CBD has many beneficial claims, it is still going through the process of complete legalization and acceptance.  This is especially true in the world of sports and athletes.  CBD is considered a performance enhancing drug because of the numerous health benefits for athletes.  Some of the advantages of CBD for an athlete include cortisol reduction, weight management, pain management, restful sleep, anti-inflammatory, and insulin sensitivity promotion.

Science has shown that CBD oil effectively reduces stress while diminishing the harmful effects of increased adrenal function and anxiety.  Athletes who are actively working to build muscle mass often experience times of painful inflammation.  CBD helps relieve muscle and joint irritation that occurs because of weightlifting and other strenuous exercise.  Even if someone is not an athlete, there are still advantages to conquering long-lasting inflammation. Did you know inflammation can be linked to a shorter lifespan?  Inflammation is tied into a very large number of life-threatening chronic diseases so it’s best to eliminate as much as possible with natural CBD.  Researchers are also finding that, along with the ant-inflammatory benefits, CBD is helping with pain relief and stress relief as well.  This is perfect for professional athletes

Organized Sports and CBD

So, what’s the deal with organized sports and CBD?  For the first time ever, WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) is allowing professional athletes to use CBD products.  WADA was established in 1999 and is responsible for diminishing doping in sports internationally.  In accordance with scientific research and available information about the cannabinoid, they have updated their banned substances list to eliminate CBD.  Did you know in 2013, WADA even raised the tolerated amount of THC allowed in the system of Olympic athletes?  And again, in 2016 they changed rules to allow Olympic participants to smoke cannabis, just not during the competition?  We think this step was HUGE in opening doors for CBD potential in sports.  You never know, maybe at our next Olympics, we will see athletes sponsored by CBD brands!

In other big CBD Sports news, we were excited to see that CBD was allowed this year at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  This was a major world step in eliminating the dishonor of Cannabis.   The World Cup happens every 4 years and gains the attention from countries around the world.  This year, the World Cup had 3.2 billion views globally!  We think it’s fantastic that the athletes could openly consume cannabidiol throughout the competition with the world watching.  The use of CBD at the World Cup will hopefully be the starting off point for the common acceptance of CBD in professional sports.  As of now, major sports leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB still prohibit all athlete use of CBD, even though athletes are still trying to push the boundaries.  Several well-known athletes, including MMA fighters and NFL players, are turning to CBD oil as a safe and effective alternative to addictive painkillers.

Regardless, more scientific studies are revealing additional medicinal properties of CBD every day.  Even the World Health Organization has referred to CBD as being generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile.  It is only a matter of time before CBD will be viewed in sports as an essential supplement for ultimate athletic performance.

 

Want to learn more?  Follow our blog for continued education and updates on legislation in the CBD world.  Cannabis Marketing, Inc. helps cannabis, hemp, and CBD brands build their audience through effective marketing and increased education.  As the legislation continues to change, we will continue to be on top of the latest news, so we can market your brand with compliance and the latest trends in mind.  Call us today for your FREE consultation.

 

Resources:

https://www.lifesum.com

https://www.wikipedia.com

https://www.hightimes.com

https://www.wada-ama.org/

Social Media Case Study

Social Media Case Study

Your cannabis, hemp, or CBD business is doing well, but you know that there is more of the market that you haven’t yet tapped.  You have worked hard to get your business off the ground, and you know that spending money to move to the next level is necessary, but it’s also scary.  Marketing companies are everywhere, and when you’re trying to get the word out about your cannabis business, it may seem like they are a dime a dozen.  You probably get contacted weekly (or even daily) from marketing companies that you’ve never heard of, promising this result or that, but how do you know that what they claim is truth?

Analytics don’t lie, and Cannabis Marketing, Inc. is serious about providing results.  That’s why we benchmark where our clients start out when they come aboard, and provide monthly and year-over-year analytics to show where their marketing dollars are having the most impact.  Instead of sending reports over that you have to decipher on your own, we sit down with you and your management team to review every piece of your analytic summary.  From SEO to social media to print, we work with you to employ strategies that ensure accurate tracking so we can prove results.  Our strategy includes all the modes that are compliant for advertising cannabis, hemp, and CBD, which may also include radio (and soon television) for your business.  A cohesive marketing strategy that includes all modes of advertising helps us to stretch your valuable marketing dollars further, while promoting your brand in a way that increases growth and return on investment (ROI).

Our case study for social media shows how we were able to expansively grow a cannabis brand over the course of one year.  This brand already had a social media presence, but by thinking outside the box, using tried-and-true social media techniques, creating stunning content, and interacting with their followers, we were able to increase their social media followers and engagement extensively.

Facebook followers increased 102%.

Their YouTube channel followers increased 2111% (not a typo).

Instagram experienced a 68% increase, even after removing many of their original followers who were underage.

MassRoots, a cannabis-friendly platform, saw a 35% increase in followers.

Social media helps to create and improve brand awareness, and the team at CMI focuses on increasing followers and engagement to reach the most organic audience possible.  Social media tells a story to create loyal followers and brand advocates, increases customer service access and satisfaction, and over time, will lead to increased sales.  As a bottom-of-the-funnel sales technique, social media success does not happen overnight.  Amazing content, daily touches, human-to-human interaction, and staying on top of the constantly-shifting algorithms are things that the team at Cannabis Marketing, Inc. take care of for you over the long term so you can continue to run your business.  Social media is a living, breathing marketing animal that must be nourished with consistency, passion, and knowledge of what is “allowed” per each platform’s terms.  The cannabis, hemp, and CBD industry is changing daily, and our team works tirelessly with the best modalities of marketing to create success for your brand.  If you’re frustrated by social media, and ready to take the next step in marketing your cannabis, hemp, or CBD brand, give us a call for a free consultation!