How Online Reviews Can Grow Your Cannabis Business
The last time you went out to eat, contemplated a purchase, or looked for a new hair stylist, what’s the first thing you did after your initial search?
If you’re like millions of other people, you read the online reviews of the restaurant, item, or salon.
Your audience does the same thing when they search for a dispensary – they read the reviews. That’s where brand trust begins.
The Power of Google
Even if, right now, you don’t care much about online reviews, Google does. And Google is a major factor in how often your business gets spotted online.
(That means you should start caring about reviews, too!)
Google determines your position in search rankings by using positive reviews — both on the Google website and in Google Maps. The more positive reviews and high ratings you have, the more online visibility you have. The more visibility you have, the more visits to your website, phone calls, and in-person stops you’re going to get.
Trust and Community
In the grand scheme of things, the cannabis industry is still in its infancy. A whole lot of people are still learning about all of the different THC products, their effects, how much they cost, and so much more. To those people, online reviews are real stories from real people that they can depend on to guide their own new journey with cannabis – then they feel more confident to make informed decisions.
Even an experienced cannabis user can’t be sure of a dispensary’s quality if they’ve never been there before. That’s where social proof comes in; someone looking to stop into your store can check out your reviews and see what other customers think of you.
A study from Pissed Consumer shows that 75.5% of people trust online reviews. Having strong reviews on your website puts you one step ahead of the competition, as it builds your credibility, fosters trust, and encourages people to try out your products. After all, they have the proof right in front of them that many people are happy with their experience at your dispensary.
Beyond trust, online reviews also create a sense of community with your customers, which is ultra-important in the cannabis sphere. Consumers can share their experiences and connect, which only does good things for your business (increased loyalty and widespread brand advocacy!).
Your Business Reputation
Positive reviews have a great impact on your business’s reputation. When you have a large number of positive reviews attached to your page, you become synonymous with high-quality products and reliable service. In a crowded industry where standards and regulations are constantly changing, a shining reputation is invaluable.
The more positive reviews you get, the likelier people are to trust your brand and give it a try. And that goes beyond new customers; with a good number of positive reviews on your side, existing customers will be more likely to shop with you again.
Responding to Reviews
As we just mentioned, positive reviews are great for your reputation. That probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise! What may come as a surprise is that negative reviews can boost your reputation, too.
Now, of course, you don’t want tons of negative reviews. But the reality is that you can’t please everyone. You’re going to have a less-than-stellar review now and again, but you can make it work in your favor by responding productively and publicly to the person.
You should make a practice of responding to positive reviews, too, but responding to the negative ones is where you can show your caliber as a business. Thank the commenter for their feedback, address the issue they brought up, apologize, then offer to make it right. You very well could turn a disgruntled customer into one who returns again and again, and it speaks to your professionalism to those scrolling through and checking you out.
And if you’re just being trolled by someone who has never been to your shop? You can call them out too, in a way that is respectful and fits your brand.
Using Reviews to Your Benefit
While positive reviews are a great thing to see when you Google a business, don’t let Google be the only place they stay; use them to their full potential.
Place positive reviews on a banner on your website, use them on social media posts, and incorporate them into your marketing materials. These kind words are yours to use however you see fit, so take advantage of that! They’re a powerful tool to attract new customers and let people know how amazing the community thinks you are.
Growing Your Business With Online Reviews
Reviews are much more than a few words on a webpage. They can seriously impact your growing cannabis business in very powerful ways – the power of community and social opinion can move mountains and launch you into great success.
Looking to get more reviews for your dispensary? We can help! Contact Cannabis Digital Solutions today for more information.
