{"id":9629,"date":"2023-04-12T22:59:56","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T22:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/?post_type=feature_article&amp;p=36392"},"modified":"2023-04-12T22:59:56","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T22:59:56","slug":"how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"How Dispensaries Can Create Superior Online\u00a0Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p>Even the most traditionally-minded, tech-averse entrepreneur accepts their success relies on providing customers with a superior online experience in 2023. Trying to succeed without a robust web presence is akin to running the 100-meter with your legs tied together.<\/p>\n<p>On that note, the legal cannabis industry might have a leg up over other sectors in providing superior experiences online. After all, the legal cannabis market is relatively new, meaning no legacy systems require any rehauling.\u00a0Still, many dispensaries must start their websites from scratch.<\/p>\n<p>A website bolstered by an excellent user experience offers many benefits (e.g., branding and additional revenues), but ground-up projects are daunting. Fortunately, the insights below will make your web design process more manageable.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Design Your Website To Click With Your Customer Base.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The primary commodity of all dispensaries is the same. Yet, each dispensary is different. They all have unique branding, voices, and stories they\u2019re trying to tell.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, every dispensary wants to provide customers with a brand-specific experience. There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all dispensary website for the above reasons.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36394\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36394\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-12-at-4.03.35-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36394 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"149\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36394\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A brand-specific experience can have a sense of familiarity that customers may desire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even so, the following general best practices will be conducive to streamlined, successful dispensary website design. While every website designer or agency has their own process, this process has proven to be extremely effective for the dispensary clients we\u2019ve helped:<\/p>\n<h4>Develop an outline and wireframe for the website\u2019s structure and content:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>A guiding principle during this process is to include the necessary pages and sections to optimize vital brand components and effectively promote products.<\/li>\n<li>Other factors to consider are sections, features and calls to action.<\/li>\n<li>Dispensary websites should contain educational content and resources.<\/li>\n<li>Fluid, straightforward navigation should also be prioritized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Move onto the front-end design:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Incorporate and harmonize multiple brand elements.<\/li>\n<li>Identify aesthetically pleasing typographies and imagery.<\/li>\n<li>Design each page outside of the content management system. This makes it easier to make changes and adjustments after the first draft has been completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Get feedback from relevant parties (e.g., clients, colleagues, management, or other stakeholders):<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Transparency and open communication are paramount to this step.<\/li>\n<li>This phase will ensure that all expectations for the new design are met while providing a platform for course correction as needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Use the feedback to create a foundational website framework:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Meet for a second feedback session before committing 100% to a web design framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Develop the website inside of your content management system of choice:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Now that the front-end design has been created, the website will be built out in the actual CMS platform, ex. WordPress.<\/li>\n<li>Share every page with other relevant parties to maintain and foster the web design process\u2019s fluidity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>By now, you should have a solid base for the website\u2019s final form:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>The stage involves fine-tuning as the launch date nears.<\/li>\n<li>Also included at this point are the following:\n<ul>\n<li>Ancillary page development.<\/li>\n<li>Dispensary menu integration.<\/li>\n<li>Tablet\/mobile optimization.<\/li>\n<li>Speed\/performance tests.<\/li>\n<li>Contact form designs.<\/li>\n<li>Lead capture setup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One last guiding principle in web design is to view your website through a user\u2019s eyes. Continually assess how intuitive and convenient it is to navigate your site as a customer.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Optimize The Customer Experience With Seamless Navigation\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Dispensaries benefit by guiding visitors to their website\u2019s most important sections.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an understandable oversight only to prioritize seamless navigation to the menu page. However, customers will be less inclined to order if they can\u2019t access educational content to learn more about your products. Plus, they may want to visit your physical store, so they\u2019ll wish to view your location information.<\/p>\n<h4>Furthermore, visitors sometimes need clarification about what they want from your website. Build their pathway with insightfully structured navigation systems with clear prompts, calls to action and an emphasis on the following:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Specifics about store and location<\/li>\n<li>Brand information<\/li>\n<li>Where to find responses to FAQs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lastly, be mindful of the mobile experience on your website. Your customers expect seamless navigation on their phones and tablets as much as on their laptops and desktops.<\/p>\n<p>More people will visit and shop your menu on the mobile version of the website than the desktop version, so it needs to take priority in the design process.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Create an Intuitive Online Ordering Process<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The ordering component of the customer experience is integral to receiving desirable returns on your online investment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36393\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36393\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-12-at-4.02.22-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36393\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"101\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36393\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Intuitive, easy-to-parse menu systems are a must when optimizing online ordering.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Of course, every visit counts and brands are happy to educate consumers. A steady, always-growing stream of eCommerce transactions paints a winning picture of your site\u2019s navigation. More to the point, success with online orders means you\u2019ve optimized the ordering experience.<\/p>\n<p>Intuitive, easy-to-parse menu systems are a must when optimizing online ordering.<\/p>\n<p>Ensure that your customers are one click away from their preferred menu and location (if you have multiple locations), regardless of where they are on your website. It\u2019s even better if those pages can rank on Google based on local searches (e.g., Pennsylvania dispensary menu).<\/p>\n<h4>Online shoppers also respond well to search filters on your menus, such as:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Products with the highest or lowest THC levels<\/li>\n<li>Products with the highest or lowest CBD levels<\/li>\n<li>Specific strain types (i.e., Indica, Sativa and Hybrid)<\/li>\n<li>Product types (e.g., flower, concentrate, oil or edible)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Build A Robust Resources\/Information Section<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Almost every branded website has a resource\/information section. In some instances, it\u2019s a blog. For other brands, it\u2019ll be eBooks, guides, case studies, press releases, videos or news articles.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36395\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36395\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Screen-Shot-2023-04-12-at-4.05.39-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36395\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/how-dispensaries-can-create-superior-online-experiences-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"78\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36395\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Customers respond well to search filters on your menus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A resource\/information section is uniquely vital to cannabis brands. Many prospective customers will be first-timers and require sure-handed wisdom to guide them through the experience. Also, many seasoned enthusiasts want to learn about the latest trends and the best new strains.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, providing resources and information is a form of education. This \u201cteacher\u201d approach helps push back against stigmas by focusing on cannabis\u2019s nuances and benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Consider using a \u201cpillar page\u201d system to organize your informational content (e.g., blogs, videos, eBooks). Doing so will make it seamless for website visitors to learn about strains, terpenes, upcoming community events, consumption methods or information about local cannabis laws.<\/p>\n<p>It helps to customize each pillar page with an icon and create an individual page for every post in a given category. This way, newly published content will automatically appear under its associated pillar page.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Other Considerations<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>We understand the budgetary challenges many dispensaries face when getting off the ground. You can grow your budget by making decisions and taking educated risks that generate returns.<\/p>\n<p>Your customers\u2019 online experiences are a worthy investment. Nonetheless, are you investing wisely by building (or redesigning) your website in-house?\u00a0After all, your team\u2019s expertise is in cannabis sales (or cultivation). They\u2019re smart enough to learn as they go, but would this trial-and-error web design process be efficient or ideal for your dispensary\u2019s bottom line?<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, working with a Consulting Group like MOST who specializes in dispensary website design can ensure your website generates the desired returns and results. <a href=\"mailto:welcome@mostcg.com\">Contact us today<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\">\n<div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even the most traditionally-minded, tech-averse entrepreneur accepts their success relies on providing customers with a superior online experience in 2023. Trying to succeed without a robust web presence is akin to running the 100-meter with your legs tied together. On that note, the legal cannabis industry might have a leg up over other sectors in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8459,7814,9457,8557,9458,8846,5062,52,9301,8509,9459,8461,8462,5210,251,8458,609,9460,9461,9462,9463,9222,5334,2254,184,2299,8605,77,8469,9,9464,9465,9331,8504,8471,8472,5235,421,5236,8518,6845,8473,7447,8477,1,3,18,9466,9467,61,1736],"tags":[8481,7815,9468,8579,9469,8879,5063,2632,9307,8535,9470,8483,8484,5225,2829,8480,3182,9471,9472,9473,9474,9227,5350,4821,2762,4866,8620,2655,8491,9475,9476,9338,8530,8493,8494,5237,2999,5238,8544,6846,8495,7452,8499,2622,9477,9478],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9629"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9629\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}