Let’s be real: if your dispensary website isn’t converting, it’s just a digital paperweight. The cannabis space is growing faster than your bud under a high-powered LED, and your website is your first chance to grab the attention of that sweet, sweet traffic. If you’re not offering an experience that’s intuitive, engaging, and downright delightful, you might as well hang a “Gone Fishing” sign on your homepage.
We’re here to save you from that fate. Below are the five absolute, can’t-live-without-it features every dispensary website needs to actually sell your product. Spoiler alert: they’re not rocket science, but they work—and we’ve got the numbers to prove it.
Ever tried finding your favorite strain on a poorly built site? It’s like hunting for your car keys after a particularly strong gummy. Don’t do that to your customers.
A good search bar is front and center, ready to help users find exactly what they’re looking for in seconds. In fact, 30% of website visitors will use the search bar during their session, and those who search are 2-3 times more likely to convertcompared to those who don’t. Bonus points if it autocompletes with suggestions like “OG Kush” or “sleep-friendly edibles.”
Now here’s the deal: most dispensaries are stuck using outdated, iFrame-based e-commerce platforms. These clunky systems limit functionality, and your search bar? It disappears when users navigate away from the homepage. Switching to a headless e-commerce framework fixes this issue. A headless setup lets your search bar live permanently in the site’s navigation, staying visible and accessible no matter where users are.
Not only does this boost usability, but it also ensures your customers can search and shop with ease—two clicks to the right product, and bam, conversion! Not sure how to make the switch? Keep reading—we’ve got you covered.
Your customers are scrolling on their phones, likely while multitasking—maybe one hand’s holding a joint, maybe it’s wrangling a toddler. Either way, your site needs to scream “easy to navigate.”
Top six product categories like Flower, Edibles, Vapes, Topicals, Concentrates, and Accessories should be laid out visually as big, beautiful icons. Think bold and clickable, not tiny and forgettable.
Why? Because 38% of users will stop engaging with a website if the layout is unattractive or hard to use. These icons should also live in the site’s navigation bar because redundancy is your friend. Someone can find their product in two taps or less. And when this system converts beautifully to a mobile grid? Chef’s kiss.
Oh, and since 73% of e-commerce traffic happens on mobile, your mobile layout better slap. Otherwise, you’re leaving cash on the table.
Meet your 24/7 salesperson that never needs a smoke break: the AI Budtender. It’s the future of cannabis shopping, and your customers will thank you for it.
Think of it as the friendly shopkeeper who always knows the perfect strain for your vibe. Whether someone’s looking for a “chill and Netflix” hybrid or a “clean the whole house and reorganize your closet” sativa, an AI Budtender can guide them there.
Shoppers who engage with AI tools are 40% more likely to convert, and they spend an average of 34% more per session. It’s scalable, doesn’t clock out, and answers questions in real-time. Fewer confused users = more sales.
If your homepage doesn’t have product carousels, what are you even doing? These are your digital “Oh, you might also like” shelves, perfect for upselling to newbies or tempting returning customers.
Here’s why they’re essential: personalized recommendations can increase sales by up to 30%. When you showcase popular items or tailor carousels based on browsing history, you’re turning casual visitors into repeat customers.
Here’s how to nail it:
These carousels should be smooth, fast, and optimized for mobile. No lag, no fuss, just a lineup of tempting treats to encourage just one more click.
You wouldn’t shop at a store without a visible checkout counter, so don’t make the digital version of that mistake. Your cart icon should be bold, accessible, and in the same spot on every page—usually top right because people are creatures of habit.
Here’s the kicker: 69% of online shopping carts are abandoned, often because checkout feels confusing or inaccessible. Make it easy to view cart contents, adjust quantities, and check out with no guesswork.
For extra engagement, add a little flair to the cart icon. A subtle animation when users add items (like a “pop” or bounce) can reassure them their order was processed. Small details like this build trust and improve the overall shopping experience.
Building a dispensary website isn’t just about aesthetics (though a sexy design never hurts). It’s about functionality and conversion. With these five features—search bar, product icons, an AI budtender, product carousels, and an easy-to-spot cart icon—you’re not just building a website; you’re creating a money-making machine.
Switching to a headless e-commerce framework is the first step toward a seamless, user-friendly site that actually works. Not only will your site perform better, but studies show that headless e-commerce leads to 50% faster page load times, which directly impacts your bottom line.
At Tokin Digital, we specialize in helping dispensaries make the leap. From setting up that sticky navigation search bar to optimizing your mobile layout, we’ll handle the heavy lifting while you sit back and watch your sales grow.
Ready to turn your website into your most valuable employee? Hit us up—we’re here to make it happen.
P.S. Need a free audit of your current site? We promise we’ll be gentle (and brutally honest). Let’s chat.