When it comes to designing a website for your cannabis dispensary, a slick, user-friendly site isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential. Your website is your digital storefront, and with the cannabis industry projected to reach $57 billion by 2027, making a great first impression online is more important than ever.
But how do you stand out in a crowded, highly regulated market? Here are the best practices for cannabis website design that will make sure your site works for you—not against you.
Let’s face it: everyone is glued to their phones. In fact, 70% of cannabis consumers are using mobile devices to shop for their favorite products. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on a massive chunk of potential customers.
A mobile-first design isn’t just about making sure your site fits on a smaller screen. It’s about crafting an experience that’s as smooth and fast as possible for people browsing your site on the go. Mobile optimization isn’t optional anymore; it’s a must.
💡 Stat: Mobile-optimized websites see 70% more online sales than non-optimized ones.
A confusing website can be a huge turn-off. If customers can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll hit the back button and find a competitor. Make it easy for visitors to navigate your website by:
💡 Stat: 38% of visitors will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive or difficult to use.
Cannabis websites are subject to a unique set of regulations, and staying compliant is critical to keeping your business out of hot water. Some key areas to focus on include:
💡 Stat: Cannabis businesses that fail to comply with industry laws face fines up to $50,000.
If your site loads slowly, you’re losing customers before they even see your products. In fact, 40% of users will abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load. Your site needs to be fast—whether it’s on mobile or desktop—to prevent high bounce rates and missed sales opportunities.
To improve site speed:
💡 Stat: Websites that load in 1 second see 7% more conversions than those that load in 3 seconds or more.
E-commerce is a huge part of cannabis sales, especially as more consumers turn to online shopping. A seamless and secure online shopping experience is a must. Here’s what to focus on:
💡 Stat: 70% of customers abandon their carts due to complicated checkout processes.
Your products speak for themselves, but customers can’t touch them online. That’s why high-quality product images are crucial for selling cannabis online.
Clear, well-lit photos allow potential buyers to get a good look at your products, which can be the deciding factor between a purchase and a bounce.
Make sure your images are high-resolution, and use multiple shots to show different angles and close-ups of your products. Including images of cannabis in its different forms (like edibles, concentrates, and flowers) will help customers make more informed decisions.
💡 Stat: Products with high-quality images see 40% more sales than those with poor or no images.
Your website isn’t just a pretty face—it’s a tool to convert visitors into customers. Make sure you have clear, easy-to-find CTAs like:
These buttons should stand out and direct visitors toward taking action. Keep them above the fold, so users don’t have to scroll down to find them.
💡 Stat: Websites with prominent CTAs see click-through rates up to 5 times higher than sites without them.
Cannabis dispensaries are inherently local businesses, so getting your website ranked in local search results is key to driving traffic. Here’s how to improve local SEO for your dispensary:
💡 Stat: 78% of mobile local searches result in an offline purchase, making local SEO a crucial part of your strategy.
Finally, track everything. Google Analytics and other tracking tools allow you to monitor:
With these insights, you can continually optimize your site and make data-driven decisions.
💡 Stat: Data-driven companies are 23 times more likely to acquire customers and 6 times more likely to retain them.
A well-designed website is more than just eye candy. It’s a crucial tool for attracting and converting customers, building trust, and staying compliant in a competitive cannabis market.
By following these best practices, you’ll create a site that not only stands out visually but also functions smoothly, stays compliant, and delivers an exceptional experience for your customers.
Ready to build your dispensary’s website? Let Tokin Digital help you get started and take your online presence to the next level.