With state after state legalizing cannabis, the medical community expanding its reliance on alternative medicine based in cannabis and whatever you want to call it-marijuana, weed, grass-becoming a major player in the U.S. economy, the time has come to abandon those tired old clichés and stereotypes.
You know what it's all about-the Cheech and Chong jokes; the lazy stoner; the college student who brings a bong everywhere; the endless pursuit of feeding the marijuana munchies; the apparel adorned with pot leaves; the glazed look; the snickering 'who cares?' attitude.
It's all so-1999, isn't it?
"What we're all aspiring to do here is create a great professional industry," said Reagan Hatch of CannaSiteCo., a web design, digital marketing and business development team for cannabis startups-that is really dope.
"Cannabis, still today, has a stoner reputation, and we all know how we got here. But we're trying to break that negative stigma. A lot of people in cannabis left other great industries to join the OGs and build this industry and a great culture-because we all love cannabis."
As a website, marketing and development firm for cannabis startups, CannaSite is determined to see this emerging and misunderstood industry through to success.
The firms that CannaSite works with are very often launching their business, or a product, with a new or updated website. CannaSite's expertise comes in offering guidance and support on putting that best foot forward; in a new industry; that needs to pivot away from the "stoner" rep toward what it truly is-a cog in the wheel of the U.S. economy with unbridled potential to change the way we live, die, spend money, recreate and treat diseases.
With all that on the line, CannaSite's Caron Cooper asks, do you really want to leave anything to chance by building your own website? No pressure.
You're launching your own business-do you really have time for the nitty gritty of designing, testing and maintaining a website? Does your company's timeline offer the flexibility for a DIY website, and the time and budget to recover from mistakes? Do you have any marketing experience? Do you have any artistic flair? How quickly can you build your own website? Do you have any experience building websites? And why would you want to devise a business strategy without guidance from a team of industry professionals with a deep knowledge of web design, online marketing and the cannabis industry?
Because cannabis has yet to be legalized by the federal government, relying on social media to market your cannabis company brings with it all kinds of uncertainty. There are even some web hosting companies that should be avoided.
"Your website is online-24/7," Caron said. "It's your digital headquarters. It's your company's first impression. Most people start their research online. By the time someone goes into a store to buy something, they have likely already made their decision."
Yes, your competitors are online and that first impression can make or break your potential sale or deal; not to mention alter the trajectory of your company for years to come.
Your website needs to look as good if not better than your competitor's website, Caron said. And that's just to get through the first impression stage, to get customers in the door, so to speak. If your potential customer hangs around to learn more, you now have to provide customer service through that website, answer buyer objections and sell your product/service without complications. Are you ready for all of that?
And then there are the horror stories that come from a DIY effort, or enlisting help from someone who has no background in the cannabis industry, and little experience building websites. Do well-intentioned family members, college graduates looking to design their first websites, or office interns working on the cheap represent smart decisions, when the fate of your company hangs in the balance?
"Trying to save a buck or trying to help someone out is a big risk," Caron said.
Enlisting the wrong web design firm carries its own potential for calamity. A firm that you've been working with can disappear mid-stream, with your money, leaving you with a broken or yet-to-be finished website, and a trail of emails waiting for replies.
Maybe you hired a firm a year ago and have yet to see any results? By the time your website is finished, it's already outdated. And that company can hold your website hostage for any number of reasons, including that they are in over their heads and can't complete the job. So they just freeze everything in its tracks, including your sales, growth and opportunities.
Former college classmates with backgrounds in writing, web development, SEO, marketing and cannabis-professionally and recreationally-Caron and Reagan offer the CannaSite guarantee, which includes:
Four manageable ways to launch a website in less than 30 days.
Training that allows clients to maintain and modify their website, and therefore save cash.
No required monthly fees after launch.
Prices that start at $500 for a website to more premium options with bells and whistles.
Options for the DIYers that include support from the CannaSite team.
The cannabis company you launched is your own, so why wouldn't you maintain complete control of the website? That's how CannaSite works-they build your website, show you how it works and puff-puff-pass it over to you, rather than roping you into a monthly maintenance fee. But if you'd like them to remain part of the process, they're here for you-no problem.
So kick back, light up and think about your cannabis company's next best step, and remember - there are no second chances on a first impression.
Visit cannasite.com for information.
