On December 16th, our team was on site at Jenny’s North Las Vegas location to show our appreciation for their dispensary team and their patients. We came armed with swag, information, and one goal: to educate consumers about Caviar Gold and their fantastic line of products that launched in November in Nevada.
When it comes to growing your brand, strategic partnerships can be a highly effective way to build your businesses.
This is particularly true in the new legal cannabis space. As more and more new states legalize marijuana for both medical and adult use, this offers a unique opportunity for existing cannabis brands to grow nationally through partnerships with cannabis retail stores and dispensaries.
One of the greatest opportunities for cannabis retailers is to create strategic partnerships with the brands they carry. The key behind the strategic partnerships are offering a win/win for all parties involved.
“Much like how Paul Mitchell has partnered with the salons that carry their 
hair products, I am seeing successful cannabis lifestyle brands like Caviar Gold starting to partner with cannabis dispensaries to help them drive sales before the cannabis consumer even walks through the door,” social media expert Krista Whitley explained.
When brands function as an extension of the cannabis dispensary team they can achieve an incredibly unique consumer experience that screams premium.
Whitley, who launched The Weekend Box, curates the best of the best in Nevada’s cannabis products.
Nevada’s new cannabis laws go into effect on July 1st.
This year alone the city has welcomed more than 17,000,000 visitors and that doesn’t even include the summer months.
Come July 1st Nevada locals and the millions of visitors age 21 and up will soon be able to walk into a dispensary and purchase cannabis similar to dispensaries in Denver.
Here are four things you should know before making Nevada the next stop for your next canna vaycay.
The wholesale tax that dispensaries pay when purchasing product has increased as part of Adult Use. There will also be different taxes applied to transactions dependent upon whether you are a medical patient or a recreational customer.
Revenue from the tax on Nevada’s recreational sales is projected to stimulate approximately $7.5 billion in economic activity in the first seven years of sales. That’s a lot of cash! So here’s where it’ll go.
The state’s Opportunity Scholarships are slated to receive a whopping $20 million boost. An additional $25 million is slated to go to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), with the remainder going to the State’s general fund.
Yes! It will save you money in the long run because medical cannabis products will be taxed at a lower rate than recreational sales. Beginning July 1st, recreational customers will have a 10% excise tax applied to their transactions.
State possession limits are still capped at 2.5 ounces for medical patients and 1 ounce for recreational consumers.
The current law that limits medical marijuana patients to 70 grams in a two-week period is also ending under the new provisions.
Planning a trip to Vegas? Check out CannabisInVegas.com for info on the top dispensaries and must have products in Sin City!
Our nation’s capital legalized cannabis back in 2014, but there’s no tax-and-regulate system in place, meaning there’s still a long way to go before D.C. becomes the District of Cannabis.
Here at Social Media Unicorn, our team is constantly keeping our fingers on the pulse of cannabis scenes across the nation and abroad. If you’re heading to the District as a cannatourist, here are some tips you need to know.
Unlike California, Nevada, Colorado, and Oregon, all states where those 21+ can legally consume cannabis, D.C. cannabis laws are a bit more ambivalent. Today residents and visitors alike are bound by frustrating laws that allow possession, but prohibit sales. In short, scoring legal weed in D.C., while pretty easy, gives off the feel of an old school street deal, and arrests for still-illegal deals have hit pre-legalization levels.
It is legal for a person who is at least 21 years old to possess two ounces or less of marijuana, transfer one ounce or less of marijuana to another person who is at least 21 years old, however so no payment or any other type of exchange of goods or services.
Statistics from the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department show a large increase in the number of distribution busts in 2016, with the 220 arrests more than doubling the number seen in 2013, the year before residents voted to loosen pot laws.
In short, yes. While residents are welcome to cultivate up to six marijuana plants and possess marijuana-related paraphernalia – like bongs or rolling papers, congress has blocked regulated dispensaries. So how do visitors legally obtain cannabis if you can’t buy it?
“Marijuana events are going on all the time now,” the Gentleman Toker, a D.C. cannabis blog explained. Also, so-called weed “search engines” like LeafedIn also offer a way to find opportunities to get the gift of cannabis.
The first month of a new career always brings fear and excitement.
I’m glad to say that here at Social Media Unicorn it has been a lot more excitement than fear. Everyone is great! Not only is my entire team fun to work with, they all have an in-depth knowledge of the cannabis culture and the wants and needs of the community we serve. With that being said, I am starting a weekly blog to inform and educate about the new innovative products, services, and happenings within our community. Stay tuned each week to see what this Unicorn is getting into 😉
Just recently, we had the pleasure of hosting a patient appreciation day for Tahoe Hydro Company with the lovely people over at Medizin. They operate one of the premier dispensaries that cater to Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. Medizin, unlike many other dispensaries, is also involved in cultivation. They have some award winning flowers like Chloe, one of the most medically beneficial strains that is offered in Las Vegas. We had a great time representing Tahoe Hydro Company while we were there. THC is a boutique cultivator out of Carson City, NV, that is sure to fit the needs and wants of any consumer out there. They have award winning strains: Blackjack (S), Gelato 45 (H), Tahoe Hydro OG (I), all winning their respective categories at the 2016 Jack Herer Cup. THC also just entered the preroll game with the introduction of their STIX line, currently offering Tahoe Hydro OG. Needless to say, they know what they are doing over there at Tahoe Hydro Company. We passed out tons of Tahoe swag and educated patients on our products and specials. It was great meeting and creating future Tahoe fans! I loved hearing all the positive feedback regarding our products. Huge thank you to Tanya and the whole crew at Medizin for making my first patient appreciation day a success!
All in all, these first few weeks have been an adventure and a blessing. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by people who are so passionate about cannabis. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me as a Unicorn. Be sure to tune in next week for my next post and mark your calendars for our upcoming events!
Las Vegas Social Media Day – Fri. 6/30
Follow Tahoe Hydro Company on IG @tahoehydroponics
Get updates from Medizin at http://medizinlv.com
Cannabis culture is always in flux. With a community that spans nearly every possible consumer demographic, it can be hard to nail down trends, but a glut of new products on the west coast has shed some light on the cannabis industry’s not-so-distant future.
Read on for our favorite new trends – ones we believe will continue growing well into next year.
We have talked before about the trend of super tiny doses that is picking up steam all across America. The euphoric high of THC doesn’t appeal to everyone, after all, so it’s only natural that low-dosage mints, candies, baked goods and beverages are beginning to fly off the shelves in every market.
No matter who your brand appeals to, it’s possible for you to embrace the microdosing trend in some way. Offering a more diverse product line will only strengthen your longevity as a cannabis company, as you’ll be accessible to a new demographic.
Modern cannabis consumers don’t want to be sold to. They want to create their own routine with useful cannabis infused products. That being said, a high dosage of THC won’t always be enough to woo patients and recreational users, who are continuing to learn more about minor cannabinoids. Custom ratios of cannabinoids, for example, a 1:1 THC:CBD strain or tincture, are appealing more and more to discerning buyers with healthy and active lifestyles.
If your company isn’t all over the latest cannabinoid science, and coming up with ways to utilize this new knowledge, you’re going to miss out.
As the rest of the world is finally beginning to recognize slick vape pens and edibles for what they are, the most discreet cannabis consumers are looking to go incognito. However, they also want their products to work just as well as if they had smoked a big joint.
Some of the most popular up-and-coming medical marijuana product types are water bottles, mints and transdermal patches worn under the clothes. These are branded to look like everyday objects we use all the time, making them ideal for travel or workplace use.
Set your product up for success in the evolving marketplace – contact our team to schedule a cannabis industry marketing consultation.
When we talk about an “elevated experience” in the cannabis industry, we’re not just talking about getting high. It’s a phrase that embodies the community’s mission to eliminate negative stereotypes through responsible consumption and education.
Think of it as brand strategy with the consumer in mind; you always want patients to feel comfortable, confident and informed when they’re considering buying your product to take home. Start giving back today with these tips.
A full ingredient list and laboratory test are just the bare minimum of what should be included on your product’s packaging and your website, too. This would be a good start, but the truth is that patients typically want to know a lot more than simply what’s inside.
They want to know, as much as possible, what the onset time will be and how they will feel after using the product. Should it be used morning, night or all day long? How long should they wait before re-dosing? Think of an answer to every possible question a new cannabis consumer might have, and make it an integral part of your branding.
High-end aesthetics and practicality are extremely important. This is true with both product and packaging design! Cannabis consumers really do care about the little things. They want to feel confident when they leave a dispensary that the product in their bag will work as advertised and provide a pleasant experience. If the consumer can’t gain that confidence simply by picking up the package, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Some specific small details that matter to connoisseurs and newer consumers alike:
Always do your best to inform the consumer – directly on the package – of everything they’ll need to know. After all, you or your sales reps will not be in the store with them when they are checking out your product. Don’t rely on dispensary staff to educate patients about safe and effective ways to use your particular product. The burden is on manufacturers to make that information part of their packaging, labeling and overall branding process.
Elevate your brand to the next level with consulting, integrated campaigns and real, proven results with Social Media Unicorn, based in the thriving legal cannabis market of Las Vegas.
If you’re a marijuana retailer, odds are you have been eyeing investments in some of the major dispensary listing sites for the industry. These websites allow dispensaries to literally put themselves on the map, establishing a “home base” online with detailed menus that can be browsed by consumers in the area – even on mobile devices.
It’s true that these listing databases get feet in the door of your dispensary. But at what cost?
We’re diving into the world of high-priced listing services for dispensaries to help you determine what the ROI will be for your particular business.
If you’re wondering whether or not you should even spend time on these listing sites, the answer is yes. At the bare minimum you must have a basic-level listing on at least one of the major databases (Weedmaps or Leafly). This listing may cost you upwards of a few hundred dollars per month, which is a small price to pay for being exposed to thousands of locals per week. Otherwise, there are many smaller and more local listing sites, frequented by different demographics, that you might be able to try out for a cheaper price.
The real question, in this case, is how much business owners should invest in promotion on these channels based on the customer demographics they want to reach.
Want to be the top dispensary on your block? You’ll likely have to fork over some cash to the listing databases. The highest price for a featured listing is in the several thousand dollars.
How do you decide if it’s worth it to pay up? Ask your customers or patients how they heard about you on their member intake form. If you don’t seem to get a lot of referrals from your listings, and you need more foot traffic, it might be time to try it out. Or, if you notice that a certain competitor in your area is running promotions, it may be wise to try and outbid them for the popular spot on the local map.
When choosing a listing service, make sure to consider all the benefits that the site has to offer, apart from the listing. Think of it this way – Leafly is home to one of the biggest educational cannabis blogs on the web. Some of their featured listing promotional packages may include some branded editorial content on the blog. That makes it a better buy than just a featured listing, because you are getting more long-term concrete value from the transaction. The blog post can be viewed and shared many times over on social media, even after your promotional campaign has ended.
Looking to grow your dispensary’s marketing strategy past the confines of a map or listing? Social Media Unicorn can help. We’ll guide your budget and your social media marketing to optimize how your listings work for you.
Doing social media strategy yourself is a learning process. There are new rules, trends and influencers to follow any given week. You’ve got to understand algorithms (as best you can, anyway) and principles of copywriting, photography and public relations. It can certainly be a lot to remember!
Whether you manage your brand’s entire social presence, or just have a say in the process, you should know these five guiding principles of social media.
The first rule of social media is to be authentic! Whether that means embracing your goofy side once in awhile, or telling the truth when your brand has a crisis, the idea is the same.
You might think that posting on Facebook about once a week, when you feel like it, is an adequate strategy. While this is the bare minimum to keep a page active on the platform, it won’t help your account gain any users. For the most part, you’ve still got to actively engage with other humans on Facebook in order to see success. That means:
So you wrote a month’s worth of blogs, tweets, and Instagram posts, but now your 30 days is up and you’re out of material. The content planning process is literally never ending for social media managers. Remember, you’re playing the long game, and regular (even daily) authentic engagement is a must to stay relevant in a sea of trendy new accounts.
Typos? Grammar slips? Plain poor phrasing? None of these things make a pretty social media share. Yet, so many are too trigger happy and hit “post” before their content is on point. Run post copy, graphics and spelling past a colleague or friend that you trust. Sometimes all you really need is a second set of eyes on your work.
Our last piece of advice is to stay consistently on-brand with all your social media postings. Use the same colors, symbolism, voice and phrasing in ever post. By doing this, you’ll avoid confusing your audience like many brands do trying to capitalize on the latest memes and trends. Instead your fans will recognize your posts seconds before they even see the brand name.
Maybe you know all this already, but for some reason your social strategies just haven’t been sticking lately. Your content may just need a nudge in the right direction, or a second creative opinion.
Brands and individuals making their mark in the cannabis industry, we’ve got your back. Call a Social Media Unicorn to help give your project some much-needed direction.
When it comes to social media, far too many brands make the mistake of posting the same exact content on every single platform. This is ill-advised because there are so many diverse groups on social media, and they all hang out in different social environments – and respond to different stimuli as well.
We put together a guide for DIY marketers to help you plan your approach to each top platform.
From humble beginnings, Facebook has become extremely diverse and dynamic. Not only is every demographic present on the platform, it’s also now been segmented into Groups. People and brands providing quality content to their audiences are holding on to their organic growth and influence on the platform, even as Facebook continues to try and monetize almost every interaction.
One thing is for certain about the Facebook algorithm – it favors video posts. Heavily. A strong video content strategy will help you acquire more fans organically. Otherwise, set aside a small budget and learn to optimize Facebook Ads with amazing photography and graphics and some clever copy.
It’s changed a lot over the past year, but Instagram is still the place to be for the hippest and most social-savvy people in the world. It’s where trends are made, and visual content is king. You can repurpose some of your Facebook content here, but really make the captions pop. Professional photography is almost a must these days as outstanding “pinch-to-zoom” resolution photo posts are becoming the norm (especially delectable close-up photos of cannabis products).
There are lots of “tricks” and theories out there for how to hack this platform, but really, Instagram runs on a few key principles. If you engage genuinely, post regularly, and utilize the proper hashtags. How you get there is up to you – as long as you make it absolutely beautiful.
The original microblogging platform is far from dead – in fact, Twitter remains one of the most active platforms for breaking news and commentary on current events, as well as conversations amongst journalists and influencers.
That being said, all your content on Twitter should be newsworthy and put on display the unique voice and vision of your brand. Image and video posts, polls, memes and hashtags are essential parts of the Twitterverse you should know about. Research hashtags being used by your target niches, incorporate them into your tweets, and remember to always engage authentically.
On Snapchat, anything goes. The people following you are doing so for one reason: to catch a glimpse into what you’re doing all day. Again, authenticity is key. Using Snapchat gives you the opportunity to build your brand its very own personality from scratch – or, start building your personal brand as a living, breathing embodiment of the company.
So, in short, you should always share the awesome adventure that is your business with the world. Having partners in the industry who know the rules and trends on each platform will strengthen your influence even more.
Hire us today and learn to finally rock social.
