Improving brand visibility is not child’s play. Content creators need to roll up their sleeves and work diligently to grow their social media presence. However, in doing so, they must also follow certain rules to ensure that their posts do not conflict with the community guidelines of various social media channels. Instagram is undoubtedly one of the most used social media to improve your reach and reinforce your image. In fact, a well-established presence on this platform can do wonders for a business.
However, for cannabis entrepreneurs, things can get a bit grim. Instagram for the cannabis store has become problematic mainly due to its dominance over cannabis businesses. It can be seen in the form of shadowbanning the content of such companies, hampering their efforts to improve their reach on this popular platform. Surely there must be some way around it. More importantly, what does shadowban entail?
What is shadow ban?
It refers to blocking the content of a specific user on social networks so that the user does not know what is happening. Once shadows are banned, social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok or Instagram will hide your posts from appearing in hashtags. If you’re shadowbanned on IG, your posts won’t show up in other people’s feeds until those people follow you.
In a nutshell; Shadowbanning is the ultimate nightmare for content creators and marketers. Drastically decreases your page’s ability to be found by new followers. Worst of all, you won’t even get an Instagram notification about your shadowban. The smart algorithm will do its job silently, leaving you stranded in the dark.
If Instagram removes your posts multiple times for being against their community guidelines, your entire account may soon be permanently deleted. Suffice it to say that you don’t want that to happen in any case. So how can you get away with it? Well, by following certain tips and tricks.
Instagram for Cannabis Store – How to use the algorithm to your advantage
Let’s call things by their name. If you have a company that deals with the cannabis industry and posts images of cannabis and its products, Instagram will not like them. Consequently, you will have to bear the burden of being shadowbanned. But you can’t deny that this social media platform is an important component of your social media marketing strategy. Below are tips that you can use to promote your business on it.
1. Focus on content diversity
First, evaluate what your business offers customers. Then, compile a bunch of photos and videos that reflect your customers’ experiences and your brand vision. When you discover how your brand meets the needs of your customers, you will be able to discover the customer experience that your company displays.
With this in mind, share pictures of your staff, dispensary activities, honors you’ve received, and what you stand for. All of this should express the lifestyle that your audience wants to experience when interacting with your brand. Your goal should be to actively contribute to cannabis culture on Instagram rather than simply showing off your products. In short, share lifestyle, experiences, and people on the IG page.
2. Take advantage of Instagram tools
There is no shortage of tools that Instagram provides to brands. You can use tools like Instagram Stories, Instagram Guides, Reels, and Carousel posts to improve your engagement with your audience and help them get to know you better. All of these tools have different features and are great for promoting your brand in different ways.
For example, with Instagram Guides, you can provide richer content like tutorials and FAQs. While using Reels, you can create incredibly engaging 15-30 second videos about your brand and post them. If you want to post long-form video content, feel free to use IGTV.
3. Become a responsible user of hashtags
This is where you should tread carefully. You may not use popular hashtags like #cannabis, #weed, #cannabiscommunity and many more in your posts. It’s a surefire way to shadowban yourself. You should word your hashtags carefully, even if it means removing cannabis hashtags entirely. Get innovative and use unique words like C*nnabis on your Facebook and Instagram pages. Instead of weed, write yes or stoner for stoner.
4. Make your content informative.
Who does not like to acquire knowledge and information? Facebook and Instagram are always willing to do it. Authoritative publications that provide cannabis studies and research are not excluded primarily because they are educational in nature. Take a cue from these educational accounts and tailor your content to educate people about terpene interactions and legal regulations. It will give you an air of authority. Impart new knowledge to your followers in each of your videos.
Today, hemp and cannabis companies are making great strides in removing the stereotypes associated with these products. It also means that there is a lot of misinformation about cannabis and hemp products that needs to be corrected. Take advantage of it and start building a bond of trust with your audience.
5. Don’t make the mistakes you can easily avoid
You will find that the cannabis shop Instagram environment becomes more unfavorable for your business if you keep making mistakes regarding your content on this platform. These are some of the errors that you can correct.
Food to go?
Don’t fall into the trap of being inspired by a business that can successfully promote your cannabis-related sales content on IG. Please know that according to Instagram rules, posting any cannabis-related product or service is not okay. Lastly, find out about the new rules and regulations so you don’t make any mistakes.
Need help reading the new cannabis laws and getting ahead of your marketing strategy? Get in touch with Promarketer, a marketing company that specializes in enabling businesses to gain more traction online while complying with the law.