The top CBD ecommerce trends to tap into the CBD market

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Today, an increasing number of U. S. states have legalized marijuana and cannabis, and CBD retailers stand to benefit from the new marketing opportunities. They can now connect with a unique and diverse audience and create online dispensaries. 

Consequently, the CBD industry has been exploding over the past couple of decades. In fact, according to an in-depth study by the National Retail Federation, 2019 experienced a 700% increase in the purchase of CBD-based products. At the same time, a survey by Rolling Stone reveals that it’s likely the market will spike to an incredible $22 billion by the year 2022. 

In today’s digital era, it’s comparatively easy to access CBD products online and in-person across the globe. Selling CBD remains one of the easiest and most effective ways of marketing this popular product. Here, we examine the newest CBD eCommerce trends retailers should learn before selling in the coming years. 

What is CBD ecommerce?

Cannabidiol (CBD) refers to the legal and non-psychoactive counterpart of THC—the chemical that causes psychoactive effects in marijuana. In the past few years, CBD has dominated various industries, including health and beauty, food and beverages, and private markets.  

With the coronavirus pandemic, more and more customers are turning to ecommerce. Consequently, CBD sellers need to boast strong direct-to-consumer skills and marketing strategies, and connect with consumers to offer in-depth knowledge about CBD to enhance sales. 

These transactions, via online retail stores, are known as CBD ecommerce. 

The top CBD ecommerce trends

Sales of CBD and relevant hemp oil products in the U.S. have increased dramatically in the past year. Learn ways your business can navigate this niche and begin selling CBD via online stores.

Revolutionary apps and services are assisting in CBD ecommerce 

Top ecommerce platforms are assisting cannabis merchants in their journey of transitioning towards online platforms. Ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Square offer retailers access to a wide variety of eye-catching themes. Coupled with strong marketing automation platforms like Omnisend, businesses can get started with CBD ecommerce with a few powerful but easy-to-use platforms in less than a day.

Revolutionary platforms like Namaste Technologies, boasting a strong presence in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, deliver new and futuristic media across the industry. 

At the same time, Verda provides CBD ecommerce stores with a killer marketplace where dispensaries can enjoy curating a complete list of store profiles and benefit from delivery affiliates.

Lastly, Uber, Eaze, and such companies can assist in expanding geographical outreach. 

Retailers are making use of innovative ways to offer the Dispensary experience

Cannabis dispensaries are popular for their highly personalized experience. Therefore, retailers need to work on offering these experiences at all of their customer touch points.

Cannabis merchants can achieve this by adding specific personal touches to their ecommerce environments. For instance, posting pre-recorded videos helps customers connect with the sellers. At the same time, you may implement search filters that help narrow down purchasing options. It may be based on THC level, cost, strain type, and desired effect. 

This should also be assisted by a strong omnichannel strategy. CBD merchants should ensure that they not only collect the appropriate customer data to offer personalization, but they should also integrate it across their channels. That includes email, SMS, push notifications, and much more. 

With that, they can create great personalized experiences based on the customer’s own behaviors, and not rely only on bulk email blasts that have the same messages for everyone at the same time.

CBD is seeing tremendous, consistent growth 

According to Google Trends, there has been a substantial increase in search requests relevant to CBD last year. The trend is even more noticeable in the U.S., where searches concerning CBD brands have increased over the past 10 years.      

However, the same tendency has also been observed on a global level. On the contrary, requests related to marijuana or cannabis remain stable, showing us that CBD is carving out a completely new, dedicated niche. 

Through insightful research, there are at least 3.8 million posts relevant to CBD in English. Moreover, more than half of these publications were located in the U.S. The buzz around CBD goes beyond newsletters and reaches the audience through platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and so on.    

The pet industry is enhancing CBD ecommerce 

CBD products are beneficial for humans, as well as their pets. In-depth research shows that pets also benefit from CBD. According to an insightful study by Nielsen and Headset, hemp-based CBD pet products are likely to make up 3-5% of all CBD sales in the U.S. by 2025. 

As a result, CBD retailers are increasing their range to accommodate furry friends as well. 

How to use CBD ecommerce trends effectively

The fact remains that CBD isn’t simply a hyped-up product but a lifestyle that’s here to stay. If you’re interested in kick-starting your own online CBD business, consider following the steps below.

Discover the perfect platform

Don’t just seek the ideal supplier; look for the right CBD ecommerce platforms as well. The perfect CBD ecommerce platform is necessary to improve your customer’s journey on your site. 

In turn, leading platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento can help ensure positive customer experiences. We’ve already overviewed the best ecommerce platforms, so be sure to read that if you want to make an informed decision.

Use marketing automation

Appeal to your customers and ensure a high customer retention rate by utilizing marketing automation. Curate a highly personalized, omnichannel marketing strategy to expand your outreach and connect with newer, better customers.  

While it may sound complicated, Omnisend’s marketing automation platform, for example, is intuitive. Play around with a 14-day free trial and see how easy it is to build your marketing campaigns.

Utilize social media and paid ads

CBD is often misunderstood to be a shady and harmful product. To combat these misconceptions, consider using social media platforms to educate your current and potential customers. 

You can also market your online store by offering in-depth analyses and educational pieces on CBD via blog articles. You may add eye-catching videos and vibrant photos on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and such. 

Another alternative way of marketing your brand is by using PPC advertising.

Final verdict 

Multiple factors have combined over the past few years to supercharge the CBD ecommerce market. There are the psychological and mental anxiety as a consequence of the pandemic, the increasing legalization of marijuana and related products, and the general increased awareness of CBD products. 

All in all, new consumer habits mean a spike in CBD sales. The increase and ever-growing demand for this product indicates consumers’ shift towards adopting unique treatments for different symptoms.  This is a wonderful opportunity for CBD ecommerce business owners and marketers, one that should not be missed.