The rapid growth of the CBD industry presents unique challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Selecting the right e-commerce platform is crucial for establishing a successful online presence, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing a seamless shopping experience for customers.
With numerous options available, each offering distinct features and capabilities, making an informed choice can significantly impact your business’s success.
From payment processing solutions that accommodate legal complexities to user-friendly interfaces that enhance customer engagement, we’ll guide you through the essential criteria to help you find the perfect fit for your online store.
Read Also: Unleashing the Power of BigCommerce for Your CBD Business
Essential Considerations for CBD E-commerce Platforms
The CBD market has seen exponential growth in the last few years thanks to legalization and medically proven benefits.
Unlike hard narcotics, CBD has several beneficial qualities that science has proven several times.
The result is a flourishing CBD industry that now needs the right e-commerce platforms to help it sell its products to the masses.
Navigating The Legalities Of CBD
Businesses must comply with different state and federal laws regarding CBD e-commerce stores.
The company must remain updated because these laws constantly change, and the store must adhere to the right ones (age verification, product labeling, and THC content limits)
Additionally, the store must incorporate a payment processor willing to work with CBD e-commerce businesses.
Most payment processors opt out of working with CBD businesses because they avoid navigating complex regulatory frameworks.
Lastly, CBD businesses must constantly be updated on these products’ latest shipping restrictions and regulations.
Look into which carriers are familiar with CBD products and can handle the paperwork.
Auditing Platform Features and Functionality
CBD businesses must find an e-commerce platform that meets their needs and helps launch their businesses.
Here’s how to audit an e-commerce platform:
- Use accurate product categorization that helps customers quickly locate the CBD products they want. Using advanced search features streamlines this process.
- Age verification tools must ensure that only adults have access to CBD products to prevent underage consumption. Most legal requirements aim to protect underage CBD consumption, and age verification tools enforce it.
- Using SSL certificates and fraud prevention tools helps secure checkout processes and keep customer information safe to avoid valuable information from getting into the wrong hands.
- Incorporate inventory management tools that help efficiently manage CBD inventory to avoid stockouts or overselling stock the business doesn’t have.
Running a CBD e-commerce business differs from other niches and requires a platform that offers all the necessary tools.
Using Consistent Marketing and Branding
Proper marketing and branding strategies help businesses attract suitable attention to their offerings and build an identity that people associate with the company.
A competitive CBD marketing strategy considers the following:
- Product listings must include complete and accurate information, including product ingredients, CBD potency, and potential health benefits. Avoid vague or ambiguous statements and ensure the information is easy to understand.
- Build a content marketing strategy that includes informative articles and blogs regarding various CBD products and terminologies. A content strategy builds brand authority and helps it rank in search engine result pages.
- Build landing pages, use optimized images and the right keywords, and combine them with a robust content strategy that helps with SEO. Have the store rank higher in search engine results to increase conversion chances.
- Share educational content and relevant memes to build a social media presence that resonates with the brand’s target audience and create a community around the brand that people feel attached to.
Combining marketing and branding helps businesses stand out from the competition and familiarize themselves with their target audience.
Using BigCommerce To Build a CBD E-commerce Store
BigCommerce is an established name in the e-commerce space used by various industries and niches.
BigCommerce is also one of the few platforms supporting CBD e-commerce stores, allowing these brands to sell their products.
Here’s how to build a CBD BigCommerce store:
Pick The Right BigCommerce Plan
BigCommerce store plans cater to all business sizes, from minor to enterprise-level companies and everything in between. BigCommerce store plans include the following:
- Standard: Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Plus: Offers advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and advanced product filtering.
- Pro: Provides more advanced features like advanced reporting and a custom storefront.
- Enterprise: Tailored for large-scale businesses with complex needs.
Developing Your BigCommerce Store
- Customize Your Store by choosing a theme that aligns with your brand and customize its colors, fonts, and layout.
- Create product listings with detailed descriptions, clear images, and accurate pricing.
- Organize your categories to make it easier for customers to find what they need.
- Set up shipping and taxes that ensure accurate calculations at checkout.
A solid foundation is essential for short- and long-term business growth and success.
The front and back end should work together to ensure the store has top-notch form and function.
Integrating Age Verification
- Use the dedicated BigCommerce app store, which offers various age verification apps that can be integrated into your store.
- Consider using manual verification for orders, especially for high-value purchases.
Using Secure Payment Processing
- Find a compatible processor by researching which payment processors work with CBD businesses.
- Configure your chosen payment processor to accept payments and securely integrate with BigCommerce:
SEO Optimization
- Find and use relevant keywords for your CBD products, incorporating them into product descriptions, titles, and meta tags.
- Use on-page SEO to optimize the website’s structure, content, and images to improve search engine rankings.
- Use off-page SEO and build backlinks to your website from other reputable websites to boost your domain authority.
Conclusion
Selecting the right e-commerce platform is essential for your online CBD business.
Focus on what matters most: payment processing, regulatory compliance, and user experience.
Platforms such as BigCommerce offer features specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges of selling CBD products.
Ultimately, the best platform should help you manage inventory, simplify operations, and boost customer engagement.
Take the time to explore your options and choose one that fits your business needs and creates a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
