11 Effective CBD SEO Strategies to Drive More Traffic to Your Website

Cannabidiol, or simply CBD, is one of the fastest-growing industries. According to the Marketing Forecast Report, the cannabidiol market was anticipated to be $17.27 billion in 2023. Thanks to the rising awareness of its health benefits, this market is expected to reach $49.22 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 23.3%. This upward trend is showing no signs of slowing down.

While the industry is growing, it remains heavily regulated. As a CBD product vendor, you face a double-edged sword – the strict regulations and the growing competition. The question is – how do you overcome these challenges?

That’s where SEO for CBD comes in!

With PPC ads out of the picture, the next best thing CBD companies have is SEO. You can use SEO for CBD websites to create awareness, engage with potential customers, and generate new leads. But it may not be as easy as it sounds.

Let’s look at the importance of SEO for CBD websites and the strategies that will help you get it right from day one.

A. Why SEO for CBD Websites Is Important

SEO is critical for CBD websites due to the intricate regulations tied to CBD advertising. From January 2023, Google allowed certain CBD product promotions, but this is restricted to California, Colorado, and Puerto Rico.

Plus, you will need to get certified by LegitScript and Google first. And you can sell only FDA-approved pharmaceuticals containing cannabidiol (CBD) and topical, hemp-derived CBD products.

You can overcome these roadblocks and market your products more efficiently with SEO for CBD. SEO lets you connect with the audience looking for CBD products and improve business visibility and conversions.

Hence, harnessing the power of SEO for CBD companies is essential to overcome these barriers and achieve marketing objectives.

B. 11 Tried and Tested CBD SEO Techniques You Shouldn’t Miss

SEO is an excellent way to promote your products and generate more leads. However, you have to do it right – from the start. Secondly, you will still need to be careful when promoting your CBD-based products.

Here are 11 proven CBD SEO strategies that can help.

1. Start Your CBD SEO with an Audit to Identify Technical Issues

The first step in effective SEO for CBD is to identify technical issues. So, you will need to take a closer look at your website. That’s where an SEO audit comes in. There are several SEO audit tools out there like SEMrush, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs. You can, of course, take your pick. All of them are easy to use.

For example, if you are using SEMrush, just add your website’s URL to the tool and let it perform the audit. You will get a site health score in a few minutes. The higher the score, the fewer issues you have.

The steps you have to take to fix the technical issues will depend on the SEO audit. However, a few common CBD SEO fixes include:

• Optimize your website navigation.
• Optimize the content with suitable keywords.
• Make sure all of your important pages are being indexed by Google.
• Make sure your sitemap and robot.txt files are error-free and up to date.
• Analyze your website’s loading speed and optimize slow pages.
• Make sure to use HTTPS.
• Make your website responsive.

2. Improve Your Website’s Loading Speed

In the world of SEO, faster page loading speed equals better conversions.

As per a report published by Google and Deloitte, a mere 0.1s loading time boost can:

• Increase sales conversions by 8.4%.
• Improve order value by 9.2%.
• And lower bounce rate by 8.3%.

Naturally, your SEO for CBD websites also needs to focus on improving website loading speed.

Use Google PageSpeed Insights, a free online tool to check your website’s loading speed. There are also other tools like GTmetrix, or Test My Site. The Google PageSpeed Insights will provide you with a performance score for both mobile and desktop.

You can take the necessary steps based on the report. But here are a few general CBD SEO tips you can use to speed up your website.

• Optimize Images: Compress and resize images without sacrificing quality.
• Enable Caching: Implement browser and server caching to reduce load times.
• Minify Code: Condense HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files for faster processing.
• Use a CDN: Distribute content through a Content Delivery Network for quicker access.
• Optimize Database: Regularly clean and organize your database for efficient performance.
• Choose Reliable Hosting: Choose a high-quality hosting provider with fast server response times.

3. Create Educative and Informative Content

The biggest challenge the CBD industry faces is generating awareness. Many people still shy away from using CBD-based products because of the stigma associated with cannabis. So, when devising your SEO for CBD websites, creating educational and informative content needs to be your priority.

Your target audience will appreciate the content focused on their style, health, everyday lives, and how CBD-based products can help. Creating this kind of content can boost your CBD SEO significantly.

But keep the following in mind when creating your content:

• Use phrases such as “CBD may help” or “CBD may offer potential benefits” when referring to the benefits of CBD. It is probably the best way to comply with regulations.
• But FDA regulations may change over time. So, stay updated and make required changes to your content when needed.
• Research the topic and ensure accuracy and relevancy.
• Use a clear and engaging tone to convey information effectively.
• Do proper keyword research to improve search engine visibility.
• Use high-quality images and graphics wherever necessary.
• Add suitable call-to-actions or invite comments and feedback.
• Back up any claims or information presented with reliable resources.

4. Include Long-Tail Keywords and FAQs for Better Ranking

Long-tail keywords are precise phrases used in online searches. These keywords often have a low search volume. But as they are specific, you can target your potential customers quickly and efficiently.

For example, take the long-tail keyword “Best CBD oil for anxiety.” Using this keyword puts you in a position to engage with potential buyers. It shows how intent they are on looking for and buying CBD oil.

On the other hand, a generic keyword like “CBD oil” has a high search volume. So, you have to compete with dozens of other businesses and even with websites that aren’t your direct competitors. That puts your SEO for CBD at risk.

The bottom line – leverage long-tail keywords now!

Here are a few examples to get your SEO for CBD started:

• Best CBD oil for anxiety
• Organic CBD products for pain relief
• CBD gummies for sleep
• Full-spectrum CBD tinctures for arthritis
• CBD topical creams for skincare
• CBD pet treats for anxiety in dogs
• THC-free CBD oil for athletes
• CBD capsules for chronic pain management

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are another critical addition to your website. As simple as it is, an FAQ page can take your CBD Search Engine Optimization to a whole new level.

For starters, Google often displays FAQs in its search results snippets. With the right set of FAQs, your website stands a chance to rank in those search results. Nothing else can put your CBD website in a spotlight like this.

Here’re a few FAQs to get you started.

• What Is CBD and What Does CBD Stand for?
• Does CBD Get You High?
• What Is the Level of THC in Your Products?
• Does CBD Make You Sleepy?
• Can You Overdose on CBD?
• Does CBD Have Side Effects?

Of course, you can add FAQs related to your products, their ingredients, your services, and other things. The purpose is to drive more engagement and get your FAQs ranked in search result snippets.

5. Optimize Your Category Pages to the Tee

All e-commerce websites have category pages; your CBD website is no exception. Unfortunately, website owners don’t pay as much attention to category pages as product pages.

That’s why one of our most effective CBD SEO strategies is to optimize your category pages. But optimizing category pages with suitable title tags, meta descriptions, anchor text, keywords, and content makes it easier for your customers to find what they want. It essentially brings you one step closer to tanking high in search results.

Start by implementing these practical CBD SEO tactics:

• Research relevant keywords for each category and incorporate them naturally into the content.
• Include internal links with appropriate anchor text. This will help point your readers to related products or relevant content on your website. There is no better way to boost your engagement.
• Implement product filters and sorting options to facilitate easy product discovery.
• Display social proof, such as the number of products sold and product views, to enhance credibility and drive conversions.
• Simplify your website navigation.
• Add clear calls-to-actions.
• Regularly update your category pages with fresh content to maintain relevance and engagement.
• Track the performance of your category pages and make improvements as needed.

6. Get Your Local SEO Going

Local SEO is equally important.

CBD SEO is not about your website alone; you also need to put your store on the map.

That’s the reason you need to optimize your Google Business Profile, formerly Google My Business page. It’s your best bet to get ranked in the local search results.

Even if you do not have a physical store location Google Business Profile allows you to create a listing based on the Areas you Serve. That’s a huge win for e-commerce businesses like CBD.

Improve your local search engine visibility with these easy-to-implement tactics:

• Update Business Data: Keep your address, phone number, and category current.
• Verify Location: Confirm your location on Google Maps and other platforms.
• Update Work Hours: Regularly adjust your hours of operation to reflect any changes.
• Respond to Customer Reviews: Engage with clients by acknowledging their feedback and addressing concerns.
• Showcase Products: Showcase your products with visually appealing images.
• Create Location-specific Content: Develop informative, locally relevant articles and resources.
• Leverage Local Events: Participate in and promote community events to increase brand awareness.
• Implement Schema Markup: Implement structured data specific to your CBD business.
• Monitor Search Trends: Stay informed about local search behavior to refine your SEO strategy.

7. Implement an Effective Internal Linking Strategy

Internal links connect different pages within your website. They make it easier for your readers to go from general content to more specific content, which is what they want in the first place.

Moreover, Google considers internal links as one of the critical ranking factors. However, many businesses overlook or underutilize this cost-effective strategy.

Try these interlinking strategies to boost your SEO for CBD website.

• Organize Content Hierarchy: Organize your website logically with categories, subcategories, and product pages.
• Use Keyword-rich Anchors: Always use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text for internal links. It improves search engine understanding.
• Link Deeply: Connect deeper, specific pages instead of top-level pages to distribute link authority.
• Prioritize User Experience: Place internal links naturally within the content.
• Limit Link Quantity: Include a moderate number of relevant internal links. You don’t want to overwhelm users or search engines.
• Update and Monitor Links: Review and refresh internal links regularly. Also, add new ones as needed.
• Measure Effectiveness: Use SEO tools or Google Analytics 4 for eCommerce to track user engagement and conversion rates. Optimize your strategy accordingly.
• Implement Content Clusters: Create content clusters based on topical authority with a central “pillar” page linking to detailed supporting pages. This establishes your website as a comprehensive resource.

8. Optimize Meta Tags and Descriptions for Increased Search Visibility

Consider meta tags as a bridge that connects a website to search engines like Google. They tell search engines what your web pages are about, helping them to serve the right content to your potential customers. In other words, they are one of the backbones of your SEO for CBD websites.

But besides being concise, your meta tags and descriptions need to be keyword optimized. They also need to be as precise as possible. Make sure each website page has a suitable meta tag and description.

Here are a few CBD SEO best practices for the same:

• Identify Keywords: Identify and use CBD-related naturally in the meta tags and descriptions.
• Craft Title Tags: Create unique, descriptive title tags optimized with target keywords. Keep them under 60-character limits.
• Write Meta Descriptions: Create concise, informative descriptions with target keywords. It’s best to stay between 155 to 160 characters.
• Use Numbers: Use numbers (like Top 13 CBD SEO Strategies or 10 best ways to…) to capture users’ attention and increase click-through rates.
• Brand Inclusion: Include your brand/business name in the meta title to boost awareness and establish credibility.
• Front-Load Keywords:  Place target keywords closer to the beginning of the title for better visibility and impact.
• Add Meta Keywords: List target keywords, separated by commas, on each page.
• Integrate Location-based Keywords: Use location-specific keywords in meta tags to boost local SEO.

9. Keep Analyzing Your Competitors

Although this isn’t one of the CBD SEO strategies per se, analyzing your competitors’ websites is a smart move. It keeps you aware of what your competitors are doing differently, allowing them to stay ahead of others. It can help you uncover the gaps in your CBD SEO strategies.

Here’s what you can do:

• Identify Competitors: Research top CBD websites in your niche or region. They are your biggest competitors.
• Evaluate Keywords: Identify the keywords your competitors are using. Fill the respective gaps in your CBD SEO keyword list.
• Analyze Content: Review competitor content. Make the necessary changes to refine your content strategy.
• Examine Backlinks: Check your competitors’ backlink profiles for domains, anchor text, and page authority to develop a targeted link-building strategy.
• Evaluate on-Page Optimization: Take a look at your competitors’ on-page optimization, including meta tags, header tags, and internal linking structure, to identify areas for improvement.

10. Leverage Web Stories to Attract Mobile Users

With just under 55% of all website traffic coming from mobile devices, creating engaging Google web stories would be a smart choice to target this specific audience.

Although this feature acts like a Facebook or Instagram story, a Google Web Story does not expire after 24 hours. But most importantly, you can leverage it to boost your SEO for CBD because it includes keywords in the content on the slides, Title, and Meta Description. Also, your content gets maximum visibility on SERPs.

But you will need to leverage web stories carefully. Here’s what you can do.

• Use Videos: Videos are great for engagement. But be sure to use videos in a portrait ratio (9:16). It’s the best way to showcase your content.
• First-Person Storytelling: Always tell your story in first-person. It gives a personal touch to your web stories. And it also boosts engagement.
• Character Count: Reduce your character count. Google recommends keeping it to less than 280 characters. Usually, 220-250 characters offer easy readability and more engagement.
• Graphics and Visuals: Apart from videos, you can also use graphics and other visuals. Use audio, images, animation, and text to create a dynamic narrative.
• Quizzes and Polls: Make your web stories more interactive with quizzes and polls. They are also an excellent way to gather feedback about your CBD products.
• Readable Text: Keep all text in your web stories visible to your readers. Prevent your text from overflowing or overlapping. Make sure it fits on mobile devices with different screen sizes.

11. Comply with CBD Marketing Regulations

Again, this isn’t really a strategy. But it is essential to understand the marketing regulations around your products. Strict rule compliance safeguards your business and helps create legal CBD SEO strategies. This means you will need to understand FDA regulations and ensure your website complies with federal, state, and local laws.

And remember, regulations keep changing. As mentioned in this article, Google is now allowing the promotion of products containing CBD with low THC levels (0.3%) in California, Colorado, and Puerto Rico. If you serve one of these areas, you can certainly up your CBD SEO for websites. 

Besides, ensuring compliance can help you avoid penalties and even lawsuits. It also demonstrates professionalism, which can prove helpful in improving your brand reputation.

In Conclusion

SEO is a god sent for CBD brands and companies. It allows you to overcome the challenges and restrictions associated with traditional marketing channels. Hopefully, these effective CBD SEO strategies can help you climb Google rankings and stay ahead of your competitors.

Or instead of doing it yourself, you can let us do all the leg work. Reach out to our experts for an SEO plan for your website.