If you own or manage a cannabis dispensary, getting consistent online reviews is a key part of an effective dispensary marketing plan. Whether you sell medical or recreational marijuana, you want to attract more customers and increase your sales. One of the most effective ways to do that is to get more Google reviews for your business. Below, we will cover how to ask for a Google review as a cannabis dispensary.

Google reviews are not only a powerful form of social proof, but they also have a direct impact on your organic rankings, especially for local search results. In this guide, we will show you how to ask for Google reviews from your customers, and how to automate the process using a simple and effective system. We will also share some tips and best practices to help you get more positive reviews and improve your online reputation.

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Why Google Reviews Matter for Cannabis Dispensaries

Google reviews are one of the most influential factors that affect your online visibility and credibility. According to a study by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2020, and 73% of them only pay attention to reviews written in the last month. Moreover, 48% of consumers only consider businesses with a 4-star rating or higher.

Google reviews are also crucial for your local SEO, as they help you rank higher on Google Maps and Google Search. Google uses various signals to determine the relevance and quality of local businesses, such as proximity, prominence, and category. However, reviews are one of the most important factors, as they indicate the level of customer satisfaction and trustworthiness of your business.

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To illustrate this point, let’s take a look at an example of a local search for “dispensaries in Denver”. As you can see from the screenshot below, the top three results have a high number of reviews and ratings, while the lower-ranked ones have fewer or none.

This shows that Google favors businesses that have more reviews and ratings, as they are more likely to provide a better user experience and meet the searcher’s intent. Therefore, if you want to rank higher on Google and attract more customers, you need to get more Google reviews for your cannabis dispensary.

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How to Ask for a Google Review from Your Customers

Now that you understand the importance of Google reviews, you might be wondering how to ask for them from your customers. The good news is that it’s not as hard as you might think. In fact, most customers are willing to leave a review if they are asked in the right way and at the right time.

Here are some tips and best practices to help you ask for Google reviews from your customers:

• Ask at the peak of happiness. The best time to ask for a review is when your customer is most satisfied with your product or service, such as after a purchase, a delivery, or a positive interaction. This is when they are more likely to share their feedback and give you a positive rating.
• Make it easy and convenient. The easier you make it for your customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do it. Don’t make them search for your business on Google or navigate through multiple pages. Instead, provide them with a direct link to your Google My Business profile, where they can easily write a review and rate your business.
• Use multiple channels. Depending on your customer’s preferences and behavior, you can use different channels to ask for reviews, such as email, text message, social media, or in-person. For example, you can send an email or a text message after a purchase, asking for feedback and providing a link to your Google My Business profile. You can also post a request on your social media pages, or ask your customers face-to-face when they visit your store.
• Offer incentives. While you should never pay or bribe your customers for reviews, you can offer them some incentives to encourage them to share their feedback. For example, you can offer them a discount, a freebie, a loyalty point, or a chance to win a prize in exchange for a review. However, make sure that you don’t influence their opinion or ask for a specific rating, as this would violate Google’s policies.
• Say thank you. Showing appreciation and gratitude is a great way to build rapport and loyalty with your customers. After they leave a review, make sure to thank them for their time and feedback, and respond to their comments. This will make them feel valued and respected, and increase the chances of them becoming repeat customers and advocates for your business.

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How to Automate the Process of Asking for Google Reviews

Asking for Google reviews from your customers manually can be time-consuming and tedious. Moreover, you might miss some opportunities or forget to follow up with some customers. That’s why it’s a good idea to automate the process of asking for reviews, using a simple and effective system that does the work for you.

One of the best examples of such a system is the one implemented by Fountain Organics, a medical marijuana store with an online presence. They use an automated review system that prompts their customers to leave reviews through emails and text messages, and tracks their progress and results.

How the Automated Process Looks

• Step 1: When a customer makes a purchase on their website, they receive an email confirmation with a link to their Google My Business profile, asking them to rate their experience and leave a review.
• Step 2: If the customer doesn’t click on the link or leave a review within a week, they receive a text message reminder, with the same link and request.
• Step 3: If the customer still doesn’t leave a review within another week, they receive a final email reminder, with the same link and request.
• Step 4: If the customer leaves a review, they receive a thank you email, with an offer for a 10% discount on their next purchase.
• Step 5: The system tracks and monitors the number of reviews, ratings, and responses, and generates reports and insights for the business owner.

This automated review system has helped Fountain Organics increase their number of Google reviews, and improve their average rating from 4.2 to 4.6 stars. As a result, they have also seen a boost in their organic traffic, conversions, and sales.

As you can see, this automated review system is simple and effective, and can be easily replicated for any cannabis dispensary or other business. All you need is a tool that allows you to send automated emails and text messages, and a link to your Google My Business profile.

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How to Set Up QR Codes for In-Store Reviews

If you have a physical location for your cannabis dispensary, you can also use QR codes to ask for Google reviews from your in-store customers. QR codes are scannable images that can redirect users to a specific webpage, such as your Google My Business profile, where they can leave a review.

QR codes are a great way to ask for reviews, as they are convenient, fast, and easy to use. All your customers need is a smartphone with a camera, and they can scan the QR code and write a review in seconds. Moreover, QR codes can be placed anywhere in your store, such as on your counter, your receipt, your window, or your product packaging.

Tips For Using QR Codes

Here are some steps to help you set up QR codes for in-store reviews:

• Step 1: Create a short URL for your Google My Business profile, using a tool like Bitly or TinyURL. This will make your QR code more readable and trackable.
• Step 2: Generate a QR code for your short URL, using a free tool like QR Code Generator or QR Code Monkey. You can customize the size, color, and design of your QR code, and download it as an image file.
• Step 3: Print your QR code and place it in strategic locations in your store, where your customers can easily see and scan it. You can also add a catchy slogan or a call-to-action, such as “Scan me to leave a review” or “We appreciate your feedback”.
• Step 4: Test your QR code and make sure it works properly and redirects to your Google My Business profile. You can also track the number of scans and clicks, using the tools mentioned above.

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Tips on How to Ask For a Google Review as a Cannabis Dispensary

Getting more Google reviews for your cannabis dispensary is not only beneficial for your online visibility and credibility, but also for your customer satisfaction and loyalty. By asking for reviews, you show your customers that you care about their opinions and experiences, and that you are willing to improve your products and services based on their feedback.

However, asking for reviews is not enough. You also need to manage and monitor your reviews, and respond to them in a timely and professional manner. This will help you build trust and rapport with your customers, and encourage them to leave more positive reviews and referrals.

Tips for Success

To help you get more Google reviews for your cannabis dispensary, here are some additional tips and best practices:

• Be consistent and persistent. Don’t ask for reviews once and forget about it. Make it a habit and a part of your marketing strategy. Ask for reviews regularly and frequently, and follow up with your customers until they leave a review or opt out.
• Be selective and specific. Don’t ask for reviews from everyone and anyone. Ask for reviews from your loyal and satisfied customers, who are more likely to give you a positive rating and a glowing testimonial. Also, don’t ask for generic reviews, such as “How was your experience?” or “Did you like our product?”. Ask for specific reviews, such as “How did our product help you with your pain?”
• Ask for reviews that highlight your unique selling proposition (USP). Don’t ask for reviews that are generic and similar to your competitors. Ask for reviews that showcase what makes your cannabis dispensary different and better than others, such as your quality, variety, service, price, or location.
• Showcase your reviews and ratings. Don’t let your reviews go unnoticed and unappreciated. Showcase your reviews and ratings on your website, social media, and store, and use them as testimonials and social proof. This will not only boost your online reputation, but also inspire and motivate your potential customers to leave their own reviews.
• Respond to negative reviews. Don’t ignore or delete negative reviews, as they can damage your online reputation and credibility. Instead, respond to negative reviews in a polite and professional manner, and try to resolve the issue and satisfy the customer. This will show your customers that you care about their feedback and are willing to improve your products and services based on their suggestions.

How to Get Started with an Automated Review System for Your Cannabis Dispensary

If you still find yourself wondering how to ask for a Google review for your cannabis dispensary, and improve your online visibility and credibility, you need to implement an automated review system that makes it easy and convenient for your customers to leave reviews, and for you to manage and monitor them.

However, setting up an automated review system can be challenging and overwhelming, especially if you don’t have the time, skills, or resources to do it yourself. That’s why you need the help of an expert who can guide you through the process and provide you with the best tools and strategies for effective review management.

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That’s where we come in. Samuel Fisher and his team at Green Dispensary marketing use a variety of tools and techniques to help cannabis dispensaries get more Google reviews, such as:

• Email and text message automation, to send personalized and timely requests and reminders to customers, and provide them with direct links to their Google My Business profiles.
• QR code generation and printing, to create and place scannable images in strategic locations in the store, and redirect customers to their Google My Business profiles.
• Review tracking and monitoring, to measure and analyze the number of reviews, ratings, and responses, and generate reports and insights for the business owner.
• Review management and response, to show appreciation and gratitude to customers who leave reviews, and address and resolve any issues or complaints from negative reviews.

By using these tools and techniques, Samuel Fisher and his team can help cannabis dispensaries get more Google reviews in a fast and easy way, and improve their online visibility and credibility.

Want Us to Put an Automated Listing Review System in Place?

If you are interested in getting more Google reviews for your cannabis dispensary, and improving your online visibility and credibility, you should book a strategy session with Samuel Fisher today.

A strategy session is a free, no-obligation consultation, where Samuel Fisher will analyze your current situation, identify your goals and challenges, and provide you with a customized plan and proposal for implementing an automated review system for your cannabis dispensary.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get more Google reviews for your cannabis dispensary, and improve your online visibility and credibility.

>> Book a Free Dispensary Site Audit & Marketing Strategy Session