Most CBD companies set out their search for a marketing partner with great expectations. The reality is Not every agency fits the cannabis scene. While some will guarantee the moon, few know their way past tight ad rules or compliance challenges. Think through these no-nonsense techniques to identify a CBD digital marketing agency that truly fits your CBD company before you commit to anything or turn over your funds.
Starting with the foundations, Request actual, current CBD or cannabis customer outcomes. Though numbers cannot lie, anyone can discuss “growth strategy” in circles. Did they assist another brand either surviving a Facebook ad audit or rising Google’s results? If so, they will be happy to show the evidence.
Look at their level of compliance knowledge. This is not like peddling phone covers or gym socks. The ins and outs of FDA warning letters, platform rules, and the ongoing regulatory revisions aimed at hemp businesses should already be known to your agency. Keep on even if they are stumbling for a response on disclaimers or THC restrictions in advertising.
Ask about workarounds and platform access. Rarely does a one-size-fits-all solution apply in CBD. Google, Instagram, and TikHub have eccentricities. Think influencer partnerships, native ads, programmatic display, or blog material with SEO richness—an agency worth your time will have samples of inventive methods to convey your message.
Search for openness on campaigns and prices. You want someone who will precisely show how every dollar is used and what to expect month to month. If the plan sounds unclear or full of “industry secrets,” it’s usually a clue that the outcomes could also be equally enigmatic.
Talk to actual customers, if at all possible. Direct comments from companies just like yours expose more than any case study could ever show. When problems arose, were they open communicators? When ad policies changed, did they alter quickly? Sometimes honest phone calls, not fancy testimonials, provide the best feedback.
See whether they have creative hunger. The top agencies can create interesting complying material still in line with rules. Get their off-the-cuff ideas about campaigns, contests, alliances, or content perspectives. If they stammer or use outdated cliches, you know you’re in the wrong place.
At last, listen to your intuition. You want a partner who gets really geeky about CBD marketing idiosyncrasies, is not risk-averse, and is driven by challenge. You are most likely onto something great if you leave the first conversation feeling inspired and understood. When you come across an agency that meets your needs, hold on—solid industry partners are worth their weight in gold.