How to Choose the Best Website Builder for Your CBD Business? The Guide You Need!

Introduction 

CBD-infused goods are highly profitable and with the growing sales of CBD, entrepreneurs are looking to expand their businesses online. 

The days of the CBD sector merely depending on physical stores to drive sales are long gone. Online e-commerce stores are becoming an increasingly useful tool for CBD firms trying to increase their reach and revenue due to the constantly expanding online market and consumers’ growing comfort level with digital transactions. 

After the coronavirus pandemic, 45% of customers have started purchasing CBD products online.

Well, online is quite lucrative and everything. But so you know because CBD is a complicated industry – you need to do your research to find the website builder that is compatible with the CBD businesses and has all the features that you are looking for! 

To make your search a bit easier we will be considering the tips to get started for your CBD online store and how to choose the best website builder. Let’s get started. 

Also Read: 10 Best Website Builders for CBD Business

Why Build a Website for Your Online Business? 

With the global CBD market projected to exceed $20 billion by 2024, establishing an online presence is crucial for CBD businesses. Here’s why:

• Expanded Reach: An online store lets you tap into a national and global audience, reaching customers who might not have access to CBD products locally.  
• 24/7 Accessibility: Your website enables customers to browse and purchase CBD products at any time, increasing sales opportunities around the clock. 
• Increased Product Visibility: Since about 80% of consumers research products online before buying, a well-designed website can capture the interest of potential CBD buyers by providing detailed product information.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: A user-friendly website can offer a seamless shopping experience, including easy navigation and detailed descriptions of your CBD products, which can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. 
• Data and Analytics: Your website can track customer behavior and sales trends, providing valuable insights to help you tailor your product offerings and marketing strategies for the CBD market.
• Targeted Marketing: With the powerful analytics and marketing capabilities provided by e-commerce platforms, you may precisely target particular interest groups and demographics. By doing this, you can be sure that the right people see your “More Sale” adverts, increasing conversion rates.
• Reduced Overhead: Online platforms operate at a lesser cost of rent, manpower, and inventory management when compared to conventional stores. This increases your profit margins and enables you to offer more appealing prices for your “More Sale.” 

Also Read: Marketing Ideas for CBD Business 

Tips To Know Before You Start Selling CBD Products Online! 

CBD businesses are surely growing and is one of the most lucrative business options currently, but it does with its lots of regulations and restrictions. So, it is important to look after everything and then get started. To make it a bit easier for you, we have prepared a list of things that you should keep in mind before getting started.  

• Although CBD is now legal in many nations, it is typically subject to strict regulations. You must so adhere to all local production, shipping, and sales regulations.
• Due to country-specific legislation, the majority of e-commerce platforms only permit merchants in the USA, Canada, and select regions of Europe to sell CBD goods, however, this list is subject to change.
• The payment processor is the primary barrier to CBD sales; without a CBD-friendly payment processor, your eCommerce platform becomes useless. So, look for an ecommerce platform that works with CBD-friendly payment gateways.
• You must locate a merchant bank account that accepts payments for CBD and hemp-derived products. Without a bank account, you will be unable to receive funds from the payment processor.
• You may notice that the app for e-commerce platforms and payment processors takes longer than expected. That’s because the industry is subject to strict regulations.
• Due to CBD’s highly regulated nature, any payment processor, e-commerce platform, shipping service, or banking institution may close your account at any time.

Also Read: Guide to Start a CBD Business

Things To Consider Before Choosing the Website Builder for Your CBD Business! 

It is obvious that CBD is quite a regulated industry and only a few website builders allow CBD business, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for less. The website builder can make make or break your business. So, here are some of the factors that you should keep in mind before choosing the website builder for your CBD business. Let’s dig in! 

Compatibility with the CBD businesses 

The most important thing to be sure of is that the e-commerce platform you select complies with all laws about the selling of CBD goods. This means that the platform should provide built-in solutions for verifying your clients’ ages and restricting sales to only eligible individuals. 

To assist you keep an eye on your CBD sales and make sure you’re in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, the platform should also have strong reporting features.

Additionally, it’s critical to comprehend the subtle differences in CBD laws across various jurisdictions. Although CBD is permitted on a federal level in the US, each state may have different laws and regulations.

For example, some states may impose additional licensing or labeling requirements.

Also Read: Which Banks Support CBD Business

Technical proficiency

Think about the degree of technical know-how needed to configure and manage each platform. 

If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, look for platforms that provide an intuitive setup process, customizable themes, and easy integration with payment gateways. These options typically offer user-friendly interfaces that don’t require coding skills, making it simple to manage your store’s design and functionality. 

If you have a bit more technical knowledge or a team to help, you might opt for platforms that offer greater customization and control over your website. These solutions often provide more advanced features, allowing for a more tailored shopping experience and the ability to tweak various aspects of your store.   

So based on your team’s technical abilities and the available support and resources, you can choose the best framework to ensure a smooth setup and ongoing management of your CBD store. 

Platform Pricing & Costs 

While choosing the eCommerce platform for your CBD business, you need to consider the costs and pricing. Of course, running a profitable business is the main goal here, and you should not use an e-commerce platform that costs you more than it brings in. If you run a small business, this is more crucial than you realize.

Compare the price of each platform, taking into account transaction fees, hosting charges, and any extra integrations or apps that you would require to properly manage your CBD store.

While some platforms take a cut of every sale, others demand a monthly subscription fee. Think about each platform’s long-term expenses and how they fit into your company’s spending plan and revenue targets. 

Remember that in the long term, investing in a platform with strong features and dependable performance will help you avoid expensive downtime and lost revenue.

Also Read: How much Money is needed to Start a CBD Business

Integrations 

You are well aware of the fact that you will not just one functionality or the other. And, there is no way you will find all the required features in one platform. You need the third-party integrations. 

So, while choosing the website builder for your CBD business, you can’t miss out on its integration compatibility with third-party platforms. Integrations are an extremely crucial element of any e-commerce platform. 

For example, you may require third-party digital tools, email marketing, accounting, payment and shipping, and more. Before you begin, you should carefully evaluate what your website requires, especially with regard to these integrations. 

The more compatible the platform is with various integrations, the easier it will be to streamline your operations, manage your products, track customer data, and optimize your marketing efforts. Ensuring good integration compatibility can save you time and prevent headaches down the line, making it a key factor in your decision-making process.

Management of Products

CBD products, like other online products, need effective product management to maintain high sales. This involves looking at features that help you efficiently organize, display, and manage your inventory. Make sure the platform you choose to create your CBD online store has top-notch tools and capabilities for project management.

Furthermore, the e-commerce platform should assist you in effectively managing your product image, product descriptions, product prices, orders, inventory, shipping, delivery, and other details.

Given the unique nature of CBD products, it’s also crucial to have options for managing product variations, such as different strengths or formulations, as well as compliance with legal requirements for labeling and information disclosure.

So, all in all – while considering the eCommerce platform for your CBD business you need to consider its product management and make the right decision.

Also Read:  How Much Does it Cost to Open a CBD Dispensary 

Ease of Use

Ease of use is another thing that you should consider while choosing the website builder for your CBD business. Because the last thing you want is scratching your head every time when you try to use it. If the website builder is easy to use and manage – it will make things so much easier for you and your team.   

A platform that is easy to use allows you to quickly make updates, add new products, and customize your site’s appearance without needing to hire a developer or spend hours learning new skills. This is particularly important in the fast-paced CBD industry, where market trends and customer preferences can change rapidly. Being able to adapt your website swiftly—whether to introduce new products, run promotions, or update content—can give you a competitive edge. 

Furthermore, an intuitive platform can enhance your efficiency, allowing you to manage other aspects of your business more effectively. It reduces the time and effort required for website maintenance, freeing up resources that can be better spent on marketing, customer service, and product development. 

Customization Options 

In this competitive world, one-size-fits-all solutions have become outdated. Companies are looking for customized website solutions that are compliant with the website vision and target audience and CBD businesses are not an exception. 

Customization is quite important to establish a unique online presence for your CBD brand. So, while researching the website builder for your CBD business – keep its customization capabilities in mind. 

Choose the platform that allows you to personalize your site’s layout, colors, and fonts to align with your brand’s style. This includes the ability to showcase high-quality images and write detailed product descriptions, ensuring that your CBD products are highlighted effectively. 

With such customization options, you can craft a site that truly reflects your brand’s identity and meets your specific needs. Shopify is a great example of a website builder with one-of-a-kind customization capabilities. 

Also Read: Best Ecommerce Platform for CBD 

SEO Capabilities 

Having a website is great for your business, but only if it gets the required traction from your targeted customers. In order for your website to reach your target audience, it must have great SEO capabilities. It ensures your CBD business ranks well in search results, helping potential customers find you online. 

As John Mueller, Google Webmaster Trends Analyst, puts it, “Good SEO is not just about ranking higher; it’s about reaching the right people at the right time. A well-optimized website can turn searchers into customers.” This underscores the importance of choosing a website builder that supports effective SEO practices to reach and engage your target audience effectively.

For example, WordPress, combined with plugins like Yoast SEO, provides powerful features to optimize your site. This setup allows you to tailor each page with relevant keywords, create user-friendly URLs, and monitor performance. 

A CBD company using such tools saw a 60% increase in organic traffic within six months, demonstrating the significant impact of strong SEO on attracting and converting customers.  

Also Read: How to Market CBD Business on Facebook

Payment Processing 

If you own an online CBD store, having a reliable, CBD-friendly payment processing system is a must. But as you might be aware of the fact that the nature of CBD products means that not all payment processors are willing to handle transactions in this market. 

Therefore, it’s essential to choose a website builder that integrates with CBD-friendly payment solutions. These solutions should be secure and reliable, offering a seamless checkout experience for your customers. 

Look for platforms that support multiple payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and even cryptocurrency if relevant to your market. You also need to ensure that the payment gateways have robust fraud detection and prevention measures because of the high-risk classification of CBD products. 

It protects your business but also instills confidence in your customers, leading to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction. 

Also Read: How to Choose the Best CBD Payment Processing Company 

Mobile Responsiveness

With a significant number of consumers shopping on their mobile devices, having a mobile-responsive website is not just an option; it’s a necessity for your CBD business to ensure audience trust and climb the SEO rankings. 

A mobile-responsive design ensures that your site automatically adjusts to fit the screen size and resolution of various devices while offering a consistent and user-friendly experience.  

So, while looking for a website builder for your CBD business you need to look after the mobile responsive features such as easy navigation, quick-loading pages, and mobile-friendly product displays to retain mobile shoppers and reduce bounce rates.  

By ensuring that your website is optimized for mobile devices, you can cater to a broader audience, increase engagement, and ultimately drive more sales.

To Conclude 

You can quickly create an effective and successful online presence with the right tools and strategies. Just remember to pick the right website builder, and payment processor, ensure seamless integration, and deliver what your customer wants to get the best results.

In this blog, we’ve outlined the 10 crucial factors to consider when selecting a website builder for your CBD business. From compliance to user experience, these considerations will help you build a site that not only looks professional but also functions smoothly and complies with industry regulations. 

And if you are looking for the best payment processor to streamline payments – CBD Merchant Solutions has got you covered. We have CBD-compliant, feature-rich payment solutions to make things easy for CBD businesses. If you would like to try it out, you can book a free consultation call and we have got you covered.