If you build it, they will come, right? Not necessarily in the case of a brick-and-mortar vape store. As a store owner, you have to market yourself and your products so people know you’re out there.
Digital marketing for vape stores is a tried-and-true method of getting customers in the door. When you’re able to reach your audience where they are and speak to them on the platforms and channels where they spend their time, you’ll have a better chance of striking the right chord and catching their eye.
But how can you get started?
In this blog, we’ll share strategies for digital marketing for vape stores, which tools are best, and the types of messaging that will attract your ideal customers.
Why Use Digital Marketing for Vape Stores
Digital marketing, also known as online marketing, is a way to promote your brand or products using digital communication and the internet. It includes your website, emails, social media channels, search engine optimization (SEO), and even influencer collaborations.
Digital marketing for vape stores has several benefits.
- Increased brand awareness: Digital marketing helps promote your vape store and ensures potential customers know who you are.
- Brand recognition: A consistent online presence helps people remember and recognize your brand.
- Increased revenue: Effective digital marketing can lead to more sales and higher revenue.
- Expand reach: Digital marketing for vape stores allows you to reach a broader audience beyond your local area.
- Brand loyalty/trust: Building a strong online presence helps foster trust and customer loyalty among your customers, especially when you interact with them.
When used properly, digital marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach your audience at the right place and time.
Related Read: The Ultimate Guide to Effective Tobacco Marketing
Understanding Digital Marketing for Vape Stores
You may think placing an ad in your local newspaper will be enough to bring customers to your store, but not all marketing is created equal!
Digital marketing offers a targeted approach, allowing you to reach specific audiences through various online channels. Traditional marketing methods like print ads or billboards are broader and often less cost-effective, especially for niche markets and stores with younger customer bases, like vape products.
Common Digital Marketing Channels for Vape Stores
One of the best ways to get your name out into the world is by blogging. With blogging, you can share valuable content related to vaping to attract and engage your customers. If you operate an e-commerce shop in addition to your brick-and-mortar shop, this (and all these digital marketing methods) is one way to attract customers who may not reside in your local area.
Capturing customer emails is another way to engage your audience. Email campaigns can be used to update customers on new products, promotions, and store news. You can promote new blog posts here, too!
As you build out your website and blog, ensure your pages are optimized for SEO. Adding keywords your customers search online will help search engines send organic traffic your way. An example of some keywords may include vape shop near me, best vape shop in [location], [brand name] vape products, best vape pen, vape pen battery, etc.
One note about SEO: Be careful not to stuff your pages with keywords. Search engines see this as a bad practice and will place your website lower than others.
Another form of digital marketing is claiming Google My Business and other directory and review site listings.
Claiming your business listing on Google My Business will improve local search visibility and provide essential store information like address, hours, and phone number. To boost credibility, make sure your store is listed on directories and review sites like Yelp, and respond to negative reviews when you can!
Finally, don’t forget about social media profiles and influencer marketing. Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to engage with your audience and promote your store. Partner with influencers to reach a wider audience and build trust. If you’re unsure about working with freelancers, maybe these stats will change your mind:
✅41% of consumers learn of new products through influencers every week
💁🏼♀️Millennials and Gen Z are most receptive to influencer recommendations and insights.
💰70% of social media livestream viewers in the U.S. say they would purchase products or services recommended by influencers.
📈60% of marketers said influencer-generated content performs better and drives more engagement compared to branded posts.
Related Read: Marketing for Smoke Shops: 5 Cigar Promotions To Boost Your Sales
Vape Store Marketing Regulations
Before we share tips and examples of digital marketing for vape stores, it’s important to discuss the regulations around vape store advertising. Navigating the regulations for marketing vape products is crucial to avoid legal issues. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
☑️ Age verification: Promotions and online content should only be accessible to those of legal smoking age. Implementing age verification technology can help you manage these requirements.
☑️ Health warnings: Promotional materials must always display required health warnings. The warnings should emphasize the severe health risks associated with tobacco consumption and remind customers about the potential consequences of regular tobacco use.
☑️ Appropriate Imagery: Never use imagery that might appeal to underage people. This means steering clear of using cartoon-like characters, celebrities, or imagery that may make smoking look appealing to young viewers.
☑️ Ad restrictions: Vape product ads are not allowed on Google, TV, or certain social media platforms.
☑️ Tax Compliance: Check with your state and local regulations to ensure you’re in compliance with all relevant tax laws.
Related Read: 5 Tobacco Advertising Regulations Every Smoke Shop Owner Should Know
Tips for Effective Digital Marketing
Before you start posting on social media and blasting your customers with emails, it’s important to line up your digital marketing for vape shop strategy. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Create a cohesive marketing strategy. To do this, develop a comprehensive digital marketing plan that aligns with your business goals, and include which channels you want to use most.
2. Research your audience and find out where they spend time online. As you create content, position yourself as the expert. Provide valuable information that appeals to your customers and entice them to buy from you without being too salesy.
3. Develop a clear call to action (CTA), which is the action you want your visitors to take when they land on it. After three months, review your website’s analytics to determine whether your CTA and content resonate with your audience. If not, make some adjustments.
4. Create consistent branding across channels. Your emails and social media profiles should match the colors and branding on your website. You don’t want visitors to feel disconnected when they click from your email to your website and see totally different branding.
5. Be interactive. If someone leaves a good review, thank them! If someone leaves a negative review, make it right. Share user-generated content and reach out to influencers for partnerships. You can even send gifts to YouTube reviewers and ask for honest reviews.
Related Read: 4 Smoke Promos: Your Guide to Enticing Deals
Tools and Resources for Digital Marketing
The right tools will make managing digital marketing for vape shops so much easier. Here are a few favorites.
- Social media management: Tools like Hootsuite and Buffer help you manage and schedule posts across various platforms.
- Email marketing platforms: Use Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Constant Contact for effective email campaigns.
- Customer relationship management (CRM) tools: HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho help you manage customer relationships and track interactions.
- Analytics tools: Google Analytics and Facebook Insights provide valuable data on your marketing performance.
- Point of sale (POS) systems: Consider a vape store POS system with features for age verification, promotions, and customer loyalty programs all built in. Cigars POS, for example, has robust features and benefits.
A modern POS system like Cigars POS will help with inventory management, streamlined transactions, high-risk payment processing, barcode label printing, scan data reporting, shrinkage, and more.
Related Read: 5 Top Options for Smoke Shop POS System for 2024
Vape Store Promotions To Use in Marketing
As we wrap up, here are a few digital marketing for vape store promotions to inspire you.
- Loyalty programs: Encourage your customers to sign up for your customer loyalty program, and reward them for returning. Use purchase information from your POS system to find your top buyers and host a VIP night.
- BOGO deals: Offer buy one get one deals or bundles to encourage more purchases. Bundling will also help you get rid of stock that isn’t selling as quickly.
- Social media contests: Run contests on social media to engage followers and attract new customers.
- Email Coupons: Send exclusive discounts and coupons to your email subscribers. Tip: Don’t get too loud about the discount in your email subject line because it may send your email straight to your customers’ spam.
- Events: Host or participate in local events to promote your store and connect with the community.
These promotions can help you attract more customers from your target audience and win them over to become loyal customers of your store.
Related Read: Are Vape Shops Profitable? 3 Sales-Boosting Tips
Level Up Digital Marketing for Vape Stores
Digital marketing for vape stores is easier with the right tools and a killer strategy. Once you know who your audience is, you can tailor your messaging on the right platforms and attract a steady stream of visitors to your store and website.
With an arsenal of helpful tools and a POS system that complements your vision, your digital marketing promotions will meet local and state regulations, keep track of your most loyal customers, and ensure age verification.
Schedule a demo of Cigars POS to learn more about how this robust tool can level up your marketing and your daily operations.
