Cannabis Website Design Basics
Cannabis website design shares common principles across Medical Marijuana websites, 420 accessory websites, dispensaries, and farm websites. However, their individual outcomes can vary greatly based on the expertise of the website designer. A reputable cannabis website design firm adheres to fundamental design principles. As a client, how can you prepare yourself for the best possible experience?”
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Website Design Starts with your Brand
It might be difficult to accept, but you can’t put the cart before the horse. When building websites for cannabis businesses or any industry, it all starts with the logo. Your logo represents the very essence of your brand, appearing on stationary, business cards, reports, ads, and the front of your physical stores.
Achieving brand cohesion by harmonizing various elements is crucial for your brand identity. As the forefront of your brand, the logo has a significant impact. Several aspects of your site design are either derived from or designed to complement your logo.
Website color schemes are a crucial aspect that relies on having a finalized logo. You’ll have various options, including complementary colors, contrasting colors, and variations of your primary colors.
Shapes and imagery play a significant role too. Successful cannabis websites incorporate elements from their logos into other parts of the site, such as angles, patterns, and shapes. These can be creatively utilized in backgrounds, buttons, and picture frames.
Fonts are also essential, and cannabis logos often feature unique and distinct fonts, as evident in our portfolio of clients.
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Such fonts are commonly utilized to generate additional on-page elements. A perfect illustration of this approach can be observed on the homepage of ILovePassionBox.com Moreover, logo typefaces can be repurposed as header fonts, further enhancing the overall design.
Additional Items for Your Cannabis Website
Once you’ve made the decision to create a website, start capturing pictures right away. Delays in projects often occur due to photography issues and graphic design. Designers often rely on client-taken photos for websites, and while professional photography is ideal, if you have a staff member who’s taken an introductory photography class in the past, consider letting them handle the picture-taking to streamline the process.
What pictures and images do you need?
If you’re looking for ideas your favorite competitor on Instagram would be a good starting point. However, here’s a list of shots or images you might have ready when it comes time to meet with your website designer.
- Your storefront including signage.
- Your dispensary interior.
- Product Displays and interior counters
- Don’t forget about your CBD section.
- For those that grow or cultivate, consider images with animals and local wildlife, or anything that says we’re local and family owned and operated.
- Pictures of staff. The group photo!
- Pictures of people interacting with staff.
- If you have a cool wall or item that people sign.
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Steal Like an Artist
Stealing is a bad word so we will use “Reverse Engineer”. Each person has their preferences, and it’s likely that you decided on a new website after carefully examining your competition. Website designers and developers love when you provide samples of websites you admire, as they can draw inspiration and guidance from them. Organizing these samples can be beneficial as well. Take a look at specific sections and elements of each cannabis website, identify examples and sections you like, and these elements will form the foundation of your website’s aesthetic.
Examine menu layouts and navigation aids on websites to ensure ease of use. Pay attention to how effortlessly you can find the information you need. Observe the homepage layout, what’s visible above the fold, side menus, and the main menu at the top of the site.
Analyze site layouts and aesthetics, identifying elements you wish to integrate into your own website. Take note of transition shapes between content sections, and consider banner images that evoke the specific emotions you want to elicit from your site visitors.
So what does a Website Designer do?
You don’t need to assemble all these elements yourself if you prefer not to. Your website design firm will assist you with planning and scheduling, usually beginning with an idea board to understand your preferences and what you’re looking for in the design.
Here’s a list of things you can rely on your website designer for:
Initial Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to the process of optimizing a website for search engines (google) during its creation or redesign phase. It involves incorporating essential SEO elements and best practices from the beginning to ensure the site is search engine-friendly and more likely to rank well in search results. Initial SEO may include keyword research, URL structure, meta tags, optimized content, proper heading hierarchy, mobile responsiveness, site speed optimization, and user-friendly navigation, among other factors.
By implementing these elements during the website design process, it sets a strong foundation for better search engine visibility and organic traffic in the long run.
Graphic Design Your website will feature a variety of captivating graphics, including the header image—the first thing users see when they land on your site. These images and photos need to adhere to specific specifications. Your website design firm should not only know these specifications but also skillfully create and incorporate the designs.
Maintaining the Website & Updates refers to the ongoing process of keeping the website’s software, themes, plugins, and content management system up-to-date. Regularly updating these components is essential to ensure the website remains secure, functional, and optimized for performance.
What not to do when building your Cannabis Website
- Cluttered or overly complex layout
- Insufficient navigation aids
- Unappealing website design, particularly dull color usage
- Annoying pop-up advertisements
- Slow-loading website introduction
- Illegible print or overwhelming amount of text
- Websites with a corporate and impersonal look
- Challenging website search functionality
With the knowledge we’ve shared in this post, you’ll be well-equipped to begin creating that new website for your brand, dispensary, or grow. At the very least, you’ll start on the right footing, saving yourself time, money, and frustration in the future.