Case Study: Discover How Bud Supply Gained 21.44% Increase in Organic Search Traffic

About Client:

Bud Supply Group is the brainchild of three Southern Alberta boys with a shared love for cannabis. What started as a dream quickly became a reality when they opened their first store in October 2018. Fast forward to 2024, and Bud Supply boasts nine vibrant locations across Southern Alberta.

Goals:

Like most of our clients, Bud Supply had two main goals: more customers and sales. But in Alberta, the law demanded cannabis retailers like them to set up a 2-step verification gate on their website. This rule made it tough for Bud Supply to increase its online visibility while remaining legally compliant.

Solution:

We devised a strategy to tackle the challenge of balancing Bud Supply’s legal compliance with its brand-building efforts. We crafted original content and optimized their website and Google Maps listing. The goal? To secure a top 3 ranking on Google Maps for keywords like "cannabis store near me." This way, their stores could maintain competitive visibility across the province while staying compliant with the law.

Results:

• 21.44% Increase in Organic Search Traffic

• 4.5+ Google Review Store Across All 9 Retailers

• #1 Google Ranking for “cannabis lethbridge”

• 54+ first page Google Rankings for cannabis keywords

In our first six months with Bud Supply, we updated and optimized their website and outlined all nine locations' specific SEO needs and goals. We focused on the three most competitive cities for original content creation: Lethbridge, Fort MacLeod and Taber. These initial efforts led to a 21.44% increase in organic search traffic. All nine retail locations also achieved a Google Review score of 4.5 or higher. 

When it came to keywords, we knew phrases like "weed/cannabis shop/store CITY" were the keys to unlocking those coveted "near me" searches. Lethbridge was the most competitive of all three cities, leading to fewer number-one ranking keywords — at first.

However, we got creative by combining store and product keywords in the original content. This tweak helped us target specific Google searches in each area, ultimately resulting in all three locations achieving top-ranking status on Google for various keywords and category searches.

The Lethbridge location ranked #1 spot on Google for:

1. “cannabis chocolates in lethbridge”

2. “cannabis concentrates in lethbridge”

3. “cannabis gift guide lethbridge”

4. “cannabis lethbridge”

5. “cannabis sales lethbridge”

The Fort MacLeod location ranked #1 spot on Google for:

1. “cannabis dispensary fort macleod”

2. “where to buy weed in fort macleod”

3. “where to get weed in fort macleod”

4. “where to buy marijuana in fort macleod”

5. “cannabis deals fort macleod”

The Taber location ranked #1 spot on Google for:

1. “best bank for buck cannabis taber”

2. “budget cannabis taber”

3. “marijuana grinder in taber”

4. “marijuana taber”

5. “taber legal weed”

Despite strict legal barriers and serious competition, we helped Bud Supply improve their SERP rankings, boost their website traffic and rack up an impressive amount of stellar Google reviews. We’re excited to keep the momentum going, supporting Bud Supply’s growth and educating their community through informative content. 

Testimonial:

Jeremy McPherson, Marketing Director

“Around a year ago, we teamed up with Findable* to amp up our online game in the ever-changing world of cannabis. Working with Daniela and her crew has been a delight—they're not just pros but also easygoing. Their initial plan laid the groundwork, and we've definitely noticed more folks checking out our site and a nice little boost in sales. Navigating the cannabis scene is tricky, but Findable’s genuine approach, timely responses, and dedication to our brand have made the whole experience so simple. Big thanks to the Findable team for helping Bud Supply shine brighter online!”

*Cannabis Marketing School is a division of Findable Digital Marketing.