Cannabis Keyword Strategy

Keyword strategy forms the foundation of every SEO initiative. Choosing the right terms—ones that reflect user intent, respect compliance regulations, and match your business goals—determines how well your content performs in organic search.

This course outlines the major keyword types, how to discover them, tools to use, and how to organize keywords into a usable content strategy.

Keyword Types & Strategy Fundamentals

High-Volume, Low-Competition Keywords

What It Is:

Keywords that get significant search traffic but aren't overly saturated with competition—usually long-tail, niche, or emerging terms.

Why It Matters:

These keywords provide the best opportunity to rank quickly and drive meaningful traffic without going head-to-head with national brands.

How to Find Them:

• Use keyword tools like Semrush or Ahrefs and filter for high volume + low keyword difficulty (KD).
  
• Look for symptom-based terms ("cbd for joint pain"), lesser-known product types, or new search trends.
  

What to Do:

• Incorporate them into blog content, FAQ sections, or product detail pages.

🔗 Explore: Keyword Targeting for Cannabis Brands

Long-Tail and Localized Queries

What It Is:

Highly specific, often location- or use-case-based keyword phrases.

Why It Matters:

Long-tail terms convert better and often reflect ready-to-buy intent (e.g., "CBD for sleep delivery San Diego"). They also help dispensaries compete in local markets.

How to Find Them:

• Use Google Suggest, "People also ask," or autocomplete tools.
  
• Look in Google Search Console for existing long-tail queries driving impressions.
  

What to Do:

• Target with service area landing pages, blog posts, or local product pages.

🔗 Read: Long-Tail Keyword Strategy for Dispensaries

Search Intent Mapping

What It Is:

Matching keyword types to the intent behind a search:

• Informational: "What is CBC?"
  
• Navigational: "Weedmaps login"
  
• Transactional: "Order CBD tinctures online"
  

Why It Matters:

Matching content to intent boosts user satisfaction and conversion rates.

How to Identify Intent:

• Google the term and analyze the top-ranking content.
  
• Consider content type, format, and CTA focus.
  

What to Do:

• Build your content strategy around these intent categories.
  
• Use informational intent for blog posts and product education, transactional for product pages.

🔗 Learn: Matching Content to Search Intent

Compliance Filtering for Banned Terms

What It Is:

The process of avoiding keywords that could trigger flags with platforms like Google or Meta, even in organic content.

Why It Matters:

While SEO isn't governed by the same rules as ads, too much overlap in banned language can affect domain trust, content visibility, or flag your site for review.

How to Stay Compliant:

• Maintain a list of restricted keywords by platform.
  
• Focus on terms users search vs. promotional language.
  

What to Do:

• Use compliance filters in keyword tools.
  
• Write content naturally while avoiding phrases like "buy weed online," unless legally appropriate.

🔗 Read: SEO Keyword Compliance for Cannabis

Keyword Clustering & Prioritization

What It Is:

Grouping related keywords into clusters that support a single page or topic (e.g., "CBD oil for pets," "CBD pet tincture," "hemp for dogs").

Why It Matters:

Helps build topical authority and makes it easier for Google to understand the subject matter of your site.

How to Cluster:

• Use tools like Keyword Insights, Frase, or Ahrefs.
  
• Group terms by shared root intent or modifiers.
  

What to Do:

• Assign clusters to pillar pages (e.g., "CBD for Pets") and subtopics to blog posts or FAQs.

🔗 Explore: Keyword Clustering for Cannabis SEO

Recommended Tools for Keyword Research

• Semrush: Full-suite SEO platform with keyword gaps, clustering, and keyword intent tools.
  
• Ahrefs: Great for keyword difficulty, SERP features, and backlink context.
  
• Google Search Console: Analyze actual keyword impressions and clicks.
  
• Google Keyword Planner: Free, though focused on ads, still useful for volume benchmarks.
  

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Ignoring search intent when choosing keywords.
  
• Targeting terms that are restricted for ads and paid search.
  
• Failing to cluster keywords, resulting in cannibalization.
  
• Over-optimizing for short-tail, high-difficulty terms.
  

Recap: Building a Keyword Strategy That Ranks

A great cannabis keyword strategy is:

• Compliant
  
• Intent-aligned
  
• Clustered and prioritized
  
• Focused on opportunity, not vanity
  

🔗 Read: How to Do Keyword Research for Cannabis Brands