After nearly a decade in the industry, here are some of my takeaways of what I've learned as a cannabis journalist. (Hint: we're good at all content types!)
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Let me address the bias here: I am a freelance cannabis writer and journalist. I have lost some clients to AI. I have good reason to dislike artificial intelligence and feel nervous about its proliferation across the industry (and our world.) I’m not completely out of touch, though. I know that most of the cannabis industry is low on capital and big on cutting costs. I also spend enough time on the internet to know that nuance is a dying breed. I hope that readers will engage via thoughtful comments if they disagree with any of these points because there’s room for all of us to learn from one another. With that said, here’s my take on AI cannabis marketing tactics:
I try to avoid the endless think pieces that pollute my LinkedIn feed, but with so many self-proclaimed thought leaders in the space, it’s a bit of a fool’s errand. One of the topics I see time and time again is the question of whether AI has killed content marketing, leaving writers scrambling to compete with ChatGPT and the like. In some ways, yes, AI has afforded brands the ability to create content without hiring freelance cannabis writers. Naturally, those who can’t pivot may find themselves out of work. But here’s the thing: Cannabis SEO strategies are still important. Like everything in our rapidly changing digital world, savvy marketers need to pivot to stay on top of the latest trends.
This is a more personal update than usual, but an important one. I’m a full-time freelance cannabis writer again! While unfortunate that my last role as the assistant editor of a cannabis industry publication has ended, I’m excited about the next chapter of working for myself again. Here are some things I learned while working in my last role: I am extremely invested in the success of the small players in the industry Corporate greed is everywhere in the cannabis world I love interviewing and highlighting the stories of social equity and minority-owned cannabis businesses Indigenous cannabis is going to continue to grow and thrive, and I am so excited about it Storytelling is so important When I first got the role as the assistant editor, I had primarily been working behind the scenes with companies crafting blogs, articles, and website content for their cannabis businesses. But I also had lots of journalistic experience and had written similar industry-centric pieces for Wikileaf before taking on the role. My time as the magazine’s assistant editor made me realize that the human element of cannabis is so important to me and that sharing compelling stories can do so much for a brand. All this to say: I want to write for your cannabis business! I’m a freelance cannabis writer of many years and I have worn many hats. I can ghostwrite web copy, articles, blogs, newsletters, and anything else for you. But I can also do the journalistic side of cannabis content, conducting interviews, crafting long features, news stories, or even writing product reviews. Send me an email today to get started.
Nothing says the high-lidays like an infused cannabis apple cider. Pour yourself a discreet cup to get through small chat with that one cousin at the gathering, or just make some to relax after a long day of prepping food and gifts. Whatever the occasion, this recipe is gold for taking it to the next level. Disclaimer: I am going to show you how to make a cannabis caramel sauce that you can swirl into a hot cup of cider. I am not showing you how to make cannabis apple cider on its own. It’s all in the caramel.
I’ve been hard at work with my freelance cannabis clients and my new-ish role as an editorial assistant at MJ Brand Insights. I finally had a chance to get crafty this weekend and made a bunch of cannabis-infused products with the help of my Levo Oil infuser. I’ve talked about how this machine helps me make all of my infused goodies like cannabis pain salves and bath bombs, but I promise you this - you can make all of these things without the machine too. I’ll show you how to make my favorite creation from this weekend with my cannabis bath melts recipe. My cannabis bath melts use shea butter, infused coconut oil, essential oils, and dried lavender, and orange zest. The result? The most soothing, aromatic, and comforting bath product I’ve made for myself yet. I used this the night after I got my COVID booster and was feeling super achy, and it took away all the discomfort and allowed me to get a full night’s sleep.
So you’re looking to hire someone to take your content needs off your hands. Good choice. Running a compliant legal cannabis business can taxing. The last thing you want to have to focus on is writing your own content. But if you’re wondering where to find cannabis writers and don’t know where to look, you may end up back where you started, writing content when you should be focusing on other important tasks to help your company succeed. You may be tempted to just hop on a job board website like Upwork or Fiverr to find a new writer. After all, new freelancers are always jumping at the occasion to write and prove their worthiness. Some people think this is the best of both worlds. They get a cheap writer and they’re helping someone get experience. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. Hiring a freelancer who is not well-versed in the legal cannabis space can make your brand look less credible at best and can get you in serious trouble at worst. Here’s why: