How Not To Get Your Cannabis Brand Banned From Instagram
Most businesses need to create a profile for different social media channels to increase their online presence, brand awareness and boost their leads and sales. However, if you own a cannabis brand and create social media for cannabis, there are a few restrictions on what you can share and post, especially on your Instagram account. In some instances, Instagram shadowbans users and removes certain content which they think is inappropriate and violates their Community Guidelines.
Accounts that are being shadow banned are either spammy or associated with illegal activity or violence. But, how do you know if your account is shadow banned or "ghost banned" on Instagram? Some of the things that you can look out for are hashtags or usernames that are not showing up on the search suggestions, a decrease in your follower engagement, particular features, such as likes, replies, or comments that are being blocked, and the like.
In this blog, we will help your cannabis brand avoid getting banned from Instagram by tackling a few tips, as well as the do's and don'ts that are crucial for your cannabis brand. So be sure to keep reading until the end.
5 tips to avoid getting your cannabis brand shadow banned on social media.
1. Be mindful of your hashtags
Hashtags are one of the essential aspects of Instagram that businesses can leverage to get more eyes and engagements. A post with at least one Instagram hashtag averages 12.6% more engagement than posts without a hashtag, making it crucial if you want to grow your account.
However, unlike most businesses and industries, the cannabis industry can not make use of hashtags to find its community. This is mainly because watchful admins can quickly find and shadowban your account, so being extra careful with your phrasing is necessary. These hashtags can include #cannabis, #cannabiscommunity, #weed, and the like. So, it would be best to omit the word "cannabis" and replace it with "c*nnabis".
In addition, it would also help if you avoid using the same hashtags over and over. Again, admins are very watchful of users and accounts that they think violate Instagram's Community Guidelines. So, if they find an account that uses the same hashtag as you do, chances are they will find your account in no time and also shadowban your cannabis brand.
2. Educate your followers
Social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram, favor accounts that educate their followers. So if you are operating a social media account for a cannabis brand, you can focus your content on educating your followers towards the effects, terpenes, interactions, and even the legality of cannabis. Educating your followers and sharing new insightful ideas position you as a brand and as a teacher.
Remember that leaning on science and educational studies can help you build trust!
3. Avoid the plant!
Creating an account for Instagram simply means getting to post actual pictures of the product you are selling, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case for cannabis brands. In fact, posting photos of the cannabis plant itself will most likely get you flagged, trigger account deletion, or get shadowbanned. This is not only the case for Instagram, but other social media channels, such as Facebook and Tiktok, are very strict on images of the plant.
Although some people say that cannabis photos are much safer on Instagram Stories than on the grid, it would still be best if you remain overly cautious. After all, Instagram Stories are also being watched and monitored. So taking the risk might just negatively affect your account.
4. Hop on social trends
These days, many things suddenly go viral, and businesses hop on the trends to gain more interaction and exposure. Your cannabis brand can also try this so more Instagram users could see your content. After all, cannabis does not need to be pictured to be a part of the larger conversation.
5. Diversify your content
Post a variety of images and videos on your Instagram cannabis brand and promote the customer experience and lifestyle that your brand reflects. Aside from posting photos related to your cannabis products, you can also try posting pictures of the people behind your brand - a.k.a, your employees. This will help make your brand more relatable and legit.
In addition, you can post images of the manufacturing process, cultivation or dispensary activities, your accolades, advocacies, and things that reflect the lifestyle customers want to experience when they buy your products. As much as selling your products is essential, it is also necessary to focus on building and participating in community sharing in the cannabis culture.
Do's and Don'ts
1. Do engage with other brands
If you want other cannabis brands to support you on Instagram, then you must also do the same for them. Engaging with their posts and building a good relationship with others in the industry is the key.
2. Do follow community guidelines and terms
One of the terms of service of Instagram that every cannabis brand must know is that adding your business address and contact information to your profile or bio is a no-no. Instead, you can only opt to add your website link on your bio to redirect interested customers to your company website. You can also look for brands that complement your business and see if there's a way to partner with them and build strategic goals together.
3. Don't post excessively
Posting too much content on Instagram and every social media platform can be annoying and might drive your followers away. Be strategic in posting your content and set a time to share your next post. Post enough content so your account is updated, and your target audience can constantly engage with your brand without sharing too excessively that they will want to unfollow you.
4. Don't advertise anything that can draw children's attention
Posting eye-catching pictures on Instagram is crucial to attract customers of legal age. But you must also be careful not to advertise anything that can draw children's attention. Make your photos interesting and noticeable enough, but make sure you are attracting the right audience.
Aside from that, remember that you can not advertise anything for sale and that publishing anything that references your price is a big no-no. Instead, redirect your customers to your website, where the complete details of your products can be found.
Final thoughts
Managing a social media account for your brand should not be that hard since you only need to post striking photos relevant to your products and search for hashtags that customers are often looking up. But, managing an Instagram account for your cannabis brand is different, mainly because you cannot post the products you are actually selling. Plus, you can not use relevant hashtags because using the terms related to your industry can get you shadowbanned.
Being cautious and following the tips and do's and don'ts mentioned above can get you safe from Instagram's shadowbanning. As much as it is critical to focus on having content that follows their Community Guidelines, it is also vital to have an excellent website where you can redirect your customers to. Remember that the best marijuana websites can convert prospect customers into actual buyers.