When Elevations went recreational, it was starting almost from scratch online — barely any reviews and no map presence. Within about a year of taking over the marketing, it became the highest-rated dispensary in the city. Here's exactly what we did.
Elevations transitioned to recreational with the online presence of a brand-new business: under 200 reviews, no dominant Google Maps ranking, no organic search footprint, and no system for turning happy customers into public proof. In a market as competitive as Colorado Springs dispensaries — where shoppers pick based on the map pack and star ratings before they ever walk in — that's a serious disadvantage.
The goal wasn't "post more." It was to become the obvious choice on the search that matters: the first result, with the most and best reviews, when someone looks for a dispensary near them.
Built a repeatable system to consistently turn satisfied customers into public 5-star reviews — the single biggest lever for both ranking and trust — and managed responses to every one.
Optimized the Google Business Profile, categories, and local signals to climb to #1 for the searches that drive foot traffic, including "Best Dispensary" in the local radius.
On-brand content and a consistent posting cadence that built an audience and kept Elevations top-of-mind — not random boosted posts, a strategy tied to the outcome.
Everything wired to real outcomes — rankings, review velocity, and traffic — so we could see what was working and double down, instead of guessing.
"We didn't just run campaigns. We built the system that made Elevations the first dispensary people find — and the one they trust before they walk in."
— Donovan Gates, Founder, DG MarketingThe same playbook that took Elevations to #1 — reviews, local SEO, content, and a system you can actually measure — is what grows any local business that lives and dies by getting found and getting chosen. It's run by an operator who's done it, not a salesperson pitching it.
Tell us about your business and get a free quote — every engagement is scoped to what will actually move your numbers. No cookie-cutter packages.
Results reflect the marketing work done for Elevations Dispensary in Colorado Springs. Review counts and rankings are as reported on Google and other review platforms. Every business starts from a different place; results vary.