Want to make a lasting impression at your next trade show? At Garden Media Group, we've seen firsthand what works (and what doesn't). With Valentine's Day around the corner, relationships are top of mind, making this the perfect time to discuss four ways to build genuine connections.  

From the moment someone – a potential client, media contact, or industry partner - steps up to your booth, they're sizing up your company, products, and team. Is your space inviting, professional, and easy to navigate? A great booth isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating the right vibe. And just like on a first date, first impressions matter.

But winning hearts doesn’t happen by chance—it takes preparation. Here’s how to make sure your booth sets the stage for real connections.

Read more to learn how you can prepare for that all-important first impression

We've Got a New Look in 2025!

We’re taking an inside look at our very own social media strategy, the updates we’re making in 2025, and sharing a dash of inspiration to take back to your own digital strategy.

Instagram was good to us in 2024. Our reach soared by 52%, our follower count grew by 21.7%, and we saw an 8.7% increase in audience interaction.

But our feeling is, even when things look good, you don’t stop creating. So, we decided it was time to revamp our look to reflect our vibrant, dynamic brand, team, and the 2025 Garden Trends Color of the Year.

"Our social media team – which consists of six of us – came together to reimagine our entire approach," says Katie Dubow, President of Garden Media Group. “From crafting a new style guide and fresh templates to updating our voice and adding exciting features, we’re taking our feed to the next level. It was a collaborative effort that brought out the best of our creativity and expertise, and we can’t wait for you to experience it!”

The rebrand was led by the creative genius of our colleague, account executive Becky Paxton. She used photos from our recent photo shoot to create compelling Reel covers, templates, and shift us to be more color-forward.

“Even if you don’t do a total rebrand every year (and you really shouldn’t!), it’s worth setting a date in your calendar once a year to look back on your social account and see what worked, both in terms of content and aesthetics, and what didn’t,” explains Becky. “With new tools like Instagram’s built-in archive feature and Sprout Social’s grid planner, you can delete or archive material that no longer serves its purpose and streamline your look so that you start the new year off on the right foot.”

Read more to get the insider scoop on our Instagram feed's fresh, exciting refresh.

In such a small industry, any glowing media coverage is a significant win for your horticulture company! At Garden Media, we've learned that it's crucial not to let your hard-earned recognition fade away after a single email blast. By strategically repurposing and sharing this coverage, you can maximize its impact across your entire organization.

These stories not only amplify your company's message but also strengthen your brand reputation within the industry. With a well-thought-out strategy, you can transform a fleeting moment of media attention into a long-lasting asset.

Read on to learn how to squeeze the most value out of those glowing articles:

Ah, spring into summer. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and your inbox is probably overflowing with "spring cleaning" emails, or not...  

As a fellow landscape designer, I know just how challenging it is to land a new client, keep current clients engaged, and keep them both coming back for maintenance after the initial design and installation. Homeowners often interpret "low-maintenance" as "no maintenance," leading to neglected gardens that lose their initial beauty. 

This is a common concern we hear from landscaping businesses. While our services typically focus outside the landscape design-build-maintain realm, we have brainstormed several valuable strategies to help landscape design businesses up their marketing!

Read on for 5 creative ideas from a garden-centric PR firm to help your landscape business blossom.

In the ever-evolving and expanding landscape of the horticulture and gardening industry, brands must seek opportunities to meet and partner with like-minded individuals. 
One avenue that provides this benefit and other opportunities is attending garden-related trade shows near (or far) you.

From the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in January to Cultivate in July, these shows offer fertile ground for green businesses to cultivate success from many angles, from sales leads to education and scope out what is new on the market.

Feel overwhelmed? Don’t fret!

Read more about the three significant reasons industry trade shows are essential for growing and establishing green businesses and tips for navigating them!

Meta ads, or metadata ads, are crucial to successful marketing campaigns. These ads provide a glimpse into a product or service, its use, and its value, enticing potential customers to engage and convert (AKA buy) with concise and catchy visuals and messages.

When it comes to creating effective meta ads that convert, it's important to keep a curious mindset and try various strategies and types of creatives that people will see. We call it test & learn.

You may be thinking, what are the various types of ad creatives?

Read on to explore the top ten creatives that have proven to be successful for our green industry clients in capturing audience attention and driving conversions.

Welcome back to Social Studies!

In this tenth and final installment of our series, we're going to take a deep dive into the world of Instagram Stories.

When used correctly, Instagram Stories are the key platform for storytelling, and gardening brands need to recognize their value beyond mere feed reposts. By utilizing Instagram Stories creatively, brands can cultivate unique narratives on a more personal level. Curious to learn more about adding the human touch to your social presence? Check out our lesson 4. 

If you haven't already done so, sign up for our weekly Social Studies email series to catch up on any lessons you may have missed!

Read on to learn how to utilize Instagram Stories to foster audience engagement and establish authentic connections with your followers.

Welcome back to Social Studies!

In this 9th lesson of our series on enhancing your brand's social media presence in the horticulture industry, we turn our attention to a crucial element of driving engagement online—choosing to be a positive influence in the digital realm.

As a brand on social media, you have the opportunity to shape how others see you, inspire people, and create a lively and supportive community. Bringing good vibes online builds trust and respect for your community. So, let's dive into some fundamental principles that will help you spread positive energy on the internet!

If you still need to do so, sign up for our weekly Social Studies email series to catch up on any lessons you may have missed!

Keep reading to discover valuable tips on creating a positive and lasting influence on social media!

Greetings, and welcome back to Social Studies!

In today's digital world, having a direct and reliable connection with your audience is crucial. While social media platforms are valuable for reaching a wide range of people, it is important to note that the visibility of your content can be affected by the ever-changing algorithms that these platforms employ. (Which we covered in lesson 7) That's where having an email list comes in.

Today we will cover why having an email list is necessary and ways to promote your newsletter.

If you haven't already, sign up for our weekly Social Studies email series to catch up on any lessons you may have missed!

Keep reading to discover valuable tips on crafting an impactful newsletter and maximizing its reach!

Hey there, welcome back to Social Studies!

Though notoriously always in flux, understanding the algorithm's consistent nuances and implementing effective strategies can boost your reach and positively impact your audience.

This lesson will demystify some of the algorithm's quirks and give you some tips and tricks to work with, not against, the Instagram algorithm.

If you haven’t signed up for our weekly Social Studies email series for Lessons 1-6, check them out first!

Keep reading to learn the top 10 tips for algorithm-friendly practices to incorporate into your social presence!