GROW! Marketing and Public Relations Tips

Courtney Kates

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The Secret to Great Presentations

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Dec 9, 2015 @ 10:46 AM

Everyone gives a presentation at some point in their career.

And whether you thrive on the opportunity to showcase your accomplishments or shudder at the thought of speaking in front of a crowd, there’s no denying that professional presentations and strong public speaking skills are important qualities to have.

Although it might seem intimidating, giving a presentation doesn’t have to be scary. Planning ahead, remaining authentic and owning your nerves are some of the best ways to impress clients, coworkers or management during your next presentation.

Continue reading to learn more about how to give the best presentations.

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Topics: Public relations, audience, branding, garden business, garden industry public relations, Garden Media, public speaking

Work hard, play hard: fun in the office increases productivity

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Dec 2, 2015 @ 11:56 AM

Now that we know divergent thinking leads to innovative ideas, it’s time to discuss another important factor in creativity:having FUN!

 

While work and play may seem like conflicting ideas, an article in Entreprenuer Magazine suggests having fun in the office can increase employee motivation and productivity, which leads to increased ROI.

Google may be one of the most well known companies famous for having fun. The company is well known for its innovative office designs and creativity-based culture.

While we might not have tube slides and food trucks at Garden Media Group, we still know how to have fun while getting the job done.

Read more to learn about ways you can integrate fun in the office.

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Topics: garden business, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations, Garden Media, leading

Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Nov 18, 2015 @ 1:19 PM

Think about the way you think. Yes, it's a strange question, but are you capable of changing the way you think?

Most people are set in their ways, which can be dangerous working in a creative environment.

Original ideas are essential to repeatedly impressing clients and customers. New ideas often stem from different ways of thinking.

Divergent thinking and inspired brainstorming sessions can be extremely beneficial in the workplace, especially when it comes to developing innovative solutions.

Read more to learn about divergent thinking.

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Topics: PR Campaign, lawn and garden public relations, creating content, Garden Media Group, Brainstorming, leadership, decision-making

What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Nov 11, 2015 @ 11:19 AM

Volkswagen is facing a storm of bad publicity surrounding the recent emissions test scandal.

Chipotle has temporarily closed a number of its western stores due to E. coli outbreaks.

Crises like these happen all too often these days and it is crucial to know how to react in these situations.

A publicity crisis has the potential to destroy a brand. If dealt with in a positive manner, companies can, and often do, rebuild themselves by responding quickly and honestly.

Read more to learn about the best ways brands can respond to a publicity crisis.

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Topics: Public relations, audience, branding, marketing communications, Garden Media, crisis

Build Your Brand by Telling Stories

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Nov 4, 2015 @ 12:28 PM

At the start of the World Series, PR Week asked the question: What World Series team has the better story to tell?

New York Mets fans cheered for the underdog team to win their first World Series title since 1986.

Kansas City Royals fans were excited about the chance of redemption after their loss in 2014. 

Most people have blind loyalty to a team, largely due to city pride. But it doesn’t hurt when the team has a great story to tell.

The start of each season brings about a hopeful new chapter, with the players as the characters and the anticipation of ending the story with the ultimate victory, a World Series title.

However, sports teams aren’t the only ones with a story. Brands can – and should – tell stories, too.

Read more to learn about how your brand can tell a story.

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Topics: branding, PR Strategy, Digital Branding, image building, Garden Media Group, Garden Media

#MyResumeDoesntMention

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Oct 28, 2015 @ 10:42 AM

#MyResumeDoesntMention was trending on Twitter last week. More than 12,000 tweets were sent out about the subject and they ranged from funny to obscure, but most talked about skills valuable in the workplace.

Building a resume can be hard. Compiling education, work experience and essential strengths into a single page is crucial to appearing qualified and accomplished. A lot of outside skills and experiences often don’t make the cut, but can still be utilized in a professional environment.

Read on to learn how to transfer real-life experiences into professional attributes.

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Topics: Public relations, Twitter, Garden Media Group, social media, Garden Media

Be a Leader People Will Follow

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Oct 21, 2015 @ 9:52 AM

Many business people are taught how to manage a company though years of classes and seminars. But do they ever really learn how to lead?  

Whether it’s a large corporation or a small business, learning to be a leader and one who others will follow is the key to success.

Leaders and managers differ in their decision making approaches, visions and values. Those who understand these differences and why they are important will build stronger teams in the long run.

Read more about the important differences between managing and leading.

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Topics: Public relations, marketing communications, Garden Trends, Garden Media, leading

The Increasing Importance of Instagram Activism

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Oct 14, 2015 @ 11:17 AM

Everyone knows Instagram is one of the most important, useful and successful social media platforms of our time. With over 300 million active monthly users, more than 90 percent of which are under the age of 35, Instagram is especially useful in reaching millennials. And they aren’t just using it for selfies.

Through the use of hashtags on both Twitter and Instagram, social media activism is becoming a rising trend. Millennials love to be aligned with a cause and they are using hashtags to raise awareness about those causes. Businesses and celebrities are taking note and following their examples.

Continue reading for more information about why businesses should support a cause and show they care.

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Topics: Public relations, branding, Digital Branding, Instagram, social media, Garden Media, Social

Tips for More Effective Local Pitching

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Oct 7, 2015 @ 10:30 AM

Gaining national media attention is always an exciting accomplishment. National media reach a huge audience and can potentially generate a lot of buzz for your service or brand. However, certain stories might not be fit for the national spotlight, or, you may want to attract local attention. This is where local media can be extremely beneficial.

For local news and events, it is crucial to understand how to pitch to local media and why it is important. Understanding the outlet and the audience are two of the first steps.

Continue reading for tips on how to pitch local media.

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Topics: audience, PR Strategy, Media Relations, Garden Media Group, lessons

How Burberry is Staying Ahead of the Curve

Posted by Courtney Kates on Wed, Sep 30, 2015 @ 9:35 AM

September is the month of fashion weeks across the world, New York, London, Paris, Milan... the most fashionable people in the world convene in one place. 

Why do we care? Well for one, fashion trends drive garden trends. But instead of a garden trend, today we're talking social media trends.

For the first time ever, a brand, Burberry, partnered with Snapchat to feature its spring and summer 2016 line. 

The Snapchat story documented the entire event, from behind the scenes preparation, to hair anmakeup tips and even the models walking the runway. The story also featured celebrity guests attending the show, including models Cara DeLevingne, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.

This is not the first time Burberry has been the leading fashion brand in technology. Many of the brand’s marketing techniques are aimed at millennials. Why would an expensive, luxury brand try to appeal to younger generations who are often determined to find the best deals?

Continue reading to understand Burberry’s unique marketing strategy.

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Topics: branding, Marketing to Millennials, marketing, Snapchat, Garden Media, Social

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