As the end of the year approaches, many brands have already begun preparing their social media strategies for the new year. 

Social media continues to evolve and if your brand doesn't follow the trends and changes, your efforts may fall flat. 

Thankfully, there are a few social media trends coming to light that brands should consider as they prepare for the new year. 

Read on to learn about 7 social media trends that can help boost engagement. 

Instagram is shaping up to be THE major marketing platform, compared to it's beginnings as a photo sharing platform. 

With over 1 billion monthly active users, utilizing Instagram for your business has never been more important. They have taken strides to create a desirable space for both customers and business owners alike.

With updates to Instagram stories and creating shoppable posts, it's no wonder engagement is higher there than on Facebook and Twitter. 

Reach on to learn more about what your business can do to utilize Instagram.

A few weeks ago, Ellen Wells, Editor-At-Large for Green Profit, asked the question: Are demographics dead?

She was asking due to multiple articles stating that in today’s modern world, demographics can be thrown out the window.

Marketing based on age, sex and race is too simple, especially with groups of unlikely friends coming together.

Marketers have been relying on this information for years to keep selling their products. They are seeing the same people purchasing over and over. 

But not so fast. Demographics aren't dead... yet

Read on to see what you should be focusing on to create better marketing strategies.

Instagram is constantly changing and updating to appeal to their audiences. While there are some updates that have brands and users up in arms, they have come out with one thing that has everyone talking. 

Instagram TV. This update to Instagram's platform let's users post videos from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. Those who have a bigger following can post videos up to an hour. 

With more of the younger generation "cutting the cord" and heading to YouTube, platforms need to keep up to stay relevant. It is projected that by 2021, mobile video will account for 78% of total mobile data traffic. So the media world is changing direction, literally. 

YouTube is all about horizontal videos, where Instagram is vertical videos only. It helps that it is a growth of Instagram stories, which also work best in the vertical format. 

Read on to see how you should be using IGTV.

September 2018 marks our 30th birthday. Being in business for 30 years is a milestone for any company.

For us, it marks 30 years of growing, changing and finding focus.

Do you know the story? It all began in 1988 when Suzi put her young daughter, Katie, on the bus for the first day of school and opened the doors to IMPACT Marketing, a general practice PR firm. She started the business on the principle “Your vision is our mission” and envisioned a company whose sole purpose was its clients’ success. 

That vision lives on today in Garden Media Group.

In today's culture, customers ideas, passions and wants change at the drop of a hat or at least at the drop of a new trend.

Companies have a moving target they are working hard to please - their customers. 

Today's culture of self-care has some companies and industries in trouble. 

So, what are they doing to change that? Read more to find out.

PR professionals and influencers alike know the struggle of social. We put time and effort into posting on social media for who to see?

Social media experts determine the perfect time to post, the perfect length of video, the best picture to post with it and yet it can still fall flat.

Audiences can stay the same, but platforms change their algorithms all the time, and often with no warning. 

What are social media professionals to do?

Purple Reign is the next deep dive of Nature’s Rx for Mental Wellness, the theme for the 2018 Garden Trends Report.

If you missed the other deep dives, here are Breathing Rooms, Social Network, Climate Controlled, Make a Splash and Imperfect Gardening.

Look around you, purple is the color of 2018. In fashion, in the home and… in the garden.

Ultra Violet was named Pantone’s color of 2018 as well because it communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.

But what does that mean for your garden or your health? 

Imperfect Gardening is the next deep dive of Nature’s Rx for Mental Wellness, the theme for the 2018 Garden Trends Report.

If you missed the other deep dives, here are Breathing Rooms, Social Network, Climate Controlled and Make a Splash. 

Nowadays people are overstimulated and overworked. There seems to always be something going on, but sometimes it is best to take a step back and enjoy the imperfections. Especially in the garden.

More people need to practice the ancient Japanese Wabi-Sabi. Wabi-Sabi appreciates imperfections in life and the ability to age gracefully.

When applied to the garden, the practice is relaxing and enjoyable.

People have easier access to information - whether from websites, videos or their phones. Leveraging video marketing is increasingly the most powerful way to promote your brand online.

In fact, by 2019, global consumer Internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer Internet traffic, according to SmallBizTrends.

More people are interacting with videos today than ever before so it’s vital to use a video marketing strategy to connect with your audience.

Social media has been a great component for helping us get the video out. But with all the different platforms, is it fine to share the same video across them?

Continue reading to find out how long videos should be for each platform.