Pinterest is known for inspiration in all aspects of life. It makes it easy for users to simply scroll through to find ideas for anything they are looking for. And with more than 150 million monthly users globally, you must know Pinterest is an important piece of your brand’s quest for social media domination.

As technology continues to advance, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the spotlight. AI can be incredibly expensive to introduce in everyday life, but with chatbots, that’s no longer an issue.

Chatbots are computer programs that typically use text based live chat interface to carry out tasks for customers on behalf of the business instead of using real humans, such as Alexa and Siri.

Chatbots have been successful in customer service for years, but now is when more and more companies are jumping on board. Instead of having someone to answer all of their customer’s questions, bots are able to take on the easy questions to not inconvenience workers. They are saving industries huge amounts of money.

Social media and banking apps have adopted chatbots in the biggest way. Both have the ability to answer frequently asked questions easily. They are also personalized to each customer’s account for added personalization and not to mention, privacy.

Continue reading about how to utilize chatbots for your business.

It’s the perfect time of the year. The sun is still shining, but fall is swooping in with cooler days and even cooler nights. Summer is officially over, which means it’s time to refocus on staying productive at work.

We spent so much time over the summer dreaming of being anywhere but our desk — enjoying the beach, the sun, the warmth. Fall brings weekend festivals, apple picking, and pumpkin everything! Staying productive during the work week will free up time and energy to go and enjoy fun filled weekends.

Continue reading for tips on organizing office space.

We’ve all seen them; the accidental grammar or spelling mistake on a social media post.

A post where we knew that’s not what the company meant, but how it came across. Case studies show that it can either harm a business incredibly, or it can be twisted to be funny or even harmless.

Companies have had to come back from some of the biggest mistakes, stating they are closing, but only meaning for the day or using a slogan that says #UpForWhatever associated with alcohol. These fauxpas need to leave company culture because they can do some serious damage.

Don’t worry! There are editing tips from Hootsuite that help stop mishaps from happening before they begin.

Continue reading to save your company from social media mishaps.

PR professionals are always looking for ways to make their clients shine the brightest. Whether that is getting their name in print, promoting and posting about them on social media, or getting an interview to air, it is their passion to see their client’s company name everywhere. Branding a garden business is one of the things we at Garden Media Group do best.

But what about when you want to develop your personal brand? Have you ever thought about that?

A personal brand shows off who you are and the person you want to be to the world. Most people know this as a reputation. When you’re in school, you can be known for being the smart kid, the stinky kid, the fast kid, or the bully. Humans are susceptible to associating people they know to things they relate with. As you grow up, these associations start to shape you.

If you want to develop a personal brand you need to think about how your decisions, actions and values shape that brand.

Continue reading to find out how more about your personal brand and how to make it shine.

Brainstorming can be a great way to come up with the best new idea, product or solution. But how often do you get stuck with “been there done that” or “it didn’t work in the past”? 

I know I get caught up in my own head and cannot get past an idea until it is a confirmed “No” – or I say it out loud to someone and then realize it was probably not the best idea.

Richard Tait knows this all too well. As a creative consultant, he has held brainstorm sessions for countless companies to help solve issues they were facing. He told us an old story about a major department store chain and how they were able to turn around sales with a simple sales conversation and a strategically designed piece of paper. Crazy, right?

During our monthly ‘Lunch with a Pro’ workshop, Richard returned to our office to help our team figure out the best way to brainstorm.

Continue reading to find out what can jumpstart your brainstorm and what not to say to any idea during a brainstorming session.

Technology is arguably the best invention to happen since sliced bread. It allows us to FaceTime with far away family members, watch our friends live their lives through social media, know the great things happening all around the world and show off our achievements for our friends and family to see.

On the other hand, being plugged in all the time is exhausting. As a society we are constantly distracted, not being present in real life situations, missing out on once in a lifetime moments. We are stressed out with the notifications popping up on our phones, the constant emails coming through and the strain our eyes experience staring at screen for hours on end.

As a result, our physical and mental wellness is suffering, yet we can’t break the pattern. It has become the norm so much so that we aren’t realizing how it affects our bodies on the day to day basis.

One by one, let’s work on taking a break from the demands of the internet and devices and have a digital detox.

Trust me, that Facebook post will still be funny later.

Continue reading for three ways to go on a digital detox – even if you are surrounded by technology.

The problem people find with emails is that it is difficult to communicate the tone of your voice. 

Depending on the mood the person on the receiving end is in will determine how it is read.

The thing you were trying to joke about? It might be read as being snooty. The friendly email sent to cover up the annoyance you feel? It will sound immature.

When you send a professional email that may sound rude, you can feel compelled to add a smiley face or put a “LOL” next to it. You need to stop doing that now – you will start to see a difference on how you are treated in the workplace.

Learn how to eliminate useless words from your emails and start getting to the point.

Email has revolutionized communication. It has been a wonderful way to get a quick response – you can have a reply in just a few minutes!

While emails were a great invention, they may cause unneeded stress in and out of the workplace.

Are you one of the almost half of Americans that feel the need to check emails in the bathroom to stay on top of them? Then you know the feeling. Emails quickly pile up, drafts go unsent and you lose track of what’s important.

Keeping an organized inbox reduces stress and anxiety and helps you be better prepared for the day. Net Credit came out with a great infographic to help prioritize your inbox.

Waking up to a full inbox is an easy way to start your day off wrong.

Studies show it takes 64 seconds to get back on track after an email notification pops up. More than 1/4^th of the workweek is spent on email with more than 3/4^th of employees becoming more stressed using email.

Continue reading to see how to achieve ‘Zero Inbox’.

Snapchat is once again changing the consumer marketing game, making it easier for users to send links

 to each other.

With Snapchat’s newest update, anyone can attach a link to a snap to send to their audiences. With the tap of the paperclip, enter in your website and anyone can enjoy it.

In the constant head-to-head battle between Snapchat and Instagram, this puts Snapchat back on top. Instagram has been using trends that work on Snapchat and vice versa. Currently, Instagram stories do not allow regular users to add links to their stories – only verified users or advertisements are allowed.

Continue reading to learn what is different and how your garden brand can take advantage of the changes.