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.

The 2024 Garden Trends emphasize the undeniable allure of the darker side of the botanical world. When it comes to captivating an audience and sparking curiosity, few things hold intrigue quite like spooky plants.

Besides being a year-round social media trend, these fascinating specimens can be the secret ingredient for this particular season when crafting social media posts, sparking compelling article topics, and increasing engagement. With Halloween just around the corner, now is the perfect time to create your very own goth garden.

Read more to learn about some of our favorite spooky plants and how to use them in your marketing.

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!

In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, staying up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies is crucial. This is why we attended a recent webinar hosted by Meltwater, a global provider of media intelligence and social analytics. 

This exclusive webinar explored cutting-edge advancements in AI and shared tips on achieving success using new innovations. We learned valuable insights to transform our approach and discover how Generative AI revolutionizes marketing.

By automating content creation, optimizing customer targeting, and delivering personalized campaigns, AI can almost be seen as a silver bullet. We advise you to proceed with caution and take extra steps to ensure accuracy, originality, and ethical reliability. AI can be used for writing, data analytics, and other practical applications. 

The webinar was led by Lindsay Herbert, Author of Digital Transformation and Global Chief Innovation Officer at IBM Garage, and Guillaume Decugis, Meltwater's VP of Consumer Insights. 

Keep reading to learn how to integrate AI into your workspace seamlessly.

Welcome back to Social Studies!

We explore the lucrative world of affiliate marketing in this sixth installment of our series on elevating your gardening social media game.

Let’s start by talking about what is an affiliate? If you know this already, skip to the How Affiliate Marketing Works section. But if you need a refresher:

Affiliate marketing:a marketing arrangement in which influencers, i.e. affiliates, receive a commission for each sale they generate for a brand. This arrangement allows businesses to outsource part of the sales process and better tie influencer marketing directly to sales.

For influencers, affiliate sales rely on trust and authenticity. For brands, working with affiliates expands their reach, increases sales through affiliate partnerships, and shows clear ROI when choosing which influencers to form partnerships with.

The best affiliate content feels organic, aligns with your identity, engages your audience, and showcases your opinions as a thought leader.

Let's delve into how affiliate marketing works, best practices, and creative ideas to maximize your affiliate partnerships.

But wait: If you haven’t already, sign up for our weekly email series – Social Studies - to catch up on lessons you may have missed.

Read on to learn more about simple techniques for affiliate sales best practices and unique ways to share affiliate links.

Welcome back to Social Studies!

In this fifth installment of our series on elevating your social media game in gardening, we dive into professionalism, specifically dealing with “trolls'” negative comments and addressing social and political issues. 

How you respond to criticism and engage with your audience during challenging times can define your brand's reputation, earning your followers’ and potential partners' trust and respect. 

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!

Keep reading to learn how to handle these situations with grace and empathy!

Trade shows can bring in hundreds, if not thousands, of like-industry individuals from vendors and publicists to influencers and general admission attendees, and everywhere in between.

And we know catching the eye of folks in the midst of the crazy trade show floor can be chaotic and sometimes impossible. So hosting dinners and after-parties are a great way to connect with specific folks you want to and get them to pay special attention to your brand or product. At Cultivate this year, we opted for a Breakfast with the Stars.

---Read on to see what we learned from hosting an intimate breakfast prior to the trade show and how it benefited our clients. ---