Hiring new team members can be an extensive process. After browsing countless resumes, making tons of phone calls and holding multiple interviews, you finally find the perfect fit for your team.

However, the work doesn’t stop there.

The next step – training. Properly training an employee can have a huge impact on the role they play in the company. A well trained employee will be more knowledgeable and motivated, as well as more comfortable in their new position. But, all training is not created equal.

Read more to learn how you can improve your training process.

Millennials are the buzz word of the decade. Everyone wants them, no one clearly knows how to get them. But we're not here to talk about Millennials. There's a new generation to obsess over.

Generation Z.

We’ve learned there are similarities and differences between Gen Z and Millennials, such as they both prioritize individuality and uniqueness, and are both resistant to traditional labels. But there are differences as well.

The 2015 Census Bureau data showed 51% of those under 15-years-old (Gen Z) are white, and children under five are 51% minority. This generation is not only more diverse than Millennials; Gen Z will mark the first time that the minority will become the majority.

Continue reading to dive deeper into this next generation and learn a few tricks to get them in the garden.

Memorial Day Weekend is right around the corner and at Garden Media we’re finalizing our travel plans, getting excited to visit family or friends, or simply looking forward to a long, relaxing weekend.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone.

Project Time Off, a movement powered by the US Travel Association, encourages people to take a vacation. Research shows that year after year, fewer Americans are using all of their allotted vacation hours. While many think skipping out on vacation and working extra hours is beneficial for their careers, it may actually have the opposite effect.

Read more to learn how going on vacation can improve your business.

We’ve already talked about the controversial Pepsi ad and the factors that contributed to its failure. To do cause marketing the right way, the campaign must be consistent with the brand and relatable to the target audience. Heineken has recently created a great example of a powerful cause marketing ad.

The international beer distributor created a four minute ad with the tagline “Open Your World.” The video shows strangers with opposing views working together and discussing their contrasting beliefs over a beer. The ad has received widespread praise and definitely works to bring people together, instead of tearing them apart.

Let’s examine these two beverage companies with two political ads — why did Heineken’s ad succeed and Pepsi’s ad fall short?

Continue reading to learn more about Heineken’s Worlds Apart experiment.

How do you spend your Thursday nights? If you don’t already, join the club and tune into ABC’s hit show Scandal, starring Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. Aside from a thrilling plot, this show offers a true emulation of the life of a PR professional. Olivia Pope and her gladiators are the strategic master minds that run Washington, D.C and there’s a lot to learn from their success.

Read more for skills that can help you become the Olivia Pope of your industry.

Move over Miller Lite, craft beer is here to stay.

Craft breweries are becoming a big player in the beer industry. With over 4,000 breweries nationwide and an increasing share of the beer market, there’s definitely something to learn from the booming success of craft beer over the last five years.

Besides selling tasty cold beer, what factors contribute to this success? With craft breweries popping up left and right, plus having national and international beer distributors as tough competition, it can be hard to stay afloat.

Craft breweries are staying relevant by personalizing their brands, offering a wide variety and using a lot of creativity.

Continue reading to see what your garden brand can learn from the craft beer industry.

With the internet at the tip of our fingers, having a strong online social media presence is very important for garden brands. Consumers’ first impressions are often based on the brand’s social media platforms, making it extremely important for them to be attractive and easily accessible. An easy-to-use website and friendly brand persona can make all the difference when trying to retain support from your target audience. 

Read on for 4 tips on how to create your social media persona.

Charlie Brown’s pal Linus once told us, “There are three things that I’ve learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

We’re not so sure about the Great Pumpkin, but we know the religion and politics piece no longer rings true. Especially with the anonymity of social media, people are not afraid to publicly voice their opinions on political and social issues.

So, how do brands take a stand?

Well, the answer might be – they shouldn’t.

Pepsi is under attack for launching an ad that tried to tackle social injustice and racial inequality. The company faced such strong backlash against the ad that it was pulled shortly after its release. However, the damage was already done.

No, Pepsi wasn’t trying to be insensitive. But perhaps they were trying too hard to relate to younger generations and the issues they care about the most.

Cause marketing can be beneficial for brands when done correctly. However, it is important to approach the subject with great sensitivity.

Continue reading to learn how your brand can successfully utilize cause marketing.

Young PR professionals might ask themselves “what’s more important – gaining valuable experience or continuing your education?” Well, it depends. A degree is as beneficial as you make it, so if you use the knowledge wisely, it can definitely be advantageous. However, real-world experience is also very important when entering the PR world.

There are benefits and disadvantages to both options. Here are some key factors to consider when weighing your options.

Read more to learn about the different outcomes of continuing your education.

Instagram was one of the first major photo-based social networks when it launched in 2010. By the end of April 2012, there were already over 100 million active users.

After recognizing its success and the potential for competition, Facebook purchased Instagram in April 2012. They paid a total of $1 billion dollars in cash and stock and used "the power of Facebook" to help the member base grow by an additional 23% in 2013. Today, the two networks are linked, allowing users on Instagram to post photos or videos directly to both accounts simultaneously.

Today, Instagram has surpassed Twitter in user activity, with over 500 million registered profiles. It has evolved into a well-rounded platform, featuring video posts, 24-hour stories, and live streaming.

To learn more about Instagram and its growth, check out the following new research report from WebsiteBuilder.org.

Continue reading to learn more about the success of Instagram.