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. ---

Hello, Social Studies fans!

In this fourth lesson, we delve into the importance of showing up 'in person' and making a human connection with your audience. From adding personal touches to your content and engaging with your followers, to gaining feedback straight from your circle, this lesson is about creating meaningful interactions that foster a loyal community. 

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

Read on to learn more about simple techniques that build reliability while connecting with your audience in a meaningful way.

Welcome back to Social Studies! If you’re not signed up for our weekly email series stop now! Subscribe here and start at lesson one. 

This third installment of our series on elevating your social media game in the world of gardening explores the crucial art of capturing quality photos. 

High-quality visuals are indispensable to any successful social media account. They convey your brand's personality, tell a compelling story, and keep your audience engaged. You don’t want to distract anyone from your project because of a blurry photo. But you don’t need fancy equipment or professional photographers. 

So, what is necessary? 

Read more to dive into the easy tips and techniques for creating stunning images (using only your smartphone) and maintaining consistency in visual storytelling.

Welcome back to Social Studies, where we continue the journey of elevating your social media game in the dynamic gardening world. Now that you have defined your niche and started to uncover your story in the gardening realm, it’s time to delve into writing a compelling bio and creating a media kit that stays true to your messaging. 

These components will convey who you are and what you do and showcase your brand's personality, reassuring users that they've come to the right place for their gardening inspiration. Let's dive in!

Read more to learn about the key elements of an excellent bio for each of your social media platforms. 

Welcome to the first installment of Garden Media Group’s Social Studies – your ultimate guide to elevating your social media game in the gardening world. Much like a garden, social media requires care and attention- including much planning before hitting the post button! 

Please make sure you are signed up for our Social Studies email series, a 10-part free course on upping your Instagram game and standing out above the crowd. 
We are thrilled to go on this journey with you, sharing valuable tips and creative ideas and fostering a vibrant community of socially savvy horticulture enthusiasts. 

Read more to learn about finding your niche and stating it on your social media platforms! 

Your Weekly Guide to Thriving in Social Media Marketing

In the fast-paced realm of social media marketing, maintaining a competitive edge is crucial for businesses striving to expand their online reach. We are delighted to introduce our new Social Studies program—a series of ten carefully curated emails designed to elevate your social media presence in the vibrant world of gardening- Sign up here.

Our new 10-part series is tailored to equip garden businesses with invaluable insights, expert advice, and actionable strategies that will boost your social media following. By subscribing, you gain exclusive access to a comprehensive toolkit, empowering you to craft a successful social media presence, unlock the potential of captivating content through photography and videography tips, and establish a profound connection with your audience.

Social media trends and best practices are constantly evolving. With our new newsletter, you'll stay ahead of the curve by receiving up-to-date insights and expert advice directly in your inbox each week. Whether it’s new social media platforms, changing algorithms, or trends, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to adopt, create, and thrive in the dynamic landscape of social media while staying true to yourself!

Read more to find out what you’ll learn!

As a garden business or horticulture PR professional, you know that securing top-tier media placements can significantly boost your brand's visibility and credibility. Heck, why lese would you be reading our blog?

However, getting the attention of journalists amidst a sea of competing pitches can be challenging. Especially in today's market of freelancers and AI, it's hard for PR pro's and journalists alike to know who to trust.  

There is not one key to breaking through the noise, but it starts with finding the right person to pitch. Journalists are tired of PR pro's who don't do their research or understand what they write about, their beat. 

Once you find the right person, however, the magic lies in crafting compelling pitches that resonate with journalists and their audiences.

There are a few essential steps to land top-tier placements: determining a compelling angle and writing a pitch that stands out. 

Read on to learn How to Land Top Tier Placements with compelling pitches.

For companies in the garden industry, finding ways to stand out and engage with your community is critical to success. 

One way to achieve this is by taking part in themed months and hyper-specific holidays in the garden niche. These occasions, such as Garden for Wildlife Month or National Weed Your Garden Day, can help your business connect with your customers near and far on a deeper level and also help you increase brand awareness and sales. 

Remember: Don't just jump on the bandwagon; always purposefully and strategically embrace these opportunities to connect with your audience and leave a lasting impact authentically.

-- Read on to explore the benefits of participating in themed months and hyper-specific holidays and the best ways to recognize them. --

Great Grow Along (GGA), an annual ten-day virtual festival, aims to connect and inspire gardeners with influencers worldwide while educating them on cutting-edge content. The 2023 festival, which ran in March, featured sixty+ educational sessions and virtual garden tours. A record-breaking 56k people logged in to see the speakers and chat with the community.

This event is for gardeners of all experience levels and is free for live streaming during the event. Every day of the festival is packed with expert education, practical advice, and creative inspiration from industry leaders and top influencers.

Now that the event has passed, viewers can subscribe for an on-demand session here.

Catchy names for each day, such as Wildlife Wednesday and Sustainability Sunday, aim to bring attention to the topics covered. Big-named brands like Park® Seed, Sunset® Plant Collection, and Garden For Wildlife™ sponsor the event to keep the content current and free of charge for viewers. 

Whether this was your first year attending or your third, everyone left the event with a wealth of information about various gardening topics. Sessions presented ranged from water-wise plantings to supporting hummingbird species and creating a healthy gardening ecosystem.
 
One of the festival's creators, LaManda Joy, believes the world would be better with more gardeners. "I am thrilled to empower individuals to reach new heights in their gardening journey," says Joy. "This festival allows us to share our expertise and advice and puts education at the forefront, giving new gardeners the confidence and tools they need to succeed."

Read on to learn more about the Great Grow Along and highlights from a few sessions!

You know we love trends here at Garden Media, so as the new gardening season approaches, we thought it would be a great time to take a sneak peek at some of the latest trends in the green industry.

From utilitarian fashion to the latest and greatest lawn ornaments, the gardening world constantly innovates and develops new and exciting ideas.

We have been busy worker bees preparing our 2024 Garden Trends Report and decided we couldn’t WAIT to share. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most unique and unconventional trends emerging in gardening.

Read on to be amazed and inspired by these cutting-edge 2024 gardening trends!