Whether you pin, tweet, like or connect, chances are your business is growing on social media.

Social media is a great way to open up communication between your brand and your consumers. Posting often on platforms like Facebook and Snapchat gets your content in front of an engaged group of listeners.

Your fans want to hear from you, and it’s time to kick up the content. But, you’d be booed off of social media if you constantly posted your products and their price tag. Knowing what to post doesn’t have to be tricky, you just need to sow seeds in three flower pots — seeds that educate, seeds that entertain and seeds that engage.

Learn how to sow the seeds of social media using three pots. 

Everyone knows Instagram is one of the most important, useful and successful social media platforms of our time. With over 300 million active monthly users, more than 90 percent of which are under the age of 35, Instagram is especially useful in reaching millennials. And they aren’t just using it for selfies.

Through the use of hashtags on both Twitter and Instagram, social media activism is becoming a rising trend. Millennials love to be aligned with a cause and they are using hashtags to raise awareness about those causes. Businesses and celebrities are taking note and following their examples.

Continue reading for more information about why businesses should support a cause and show they care.

Gaining national media attention is always an exciting accomplishment. National media reach a huge audience and can potentially generate a lot of buzz for your service or brand. However, certain stories might not be fit for the national spotlight, or, you may want to attract local attention. This is where local media can be extremely beneficial.

For local news and events, it is crucial to understand how to pitch to local media and why it is important. Understanding the outlet and the audience are two of the first steps.

Continue reading for tips on how to pitch local media.

September is the month of fashion weeks across the world, New York, London, Paris, Milan... the most fashionable people in the world convene in one place. 

Why do we care? Well for one, fashion trends drive garden trends. But instead of a garden trend, today we're talking social media trends.

For the first time ever, a brand, Burberry, partnered with Snapchat to feature its spring and summer 2016 line. 

The Snapchat story documented the entire event, from behind the scenes preparation, to hair and makeup tips and even the models walking the runway. The story also featured celebrity guests attending the show, including models Cara DeLevingne, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.

This is not the first time Burberry has been the leading fashion brand in technology. Many of the brand’s marketing techniques are aimed at millennials. Why would an expensive, luxury brand try to appeal to younger generations who are often determined to find the best deals?

Continue reading to understand Burberry’s unique marketing strategy.

The travel and tourism industry is expanding every year. People are traveling more often, further away and for longer periods of time. These trips provide unforgettable memories, but can also serve as a unique learning experience. Traveling can teach flexibility, risk taking and crisis management, all of which are essential skills in the workplace.

Continue reading for more information about how traveling can help your garden business.

Lots of Millennial experts talk about how much time we spend on the internet. But, in truth, we never really leave the internet. Think about it. Our phones, tablets and other devices help us connect and stream at the touch of a button. Anytime. Anywhere.  

The 2016 Garden Trends Report recognizes this, and, urges industry leaders to embrace and adapt to new and ever-changing technology. Rising Millennials are constantly plugged in, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  

This year, consumers merge technology with nature, not as a distraction -- but as a way to explore, educate and entertain.

Continue reading for a sneak peek of the 2016 Garden Trends Report.

Published more than 24 years after his death Dr. Seuss’, What Pet Should I Get? is the latest addition to his already vast collection of children’s books. The public will cherish this new story for years to come.

In true Dr. Seuss fashion, the book features vibrant illustrations and perfectly paired rhymes. Brother and sister are allowed to choose a new pet for their family and when they arrive at the pet store they see cats, dogs, fish, birds and even monkeys. The decision becomes overwhelming for the children.

Though the book appeals directly to children, its underlying theme is universal: decision making is important.

In business, challenging decisions have to be made. Even the smallest decision can have an impact on the company, client or community as a whole.

Here are some helpful tips to alleviate stress when garden brands are faced with a difficult decision.

Continue reading for tips on how to make decisions with ease.  

The Garden Media team attended IGC East earlier this month, and with half of the team being Millennials, we looked at the show with a different perspective. We definitely ran into certain booths that caught our attention.

Many companies are shifting their focus onto the new garden consumer: Millennials, and with good reason. Millennials make up nearly 25 percent of the US population and are the most influential consumers.

One trait of Millennials is that we love to be engaged - not of the marrying kind, not yet - but of the stimulant kind. Give us something to do or something to watch. And be approachable... without being creepy. Be nice, be calm and be welcoming.  

Continue reading to see what booths stood out in the Millennial mind and why.

Downward facing... IPA?

Lululemon, the popular active wear company best known for its popular line of yoga pants and active wear, has released a new product: beer.

The company is set to debut its Curiosity Lager at the Seawheeze yoga festival in Vancouver this weekend. The new beverage is geared toward men.  

The launch of this beer from an active wear brand poses a critical public relations question: How far should brands stretch their boundaries into new markets?

Continue reading for information about how brands can expand into new industries.   

Last week, Garden Media saw Martha Stewart speak at IGC East. During her talk, she stressed the importance of individuality and pushed for garden centers to appeal to the industry’s new consumers: millenials.

We touched on some things you didn't know about Martha in Part I of this series. 

Continue reading for Pat II and to learn more about Martha Stewart’s talk at IGC East.