Automated, generalized messages don't have the impact they used to.

People change channels when commercials appear, no one answers a call from a telemarketer, and automated emails don't get opened.

The old way of marketing is out, and personalized, compelling content in context is in, in a big way. 

Over the next year, this marketing trend is going to continue to grow.

Here are the top 4 content marketing trends that will emerge and thrive in 2014.

Like a first impression, introducing your garden brand to the media is an opportunity you only get once.

And, as you may have guessed, your introduction can either define your brand or cause infamy.

In the gardening world, there's one surefire way to make a stellar impression with the media's key influencers.

With this one move, you'll be well on your way to having impeccable media relations.

Discover Garden Media's proven method for the best way to introduce your garden brand below.

Does your Facebook page have 74 million 'likes' or are there 806,000 people talking about you?  Didn’t think so. But that doesn’t mean your garden brand can’t utilize Facebook just as well as the front runners in social media.

Though Facebook isn’t a ‘professional social network,’ it does boast 1.1 billion monthly users and 4.5 billion daily likes.  You can’t argue with numbers like that.  Facebook isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Here are five easy tips to solve the problems your business may be facing, inspired by some of Facebook’s best and brightest brands.

Inspiration for garden trends pours in from every inch of the globe.

Across the world, different countries are blending their regional culture and personal style with local gardening habits to put a spin on gardening.

Just as Paris and Milan "Fashion Week" defines trends globally, there are three international garden shows that shape garden, home, and lifestyle trends.

It is at these shows that the trends Garden Media predicts for 2014 begin to form. From here, landscape designers, artists, and breeders all find inspiration and make it their own.

Read on to discover the 3 international shows that influence Garden Trends the most each year.

Now that you have created your media list, it will serve as the foundation for all of your media relations. You're ready for the next step: connecting with the key media influencers.

Key influencers are the best place to begin making connections.

Why?

Because they're leaders in their industry. The topics that they write and talk about will soon be covered by media outlets across the country. Think of it like a ripple effect. If you can hook the big influencers, the rest of the media coverage will soon take off.

Below are tips on determining who exactly key media influencers are--and how to make them remember your garden brand!

Last month, Pinterest followed in the footsteps of other social media giants by announcing that advertisements would soon sneak their way into your Pinterest streams.

Pinterest, though, touted something different: "tasteful" ads.

And as promised, the advertisments/promoted pins have arrived--kind of.

Last week, the sponsored advertisements went live for a handful of Pinterest users.

Read on to discover what Pinterest ads will look like, how they'll keep growing, and how your garden business can capitalize on these pseudo ads.

This Trending Thursday, we're looking at 2014 to see what social media trends are coming over the horizon.

Some networks are here to stay and will continue to grow while others are already stale.

With Garden Media's 2014 Guide to Social Media Trends, you can begin to see where to budget your time in the upcoming fiscal year.

Without further ado, here are the top 5 social media trends of 2014.

Hot of the presses, Garden Media's October e-Book is here!

This month our GROW! e-Book of the month clubwill be talking media relations every Wednesday, right here on our blog. The blog posts complement the info in our Media Relations e-Book and break each aspect of media relations into bite-sized pieces!

But, first thing's first, be sure to download our e-Book, "How to Win the Media's Heart."

In it, you'll find all of Garden Media's secrets to making (and maintaining!) friendships with the media.

To start the conversation, below is Garden Media's guide to media relations--beginning with the basics, like what is media relations, and where do you start?

1906-?

Press releases aren't dead. We're saying it!

But, just because they're still alive, doesn't mean they're fine as is. The strategy, format, and goals of press releases are still relevant. Yet, the tactics with which we write and market our press releases need some work.

Below are 4 tips and tricks to bring your press release into the 21st century.

In 2001, Garden Media predicted that vegetable gardening would regain popularity. We noticed a trend of 'gardening for the greater good.' Basically, gardening for the earth and our wallets- reminiscent of the Victory Gardens popular during WWII.  

In 2005, we noticed there was still a demand for fresh, local, affordable fruits and vegetables.  But this time, young men were taking up the mantle, emulating their grandfathers and growing their own.

By 2009, 43 million U.S. households planned to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and berries, up 19% from 36 million households in 2008, reported the National Gardening Association.

"As in previous recessions, we've seen increased participation in and spending on food gardening as people look for ways to economize," explained Bruce Butterfield, research director for the NGA. "That said, these results suggest the interest in food gardening may continue to increase, even after the economy improves."

Flash forward to 2014.  Was Bruce right? Has the interest in food gardening only increased or did farmers markets become the backyard vegetable garden?  Read more after the jump to find out.