I love this cartoon! Recovering from a public relations disaster is really such a mix of emotions. But, of course, we know that nothing is going to blow over—and your business’s Facebook page will never be left out of it! Keep dreaming, bud!

I’ve been waiting to write this blog for quite some time… In February, we saw an overload of public relations disasters: Anne Hathaway after the Oscars, Burger King’s Twitter getting hacked, or Senator Marco Rubio incredibly awkward water break during a speech.   

Disasters are no longer just broadcast on the front page of newspapers around the country; instead, instantly people flock to social media to share their opinions.

Rebounding from a public relations catastrophe looks a bit different than it used to. Make sure your company is ready to react if you end up being the target of an infamous misfortune with these smart public relations strategy tips.

By Chuck Bowen

Editor, Lawn & Landscape

One of the things we do at Lawn & Landscape is provide landscape contractors with practical information that helps them run their business better. And the best way to do that is to help you better understand your customers.

So late last year, we conducted the first major post-recession survey of homeowners’ perceptions of the landscape industry. We asked more than 850 homeowners across the country why they buy landscape and lawn care services, what they think of contractors, and how they decide what to spend on improving their green spaces.

Their answers might surprise you.

We live in a 24/7 world, where there is always a conversation going on Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Youtube.. People are going to be talking about the latest ending of a Phillies game or posting reviews about the newest Modern Family episode.

Memes give the people yet another avenue to express their thoughts; memes are a cultural sensation that have been growing exponentially. If you don’t know exactly what a meme is, don’t fret! We’ll cover that in just a second.

Memes and social media unite us as a nation and as a global community. Here, we’re able to connect, converse, and laugh about the same cultural icons.

Yet, memes can be an extremely valuable tool in your small business. Learn just how easy it is to become the next viral share on social media with a laughable, sharable meme!

Branding is a big, big concept, but when it comes right down to it, branding your business is truly a compilation of small choices. 

Digital branding has become increasingly important, and one of my favorite (and least discussed) aspects of creating a digital, online presence is the font you use.

Recently, I just started watching American Horror Story-- a bit behind the times I know. But, their font encapsulates the essence of their product and brand perfectly. Check it out here. This font works so well because it reflects the three words that describe their culture and brand.

When creating a digital presence for your gardening business, avoid these blacklisted fonts! Plus, read up on how to pick the perfect font to make your horticulture businesses unique and memorable.

Building and maintaining a trustworthy reputation is the most important focus of any company, new or old.  But building this trust is not easy, especially in today’s inquisitive society. It takes a strong foundation, detailed planning, sound execution, creative ideas and time to build a brand. 

For years, companies have used the expertise of public relations firms to help communicate brand values and build their brand’s reputation. One of our services offered is branding.  To help companies better understand the nature of public relations in building brands, we have released a branding case study.

Been on Linkedin lately? If you haven’t, you are missing out! Linkedin just unveiled a more modern, visually driven layout after a major mile mark. 200 million working professionals are now mingling on Linkedin. Their membership has grown over 20% since November!

Keep up with the times; resumes and networking are no longer reserved for job interviews and conferences.

Networking is happening around the clock thanks to Linkedin, but to truly stand out, you need to understand how the new profile with affect you.

We’ve scoured the site and have highlighted the biggest changes below. Of course, we aren’t going to just leave you hanging. Below we’ve included a few tips to make sure you’re at the front of the pack of Linkedin!

Infographics have been on the to-do list at businesses across the country for the past few months. The medium began to gain traction in late 2009, but have since then exploded.

Infographics have the potential to go viral, specifically because of their share-ability. They're super easy to share on all social media outlets, and best of all, if you share it, your post will get six times more interaction on Twitter.

Trends come and go, and three years have passed since the creation of the inforgraphics, so are they in or out? Tell us what you think by commenting or tweeting at The Garden Media Team.

Until then, here’s the good and the bad sides of infographics. Decide for yourself if they should still be apart of your public realtions media plan.

A week (and two days!) has already rolled by in 2013. Time for a checkpoint: how are your New Year’s resolutions going?

No, not the ones where you vow to go to the gym more and eat healthier… the resolutions for your garden business!

A New Year means a new fiscal year. Round up the entire company, and create a new vision together.

The branding article in print in Green Profit.

I recently wrote an article about image building and rebranding for Green Profit magazine and wanted to share: 

"You know what they say about first impressions lasting a lifetime? Baloney! From people to brands and politicians, this country is all about second chances. You just have to know how to reintroduce yourself properly and to the right people.