During the month of July, Garden Media Group is continuing our GROW! e-Book club series.

For those of you who are just joining us, our e-Book club has three steps:

1. The actual e-Book to download 
2. A blog post expanding on the e-Book topic of the month every Wednesday
3. A Q&A Google+ Hangout to talk through your questions at the end of each month.

In July, GROW! is shining the spotlight on launching a new product customers will love by examing how we helped RESCUE!(R)' its famous Stink Bug Trap.

Before we share all of our insider public relations secrets, your garden business has to make sure you're ready to launch a product.

Below, we're detailing the three steps your garden business has to follow before launching a product successfully.

Topics: audience, PR Strategy, marketing communications, case study, product launch

All the elements for your public relations campaign are now in line: goals, objectives, key media, and target audience.

Your campaign has rolled out across a multitude of media outlets--and audiences are craving more.

Now that you have an action and media plan in line as well as a few media hits, you need to focus on maintaining momentum.

Your garden company cannot blast the same message in the same way year after year. To keep it interesting, add a new twist to your campaign each year.

Let's look at our PR Campaign Case Study on Costa Farms' O2 for You to illustrate the art of shifting the tactics each year while furthering your campaign's goals.

Topics: PR Campaign, PR Strategy, Digital Branding, case study, SEO, public relations media plan, social media

By now, you should have a solid understanding of the basics of a public relations campaign as well as how to define your goals and objectives.

However, you really can't begin to craft your key messages and target media outlets until you determine your key audience.

Today, we're going to focus on the key questions you need to ask about your target demographic and how to translate that to media outlets in your region and on a national level.

Topics: PR Campaign, audience, PR Strategy, advertising vs public relations, case study, garden industry public relations

Last week, we focused on the steps to creating a public relations campaign. As promised, we've returned to walk you through steps one and two: defining goals and objectives. 

Our spotlight will be on Costa Farm's wildly successful O2 for You campaign from 2008-2012.

Below are our proven to work steps to define goals and objectives for a public relations campaign in the garden industry. 

Topics: PR Campaign, creating content, PR Strategy, case study, public relations media plan

As promised, GROW! will continue to focus on one case study a month. Plus, at the end of the month, we'll host a Google Hangout for our ebook club. 

Every Wednesday in June, we will be posting about the elements of a successful public relations campaign.

To begin, we're going to detail what a PR campaign is and how it's different than an advertising campaign 

Topics: PR Campaign, advertising vs public relations, case study, public relations media plan, ebook club

Once your brand has been defined and broadcast across regional and national media outlets, you need to ensure that your garden business stays the center of attention.

To gurantee that your product is not a one hit wonder, you have to strategically market your brand to be the new must-have item, year after year.

Consumers are constantly vying for the cutting edge, so make sure you and your gardening influencers are afoot of this year's trends.

By connecting your gardening brand and product to annual trends, you'll remain the apple of the media (and your consumers') eye!

Topics: branding, image building, garden business, case study, garden industry public relations, Garden Trends

So, you've got everyone on board with your new gardening brand. You know how to describe your brand in three simple words; and, you've answered the 4 W's.

Now, you've have to work on making the world love your gardening brand.

To do this, you've got to get your brand in front of local and national media. 

The best way to ensure you get placements on t.v., magazines, and newspapers is to humanize your garden brand. 

Topics: garden marketing, audience, branding, advertising vs public relations, Digital Branding, garden business, case study

Congratulations! Since you have outlined your three branding words, you're on the way to creating a stellar brand.  You know who you want to be, and now, you've just got to figure out how to get there.

It's time to describe who your brand is in more detail.

The easiest way to define your brand is by answering the 4 W's of your garden brand.

Topics: garden marketing, audience, branding, PR Strategy, garden business, case study, garden industry public relations

In the late nineteen twenties the two largest manufacturers of breakfast cereal, Kellogg's and Post, were vying for the hearts and wallets of the American people. But with the Great Depression looming in the distance, and spending on the top of everyone's minds, only one company could come out on top.  Can you guess who?

Topics: garden marketing, branding, advertising vs public relations, case study, advertising

Ah, the sweet smell of spring! We've endured the April showers, and now, it's finally time for May flowers! But, that's not all that's blooming...

Throughout the month of May, Garden Media Group will hone in on one of our favorite concepts: branding!

Each and every Wednesday throughout the month of May, our Grow blog will be examining a new aspect of branding.

Stick with us, and by the end of the month, your flowers will be in full bloom--and so will your garden business's brand!

To begin the journey, we're discussing one of the most important and initial steps of branding a business: defining your brand personality and product.

Topics: garden marketing, hiring a public relations person, branding, PR Strategy, case study, Garden Media Group, garden industry public relations