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!

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?

With three new hires in recent months, the Garden Media Group is expanding client services and opening new doors within the home and garden sector.

Each new hire brings an original voice and creative energy to the team, generating more results for clients.

Meet the three new members of the Garden Media Group below!

Mark your calendars for today at 2 p.m. EST to talk 2014 Garden Trends with Suzi McCoy on our e-Book Google+ Hangout.

Now is your chance to hear directly from the Trends guru herself about how your garden business can implement Garden Trends to boost sales.

Come armed with questions about the 2014 Garden Trends Report, and be ready for an online e-book club meeting all about the upcoming year's garden, home, and lifestyle trends.

R.S.V.P. here to make sure you have all the details about the e-book club hangout.

But, in case you're craving more, below there are detailed instructions about how to join our Google Hangout and a play by play of what you'll learn about the 2014 Garden Trends Report all in less than an hour.

That's right: on the 25th of September, Garden Media celebrates 25 years in business!

A quarter of a century ago in September 1988, Suzi McCoy put her daughter Katie on the bus for first grade and opened the doors of IMPACT Marketing & PR.

The firm would expand and eventually become known in the horticulture industry as Garden Media Group. 

Now, Katie has returned home to roost and is the Creative Officer at Garden Media Group.

Below, Suzi McCoy dishes on the full story of how Garden Media became the leading PR firm in the lawn and garden industry over the last 25 years.

Don't forget to wish Suzi and Garden Media a happy anniversary!

Since 2001, Garden Media Group's annual Trends report has become the go-to guide for breeders, manufacturers, growers, vendors, retailers and media.

The report helps them learn where and how they can best meet consumers’ needs in the garden and home industry.

In the last 13 trends reports, Garden Media’s predictions have been spot on. From the rise of Made in the U.S.A. and the ‘buy local’ movement to men getting in the garden, growing vegetables and a renewed interest in organics, Garden Media has kept the industry ahead of the curve.

But, how the heck does Garden Media predict the hottest trends, year after year?

Below we have an exclusive interview with Garden Media's founder and Queen Bee Suzi McCoy on how she and the Garden Media team spot garden trends before anyone else does.

Trade shows are one of the best places to garner new business, attract new customers and interact face-to-face with trade show attendees.

But, realistically, they also are a huge investment of money. Are you making the most out of every dollar that you're putting into garden industry trade shows?

Chances are, your garden business could be doing more. 

Read on to discover Garden Media's 6 tips for tip-top trade show performance. We guarantee you'll like what you see!

It's September, which means the leaves are beginning to change, yellowjackets are on the hunt for sweet morsels of food and it's New York Fashion Week!

Yes, gardening and Fashion Week have something in common... Can you guess what it is? 

Trends!

This week, we get a glimpse of what colors and shapes are coming out of New York during Fall 2013's Fashion Week from Pantone, a global authority on color. Check out the seasons' hottest colors below.

This week I rediscovered one of my favorite quotes:

"Creativity is intelligence having fun." --Albert Einstein.

And how true! PR firms and garden businesses alike are full of brilliant thinkers, so let's help them have more fun and exercise their creativity--which will ultimately affect the bottom line.

Below are 7 tips to integrate into your garden business to have a bit more fun and a whole lot of ground breaking ideas.