Last week marked a major milestone for Instagram. The app passed 500 million users—and 300 million of those 500 million visit Instagram daily.

To put that into proportion, “500 million” equates to about seven percent of the world’s total population. It’s also larger than the population of the entire United States.

Instagram is proud to announce its users share “500 million windows to the world." The app is blossoming into a virtual space where everything from “the everyday and the epic, are always within reach.”

Instagram’s CEO has described Instagram as a “media destination,” a place where users can learn about what’s happening in the world as it happens. Although this perspective reflects the attitudes of many other platforms, too, Instagram’s growth is really soaring.

So, what can we learn from this?

Continue reading to discover some of the biggest takeaways from Instagram's milestone.

Thirty seconds. It’s enough time for you to stretch, send a quick text message or plan what you’re going to make for dinner. Half a minute can seem very trivial in the scheme of your day.  

But if you’ve ever tried to write an elevator pitch, you’ll know that thirty seconds can also be a secret weapon.    

With a well-practiced elevator pitch, you convey to potential employers who you are and what you’ll bring to the table on an interview.

Quickly catching an employer’s interest on the spot can be challenging if you're not prepared, so here are a few tips for selling your skill set in half a minute or less.

Continue reading for tips on how to craft the perfect elevator pitch for an interview.

Honesty is the pillar of the public relations industry, and an honest reputation is the most important asset of any organization.

The public evaluates professionals based on their reputations.

Positive reputations are difficult to build, and lying is the major reason that public relations professionals lose their credibility.

Professionals must be conscious of their organizations’ past, present and future stakes, not just those of the “here-and-now.”  One present mistake may cause temporary bad publicity — but lies to conceal mistakes, once exposed, create much more damage for a long-term reputation.

Continue reading to learn why honesty is always the best policy when it comes to PR.

It is hard to ignore emojis.  These illustrated emoticons have made their way across the internet, through cell phone screens and have even graced the cover of notable magazines.

Brands should take note of their widespread reach and embrace them.

Emojis have become a staple in PR in recent years, so much so that powerhouse brands like Chevy even released a press release in nothing but emojis. 

What makes emojis so great is that they are a common language. People all over the world can use them and know what they mean.

The PR world is utilizing the power and reach of emojis to make an impact for brands.

Continue reading to discover why all PR professionals should be using emojis.

Each year, the MTV Generation Award is given to an actor or actress whose timeless work is representative of an entire generation. Previous winners range from comedian Adam Sandler to America’s sweetheart Reese Witherspoon.

The 25^th annual awards winner was different.

This year Will Smith was honored with the award because of his incredible career as musician, sitcom superstar and Oscar-nominated actor. Smith has succeeded in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry.

So, while PR professionals might not be billion-dollar superstars like Will Smith, their careers definitely have a few things in common.

Read more to discover what you can learn from Will Smith and his diverse career.

Who runs the world? Beyoncé! And marketing is no different.

Queen B, as her fans like to call her, is not only a top entertainer, but also a great marketer. Any brand should aspire to follow in her marketing and public relations footsteps. 

Beyoncé utilizes strategies that are not typical - but work very well. And by adapting her efforts to the digital world, she has found even greater success.

Continue reading for public relations lessons you can learn from Beyoncé.

To the untrained eye, Wawa might seem like any other convenience store or gas station. However, residents of the mid-Atlantic see it as much more.

We worship at the altar of Wawa here at Garden Media, there is one spitting distance from our office. Why? Wawa provides its consumers not only with food, fuel and coffee, but also a sense of belonging and community.

Mashable's recent story about the die hard Wawa enthusiasts, included one fan who even wrote an ode to the store.

How did a seemingly run-of-the-mill convenience store become a place loved by so many members of the surrounding area?

By utilizing current trends, offering customization and maintaining a sense of community, Wawa has become a staple in many people's lives.

Read more to learn how you can replicate Wawa’s intense brand loyalty.

During the 2015 Super Bowl, Budweiser released #BestBuds, an emotional commercial about a friendship between their beloved Clydesdale horses and a puppy, which probably made you tear up more than the Seahawks fans at the end of the game.

While you will inevitably sob into your chips, dips and beers during the 2016 Super Bowl, you can at least learn some skills about marketing your brand along the way.

If anything, the Super Bowl commercials teach us about how to effectively market your brand, particularly on social media.

Continue reading to learn how Super Bowl commercials can help improve your brand.

When it comes to dating on reality TV, preserving your reputation and picking the right person are essential to your success on the show.

When it comes to PR, picking the right clients and performing well helps build your company’s strong reputation.

Coincidence? We think not. 

Continue reading to learn how to interact with potential clients and build your public relations client list.

It's the reality of everyday life, we wake up, get dressed and brave the cold (rain, snow, etc) to get into our cars and begin our journey to work.

Whether you have a five minute commute or an hour battle against angry beeping horns and tired fellow drivers, you can be more productive.

There are opportunities to improve your public relations skills with every push of the pedal.

Continue reading to learn how your morning commute can improve your public relations skills.