Today’s consumers are visually oriented. About 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and it is processed 60,000 times faster than text.

A catchy headline can only go so far, but including a picture raises the bar for success. In PR, image is everything. Likewise, the images incorporated in social media are just as crucial.

Continue reading for more information about how garden brands can incorporate images into their social media strategies.

I recently spoke at Cultivate '15 about how garden businesses need to use SEO tactics and Google search features and updates to their advantage.

Cultivate, AmericanHort’s yearly conference, promises to offer industry insiders a sneak peek into what’s trending in horticulture for 2015 and beyond.

Garden Media plans to add to that buzz when President Susan McCoy previews the firm’s 2016 Garden Trends Report at Cultivate ’15.

“Syncing with Nature” identifies seven new garden trends that will shake up the industry in the coming year.

The 2016 report concludes that consumers are “rewilding” themselves and gaining a newfound appreciation for both the earth’s precious resources and nature centers found in their own backyards.

Instagram, an app that allows users to edit and share photos, wants to become the go-to source for information and trends.

Instagram recently updated several search features, allowing the app to become increasingly more user friendly.

The search icon now offers an expansive menu of dynamic content and trending tags. One of Instagram’s newest functions allows users to explore live updates happening around the world.

Instagram CEO, Kevin Systrom, told Wired magazine “It’s a real-time visual pulse for what is happening in the world.”

Read on for more information on how garden brands can utilize the new Instagram updates.

I recently sat down with Brooke Bates from Garden Center Magazine to talk about my social media presentation at Cultivate '15 in Columbus, Ohio next week.

Below is a snippet of our conversation. Read the full post here. And, come see the presentation in full on Monday, July 14 at 4:00 P.M. in Ballroom One.  

Q: What can attendees expect from your session at Cultivate?

A: I hope people learn new tips and tactics for the platforms they already have, to drive people back to their website, which in turn drives people into their store or toward their product. I like to use examples that are industry-specific, not just how anyone can do social media.

What began as a virtual scrapbook experience has evolved into a one stop shop for all tech-savvy shoppers.

Pinterest is sweeping out the middle man and letting users browse and purchase items straight from its mobile site with the new “Buyable Pins” option, rolling out to users as we speak.

With this upgrade, Pinterest has the ability to launch into the number one spot for e-commerce. As of now, they are right behind Facebook in terms of online sales generated from social media.

According to Shopify, Pinterest brings in an average sale of $50, which is higher than any other social media platform.

93 percent of users plan out their purchases by using Pinterest, and orders on Pinterest from mobile devices have increased by 140 percent in the past two years.

Continue reading to find out how Pinterest’s Buy It Now button can help Garden businesses boom.

It’s no secret that Pinterest is conquering the business world. Today, brands use this virtual inspiration board as a search engine, sales tool and influencer watch list. 

It may seem silly to think a business could make mistakes on Pinterest, but brands that avoid simple mistakes will see an increase in followers and meet their goals. There are three key factors that can improve a published pin.

Continue reading for more information on how garden businesses can improve their Pinterest Page.

We sat down with Nikole Gennari for this week’s speaker series. Nikole is a rising senior at Gonzaga University where she majors in public relations and minors in marketing promotions.

Hailing all the way from Seattle, WA, Nikole is eager to learn and passionate about a career in public relations. At Gonzaga, she is involved with the Public Relations Student Society of America and will be the organization's publicity chairperson in the fall. In addition, she is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communications Honor Society.

Continue reading to learn more about Nikole and the role she plays at Garden Media.

We sat down with Lauren Grow for this week’s speaker series. Lauren is a junior at West Chester University. She majors in communication studies and political science.

Describing Lauren as busy is an understatement. In addition to her role as Garden Media's Intern, she’s served as the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) for the last two years and is an member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communications Honor Society. She is also an executive board member of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and was elected to the governing body of Greek life on campus.

True to her name “Grow,” Lauren also gardens in her free time.  

Continue reading to learn more about Lauren and her experiences in the public relations and marketing industry. 

Earth day officially falls on April 22 every year. This creates an opportunity for people to celebrate the planet and all it provides for its inhabitants. 

It also creates an opportunity to show how your brand cares for and supports the planet.

According to the Pew Research Center, 61 percent of Americans identify a problem with the damages humans have caused to the earth and believe there is concrete evidence to support global warming. These percentages are set to continue to increase in the next several years.

For garden brands, every day is Earth Day. 

The holiday presents a great opportunity for garden brands to teach consumers about the importance of living a green and sustainable lifestyle.

Continue reading to learn more about how garden brands can use Earth Day to promote their brands and teach consumers about green living.