“ I ’ ve done a lot of things that didn ’ t make me money , but gave me connections . Nothing hurt me but lost time .”
about her clients . “ It ’ s so much easier to give the extra energy to people with shared energy and vision ,” she said . “ I have turned down work that I don ’ t want to be associated with .”
Thirty-six years after attending her first GWA meeting , Myers ’ career is in full bloom . Her good cheer , expertise , and experience lead her to more opportunities . Between galloping around the country to make presentations , recording TV and radio spots , as well as gardening programs for The Great Courses , she leads garden tours and writes books . “ I don ’ t mind writing , but it can be grueling ,” she said . “ I do like having the book to sign .”
Melinda also finds time to garden at home with her partner Pete , grown daughter , and two lively grandchildren , Maya , 9 , and Sammy , 6 , as she teaches the next generation why getting their hands in the soil is so important . “ If everyone gardened , think how much better the world would be !” she said .
That really is the objective .
Deb Wiley is a freelance writer , editor and photographer from Des Moines , Iowa .
Becoming a Brand
Melinda Myers is both a person and a brand . “ It can be difficult to brag about what we do , but looking at the brand and the team and what we accomplish makes it a bit easier ,” she said . Building that brand took time and savvy . “ As a result of listening to others talk about their followers and contacts , I realized I needed to share this info with current and potential sponsors and others .”
Here are a few of Melinda Myers ’ brand reach statistics for 2016 :
• Print : Garden columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine , circulation 4.8 million . Producer of nationally syndicated newspaper and magazine gardening articles to American media outlets . Garden columnist for Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , circulation 300,000 . Contributor to two Midwest regional State-by-State Gardening magazines , total circulation 46,586 .
• TV & video : “ Melinda ’ s Garden Moment ” airs on 46 TV television stations in 23 states . Selected by The Great Courses , one of the largest DVD and online course distributors in the world , to host the “ How to Grow Anything ” DVD series .
• Radio : “ Melinda ’ s Garden Moment for Radio ” is aired on 72 radio stations in 30 states , and one in Canada .
• Media interviews : Expert for national print and online media outlets . TV and radio interviews in markets where Melinda speaks . Regular appearances as a guest expert on local , regional and national garden radio programs .
• Gardening books : Author of more than 20 gardening books .
• Website : melindamyers . com marked 245,120 unique visitors between April 28 , 2015 and April 27 , 2016 .
• YouTube : 430,959 total views on three channels of videos written or produced by Melinda .
• Spokesperson : Regular exposure via TV / radio commercials , print ads , online videos and websites as spokesperson for national , regional and local corporate partners .
• Event Appearances : Approximately 75 to 100 keynote presentations each year , reaching some 10,000 gardeners .
Above : GWA members photographed a butterfly exhibit during the Region VI meeting at Tucson Botanical Garden , which sponsored the gathering . The New York Botanical Garden ’ s exhibit “ Frida Kahlo : Art , Garden , Life ” was open during the March meeting and continues through May . Right : Co-authors Karen Chapman ( left ) and Christina Salwitz signed their book Gardening with Foliage First at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle in February .
PHOTO COURTESY JACQUELINE SOULE
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