Business, Blogging
Lauren Hooker
40 Ways to Use Adobe Illustrator to Improve ...

Adobe Illustrator is my go-to software for anything and everything design-related. It's the one program I truly couldn't work without.

And while it's easy to assume that the program's primary focus is illustration based on the name, there is so much more to this design software. 

With tools for type, color, photo cropping, image tracing, drawing, and much more, it has innumerable benefits for bloggers and business owners, alike.

To get your creative gears turning, here's a look at 40 ways Adobe Illustrator can take your blog and/or business to the next level.

40 Ways to Use Adobe Illustrator to Improve Your Blog and Business
Blogging, Business, Branding, Design
Lauren Hooker
How to Create Eye-Catching Blog Post Graphics

First impressions are crucial, especially in business.

Potential customers and clients make judgments about your business within the first few seconds of coming into contact with it, whether it’s through your website, your social media accounts, or a simple blog post graphic.

And those initial thoughts - whether they’re spot on or far off from what you want them to be - are within your control. You have the opportunity to make a killer first impression through high-quality, branded visuals.

If your blog is a large part of your business or you’re hoping to drive more traffic back to your site through your blog, you have to have eye-catching blog graphics to not only generate a positive first impression, but to encourage readers to share your posts on sites like Pinterest and be seen by an even wider audience.

So how do you create eye-catching blog post graphics? And better yet, how can you set them apart so they’ll stand out from the rest and be recognized time and time again?

How to Create Eye-Catching Blog Post Graphics
Business, Visual Marketing
Lauren Hooker
40 Easy, Engaging Video Content Ideas for Your ...

“When I discovered YouTube, I didn’t work for 5 days.” - Michael Scott

Video platforms like YouTube (and more recently, Periscope) are easily the world’s greatest time-wasters. We’ve all been guilty of losing track of time on YouTube at least once, because videos are easily consumable, very addicting, and highly entertaining.

As a matter of fact, studies show that a whopping 78% of us watch videos online every week and 55% watch videos online every day.

Which is why Youtube is also the world’s greatest overnight-success-maker. If you’re on the production-side of a video and you’ve come up with a clever idea, you might just have a viral hit on your hands.

Video holds a lot of potential for interaction, engagement, and shares for creative businesses. And for that reason, it’s one of the best visual marketing tools you can use.

But it producing videos can be a little overwhelming, can’t it? Even with helpful video tools out there like Animoto, many of us struggle to come up with simple ideas for video content that would appeal to our audience. 

And that’s where this post comes in. I’ve rounded up 40 easy, engaging video content ideas to help get your creative gears turning. My hope is that you’ll find a few ideas to implement and as a result, bring your business more exposure.

40 Easy, Engaging Video Content Ideas for Your Creative Business
Business, Visual Marketing
Lauren Hooker
Why You Should Be Using Infographics for Your ...

If you’re looking for a good way to kill at least an hour of your time, type in the word “infographic” in the Pinterest search bar.

Thousands of clever graphics will pop up on everything from “how to make a salad taste awesome” to a baby’s first year in a review. There’s even an infographic that answers the pressing question, “Is your dog sleeping a little too much?”

Then, after you’ve admired the genius creativity behind them, take a gander at how many repins and likes each of those infographics receives. Thousands upon thousands.

In fact, infographic volumes have increased by over 800% in 2 years. Publishers who use infographics grow in traffic an average of 12% more than those who don’t. 

What is it about infographics that makes them so appealing? And better yet, how can you come up with some clever infographics for your business so it gains more exposure through likes and shares?

I have all the answers for you in this post.

Why You Should Be Using Infographics for Your Business (And How to Create Them)
Blogging
Lauren Hooker
How to Create Catchy Headlines

Is your headline the first thing you consider when you sit down to write a post?

Probably not, but creating a catchy blog post title is one of the most important aspects of each blog post. It's the gateway to your content; it convinces people to click or scroll right past your latest post'. 

In fact, studies show that 8 out of 10 people will read your headline but only 2 out of 10 will read your entire post. 

Here are a few pointers for drawing in potential readers and a couple "templates" to help you create a catchy headline for your upcoming posts. 

How to Create Catchy Headlines

Today's Top 3

Today's Top 3 - Artists, Graphic Designers, and Interior Designers

Today's Top 3 is full of all kinds of lovely inspiration! I've rounded up some of my favorite artists, graphic designers, and interior designers, and all of these ladies have a style that is distinctly their own. Prepare to be inspired!

Top 3 artists I follow along with

  • Emily Jeffords - Emily is an oil painter whose colorful landscapes are seen all over the place. I love her simple, impressionist style and the mix of color she adds to each canvas. I can't wait to hang one of her prints on my gallery wall for the Home Suite Home project!
  • Jessica Jane Handmade - I always enjoy following along with people who have a distinct, unique style and break the mold. Jessica is one of those. She makes whimsical clay objects, from houses and "villages" to Christmas ornaments. Her illustrative style makes her so fun to keep up with. 
  • Lauren Bradshaw - Maybe I'm just a kid at heart, but I can't get over how adorableness of everything that is Walnut Animal Society. Lauren makes the most precious stuffed animals (with super cute names like Ruthie, Henry, Eleanor, Chester, and Magnolia) and designs sweet outfits to go along with them. It's like the stuffed animal version of American Girl dolls. I know I sound like I'm 5, but I love Lauren's style and creativity. If you have a little one that you're buying for this Christmas, you need to check these out!

Top 3 graphic designers I follow along with

  • Breanna Rose - I've mentioned Breanna on here a couple times already, but I'm a fan of her simple, common sense aesthetic. It's very modern and gender neutral, which isn't quite like my design style, and I think that's what draws me to her work. I love keeping up with her most recent work. 
  • Megan Gonzalez - It isn't very often that I would consider giving up this blessing of working for myself to go work for another design company, but Mae Mae Paperie would be my one and only exception. Megan's work is that stunning! I love following along with her work and creativity.
  • Jennet Liaw - I don't know exactly how I stumbled upon Jennet's Instagram feed, but I'm so glad I did! Her modern typography is gorgeous. If you're ever in need of some creative inspiration, you should follow along with her.

Top 3 interior designers I follow along with

  • Kristin Jackson - The Hunted Interior has been one of my favorite interior design blogs for a few years. Kristin has an eye for pairing and layering different design styles in a space, and I adore her eclectic style.
  • Michaela Noelle - Okay, so this is pretty much a given. Michaela has been helping us redesign our Suite for the past few months, but I started following along with her blog long before our friendship. I love Michaela's classic, feminine style and her eye for all things lovely. 
  • Claire Brody - I had the priviledge of meeting sweet Claire at the Bloom Workshop a month ago and I'm calling it right now - she's going to do big things! I love her cheerful mix of colors and patterns. 

It's your turn! Who are your top 3 favorite artists, graphic designers, and interior designers?

Today's Top 3 - Helpful Blog Posts for Blogging, Design, and Business

I'm starting this new week with another roundup of my favorite things in Today's Top 3! Today I'm sharing some of my favorite articles about 3 of my favorite things: blogging, design, and business. 

Top 3 helpful posts for blogging

  • 13 Ways to Drive Traffic to Old Blog Posts - Oh, the archives. Mine contain over 200 posts from this past year, which means that all of the posts I spent hours writing are now laying dormant, buried behind new content. Are you in the same boat? This post by Nectar Collective is full of great ideas for driving readers to your older posts. 
  • 10 Things I Have Learned Along the Way - The ladies from iHeartOrganizing share what they've learned about blogging and mistakes they've made along the way, including overcommitting, comparison, checking stats, moderating comments, and more. This is definitely worth reading if you're a blogger or you're hoping to become one in the future!
  • Five Things to Watch in Your Blog Analytics - Keeping up with the analytics of your blog is useful for finding out which posts your readers enjoy, how many people keep coming back to your site, how long they stick around, and more. This post from Blog Clarity simply explains the 5 things you should be looking for when you check your analytics.

Top 3 helpful posts for design

  • Streamlining Your Process - I love this post on creating shortcuts by one of my favorite designers, Breanna Rose. While I've been sharing about how to define your creative process these past couple weeks, this article provides some great tips on where you can scale back and save time. 
  • 3 things to tell yourself when you doubt your work - When you work full-time in a creative field, you're expected to have an unlimited amount of creative ideas. But what do you do when you don't feel inspired and ideas are hard to come by? Lisa's post is a helpful reminder for those days when you're feeling frustrated and your creativity is at an all-time low. 
  • 4 Tips for Finding and Embracing Your Design Style - Is it terrible to link back to one of my old posts in a roundup? I hope not! This post continues to be one of my favorites; I'm passionate about playing up your strengths as a designer and highlighting your own individual aesthetic. 

Top 3 helpful posts for business

  • Organization for Creative Entrepreneurs - If you're a designer and you aren't keeping up with Braid Creative, you need to add them to your Favorites bar today. These tips for organizing email, project management, timetracking, scheduling, and virtual assistants are practical and useful. [Insert hallelujah chorus here]
  • Competition is for Sissies - If you only visit one link from today's post, make it this one. This article provides a refreshing change of perspective on competition and turned my business world upside down.
  • Freelance Finances - A quick, helpful post from Jay Adores on how to manage your finances when you work for yourself. It seems almost too simple! 

Now it's your turn! Which blogs and blog posts about blogging, design, and business have been helpful for you?

Today's Top 3

Happy Monday! I'm back with more favorites this week in one of Elle & Company's newer series, Today's Top 3. Today I have upcoming events, our funny little cat, and a few great books on my mind.

Top 3 things I'm looking forward to

  • The Bloom Workshop - Two of my favorite ladies are bringing their workshop to the East Coast this Thursday! I'm excited to meet Michaela and Ashley in-person, share some insight on blogging and design on their expert panel, and meet other creative business ladies. Three more days!
  • Home Suite Home reveal - It's starting to feel real. Our prints from Minted arrived for the gallery wall, the new table for our eating nook is on its way, and Jake and I are pulling out the paintbrushes this weekend. Each individual piece is so pretty; I can't wait to see it all together!
  • Elle & Company Planner Launch - A new name, a new concept, and an updated design. It's only a few weeks away! Stay tuned...

Top 3 Heidi quirks

I promise I'm not a crazy cat lady. I just can't get over this odd little cat!

  • Neighborhood walks - It's the strangest thing; Heidi joins Jake and I for walks around the neighborhood. She runs along beside us, taking the occasional break to run up a tree, and she makes noise the entire way. Jake gets the biggest kick out of it and I must admit, it's hilarious. 
  • Friendliness toward the dogs - I've never seen a cat that loves dogs quite like Heidi. She joins the dogs next door for their afternoon walks around the pond, she hops the fence to play with them, and she even lets the black lab puppy lick her on the head. It's precious.
  • Snuggling - She loves to snuggle up with us, especially Jake. He can't get away with studying or reading for class without Heidi jumping up in his lap, and she sleeps on his back every night. It's endearing and obnoxious, all at the same time. 

Top 3 books I'm reading

Because who reads just one book at a time? 

  • Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper - I picked this book up at the Gospel Coalition Conference last June and I've been reading it each night before bed. It documents the lives of five women - Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare - who trusted God with their lives and exemplified what it means to be faithful. Reading about the extraordinary things God did through them has been an encouragement in my own walk and has challenged me to make a difference for Christ in my family, my church, and my community.
  • Trusting God by Jerry Bridges - I'm going through this book with a sweet lady from my church and this is her fourth time reading through it - it's that good! Trusting God is well-rooted in Scripture and it's applicable to every season of life. Reading this book has helped me realize that God is completely sovereign, He is infinite in wisdom, and He is perfect in love - therefore, I can trust Him. I'm only two chapters in, but this book has already had a great impact on me.
  • Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin - This book has been recommended to me by several godly friends that I trust and admire, so I picked it up at the seminary this past week. Jen Wilkin provides great tips and wisdom for going deeper into God's Word and studying it on our own, without the help of a guide or someone else's opinion on Scripture. I'm excited to keep reading this one.

Your turn! What are your top 3 favorites this week?

 

Follow along with Elle & Company

Bloglovin     |     Instagram     |     Twitter     |     Facebook     |     Pinterest

Today's Top 3 - Fall Items, Recipes, and TV Series

I'm sharing some more favorites with you in another "episode" of Today's Top 3. It's the first day of October and I have autumn on my mind, so today I'm dishing about my favorite fall items, the recipes I turn to on busy weeknights, and the TV series that I can (and do) watch over and over again. 

Top 3 fall items

  • "Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice" art print - I know I'm a little biased about this one, but I can't help but share it again. I have this print hanging above the stove in our kitchen and it makes me happy each time I see it. My goal this week is to spread the pumpkin cheer by printing a few copies and mailing them to friends. Who doesn't love fall-inspired happy mail?
  • Apple Cider Yankee Candle - Our Suite may not look very fall-ish, but it sure does smell like fall! As the weather starts getting cooler, I love coming into a warm house that smells like spice. We've been lighting this candle a lot lately!
  • Homemade apple butter - Making homemade apple butter in the crockpot is one of my very favorite things to do in the fall. Not only is it delicious to spread on biscuits and english muffins (and scones, and peanut butter sandwiches, and toast...) but it's a fun little gift for friends and it makes our home smell wonderful. 

Top 3 go-to recipes

  • Chicken Tamale Casserole - I'm all about quick and easy meals and Jake is all about meals that he can dump red pepper on, so this is a tasty win-win for the both of us. Cornbread mix, chiles, creamed corn, cheese, chicken, tamale sauce - scrumdiddlyumptious. Throw together a salad while it's baking and voila! Dinner's served. 
  • Salmon, Feta, & Couscous - This technically isn't a recipe, but it's so simple that it doesn't need writing down. I pan-fry salmon on the stove with olive oil and season it with salt and pepper. Meanwhile I cook the couscous (I like Near East's Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil) and dish a happy portion on our plates. I sprinkle feta cheese on the couscous and then place the salmon on top of everything. Easy, right? And it only takes 10 minutes! Roasted asparagus, broccoli, or green beans are great sides to serve with it. 
  • Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats - I would choose these over lasagna any day! Zucchini stuffed with sausage, topped with marinara and cheese - it's delicious. And Jake loves it too because, again, he can dump red pepper flakes all over it. I usually make bread to go with it and sprinkle on a little more cheese for good measure. 

Top 3 TV series

  • Suits - All-time favorite, hands down. This was the first TV series that Jake and I watched after we got married and over the past 2 years we still haven't found one that measures up. A show about a law firm in New York City may not sound so appealing, but throw in Lewis, Donna, and Harvey and you're in for a treat. The characters make the show. 
  • The Office - This is a classic in the Hooker household. Something about Michael, Dwight, and Jim never gets old. There isn't a week that goes by where Jake and I haven't quoted at least 5 lines from The Office. "I'm not superstitious... I'm just a little stitious." I'm smiling just thinking about it. 
  • Fixer Upper - Home transformations, Joanna Gaines' design, and Chip Gaines' humor. Really, what's not to love? 

Your turn! What are your top 3 fall items, go-to recipes, and TV series? 

Other posts in this series

Today's Top 3 - Instagram, Guilty Pleasures, and Spotify Stations

I'm back today with another "episode" of Today's Top 3, a new series where I share some of my favorite things with you. Today I'm dishing on whose posts I love seeing in my Instagram feed, what guilty pleasures I enjoy giving in to, and which music stations usually have me bobbing my head throughout my work week. Here goes!

Top 3 Instagram accounts I follow

  • @nataliecreates - I love scrolling through Instagram and stumbling across accounts that have their own distinct style. That's why I enjoy following along with Natalie, a farmer's wife, crafter, and thrifter. Her colorful snapshots brighten my feed and my day; her life is lovely to follow along with.
  • @kristinschmucker - And then there are those accounts that both brighten your day and touch your heart. You might remember this pretty lady from our Coffee Date with her a month or two ago. Her account has glimpses of daily life as a church planter's wife, mom, and shop owner, but she also uses Instagram to share Truth. She's a light.  
  • @andreapescephoto - Andrea's feed is always near the top of my list. Yes, I might be slightly biased (she's a great friend of mine, she took all of the photos for Elle & Company, she was featured for a Coffee Date, and we have some exciting things in the works) but her account is simple, bright, and lovely. Like Natalie, she has that distinct style that makes the designer in me smile.

Top 3 guilty pleasures

  • Ice cream for lunch - And I'm not ashamed. Sometimes the same ol' salad and sandwich doesn't sound appetizing, so I treat myself to a bowl of peanut butter cup goodness. I rationalize it by telling myself that it would be more even ridiculous to eat a regular lunch and a bowl of ice cream, right?
  • Anything Martha Stewart - I wouldn't call it an obsession, but Jake might. When we were engaged, I registered for every Martha Stewart kitchen gadget, stacking bowl, and tupperware container imaginable, and not many things make me happier than visiting the Martha Stewart office section in Staples. She gets me. 
  • Pumpkin spice lattes - There are times when it's necessary to get the usual tall Pike Place in a grande cup with cream and 2 sugars in the raw, and then there are times when I give in to the pumpkin spice latte that's been calling my name. 

Top 3 Spotify playlists

  • Sweet Songs for Sunny Days - These cheerful songs add a skip in my step and a little pip in my pep. This playlist has some old favorites that make me smile (Teddy Geiger and Jason Mraz, anyone?) and other happy tunes that make working from home a little more fun.
  • Afternoon Acoustic - When I need to crank out a project, this is my jam. The Civil Wars, William Fitzsimmons, John Mayer - it's an acoustic dream team. 
  • Your Favorite Coffee House - Perfect for a rainy day, a second cup of coffee, and a mellow mood.

Your feedback last week made me so happy, so let's do it again! What are your favorite Instagram accounts, guilty pleasures, and music stations?