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

library

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How to Create an Online Subscription Library from Scratch

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How to Create an Online Subscription Library from Scratch

Online content libraries are a great way to bring in recurring passive income each month. 

Subscribers join your library for a monthly fee, have ongoing access to all of the resources, and you receive a steady monthly payout - all without doing too much extra work, other than adding a couple new items each month.

Online libraries are also a fantastic incentive for people to subscribe to your list if you’re hoping to give the content away for free.

But as with any new digital offering, it can be a headache trying to figure out how to set  up a new content library from scratch.

I remember all too well. Three years ago I setup my own online subscription library (creatively named The Library), and here’s exactly how I did it. 

2015 Elle & Company Planner Details (and a giveaway!)

There have been many questions about the 2015 Elle & Company planner these past few months. When is it launching? What will it look like? When can I order one? Your excitement has been contagious and encouraging, and I'm thrilled to finally let you in on a few new changes I've made to the planner for the upcoming year!

2015 Elle & Company planner details - New name and immediate access!

A New Name

"Daybook Planner" was a little generic and confusing with our "Day Planner" inserts, so I've changed the name to something a little more original and memorable: The Ellebook. Just like last year's planner, you can use both the Ellebook Planner and the Ellebook Inserts (like the menu planner, project planner, day planner, etc.) to create a customizable binder system and keep everything organized in one place. 

Immediate Access

The Ellebook will be available as a printable in the Elle & Company Library this Friday! For all of you who are already Library members, you will have access to the digital planner files for printing at the end of this week. And for those of you who haven't subscribed just yet, you can sign up, login, and have immediate access to the planner as well as a whole collection of pretty paper goods.

This benefits each of you in several ways:

  • You don't have to pre-order or wait for shipping
  • You can print the planner as many times as you wish (it makes a great gift, and Christmas is right around the corner!)
  • You can access the Ellebook Planner and all of the inserts (as well as the rest of the Elle & Company Library) for $6.99 and start your organizational binder right away!

More details will come when the Ellebook Planner launches this Friday, but I thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway before the launch so that 3 of you can be among the first to access this exciting new Library addition! For all of you who already subscribe to the Library, you are more than welcome to participate in the giveaway. If you win, I'll put your subscription billing on hold and give you 3 free months!

Elle & Company Library Giveaway - 3 free 3-month subscriptions to a whole collection of pretty printables (including a planner!)

Follow the instructions below to enter and check back on Friday for the official launch and giveaway results. Best wishes!

*A special thank you to Andrea Pesce Photography for these beautiful photos. You never cease to amaze me!

Health Tracker Printable

There are a lot of articles and blog posts out there telling you how to eat right, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. This, however, is not one of them. But for those of you who like having a chart to set goals and outline healthy routines, I designed a simple printable to track a full week of meals, exercise, water, and sleep. (And it's now in the Library!)

My favorite feature? The daily goals and a section for encouragement on the back. 

Whether you're trying to lost weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle, this sheet set is a pretty way to help you get on track. 

Do you have any recommendations or requests for Library printables? Leave me a comment or send me an email - I love getting feedback!

Your Wish is My Command

It makes my day to see messages in my inbox from Library subscribers with feedback and suggestions. I love hearing which printables are the most helpful for you, and it gives me new ideas for new additions!

A couple weeks ago I was happy to see this message from Elle &Company subscriber, Anna:

"Hey Lauren! The Library has been a huge help in trying to set up household items and routines. It might sound silly, but all of the daybook inserts are so functional, pretty, and cohesive that they have helped me stick with a system (even my husband has noticed the difference!). I'm currently working on trying to develop good morning and evening routines and was thinking a really cute printable might help me and others."

What a great idea! Goodness knows my routine could use some help, too, so I designed a new Daybook insert for structuring and keeping track of daily tasks and habits. 

I separated the worksheet into 3 sections for morning, afternoon, and evening tasks, and I added lots of checkboxes because I don't know about you, but I always feel more productive when I'm marking things off as I go. I'm excited to start using this printable in my own day-to-day, but I'm even more excited to share it with you! It's now in the Library for you to access and print as many times as you like. 

View the Daily Routine chart in the Library, learn more about the printable collection, or....

Like I said, I love feedback! Are there any printables that you would like to see in the Library? What tips and tools have you found helpful for implementing your daily routine?

What I Pray For (and new Library additions!)

"Never underestimate the power of prayer." That's the response I'm guaranteed to get from my best friend Jenny when I'm at a loss over what to do in a situation. I don't dare utter the words, "I guess I'll just pray about it," around her anymore. "Just pray about it? Sweet friend, prayer isn't a last resort."

Prayer should be our first response in every situation. It exercises our trust in God, deepens our relationship with Him, and helps us recognize our need for Him. Prayer is essential to our faith.

But if I'm honest, I'm not the best at following through with my prayers. There are several times throughout my day where a friend asks me to keep them in prayer or I offer to pray for a loved one and in all honesty, I forget. Or sometimes I get overwhelmed at the sheer number of prayer requests that I don't even know where to begin. So last winter I created a helpful little prayer calendar to help me keep up with the petitions of others. Each day I pray for a different category - family, church, salvation, healing, thanksgiving, missions, and a catch-all, "other". I also left a section for praises, because sometimes we get so caught up in our own wants and needs that we forget to praise Him for the countless blessings He has poured out on us! This sheet seems so simple, but it's made a big difference in my prayer life. 

Today I added this helpful printable to the Library in the hope that your prayer life will benefit from it, too.

Printable prayer calendar from Elle & Company

A couple months ago I noticed that I left one section off of my prayer calendar: myself. The Dean of Women at our seminary wrote a blog post on what she prays for herself each day, and I loved the idea of making a list of my daily needs, things that I need God's help with on a regular basis. So I made one more printable to record the things that I pray for myself. I added that to the Library today, too. 

Here's a look at some of the things on my list:

1. Rid me of myself.

Oh, how often I need to be reminded that there is nothing good in me. My only boast is Jesus.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lost it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."  Luke 9:23-24

"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."  Galatians 6:14

2. Renew my mind.

It's easy to get caught up in the things of this world. I need God to renew my mind and help me focus on the things of Him; the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, and lovely.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:2

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Philippians 4:8

3. Give me peace.

I'm learning that the root of all my worry is doubt. Worrying over finances = doubt that God will provide. Worrying over the future = doubt that God has good plans for me. Peace comes from putting full faith and trust in Him.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

4. Remind me of who I am compared to who You are. 

So often I'm fooled into thinking that I'm at the center of my world. The truth is that all of creation is centered around God, and He just so happened to choose to gift me with grace. That humbling truth puts everything in its right perspective.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

5. Be my delight.

I want to be fully satisfied in Christ and delight in Him. When I'm tempted to believe that I can find satisfaction in the things of this world, I need to be reminded that nothing will satisfy my soul like the love of Jesus.

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  Psalm 16:11

6. Teach me to love.

It's one thing to act like I love others and another thing entirely to genuinely love them and sacrifice my comforts for their gain. That's the Gospel in a nutshell - sacrificial love - and I can't truly love others without knowing the love of Christ. Although I can't see God, His character is on display when I earnestly love other people.

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."  1 John 4:11

7. Give me a heart of obedience.

That saying, "It's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission" is not God-honoring. Our Father has good plans for us, He wants and knows what's best for us, and He pours out blessings on us when we are obedient. The more I say "yes" to God, the more I see these truths firsthand.

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."  1 Samuel 15:22

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

8. Protect me and guard my heart.

Satan knows my weak spots very well and he doesn't hold back in trying to defeat me. I am in constant need of God's protection and strength. 

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard against the evil one."  2 Thessalonians 3:3

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

Both of these prayer printables are now in the Library! Log in to access both design files if you're already a monthly subscriber or...

Now it's your turn. How do you stay on top of your prayers and petitions? What are some things you pray for yourself on a daily basis?