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

Business

One Word Worth Building Your Business Around

One Word Worth Building Your Business Around

“Business is about people, and your reputation is built on how you treat people.” – Bruce Rauner

Like most creative entrepreneurs, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I launched my business 3 years ago. 

I didn’t know how to find clients. I didn’t know what to share about on my blog. I didn’t know any strategies for marketing my business on social media.

Did I need a mailing list? What website platform should I use? How much should I charge for my services? Do I need to set up an LLC? How much should I be setting aside for taxes?

I figured out most of those questions through a process of trial and error. 

But there was one word that always laid at the foundation of every decision I made for Elle & Company, and I attribute it to whatever amount of “success” I’ve had over these past few years in business.  

It’s a word that’s often overlooked by many business owners, maybe because it seems so simple. 

Or those who don’t overlook it often toss it aside and focus on other business strategies and tactics, because it requires patience and endurance. 

There’s no instant gratification when you pursue this word. 

But I can tell you from experience that it’s worth pursuing and building your business around. 

Ellechat Recap: How to Take Your Product-Based Business Full-Time With Morgan Nield

Ellechat Recap: How to Take Your Product-Based Business Full-Time With Morgan Nield

In 2013, Morgan Nield started an Etsy shop on a whim selling newborn hats, baby headbands and crib sheets. Three years later, she’s close to 20,000 sales and has made over $400,000.

How in the world did she do it?

Morgan joined me in the last Ellechat webinar of 2016 to share her story along with some practical steps for taking sporadic sales and turning them into a sustainable, consistent income (the kind you can quit your day job with!). 

Ellechat Recap: How Contracts Can Improve Your Client Experience with Christina Scalera

Ellechat Recap: How Contracts Can Improve Your Client Experience with Christina Scalera

Contracts are non-negotiable elements of any business, whether you’re a graphic designer or a personal trainer. 

But legal matters are scary. Many of business owners - both seasoned and brand new - are intimidated by creating client contracts because they’re unsure of what to include, how to word things, and whether they’re going about it correctly.

Christina Scalera is an attorney for creatives and a pro at explaining legal matters simply, and she joined me for last week’s Ellechat webinar to share how contracts can improve your client experience. 

Ellechat Recap: An Inside Look at My Launch Strategy for Freelance Academy

Ellechat Recap: An Inside Look at My Launch Strategy for Freelance Academy

A couple of months ago I launched my signature course, Freelance Academy. 

And while I’ve launched a number of courses, services, and digital products in the past, Freelance Academy was different. A signature course, at a higher price point, with a brand new launch strategy. 

The launch was new and unfamiliar territory, but my perspective on launches remained the same

I don’t believe that you have to be salesy, pushy or manipulative in order to have a successful launch.

Don't Be Infatuated with Income Reports

Don't Be Infatuated with Income Reports

Apparently everyone is getting rich nowadays, and getting rich quick.

And we only know this because people are more than willing to share their numbers. You’ve probably seen the posts. 

Income reports are everywhere.

I first noticed them a couple years ago when I came across Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income. Since then, income reports seem to have spread like wildfire. 

This fact isn’t shocking; there’s a nosy person in all of us that loves to see numbers. We secretly enjoy getting an inside look into someone’s bank account.

But there’s something about it that doesn’t seem quite right.

A couple months ago I received an email from a newsletter subscriber, asking for my take on income reports. 

There are 3 reasons I’ve chosen to abstain from sharing my income on the internet: reporting income is a not-so unique marketing technique, it can lead to major legal problems and it has the potential to erode trust.