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

Monday's Letters

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, ever since I caught you singing the wrong words to Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal, you've been trying to catch me in a lyrical mix-up. Sorry babe, but nothing will be funnier than, "Daddy are you okay? You okay? You okay Daddy?" 

Dear Jenny, my heart is so full after spending the weekend with you in Charlotte. Nothing is quite like in-person coffee shop dates, trips to IKEA, and morning walks/talks with your best friend. Thank you for being our very first visitor at the Suite - I treasured every sweet moment.

Dear Tuesday, I'm terrible at keeping secrets; this uncontainable excitement just wells up inside of me and I get antsy. Thankfully you'll be here in less than 24 hours, because any longer and I just might give my surprise away.

Dear Jakester, I don't think you've ever met a stranger. Whether it's trying to talk our waitress into free food or sharing the Gospel with kiosk workers at the mall, your friendliness has this great way of making people smile. Although I roll my eyes or blush from time to time, I really do love your winsome personality. I say it all the time and I'll say it again - life is never boring with you!

Happy Monday, friends!

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, our history of picking on each other goes way back to the fourth grade. While we were getting ready for a walk in the snow last week, I stuck one of your boots 15 feet away from the front door. We both laughed until our sides hurt while you hopped on one foot in the snow to fetch it. Life together is never boring, is it?

Dear ginormous hill in our neighborhood, you've gotten the best of my runs these past few weeks. This morning I ground it out, huffing and puffing, and had a Rocky moment at the top. One small step for mankind, one giant leap for Lauren Hooker.

Dear Mom, you've been making heart-shaped waffles on Valentine's Day ever since I can remember. You couldn't send waffles in the mail this year so you sent us an iHop giftcard instead. Thank you for your thoughtfulness - you have the best way of making holidays special!

Dear Jakester, tomorrow will mark one month since we moved to Charlotte. I expected to have a hard time leaving home, but I'm realizing that home has been beside me all along. It's been so fun meeting new people, exploring a new area, and taking classes together. I'm so thankful that I get to partner through life with you.

Happy Monday, friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, our new town has an event on the first Friday of every month. When we met friends for dinner on Friday night there were free carriage rides downtown and the little shops were handing out Valentine's candy. How cute is that?! One more reason why I really like it here.

Dear Lola, we finally got you all fixed up - a new starter, new brake pads, new spark plugs, the works. And then I slowly backed you into a tree by accident last week. Please forgive me for the potato-size dent in your bumper. I never meant to hurt you.

Dear Harris Teeter, I didn't know grocery shopping could be so enjoyable. A Starbucks right inside your double doors and a cup-holder built into your shopping carts? Genius! Thanks to you and my Menu Planning sheets, I might actually start looking forward to weekly grocery store trips. It's the little things.

Dear Jake, how did we go 4 years without discovering the hilarity of Parks & Rec?! For the last three weeks we've been watching and obnoxiously quoting Leslie, Tom, and Ron (to name a few). But my favorite reference happened this weekend when someone told you that you remind them of Andy Dwyer. Day made.

Happy Monday, friends!

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, I've always cringed when people utter the M-word around me. After 4 years of undergrad I swore that it would be at least 10 years before I would even consider going back to grad school. Tomorrow I will eat my words and begin taking classes part-time for a Masters in Biblical Counseling. I'll be honest... I couldn't be more excited/nervous! Here's to the next 3 years of seminary together. 

Dear running shoes, you've been on sabbatical for about a year now. Something came over me on Saturday and I decided to take you out for a little jog around the neighborhood. You may have noticed that my pace isn't as fast and my breathing isn't as quiet, but instead of getting discouraged I'm going to celebrate each step and passed mailbox. You have to start somewhere, right? Here's to rekindling our long-lost relationship. 

Dear new seminary friends, bet you never expected to go to seminary with a couple Hookers, did you? (Sorry... couldn't resist ;) Thank you for inviting us over on Saturday night and making us feel welcome right away. We're excited for classes and more game nights with all of you!

Dear Jakester, the sound of my Epson printer has been never-ending since Launch Day. Our dinner table has been overtaken with Daybook pages, ribbon, and cellophane bags and we've lost count of how many trips we've made to Staples and the post office. Not only do you disregard the chaos; you continue to get excited with me over each new order. You're the best roommate this girl could ask for. 

Happy Monday, friends! 

Monday's Letters

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Dear Mr. Hooker, yesterday our new church visited a nursing home to sing hymns and visit with the residents. A couple ladies told us that we looked much too young to be married, and you almost fooled them into thinking you are 35. Oh, how I love your charming sense of humor. 

Dear unlimited Starbucks coffee tumbler, you've provided "free" coffee throughout the month of January and you've been a great help in learning our way around town. If people give us directions in terms of Starbucks locations, we'll never get lost again! I will be so sad when January is over. 

Dear Amber Shannon, today is your lucky day! A Daybook Planner with all the bells and whistles will be coming your way this week. Be sure to check your email for more details. Congratulations and happy simplifying! 

Dear Jake, the oh-so-cute black lab puppy that wanders into our Suite may belong to our hosts, but I would claim her in a heartbeat! Do you think they would notice if she disappeared for a couple hours each day?

Happy Monday, sweet friends! Thank you so much for all of your excitement about the new business - it means more than you know. A handful of new blog series start this week, so be sure to come back and visit!