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

Social Media

My Instagram Philosophy

I'm a huge fan of Instagram. I love following along with friends, keeping up with some of my favorite creative ladies, and sharing bits and pieces of my life through photos. Instagram gives me the opportunity to share about Elle & Company and connect with people I may not have met otherwise. It's just fun.

Sometimes it can be tricky striking a balance between business and personal posts in the midst of it all. There are a million different articles out there about how you can use your Instagram account to gain more followers, sell more products, and create a loyal following. There are tips and tricks on which filters and settings you should use, how to set up the perfect shot, and yes, even how to take the perfect selfie.

But one of my favorite things about Instagram is that everyone can use it a little differently. There's no right or wrong way to go about posting photos and sharing life; everyone has their own spin on this social media outlet. It's truly what works for you. So I've come up with my own Instagram philosophy, a few simple things I try to stick to as I'm posting about life, business and everything in between.

My Instagram Philosophy: Personal guidelines for posting about life, business, and everything in between // Elle & Company

Get creative. 

Instagram is another creative outlet for me, a "sketchbook" for my photos. It's an opportunity to share my view behind the lens and capture pretty things. So yes, I just might style my desk for a shot or move near a window to improve the lighting in a photo. It's fun to experiment and get creative with my camera phone, even if it is a picture of my little fake succulent, my coffee cup, and my Bible. The artsy designer in me just can't resist.

Be social.

After all, it is called social media. I try my hardest to respond to comments and interact with the people I follow along with. Jake and I are very much people-people; we love hanging out in large groups and making new friends. In-person interaction is a little different than connecting over social media, but I still like to start conversations, network, and reach out to people. 

Stay positive. 

Positivity and thankfulness are contagious, but so is negativity. While I never want to be fake or inauthentic over social media, I do want to be cautious of sharing my problems and frustrations with the world. I like to stay positive and see posts as an opportunity to share joy and thankfulness. 

Don't stress.

Some days I just don't have anything to post about and other days I have 10 photos to share. While the type-A planner in me loves consistency, I don't like scrambling just to come up with an Instagram post. I'll share as I have content and take a break here and there when I need it. When it becomes another business task or a chore, I miss out on the whole reason I created an Instagram account in the first place. Which leads me to the last part of my Instagram philosophy...

Have fun.

It's easy to get wrapped up in numbers. It's nice to gain a following, especially when my income depends on my business. But for me, likes and follows aren't the main purpose of this social media outlet. I started using Instagram because it was fun and I'll continue to use it because it's fun. 

What's your Instagram philosophy? What do you love most about this social media outlet and how do you stay sane in the midst of likes and follows? For all you creative business ladies and bloggers out there, I would love to hear how you try to bridge the gap between personal and business-related posts, too.