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.
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?
“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.
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.
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.
On my heart (and my iPhone) this week:
CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.
Note: Since tilting your iPhone re-adjusts the background, iOS7 automatically zooms in on background images. The text may seem small on the downloaded image, but once you set it as your background it will size correctly.
Confession: I'm a perfectionist. So instead of getting discouraged when I constantly fall short of my unrealistic standards, I can be encouraged by this sweet reminder. I'm not under the laws of perfection; I'm under grace.
CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.
And feel free to share it to your heart's content!
Note: Since tilting your iPhone re-adjusts the background, iOS7 automatically zooms in on background images. The text may seem small on the downloaded image, but once you set it as your background it will size correctly.
Because sometimes we all need the reminder that God's character is far different from our own. While we have can all have short fuses, seeds of bitterness and unforgiving hearts, God's love never wavers.
CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.
Happy Tuesday!
Note: Since tilting your iPhone re-adjusts the background, iOS7 automatically zooms in on background images. The text may seem small on the downloaded image, but once you set it as your background it will size correctly.
You know those weeks where all the big projects, deadlines, and commitments seem to culminate? Yep, it's one of those weeks around here. So while I would rather be illustrating a fun new background for you this week, I'm exercising restraint and sticking my nose in the books for grad school finals.
But not to worry! I've rounded up all of my recent favorites to share with you today. Simply choose your favorite, click the image, and download:
And since I'm a little quieter around here today, I would love to hear from you. What verse would you like to see on your iPhone background? Have you found these backgrounds helpful for memorizing verses each week?
I hope your week is off to a great start, friends. Happy Tuesday!
The summer before my junior year at Tech, I participated in a summer small group with the sweetest group of ladies. We read through Galatians and the focused on the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I remember that study so well, probably because that summer had such a tremendous impact on my heart.
But as much time as we spent in that study, I often find myself trying to display the fruit on my own, apart from the Spirit. And time and time again, I realize that I am completely incapable. There is no good in me; the only light that shines through me originates in Him. So this week, I'm reflecting on this verse as a reminder that if I walk with Him, everything else will follow.
CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.
Happy Tuesday, friends!
Note: Since tilting your iPhone re-adjusts the background, iOS7 automatically zooms in on background images. The text may seem small on the downloaded image, but once you set it as your background it will size correctly.
