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

Weekly Truth - Beatitudes Week 7

We're already on week 7 of our Beatitudes study, a little series within the normal Weekly Truth routine that focuses on 8 verses in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We've been learning what these truths mean for us in our day-to-day lives, and as always, I'm sharing a free phone wallpaper to aid in memorization and remind us of Truth throughout our week. In case you missed any of the previous Beatitudes posts, you can catch up here. 

New verses and new iPhone backgrounds each week! // Elle and Company

The Beatitudes, Week 7

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9

One thing that keeps striking me as I write each of these posts is that while Jesus meets us where we are, we can't stay there; we can't be saved by the grace of God and remain the same. Each week we've seen how the blessings of eternity are given to those who are new creatures in Christ. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Obtaining mercy, seeing God, being called children of God - these are all marks of salvation. They are only promised to those who reflect Jesus through being merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. These aren't optional suggestions for how to be a better person; Jesus is describing the pathway to heaven.

Jesus doesn't tell us how to become children of God in this passage; he simply tells us that sons of God are peacemakers. But the answer is all over Scripture:

"But to all who did receive [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."  John 1:12

"For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."  Galatians 3:26

We become sons of God by believing in Christ and trusting Him for forgiveness and hope. And then, because we're children of God, we begin to reflect the character of our heavenly Father, the ultimate Peacemaker. 

Jon Piper says it well: "The whole history of redemption, climaxing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, is God's strategy to bring about a just and lasting peace between rebel man and himself, and then between man and man. Therefore, God's children are that way, too. They have the character of their Father. What he loves they love. What he pursues they pursue. You can know his children by whether they are willing to make sacrifices for peace the way God did."

So that's my prayer this week, that we would remember God's sacrifice and gift of peace and reflect that in our interactions with others. Yes, even when the lady in white Honda cuts us off in traffic or our husband leaves a pen in his khakis and ruins our favorite sweater in the wash. Let's praise God for making us his children and allow that to spill over in acts of peace throughout our week. 

Each week I design a new iPhone background with a different verse and share it on the blog. Seeing Scripture several times throughout my day reminds me of truth, strengthens my faith, and helps me me memorize God's Word so I can accurately share it with others. Feel free to download, pin, and share these backgrounds as many times as you would like!

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!

Step Two of My Creative Process

Like most occupations, it's helpful to have a process in place as I go about my work. I haven't seen many creatives approach this subject, so I thought it might be helpful to spend the next few weeks sharing my own creative process. While my method may not work for everyone, my hope is that these posts will encourage you to streamline your own process and think through the steps you take as you go about your work.

A step-by-step blog series on a designer's creative process! // Elle & Company

It wasn't until Jake came on board this past summer that I began to understand the importance (and fun!) of brainstorming to come up with new ideas and content. One night in May, the two of us stayed up for 3 hours coming up with solutions to some of the problems I was having with Elle & Company, and from that point on I've made it a priority to set aside time to research and brainstorm for each one of my design projects. This casual step gives me time to explore, compile information, and get creative, and it's become fundamental for my business and my process. Here's a look into what this step looks like for me:

Research.  After I've talked to my client about their design needs (defined the problem), I start looking for more information about their industry. I can't clearly communicate a business's mission through design if I'm not familiar with their field, so I do some research. This includes looking at my client's current website and social media accounts, viewing the websites and social media accounts of others in their field, reaching out to the client with specific questions, and reading instructional blog posts and articles related to the industry. These first steps lay the foundation for my project and each step builds upon them, so even though I may only spend an hour or two researching, I can't skip it!

Create an inspiration board.  This could probably fall under the "research" category, but we're just going to roll with it. Because I'm a visual person, I ask each client to pull together images in a Pinterest board that encompass the mission and look of their business. I have them write a sentence or two describing what they like about each image - colors, patterns, textures, typefaces, illustrations, "feeling", etc. - and I use those images to pull together an inspiration board. I keep that inspiration board with me as I make design decisions and develop the entire brand. Here are a look at some recent inspiration boards that I've worked on recently :

Creative at Heart inspiration board by Elle & Company
Inspiration board by Elle & Company
Inspiration board by Elle & Company
Grace to be Free inspiration board by Elle & Company

Brainstorm.  Now that I've spoken with the client, discussed their design needs, and compiled some research, I'm ready to shut down my computer and hide away with a full coffee mug, a print-out of the inspiration board, and an empty sketch book. I write down and sketch out ideas for a couple hours before I ever create a rough draft. This step is always the most difficult for me because I can't stand writing down ideas or sketching things if they aren't going to be 100% perfect, but the point isn't to come up with a perfect solution right off the bat; it's to get my creativity flowing. The more I do this step, the better and more original my work gets.

What could this step look like for you? Do you intentionally set aside time to come up with new ideas and solutions for your business/blog/job? What tips and tricks have you found helpful for creating original content?

 

Other posts in this series

In Case You Missed It

Happy Thursday! I'm sitting in a hotel room near Atlanta as I type this, preparing for the Bloom Workshop today. I drove in yesterday and helped prep for today's event, and I was blown away by the venue and all of the preparation that they put into everything. Not a detail was overlooked! I'm excited to meet other bloggers, designers, and photographers, learn from Michaela and Ashley, and even participate on the panel toward the end of the day, answering questions about design. I can't wait to share more! 

In the meantime, here's a look at some of the latest Elle & Company blog series, just in case you missed them:

How to Start a Blog

I've been sweetly surprised by the number of inquiries I've received from other ladies about how to start a blog. And while I certainly don't have all the answers, I do have some tips and advice to share from my own blogging experience. It's no secret that I'm passionate about blogging, and if it's something you're interested in, too, then this series is for you!

Weekly Truth - Beatitudes

I'm digging deeper into the Word to discover what these 8 verses in the book of Matthew mean for us as we go about our day-to-day lives, and I'm adding in design by sharing a free phone wallpaper (because as much as I hate to admit it, I often check my phone more frequently than I open my Bible). It's helpful for me to see a verse several times throughout my day, not only for memorization, but to be reminded of Truth. 

New Branding Projects

I officially launched my branding services this summer, and since then I've had the opportunity to work with several talented business owners, helping them create a visual presence through a new brand and website. I have several in the works, but here are the first two that are up and running!

Blog
7 Designer Secrets for Creating a More Professional Brand
7 Designer Secrets for Creating a More Professional Brand

These past couple weeks I’ve been working with one of my first official freelance design clients, making small updates to the original brand and website I created for her 5 years ago.

As I’ve revisited fonts and tweaked colors, I’ve found myself subconsciously using designer tricks that I’ve learned both in design school and by experience.

I haven’t been shy in sharing these design secrets. In fact, you’ll find many of them scattered throughout past Elle & Company blog posts.

But I’ve never compiled them all in one place.

Whether you’ve designed your own brand, hired a designer to create the elements of your brand for you, or you’re a self-taught designer trying to improve your design skills, implementing these insider tricks will help you create a more cohesive, professional brand.

Brand Challenge Day 20: Compile it all together in a brand style guide
Brand Challenge Day 20: Compile it all together in a brand style guide

Congratulations! You’ve officially made it through Elle & Company’s Brand Challenge.


But before you start implementing your new brand on your website and collateral items, take some time to compile all of your hard work and create a beautiful reference for your brand by creating a brand style guide.

This post is part of Elle & Company’s 4-week Brand Challenge. Click here to see more details, sign up, and access the free workbook.

Recent Coffee Dates

If you were to sneak a peek at my Daybook Planner, you would find at least two coffee dates penciled in each week. Not only do I love a good excuse to get my Starbucks fix; I soak up spending an hour (or three) of one-on-one time with the sweetest, most encouraging ladies I know. Each Friday, I bring that same laid back atmosphere and warm conversation to the blog and introduce you to some of my favorite people. These women are all in different seasons of life, they come from different backgrounds, and they have great stories and wisdom to share. My hope is that you'll walk away feeling encouraged like I do each time I'm around them.

New Library Additions

The Library is our printable collection of paper goods, and members subscribe monthly for unlimited to access to all sorts of art prints, gift tags, greeting cards, notecards, Daybook inserts, recipe cards - you name it! I add at least one printable to the Library each week, so it's always growing, and I have a couple big things coming to the Library in the near future... But until then, here are a look at the most recent additions!

Home Suite Home

Jake and I have a unique living situation while he's in seminary - a cozy one-bedroom Mother-in-Law apartment that we lovingly refer to as "the Suite". My talented friend and interior designer, Michaela Noelle, is helping me redesign our borrowed space on a budget so that it feels more like ours for the 2.5 more years that we're in Charlotte, and we want you to participate in the transformation by following along and helping us make design decisions. As you can imagine, this is one of my favorite series at the moment!

Today's Top 3

A fun little series where I share some of my favorite things, from blogs to recipes and everything in between!

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?