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 8

How is it already week 8 of our Beatitudes study?! Time has flown. Today I'm wrapping up this small series within Weekly Truth where we've been focusing on 8 verses in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I've been sharing a short message on one beatitude each week as well as a pretty phone wallpaper to help us memorize the verses throughout the week. In case you've missed any of the previous posts in this series, you can catch up here.

Free scripture backgrounds each week from Elle & Company

The Beatitudes, Week 8

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:10-12

What came to mind when you read these verses? Those under attack in Nigeria by the Boko Haram? Martyrs like Jim Elliot? Maybe you even thought of Paul's persecution of Christians before he was converted on the road to Damascus. I thought of those, too. When I think of persecution, I don't often think of myself or the church here in the States today. 

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12

In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul makes a sweeping statement that all who follow Jesus will be persecuted sooner or later, which means that Jesus' words in Matthew 5:10 are very much relevant for us today. If you are earnest about putting God first in your life, you are bound to run into opposition. 

In the first 4 beatitudes focused on holy emptiness: "blessed are the poor in spirit," "blessed are those who mourn," "blessed are the meek," "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." And it makes sense; if you are empty, you hunger. The next 3 beatitudes focus on fullness: "blessed are the merciful," "blessed are the pure in heart," "blessed are the peacemakers." So the holy emptiness is filled with righteousness, and the result of this righteousness is persecution. 

Notice that not all who are persecuted are counted as blessed by Jesus, only those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. True righteousness always involves a relationship with Jesus. That's where the mercy, purity in heart, and peacemaking originates - it's all done for Jesus' sake and glory. Why, then, would anyone persecute you if you're merciful, pure in heart, and seeking peace? 

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other." Luke 16:13

Those who don't serve Jesus are serving another master, whether it's money, pride, greed, or self. The root of persecution is a love of something other than Jesus and a need to justify that love. As followers of Christ, living lives devoted to righteousness and godliness, we will be persecuted and spoken against. 

But we have hope, even when we suffer persecution for righteousness sake, because Jesus promises us a great reward: the kingdom of heaven. He desires us to desire that reward much more than earthly joys and the things of this world, and he suffered the ultimate persecution to bring us, His church, into that kingdom. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

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!

Today's Top 3 - Helpful Blog Posts for Blogging, Design, and Business

I'm starting this new week with another roundup of my favorite things in Today's Top 3! Today I'm sharing some of my favorite articles about 3 of my favorite things: blogging, design, and business. 

Top 3 helpful posts for blogging

  • 13 Ways to Drive Traffic to Old Blog Posts - Oh, the archives. Mine contain over 200 posts from this past year, which means that all of the posts I spent hours writing are now laying dormant, buried behind new content. Are you in the same boat? This post by Nectar Collective is full of great ideas for driving readers to your older posts. 
  • 10 Things I Have Learned Along the Way - The ladies from iHeartOrganizing share what they've learned about blogging and mistakes they've made along the way, including overcommitting, comparison, checking stats, moderating comments, and more. This is definitely worth reading if you're a blogger or you're hoping to become one in the future!
  • Five Things to Watch in Your Blog Analytics - Keeping up with the analytics of your blog is useful for finding out which posts your readers enjoy, how many people keep coming back to your site, how long they stick around, and more. This post from Blog Clarity simply explains the 5 things you should be looking for when you check your analytics.

Top 3 helpful posts for design

  • Streamlining Your Process - I love this post on creating shortcuts by one of my favorite designers, Breanna Rose. While I've been sharing about how to define your creative process these past couple weeks, this article provides some great tips on where you can scale back and save time. 
  • 3 things to tell yourself when you doubt your work - When you work full-time in a creative field, you're expected to have an unlimited amount of creative ideas. But what do you do when you don't feel inspired and ideas are hard to come by? Lisa's post is a helpful reminder for those days when you're feeling frustrated and your creativity is at an all-time low. 
  • 4 Tips for Finding and Embracing Your Design Style - Is it terrible to link back to one of my old posts in a roundup? I hope not! This post continues to be one of my favorites; I'm passionate about playing up your strengths as a designer and highlighting your own individual aesthetic. 

Top 3 helpful posts for business

  • Organization for Creative Entrepreneurs - If you're a designer and you aren't keeping up with Braid Creative, you need to add them to your Favorites bar today. These tips for organizing email, project management, timetracking, scheduling, and virtual assistants are practical and useful. [Insert hallelujah chorus here]
  • Competition is for Sissies - If you only visit one link from today's post, make it this one. This article provides a refreshing change of perspective on competition and turned my business world upside down.
  • Freelance Finances - A quick, helpful post from Jay Adores on how to manage your finances when you work for yourself. It seems almost too simple! 

Now it's your turn! Which blogs and blog posts about blogging, design, and business have been helpful for you?

Favorite Coffee Date Moments

Every Friday since Elle & Company launched, I've featured over 30 ladies (and one funny guy) on this space for a Coffee Date. This series started as a way to bring some fun conversation (and oftentimes a laugh or two) to the blog, and I think it's safe to say that it's a favorite around here. I'm not surprised - it's fun to start off each Friday with a few cups of coffee (or tea, or... milk?) and a new friend. 

In honor of reaching the 35-date mark,  I've rounded up more of my favorite Coffee Date moments. 

Elle & Company Coffee Dates

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

Ashley Owen:

The real question is what I wish was in my coffee mug this morning. I typically drink whatever "middle shelf" coffee is on sale at Kroger. While Private Selection French Roast always gets the job done, deep down I am craving a non-fat Dirty Chai from the local coffee shop across the street. It is a heavenly drinking experience with the right amount of kick to get me through my morning. Plus, it is really fun to order. You always get a few strange looks from those who have yet to be enlightened to this gem.

Rachel Brock:

WIthin the warm circular shell of my insulated mug swims a deep, dark roast... Ha! Yeah right. I have the lightest, girliest drink available. It is commonly known as the "White Chocolate Mocha," and unfortunately for me, it costs a pretty penny. I was never really a coffee drinker until I married my husband, Matt. My marriage plus the fact that there is a Caribou Coffee shop conveniently located across the street is a dangerous combination, my friends! I have made the White Chocolate Mocha my traditional Friday morning treat.

In design school, I struggled to embrace my own design style. Have you had a similar experience? What advice do you have for other creative ladies about embracing your own individual design aesthetic?

Molly Jacques:

Wow, YES! Design school is such a funny time. I remember always being on this emotional roller-coaster. Entering design competitions, never winning anything, seeing my friends flourish in their illustration skills and their so-called "voice". It was a constant battle of always comparing my work to my peers and always feeling sub-par or lacking vision. Fast forward four years later and now I realize that was TOTALLY normal and exactly what art school is all about. It takes time and patience and perseverance to start to create a visual voice and design aesthetic. Sometimes it comes more quickly to some than others. I feel like I'm just now starting to embrace my individual design aesthetic. It's funny - art school is an amazing community of artists all sharing one space but I think sometimes one's most honest work comes from spending a good chunk of time being alone without the temptation of comparison. 

My advice for other creative ladies is to be patient and gentle with yourself. Realize that you need time to discover your voice and aesthetic and that's okay. Just make sure you put in the work time - or else it will never happen!

Life can get busy and stressful. How do you simplify?

Katelyn James:

Scheduling our "Stay at Home" days has been life changing! When we're swamped and on the go, we can look at the calendar and know we have a break coming our way! "Stay at Home" days also guarantee that we can schedule double dates with friends and nights with our families! We have also started blocking off weekends and weeks one year in advance to make sure that we get some vacation time! We just recently slipped away to the lake with my family and those four days were glorious!! So I think it's safe to say that we simplify by being strategic and planning time off!

Leigh Carter:

Pray. Honestly, I just ask God to take away the things I don't need, to take care of the details that I can't, and to help me complete the tasks He has put before me. Also, I've been trying to leave at least 3 weekday evenings open with no regularly scheduled events so that I can hang out with friends, have people over, and serve others freely.

Kristin Schmucker:

It can be! Simplifying is a huge passion of mine, but something I am learning that I need to do more and more. I think you need to figure out what things are most important to you, and try to get rid of some other things that consume your time. Learning to say no is a huge thing. When I say no to something I am not passionate about and I don't really love, I am able to say YES! to the things that are most important. I try to keep my marriage and family more important than any work I am doing, and try to be aware that sometimes a tea party is more important than email.

Kristin Bandy:

It's so easy to busy our days and literally fill them to the brim. I had a good friend who made the comment that she only plans one thing a night.

I thought that was great advice so I've tried to implement it too. Instead of planning dinner with a friend at 5:00, then coffee with a friend at 6:30, then a movie at 9 - planning one thing an evening. Not only will I be less stressed, but I'll be more intentional with the friend I'm spending time with and they will feel more loved in return.

Rachel Cox:

Simplifying... well, I have begun this week to create a capsule wardrobe. AHH! So I have been purging my closet, and throwing out SO MUCH. It has been really hard and uncomfortable for me, but I am loving the simplicity of having a few go to outfits, better defining my style and not letting my wardrobe cause me stress and anxiety every day! I will be sharing about this whole process in the months ahead on my blog!

If you could write a book, what would it be about?

Jake Hooker:

It would be a long series, but I will give you a sneak peek. It would be a crazy story following a young woman that has to fight for her district in order to feed everyone. I'd call it, "The Games of Hunger."

You've had a lot of amazing opportunities, from interviewing Sir Richard Branson to receiving an Emmy award. What has been your most memorable experience? 

Hilary Kennedy:

I think my most memorable experience with my job was getting to sit down and chat with Sir Richard Branson. It took place in front of hundreds of people, but he made it feel as if we were the only two people in the room. He's charming and kind, and one of the nicest people I have ever met. Celebrities are just regular people with cool jobs, and it's always gratifying to meet one who hasn't let their immense success change how they treat people.

What's something you've been loving lately?

Ashley Herrinton:

Tuesday night Ty and I cheated on our Daniel Plan and went to Sonic for limeades and to just shoot the breeze. I kinda felt like we were dating again as we sat outside under the umbrella while the server roller-skated our order out to us. Our lives are about to get crazy busy as we begin our wedding season. Little spontaneous trips like this remind me how precious and important the simple things are in life.

Allyson Bishop:

I can promise you there is never a dull moment around here. Not a single one. And I love it! My kiddos make me smile daily - they are a joy and a blessing and a gift from God. Of course, there are ups and downs, highs and lows, struggles and victories - and being a Mommy is hard work - but it is so work it and so very rewarding. Smiles galore!

Jenny Constantin:

So we got our wedding pictures back and my nephew has some HILARIOUS faces. I'm going to be keeping these on my desk... and saving one for display at his wedding one day :)

Caroline Logan:

Thank-you notes! It may be verging on an obsession - you would laugh if you saw my stash of them! There's something about pretty stationery I can't resist. I love how much power there is in positivity, and with a simple thank-you note we have the opportunity to tell sweet friends they matter. Like really, really matter.  I once heard it said to never suppress a generous thought, and I kind of loved that. Tell people you love 'em. Tell them they've impacted your life. Tell them you've noticed the way they earnestly care about people. Tell them they're making a difference. Don't just suppress it :)

Jake is jumping in on our Coffee Date this morning, so brace yourself. Here's his question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how good is your hog call?

Kat Schmoyer:

HAHAHA! I grew up on a hog farm, and I showed hogs all over the state of Virginia... while I never entered a hog calling competition, I'd give myself a solid 7 in that category. Nice question, Jake :)

Elle & Company Coffee Dates

Who have been some of your favorites in our Coffee Date series? Which lady would you love to see featured next?

Home Suite Home - The Bedroom

Today I'm partnering up with Michaela Noelle Designs for another post in the Home Suite Home series! Michaela is helping us put some design touches on our cozy Suite to make it feel more like home, and we're sharing the transformation with you on our blogs each week. Our hope is that you'll join in, help us make some design decisions, and hopefully be inspired to make the most out of your current space, too!

In case you missed it, here is the story behind our Suite,  a look at our living room, and a peek at our kitchen nook. 

Next up: our bedroom. And oh goodness, it could use a little help. 

IMG_0160.jpg

See those mismatched curtains? That's a result of my spur of the moment idea to buy new curtains at IKEA and my inability to count the number of windows in the Suite . So the sliding doors beside the bed are hidden by simple white curtains, and the other is (somewhat) covered by the blue curtains that were already in the Suite when we moved in. It's embarrassing, but it makes for better "after" photos, right?

I like the idea of having all-white bedding with pops of color in the pillows, and I do love our bed frame. The dark wood is pretty and the large drawers underneath are clever storage for our small space. 

And then there's the awkward wall that I'm at a loss of what to do with:

The dresser is great for storage and we're thankful to have desk space, but it's hardly used for anything other than catching mail, books, and random items. The printer on the dresser doesn't belong, my jewelry box looks lonesome, and our teeny "filing cabinet" is falling apart. It's a mess. I think this area could be functional for us, but I have no clue how to make it more cohesive. 

IMG_0158.jpg

And that's where Michaela comes in! She has some great ideas for how to transform this space and make it a little more functional (and a lot more lovely). She's sharing the plans on her blog today and, as always, she's asking for your feedback to help us choose between a couple different design options. Be sure to visit her blog post today and join in!

There are a lot of exciting things coming up in the Home Suite Home series in these next few weeks. We've ordered a few new pieces of furniture, lamps, curtains, and fun accessories, and Jake and I are painting the walls this weekend. It's starting to feel real! I'll continue to share sneak peeks of the progress on Instagram, so be sure to follow along.

What color do you expect to see on the walls for the final reveal?! What color do you think would look best?

Are you excited to keep up with this transformation? Follow along with us!

Michaela Noelle Designs

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Elle & Company

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4 Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Blogging

Last week I had the privilege of sitting on the guest panel at the Bloom Workshop, answering questions about blogging and design. One lady asked us what we wish we had known when we first started blogging. What a great question! Today I thought it might be insightful to share my answers for those of you who are considering starting a blog, too. 

4 things I wish I had known when I first started blogging // Elle & Company

1. Blogging takes time

On average, it takes me 2-3 hours to write and prepare a single post. Multiply that by 5 days (and sometimes more if I post twice in one day) and you have a grand total of 15 hours a week. I'll admit, I probably spend a little too much time writing and editing my posts, but regardless, blogging is one of those things that takes more time than you originally think it will. My advice to new bloggers is to set the bar low when you're deciding how often you will post; you can always add more posts to your blogging schedule as you go. Set aside time to plan out your posts, come up with original content, take photos/design graphics, write, edit, publish, and share your posts on social media. 

2. Don't post for the sake of posting

When I first started blogging, I had a lofty goal of posting once a day. It was a great goal - I post daily now - but I made the critical mistake of not planning out my blog posts. Instead, I would wake up each morning and scramble to find something to post that day. The result? Watered-down content that no one cared to read. If you're a new blogger or you're considering starting a blog, I highly recommend taking time to brainstorm and come up with quality content that benefits your audience in some way, whether it's through instruction, insight, or entertainment. Use a blog calendar (like this one) to map out your posts so that you aren't scrambling around last minute, posting for the sake of posting. 

3. Offer something different 

This one is extremely important! If you're hoping to start a blog and post about the same things everyone else is posting about, please reconsider. The most popular blogs out there gained popularity because they broke the mold and offered something different. Don't sell your creativity short by going along with what's already been done before; come up with an original idea that will set you apart!

4. The possibilities are endless

Blogging opens doors to partnerships, business opportunities, networking, advertising, product launches, book writing - you name it! I started blogging two years ago as a way to "scrapbook" events from college graduation and our wedding, and now I'm designing full-time, I've added on a little shop to my site, and I'm speaking to other ladies about blogging, business, and design. Get started, set goals, and always be brainstorming to come up with new ideas. The possibilities are truly endless!

 

For all of you seasoned bloggers, what do you wish you had known when you first started blogging? And for those of you who are just starting or are hoping to start a blog, what helpful topics would you like to read more about?