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
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5 Benefits of Scheduling Social Media (And Our Buffer Strategy)

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5 Benefits of Scheduling Social Media (And Our Buffer Strategy)

There are several roles involved in running a business - boss, administrative assistant, social media strategist, marketing director, accountant, copywriter… the list goes on. Most days I find myself doing a strange, frantic dance, running around trying to keep every plate spinning. 

If you, too, are in the throws of entrepreneurship, I’m sure you can relate. It’s tough juggling everything, wearing 20 hats, and keeping up with all the important details and deadlines. 

That’s where this post comes in.

3 New Elle & Company Brands + Websites

3 New Elle & Company Brands + Websites

My 2-week design process has made things a little busy around here! I've booked over 20 projects for 2015 and it feels like this year has flown quicker than all the rest.

With little turnover time between clients, e-courses in full-swing, and the launch of the Collaborative in less than one week, I have a few fun brands that haven't made an appearance on the blog quite yet.

So if you enjoy Elle & Company client project reveal days, you're in for a treat. I have 3 new brands and websites to share with you today (along with a little snippet of the process behind each one)! 

3 Strategies That Took Our Business From Stagnant to Successful

3 Strategies That Took Our Business From Stagnant to Successful

Last month I took a slight departure from my normal business how-to posts and shared how a simple shift in mindset helped our business grow. 

The aim of the post was to encourage readers to think differently about their businesses; to focus less on passion (which often isn’t lacking in a creative small business owner) and put more of an emphasis on strategy (which has the potential to grow a business and keep it up and running). 

I received a lot of positive feedback on the post, including this comment from one of our faithful Elle & Company readers, Audrika:

“I have to chime in with the rest, and say that this is one of the best posts you've put out lately, Lauren. I continue to be inspired and impressed with your work ethic and your drive. I'm curious, would you be willing to elaborate on the specifics of how you changed your focus / business plan to make it something that actually helps you achieve your goals? I often find myself caught in the specifics of crafting an action plan that both compounds to results over time and is also achievable.”

So today I’m doing just that by elaborating on the 3 key strategies we used to take Elle & Company from stagnant to successful. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for creating a successful business, my hope is that you’ll be able to grab a few big takeaways and radically transform your business, too.

5 Easy Ways to Customize Your Squarespace Website

5 Easy Ways to Customize Your Squarespace Website

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Squarespace. It’s a fantastic option for business owners and bloggers who need a simple, beautiful platform for building a website. It’s mobile-friendly and user-friendly. There isn’t a huge learning curve for figuring out the back-end. And if you’d like to hear me go on more about all its benefits, you can read this post.

But because Squarespace templates are beautiful, simple, and easy to setup, many users have a hard time customizing their site and making it look one-of-a-kind. 

That’s where today’s post comes in. I’ve compiled some of the most helpful tools I’ve discovered for switching up the look of a Squarespace site. Some of these might be new to you and some might already be built into your template, but I hope you’re able to walk away with a few new ideas for making your Squarespace site your own.