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

12 Google Doc Templates to Make Your Business More Efficient

12 Google Doc Templates to Make Your Business More Efficient

Great systems are key to running and maintaining a successful business.

When you’re able to follow the same process time and time again - whether it’s scheduling social media posts, replying to inquiries, or setting up client homework - you can conquer tasks quickly and free up your time. 

Something as simple as a Google Doc template can help you prepare ahead of time and work more efficiently. 

So to help you streamline your systems and keep your process running smoothly, I have 12 template ideas and examples to share with you.

Getting Started with Squarespace

Getting Started with Squarespace

Your website is your business’s online home base.

It’s where all the magic happens; it’s where sales are made, services are booked, and trust is built through blog posts and portfolio views.

So it’s really important that your website makes a positive first impression through design and functionality. 

There are a lot of opinions out there about what your website should look like and how it should function.

But what are the facts?

Put Pinterest on Auto Pilot with this Nifty Tool

Put Pinterest on Auto Pilot with this Nifty Tool

Pinterest has been one of the most helpful free marketing tools for driving traffic to the Elle & Company website.

In fact, 20% of my overall blog traffic and 78% of my overall social media traffic to my blog comes directly from Pinterest. 

Not only is Pinterest visual (which is especially helpful for creative business owners), but pins have a longer lifespan than other social media posts like tweets and Facebook shares. An image that was pinned months ago will continue to show up in other people’s feeds for months and drive traffic to your website.

But as with any social media platform, it takes time to keep up with Pinterest. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time in my busy work week to devote hours and hours to pinning.

This is problematic because we know a few things about Pinterest:

  1. Pinterest works in your favor when you pin a lot
  2. Pinterest likes it when you post other people’s content, not just your own
  3. You’ll see more consistent traffic if you pin over a period of time instead of all at once with weeks in between

Enter Board Booster. 

How to Gain an Audience in Your First Six Months of Business

How to Gain an Audience in Your First Six Months of Business

The hardest part of starting a business isn’t figuring out finances.

It isn’t coming up with offerings, finding your niche, or pricing your services.

Because all those items will easily fall into place… as long as you have a loyal, engaged audience.

But how do you grow an audience full of prospective clients and customers who are excited about your business?

It’s the million dollar question (almost literally). 

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Making the Switch to Squarespace

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Making the Switch to Squarespace

So you’re convinced that Squarespace is the platform for you.

It’s simple user interface, beautiful templates, and all-in-one platform won you over, and you’re ready to make the switch.

But where do you start? How do you move all your of your current content over, transfer your domain, and easily make the switch to Squarespace?

Here are 6 simple steps for making the transition as easy as possible.