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

#SweetSpots

Small moments can make a big impact. A moment from five years ago has been etched in my memory, and my heart won’t settle until I do something with it.

It happened while I was having breakfast with my grandma. The waitress filled our coffee cups and Grandma smiled at me as she poured cream into her coffee. “I don’t stir my coffee,” she said. “I like to watch the swirls that the creamer makes.” I grinned and we continued our conversation, but I keep coming back to that little statement.

Moments like that aren’t unusual for my grandma; she always has a great way of finding something special in the mundane. But the older I get, the more I’ve come to appreciate her childlike excitement over the small things that I fail to pay attention to.

What would happen if we all slowed down enough to push pause and treasure those simple moments? What if we became more intentional in searching for the special in each day? I’m certain that we would have more joy and contentment, and I know that it would cultivate a thankful heart in each and every one of us.

@laurenelizhook: Homemade banana bread, cinnamon orange tea (thank you @jennykayc!) and some quiet time. Bring on the snow! #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook: Homemade banana bread, cinnamon orange tea (thank you @jennykayc!) and some quiet time. Bring on the snow! #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook: We braved the cold today and discovered some walking trails around town. I must say - it's so fun exploring a new place! #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook: We braved the cold today and discovered some walking trails around town. I must say - it's so fun exploring a new place! #sweetspots

I want to encourage you to join me as I attempt to put this into practice.

Let’s take note of one special moment each day and post it to Instagram. We can keep up with each other by using the hashtag #sweetspots, because aren’t moments of thankfulness sweet? Once a week I’ll post my favorites on the blog and who knows? One of your #sweetspots might make an appearance and lend encouragement to someone else.

Whether it’s creamer swirls in our coffee or a surprise in the mail from a friend, there are always sweet spots in each day that we can be thankful for – we just have to slow down enough to pay attention.

Are you up for the challenge?

@laurenelizhook: Our newest residence. We're calling it "the suite". 

@laurenelizhook: Our newest residence. We're calling it "the suite". 

@laurenelizhook: Meet Molly. She belongs to our hosts, but I would claim her in a heartbeat! She sneaks into our apartment a couple times each day :) #sweetspots

@laurenelizhook: Meet Molly. She belongs to our hosts, but I would claim her in a heartbeat! She sneaks into our apartment a couple times each day :) #sweetspots

Time Management, Simplified

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I love the feeling of a completed to-do list, a clean house, and a finished project. Don't you? Productivity makes my heart happy. But between numerous activities, appointments, classes, and meetings, those feelings of accomplishment are harder and harder to come by. It's difficult to get things done when there are so many distractions and countless to-dos. 

If you're like me, you long for simplicity and efficiency. Instead of wishing for more hours in the day, let's strive to be more mindful of the time we have. Here are some tips for making better use of the 24 hours we're given.

Prioritizing is essential for meeting deadlines and completing tasks on time. There are a million ways to spend time each day but only a handful are important enough to make a difference. 

Say hello to your new best prioritizing friend. Each morning, write a list of everything that needs to get done that day. Go through the list and label tasks "important" or "unimportant", then go back through and label them "urgent" or "not urgent". Tackle the urgent/important tasks first, followed by urgent/unimportant, not urgent/important, and lastly not urgent/unimportant.

This system helps guard against completing easier tasks first and putting off harder tasks until later. It also creates an order for items on your to-do list instead of completing them at random.

After prioritizing tasks, take some time to plan your day. Schedule tasks into your Daybook and set a challenging but achievable time limit for each one. Creating a time frame prevents meetings/projects/activities from dragging on and eating up too much time. 

I love using the Day Planner insert to organize my day. It has an area to list priorities, a place to write out my schedule, and a section to keep track of tasks that I've completed. 

Almost all of us are guilty of checking email, websites, and social media several times each day. It starts as an innocent 15 seconds glancing at a notification... and ends after 15 mindless minutes on Instagram. Texts, notifications, and emails aren't bad, but they can be distracting when work needs to get done. 

Commit to spending a designated time free from interruptions each day. Turn off phone notifications, remove links from your bookmarked sites, and ignore your email inbox for an hour. It might be difficult at first, but you will be surprised at how productive you are when you're free from distractions and time wasters.

Large projects can be overwhelming. Take some weight off your shoulders by breaking down a project into action steps. List the steps, estimate how much time you expect each one to take, and schedule them into your planner. This strategy saves you the stress of putting off a research paper or waiting until the last minute to complete your client's order.

Elle & Company's Project Planner is really helpful for big projects. It has space for a description, an area for deadlines, and a chart for detailing action steps. 

There's a time and place for everything, including multi-tasking. Doing two things at once in the workplace can hamper productivity, but there are many small chores at home that can be done simultaneously. For example, fold laundry while you talk on the phone. Unload the dishwasher while you wait for water to boil. Clean up the kitchen while the dinner is in the oven. Double up on small tasks and kill two birds with one stone.

Friends, it is possible to get a whole week's worth of meals out of one shopping trip. Fifteen minutes (or less) of thoughtful planning will save you time, sanity, and countless trips to the grocery store.

I may be biased, but I've found our Meal Planner inserts very helpful. The chart at the top allows me to think through meals and snacks for the entire week, and I fill in the grocery list underneath as I go. Of course there are weeks when something comes up in our schedule and meals get rearranged, but proper planning keeps those dreaded trips to the grocery store at bay.

No one likes waking up knowing that they are already behind for the day. Before you go to bed, walk through your home and straighten things up. Put away the pairs of shoes by the front door, clear the sink of any dishes, wipe down the counters. Prepare for the following day by laying out what you'll wear the next morning. Place things you need to take with you in the morning by the front door.

A few minutes each night can make all the difference between a chaotic morning and one that's peaceful. Try it tonight and you will be so thankful tomorrow morning.

Time management isn't about filling up the white space in your Daybook with mindless activity. It's about using your time purposefully so you can enjoy the people and activities that matter most. After all, how we spend our time is how we spend our lives. 

Happy simplifying, friends!

It's your turn! What time management tips and strategies do you have up your sleeve? Which of these 7 tips might be helpful in your daily and weekly routine?

Weekly Truth

Scripture is one of my greatest sources of encouragement, but I'll admit... I'm not the best at memorizing verses. So I've come up with a couple creative ways to sneak a verse into my day in the hope that seeing it often will etch it into my memory.

The first is a "verse section" in the weekly view of the Daybook Planner, and the second is an iPhone background with a new verse each week. Every Tuesday I'll share a new wallpaper on the blog for you to download, set as your background, and hopefully be encouraged, too.

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Click here to download this week's verse. 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. 

Monday's Letters

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Dear Mr. Hooker, yesterday our new church visited a nursing home to sing hymns and visit with the residents. A couple ladies told us that we looked much too young to be married, and you almost fooled them into thinking you are 35. Oh, how I love your charming sense of humor. 

Dear unlimited Starbucks coffee tumbler, you've provided "free" coffee throughout the month of January and you've been a great help in learning our way around town. If people give us directions in terms of Starbucks locations, we'll never get lost again! I will be so sad when January is over. 

Dear Amber Shannon, today is your lucky day! A Daybook Planner with all the bells and whistles will be coming your way this week. Be sure to check your email for more details. Congratulations and happy simplifying! 

Dear Jake, the oh-so-cute black lab puppy that wanders into our Suite may belong to our hosts, but I would claim her in a heartbeat! Do you think they would notice if she disappeared for a couple hours each day?

Happy Monday, sweet friends! Thank you so much for all of your excitement about the new business - it means more than you know. A handful of new blog series start this week, so be sure to come back and visit!

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 want to bring that same laid back atmosphere and warm conversation to the blog and introduce you to some of my favorite people. The women you'll get to know 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.

So grab your favorite mug, pull out your Daybook, and pencil us in for Friday mornings. We now have a standing coffee date!

In light of Launch Week, today's Coffee Date is an opportunity for us to have a one-on-one. I'll start, but I would love for you to join in the conversation by leaving me a comment!

LAUREN HOOKER

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What is the first thing you did this morning?

We have the same morning routine each and every day, and today was no different. After Jake spent 10+ minutes trying to wake me up (yes... he's a saint), I finally got out of bed at 6:30. I cooked breakfast while he made coffee, and then we had our Bible study. What better way to start each day than spending quality time with my two greatest loves?

What have you been loving lately?

Our new home right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. The beautiful horse farms, numerous trails, and large blue skies make learning our new surroundings (a.k.a. getting lost) more enjoyable. 

I also love a colorful set of Sharpie pens, cinnamon-orange tea, my husband's ridiculous dance moves, and snuggling up on the couch to watch my favorite show, Suits.

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What is something you struggle with, and what are you learning as a result?

I am a people-pleaser and a perfectionist, and the two often butt heads. Saying yes to everything and wanting to do everything perfectly is unrealistic and just plain stressful! 

I'm learning that saying "no" isn't a bad thing, and often times is the most considerate thing I can do. When I have less on my plate, I'm able to do a better job at the things that I've committed to.

Life can get stressful. What are some things you do to simplify?

A well-organized planner has always helped me keep everything in order, but I'm finding that "organized" doesn't always mean "simplified". It used to be that if I had any white space left in my calendar I would try to fill it up with something, but I've learned that white space in my Daybook is a necessity. It allows me to slow down and do a quality job in the things I've committed to, and it also allows me to be more spontaneous. I'm happier, less-stressed, and more intentional when my days aren't filled to the brim.

And just for fun, what is something that made you smile this week?

My husband's humor gets a guaranteed 50+ smiles out of me each day. This week, his "Creed" singing voice, numerous silly faces, and air guitar solos in the car had me laughing -- somehow it never gets old!

Photos by Andrea Pesce Photography