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

Coffee Date with Jake

Although you read about him twice each week in Monday's Letters, our friends and family would agree that you can't get the full Jake experience without meeting him. He's quite the character! In honor of his "birthday week," I agreed to feature him on the blog for Elle & Company's very first male Coffee Date. Not only will this give you better insight into the girl behind the blog, but I hope it provides you with a smile or two on this Wednesday morning. 

What's in your coffee cup this morning?

Folger's coffee that I made and fixed for Lauren. It probably is the best part of wakin' up. 

Describe your morning routine.

I wake up, start the coffee maker, then I go for a run. I try to run every morning to help clear my head. After a few miles around the neighborhood and a shower, Lauren finally makes it out of bed for breakfast and Bible study together.

Describe your ideal "birthday week."

Birthday week consists of getting amazing "surprises" and "presents" every day of the week leading up to your birthday. This year my birthday falls on a Friday so I'm enjoying birthday week for a full 6 days. So, my ideal birthday week is a new car on Sunday, tickets to the Superbowl on Monday, a new flat screen TV mounted into the ceiling above our bed Tuesday... I could go on but I don't want to sound greedy.

How do you simplify?

By looking ahead to the upcoming week. I don't know if it simplifies or complicates things.

Tell us something people might never guess about you.

I can be sarcastic.

Tell us something people might never guess about Lauren.

Lauren can be sarcastic, too.

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

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."

What's something that made you smile this week?

Typically, Lauren and I watch TV shows to unwind. I'm literally smiling now because we watched a series on Netflix last week called, "Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?"

What song have you been dancing to in the kitchen this week?

That's easy. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s "War Zone." And yes, the band is called Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

And last but not least, what is your favorite memory from this past year and a half of marriage?

There are a lot of great memories that we have had together. For me, it's always the simple things we do together like riding bikes and eating Ben & Jerry's on the couch.

Do you have any questions for Jake this morning? I'm sure he would get a kick out of it and I admit... I probably would too :)

Highlighted this week...

It's an exciting week around Elle & Company! Not only do I have some lovely new products in the works, but I've had the opportunity to partner with a couple other creatives in giveaways and sponsorships. Here's a look at what's highlighted in my Daybook this week:

To celebrate her beautiful new branding, Kat from Dear Sweetheart Events is giving away an Elle & Company Daybook planner, 4 Daybook inserts of the winner's choice, a pretty blue Martha Stewart binder, and a set of colorful tabs! If you haven't checked out her new site already, be sure to give it a glance. And don't forget to enter your name in the giveaway, too!

Website   |   Giveaway   |   Kat's Daybook Review

Two of my favorite bloggers have partnered together for a new creative workshop called the Bloom Conference. I wasn't surprised when it sold out a couple hours after registration opened, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was asked to be a sponsor. Not only will Bloom attendees receive valuable business advice on blogging, photography, interior design, and styling, but they will be walking away with one of the sweetest swag bags ever (each including a Daybook Planner, of course). I'm keeping busy this week packaging each planner to send off to Michigan, and my office space looks like paper heaven. 

And guess what? Michaela and Ashley are hoping to take the Bloom Conference to other cities! Be sure to follow along with them to see if they will be coming to a city near you:

Website   |   Facebook

What's highlighted in your Daybook Planner this week? 

Weekly Truth

Because sometimes we all need the reminder that God's character is far different from our own. While we have can all have short fuses, seeds of bitterness and unforgiving hearts, God's love never wavers. 

CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.

Happy Tuesday!

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

Dear Mr. Hooker, you were in a wedding this past Saturday, so we shouldn't have been surprised when Friday morning turned into a comedy of errors. Faulty clippers botched my attempt at giving you a decent haircut and somehow your tux ended up in Rock Hill, SC instead of Roanoke, VA. It may have added an extra hour to our trip, but it did make for some laughs at the rehearsal dinner!

Dear birthday week, your very name displays what a silly concept you are. Every time the week of May 30th rolls around, my husband reminds me of you and asks me each morning what I have in store for his "birthday week." This year I've decided to play into it because after all, Jake Hooker deserves to be celebrated more than one day each year. Just know that you will not be forgotten when July 23rd rolls around... ;)

Dear kitchen table, you are currently overtaken with Daybooks and packaging materials for the Bloom Conference. I might be a little biased, but they just might have the coolest swag bags ever.

Dear Jake, our weekend was chocked full of family meals, cookouts, reunions with childhood friends, and countless games of peak-a-boo and tag with our nieces and nephews. We left Virginia this afternoon feeling tired and oh so loved. We are blessed.

Happy Memorial Day, friends! What was the highlight of your 3-day weekend?

Coffee Date with Logan Gibson

I love having the opportunity to share my friends with you every Friday through this Coffee Date series. It gives you a chance to meet other encouraging ladies and it gives me a chance to catch up with them - a win-win for everyone! While I often share women who have other creative businesses or blogs, I also have the chance to feature some unsung heroes - ladies who are doing great big things in the simple day-to-day.

Logan Gibson is one of those gals. I was blessed to have several classes with her during our time at Virginia Tech, even though we didn't share the same major. And I've since been keeping up with her, especially during the last 11 months. Why, you ask? Keep reading!

Friends, I'm so very excited for you to meet Logan.

What's in your coffee cup this morning?

I absolutely love coffee! I typically take mine black, the darker the roast and the bolder the flavor the better. However, for the last 11 months I have been traveling around the world participating in a mission trip known as the World Race. While there have been some great cups of coffee (like the cinnamon coffee served in a miniature French Press I got at a coffee shop in Kiev), most of the coffee I've had looks more like my cup this morning. Nescafe 1+2 instant coffee served out of a little flavor packet mixed with hot water from one of those office-type coolers. I can only assume the 1+2 means coffee + sugar/creamer. While the flavor leaves something to be desired, fellow coffee addicts can attest that bad coffee is better than no coffee. 

What is the first thing you did today?

Today is an "off day" for me here in China. Our team does ministry 6 days a week, so off days are either spent in a rush of touristy activity or savored in slow hours of relaxation. This is one of those savoring days, and my morning has been idyllic. After sleeping in, I made my way to a second story terrace that overlooks the complex of our ministry site this month. With the aforementioned cup of coffee and a plate of fresh cherries purchased from the village's Lunar Market, I enjoyed time in prayer and reading God's Word. I would love if everyday started like this, slowly entering the world's busyness with the peace that comes from time with God, but my mornings typically look a little different. This month in China the norm has been to roll out of bed at 7:30, get ready in a 10 minute routine perfected from months on end of third world living, order breakfast in the cafeteria while stumbling through the few Chinese phrases I've learned, and head off to prayer meeting and ministry.

What's something you've been loving lately?

Lately I have been loving Judah Smith, the pastor of City Church in Seattle, Washington. While I have never met him or been to his church, I did hear him speak once before when I worked at Liberty University. His book, Jesus is ______, was being passed around my team, and a couple months ago fell into my hands. It was one of those times where I assumed I was just reading a book, but God had much bigger plans. He brought this book into my life with a divine appointment to bring together months of lessons on His grace, love, and freedom that He has been teaching me. Smith's words resonate with my soul because they are presented with hilarious truth in the most down to earth way. I often listen to City Church podcasts now on long travel days, off days, or as a makeshift church with my team.

What's something you struggle with and what are you learning as a result?

My 11 months of missions and world traveling are rapidly coming to a close (I will be Stateside May 30th), so the big question on everyone's mind is, "What will you do next?" The stress and pressure this question produces takes me back to finishing college 3 years ago when I graduated with a BA in history, no job plans, and a failed MRS degree. My struggle lies in releasing the decisions to God and trusting fully in His timing and plans. Before coming on the Race I was so hopeful that God would place a specific country, people group, or ministry on my heart that I would be pursuing post-Race. So far in my prayers and the words spoken over me, this is what I've heard from The Lord: "I have your future in my hands. Even though you cannot see it right now, trust Me." Through this time of God asking me to wait I am learning what it truly means to relax into God, experience His presence, and be content and at peace in a time of uncertainty.

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

Usually to organize my chaotic thoughts and mass of activities, I resort to a classic To Do list. The last year of my life, however, has been a time of constant transitioning and never really knowing what your schedule is going to be, which induces quite a bit of stress. To Do lists don't  work for that. I've craved order, simplicity, and routine more than I ever thought I would. The best way I've found to simplify is often the hardest because it means relinquishing control, the exact thing we often feel we need in order to simplify. What I do is become "God aware." Breathing out quick prayers before beginning tasks. Telling Him my plans for the day, and then opening myself up to change. I find that the more I open my heart to Him, the more my perspective changes, and the simpler my life becomes.

And lastly, what is something that made you smile this week?

My reasons for smiling this week are all chubby cheeks, tiny fingers, and footsie pajamas. I am currently working with a foster home for children with special needs and physical disabilities here in China, and I have been blessed with hours of holding the smallest of these babies as my ministry. There is something profoundly joyful and deeply spiritual about cradling new life in your arms. Staring into their bright, deep brown eyes I am amazed by all the miracles God has already performed in their lives. Successful surgeries, organ transplants, and diseases just disappearing. God's love is etched into their very beings. And as I hold them, I pray for the next miracle I know our Heavenly Father has planned, adoption into a loving family.

Do you want to keep up with Logan? Follow along with her on Instagram, Twitter, and on her blog!

Now it's your turn to join in the conversation. What's in your coffee cup this morning? Have you ever participated in any overseas mission work?