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.
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?
“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.
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.
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.
On my heart (and my iPhone) this week:
CLICK HERE to download this week's verse for your iPhone background.
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.
Dear Mr. Hooker, when we return to Charlotte on Wednesday we'll be a couple shades tanner and a little more rested. Until then, my only plans are to take a nap everyday, read an entire book, and eat dessert each night. Beach trips are the best.
Dear Project L, I may have been a little crazy (and a lot excited) when I scheduled your launch for the day after we return from the beach. But it does make the end-of-vacation sadness a little less dreadful when we have something so exciting to return home to. 3 more days!
Dear car trips, how did I ever endure you before I married Jake Hooker? His dance moves, funny jokes, and DJ skills sure do make 5-hour drives much more fun.
Dear Jake, thank you for participating in my fun little game last week called "let's-see-how-much-food-we-can-get-rid-of-in-our-house-before-going-to-the beach." Countless bowls of oatmeal, a few packages of Ramen noodles, and several plain quesadillas later, we both came out as winners - our fridge is clean and we saved a trip to the grocery store. Hallelujah!
Every Friday since Elle & Company launched, I've featured a couple dozen ladies (and one funny guy) on the blog 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?) with a new friend.
In honor of reaching the 20-date mark, I've rounded up some of my favorite Coffee Date moments.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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!
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 :)
As an artist, the shift from death to life in Spring is just almost too inspiring to bear. Seeing little buds form on trees, shorter hemlines in my magazines and that extra hour or so of sun every day really just does something to my soul. I have to be careful not to be distracted all day long because with this mind, that totally happens!
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."
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 :)
For a look at all of Elle & Company's past Coffee Dates, click here.
Who have been some of your favorites in our Coffee Date series? I have several encouraging ladies coming up this summer, so be sure to check back here each Friday morning to join along with us!
Some exciting things are coming to Elle & Company ONE WEEK from today! While I'm not quite ready to let you in on everything I've been up to, I thought I could at least give you a sneak peek...
Dads are the hardest people to shop for, aren't they? If the men in your life are anything like the men in mine, it's next to impossible to come up with thoughtful, useful gifts for all of them.
So today I'm here to help you simplify Father's Day with some fun free cards, envelope liners, gift tags, and yes, even bow-ties. The best part? You don't even have to leave your house to access them. Just click the link at the bottom of this post, print them out on your favorite cardstock, and you're good to go.
