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 Thuy Bui

Thuy and I share the same love of design and pretty paper. She's the creative lady behind My Paper Pinwheel, The Crafter's Bash, and Pinwheel Parcels, and she has a heart and a knack for all things crafty. Somehow in the midst of a busy day as a business owner, full-time nurse, wife, and mom, she finds the time to hop on Instagram and encourage other designers and crafty ladies, myself included. I've been so encouraged by Thuy and I've been excited to highlight her on the blog for weeks. 

Get to know this self-proclaimed paper addict, washi-tape hoarder, and "hostess with the mostess" over coffee (or a white chocolate mocha) today. Friends, meet Thuy!

What's in your coffee cup this morning?

That's funny you asked me because I actually don't drink coffee in the morning, but I normally will have a White Chocolate Mocha mid-day.

What does a day-in-the-life of Thuy look like?

Oh gosh, each day is always unpredictable and never the same. A fun fact is that I actually work a full time job in Healthcare Management which I don't think any of my readers really know about me. Do my "work" morning starts at 8:30 and ends around 5:00, then after my boys are in bed is when I work on the blog, Pinwheel Parcels, and respond to my insane inbox.

I've always admired your craftiness and love for paper. How did My Paper Pinwheel get started?

My Paper Pinwheel started after I felt my old blog no longer reflected my current lifestyle. I actually came up with the name My Paper Pinwheel to use as an online shop name to sell party supplies but never got around to doing that, so I decided to keep the name of my website and turn it into a lifestyle blog with a lot of pretty paper and fun DIY projects.

Have you heard about Pinwheel Parcels?! It's a "happy mail" subscription bringing back snail mail and sending pretty paper to people's mailboxes each month. Find out more here.

Have you heard about Pinwheel Parcels?! It's a "happy mail" subscription bringing back snail mail and sending pretty paper to people's mailboxes each month. Find out more here.

What has been your favorite project to date and why?

Gosh, I don't think I can narrow it down to one favorite project! I have had the opportunity to create some fun projects and work alongside so many ladies, and I think each project holds a special memory to me.

What is something you've been loving lately?

PLANNERS! I am such an addict! A fun fact about me is that in a given year, I can easily purchase and use 3-5 planners. I am such a planner and organized that I have a really hard time finding the "right" planner for me, therefore I go through several ones before I am happy with one. 

Oh, and Chipotle's Chicken Bowl with extra guacamole. I'm obsessed!

What advice would you give to other creative ladies who are trying to get their business up and running?

Oh gosh, I think there is never enough advice when you are trying to achieve your dream, but I think one thing I would say is that your dreams are out there, have the courage to chase them. Don't let life slip away because you didn't try. I know it's scary but don't let regret dictate your life. Go out, be brave, and show your courage!

Thuy also organizes workshops for The Crafters Bash. Learn more about this crafty workshop here.

Thuy also organizes workshops for The Crafters Bash. Learn more about this crafty workshop here.

And just for fun, if you could have a Coffee Date with anyone, who would it be?

Oh wow, if I could have a coffee date with anyone I would say Lara Casey. I have been following Lara for quite some time and I just love the motivation and positive vibes that she shares with the world.

Follow along with Thuy

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Recent Coffee Dates

Weekly Charts & Lunchbox Love

Although I'm not quite ready for summer to end, I am looking forward to a new school year. I love that feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate. I may not be a student anymore, but back-to-school season still gives me the motivation to get in gear and start organizing before fall activities and holidays start up.

Elle & Company back to school printables

This week's Library additions were designed to help you look forward to (and stay organized in) this upcoming season, too.

Week-at-a-glance calendar from Elle & Company

This week-at-a-glance chart is perfect for recording activities, meals, to-do's and special events. It's always hanging up on our refrigerator so that Jake and I both know what's going on each week. It keeps us on the same page - literally.

From brushing teeth to feeding the dog, this chore chart has fun visuals for kids of all ages. Jake and I may not need this one quite yet, but I have a feeling it will be helpful for many of you!

My mom always wrote notes on my napkins when I was growing up. I may have hid them from my friends, but they always made me smile! These little lunchbox reminders are a fun way to make someones day, whether that person is 5 or 35.

Visit the Elle & Company to print all of these new printables. Not a member? Sign up today for unlimited access to our growing collection of paper goods!

Subscribe to the Library today!

How to Start a Blog: Why I use Squarespace

Today's topic is the most practical out of all the topics I've covered in the How to Start a Blog series. While it's important to find your niche, create quality content, form a loyal audience, grow your readership, and choose a name, those posts won't be helpful if you're stuck on which service you'll use for publishing. And it's easy to get stuck. With so many options out there it can be difficult to know which one will be best for your blog or business.

There are several posts floating around the internet on "choosing a blog platform." And while I've used Blogger, Wordpress, and Tumblr in the past, I definitely wouldn't consider myself an expert. So rather than take that approach, let me tell you about the platform I use each day: Squarespace. 

Create your website

Quickly build your Squarespace site with my Website Starter Kit.

Powered by ConvertKit
Powered by ConvertKit

It's lovely

Squarespace sites are easy on the eyes. They may not have as many themes to choose from as Wordpress, but each theme they do offer is extremely well designed. Their pages are clean and effortless, their user interface is beautiful, and because every design automatically includes a unique mobile experience, their sites look professional on every device. You would have to try really hard to create an ugly website on Squarespace. And from a designer's perspective, this is a major advantage.

But even if you aren't a designer, having a beautiful website/blog should be extremely important to you, too. Studies have found that the biggest influence on people's first impressions of your website are visual appeal and navigation. A whopping 94% of all first impressions are design-related. You could have the best content in the world, but with a pieced-together, unattractive site you'll scare people away before they even have the chance to read it. The saying "you never have a second chance to make a first impression" is definitely true in the blogging realm.

It's user-friendly

One of the most time consuming and frustrating tasks of starting a new blog can be figuring out the back-end of your site. If you're new to blogging, this can be very intimidating and time-consuming, especially if you don't have any previous experience using HTML/CSS.

But with Squarespace, setting up your site is easy and straightforward, even for those of you who don't consider yourselves computer savvy. The drag-and-drop features make editing content a breeze and the visual layout editor allows you to make changes effortlessly. Adding text, images, embeds, or social media is as simple as hitting a button and choosing an option.

It's all-in-one

My blog, my website, and my shop are all in one place with Squarespace. Their E-Commerce feature allows me to easily add products to my shop, keep up with orders and inventory, set up shipping costs and taxes, and create coupon codes. 

Squarespace also connects to other sites and services that I use for my business. When people sign up for the Elle & Company newsletter in my sidebar, all of their information is directly imported to MailChimp. Accounting through Xero is available to help keep track of finances and sales taxes. Squarespace also partners with ShipStation, which makes printing shipping labels and shipment notifications a breeze.

If you're blogging for your business or you hope to use blogging as a gateway into starting your own business, Squarespace might be an excellent option for you, too. 

It takes care of the things I'd rather not worry about

Who wants to spend all day figuring out things like hosting and SEO when you can have your blog platform do it all for you? Here are a few more perks of using Squarespace:

  • Squarespace saves you from having to sign into different sites for domains and hosting; both are included in your monthly plan
  • They have excellent support, including articles, videos, live chat, email support, and community forums
  • A wide range of analytics are at your fingertips, including statistics on blog traffic, mobile usage, subscribers, referrers, popular content, search queries, and detailed activities
  • SEO is built in, you just have to be conscious of how you name files, links and captions
  • Squarespace easily transfers over blog posts and page information from other sites like Blogger and Wordpress
  • Every template is mobile-friendly; I don't have to worry that my website won't appear correctly on a mobile device

Overall, I don't have many bones to pick with Squarespace. It's beautiful, user-friendly, straightforward, and very helpful. I've had a great experience using it this past year and I highly recommend it to all of my branding clients (and to you, too!)

Click here to view some lovely Squarespace sites, visit this link to learn more about what Squarespace has to offer, and feel free to ask me any questions you have concerning blog platforms! I would love to get your feedback, too. 

Create your website

Quickly build your Squarespace site with my Website Starter Kit.

Powered by ConvertKit

For all of you seasoned bloggers, which blog platform do you use and why?

Related Posts
How to Build a Loyal Blog Audience
4 Tips for Finding Your Blogging Niche
How to Start a Blog: Why I use Squarespace
ChoosingAName_E&C.jpg
How to Start a Blog: Finding Your Niche
How to Start a Blog: My Story

The Results Are In

Last Friday I switched up my normal blog series and asked you to participate in a Coffee Date with me. Elle & Company wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, so it only makes sense that I would want to get your feedback. I took every answer to heart and I had a blast looking at each response. It was a joy getting to know you better!

I thought it would be fun for you to see the answers, too:

Are you surprised by any of the answers? I was thrilled to find out that 71% of those that participated have a blog and 37% have their own business! I also loved reading all of the hidden talents (whoever wrote "dancing to TV show theme songs" would fit right in in our household).

But those aren't the only results. I also hosted a giveaway for a 1-year subscription to the Elle & Company Library last week and random.org helped me a choose a winner. Congratulations Leah Branstetter! I hope you enjoy unlimited access to our growing collection of pretty paper goods.

Thanks again to all of you who participated in the Coffee Date and the giveaway. Happy Tuesday!

Weekly Truth

We have some beautiful sunsets here in North Carolina. The sun burns a rich red, deep blues fade into orange, and soft whispy clouds dyed shades of pink and purple stretch out across the sky. It's almost as if the sun is putting on a grand finale before the curtain closes on another day. And each time I see new one, I'm reminded of just how small I am. 

It's pretty wild to think that the One who has created each and every sunset from the beginning of time is mindful of me. And it's even more incredible to know why. 

He isn't mindful of me because of my good works, my love of others, or because I'm mindful of Him. My good works can never earn his affection, any love that I'm able to give originated with Him in the first place, and if I'm honest, I'm more mindful of myself than I am of God. So why would He choose to remember me, pursue me, and care for me? Because His Son paid a large cost for me. 

I hope that's an encouragement to you this week as you see this verse (or a gorgeous sunset) and think about the One whose hands fashioned it. 

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4

Click here to download this week's wallpaper

Recent Backgrounds

Blog
Free scripture backgrounds each week from Elle & Company
New verses and new iPhone backgrounds each week! // Elle and Company
Free Weekly Truth wallpapers from Elle & Company
Weekly Truth backgrounds and scripture cards from Elle & Company

Each Tuesday I design a new iPhone background with a different verse and share it on the blog. Seeing Scripture several times throughout my day reminds me of truth, strengthens my faith, and helps me me memorize God's Word so I can accurately share it with others. Feel free to download, pin, and share these backgrounds as many times as you would like!