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

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, sometimes working from home every day can get a little lonely. Thank you for knowing me well and surprising me with dinner out and a stroll downtown last Tuesday. Walking hand-in-hand with you and talking about the little details of our days did my heart good.

Dear Heidi, your buddy Jake has been trying to name you Peggy or Cathy for the last week, so you owe me for insisting on a sweet, youthful alternative. A "Cathy" would never chase her tail, leap on toy mice, and catch lizards in the garden, right? You are quite the entertainment, little kitty, and you've brought even more laughter to our cozy Suite. 

Dear Carowinds, we've added you to our growing list of "Ways to Entice Friends & Family to Come Visit Us in Charlotte." Four of our closest friends made the 3-hour drive from Virginia to spend Saturday with us at your amusement park, and it was a blast. The hilarious memories we made were well worth your long lines and the 90 degree heat. 

Dear Jake, exactly 2 years ago I wore white and met you at the end of the aisle. Those vows that we took have been lived out each day and they've taught me so much about forgiveness, grace, and love. You make this life so much fun and I'm forever grateful that God blessed me with you. Happy anniversary, love! 

Each Monday I write four letters: two letters to my husband and two random letters to whatever else is on my heart each week. What originally started as a fun way to record events and funny stories pleasantly developed into a weekly habit of practicing thankfulness.

Recent Letters

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Monday's Letters - Elle & Company

Coffee Date with Christin Eastman (and a giveaway!)

I first heard about today's Coffee Date guest on the Oh Simple Thoughts blog a few months ago and I've been following along with her ever since. Christin Eastman and her husband, Johnny, started Sweet Aroma Coffee to make money that goes toward stopping sex trafficking. They offer a monthly subscription that highlights fair-trade coffee from different regions around the world, and a large percentage of the monthly subscription goes toward 61 Project in Kenya and Wipe Every Tear in the Philippines. For a coffee drinker like myself, this is such a neat way to support a wonderful cause! 

I not only wanted to bring Sweet Aroma Coffee to your attention, but I thought it would be fun for us to get to know the lady behind it a little better. What better way than a Coffee Date? Christin is sharing all about what her normal day looks like, how Sweet Aroma Coffee got started, and even their hilarious honeymoon story (you have to read it!) 

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

I love starting the morning with a steaming cup of coffee. I love black coffee the most because I can taste the flavor of the specific blend. Although, I'm a huge fan of the Girl Scout Thin Mint creamer so when we spot it at the grocery, we always pick some up!

Give us a glimpse into a typical "day in the life" of Christin.

It seems like a typical day in my life is never the same! Depending on the day, I spend the morning answering emails and catching up on work that ran over from the day before. I spend time with the Lord and we do a lot of dreaming and praying. Mid-morning I work on marketing for Sweet Aroma as well as the month's coffee inserts for the subscription bags. Afternoons are saved for coffee dates and meetings. Last week I traveled to speak about Sweet Aroma and it was a blast! Sometimes I have Skype calls with our ministry partners in other countries but usually we just email. Just the other day I got to have lunch with one of our contacts in Kenya so that was a very special blessing and treat! The evenings are reserved for hosting folks at our home and spending time with my hubby and our pup, Howie.

How did Sweet Aroma Coffee get started?

Sweet Aroma began while I was on an 11-month mission trip called The World Race. I felt the Father speak two words - coffee and prostitutes - to me and I knew He had some pretty big plans in store. Over the next five months, the Lord continued to reveal how coffee would one day help fight against sex trafficking. When we got home, we started a coffee ministry called Sweet Aroma Coffee. 

We literally served coffee all over Knoxville. We'd load up my living room which was full of antique furniture and set it up at the venue and serve coffee and share our hearts for a couple hours and then tear it all down and move it all back into my house. We did this for months until we were completely exhausted! We felt the Lord say it was time to stop doing these "pop up" shops and wait for His lead.

A few weeks later we got the idea of having an online coffee shop where people could sign up for a monthly subscription and enjoy different coffee from all over the world, each month, right in their own home. Thus began sweetaromacoffee.org. We are a mission minded business and 36% of the gross profit is donated back to the organizations we partner with in The Philippines and Kenya. Both ministries fight against sex trafficking. We use our platform to be a voice for the voiceless and to love and empower folks to live lives that are fully surrendered to Jesus and His calling! Our hearts beat for the story He has written for each of your lives and we pray that through Sweet Aroma, you are encouraged and inspired to go out and make a difference!

What is you and Johnny's "love story"?

We met on The World Race two years ago. It wasn't love at first sight though. I thought he was a tattooed punk and he thought I was a snobby Southerner. We ended up working together during our first month in Guatemala and became instant best friends. It's amazing what hard work, living in a third world country, eating over an open fire and not showering for weeks and Jesus will do to people's vulnerability levels! We stayed close friends the whole 11 months, exchanging emails and letters when we had wifi or saw each other. He moved to Knoxville when we got home and asked my dad if he could pursue me shortly after. Three months later we were engaged and five months later we tied the knot! Our honeymoon was a story for the ages. We boarded a plane going to the wrong country, the airline lost our luggage for the entire honeymoon and I ended up in the hospital but boy, oh boy did we have so much joy and so much fun! We went back to Guatemala where it all began and fell in love all over again! I've been married five months to my best friend in the whole world and it's been so amazing! (To read more of the honeymoon story, click here.)

I know from experience that running a business can be time consuming and busy. How do you simplify and keep everything running smoothly?

Yes indeed! It can take up a ton of brain space, heart space and desk space. Sometimes I balance it alright and other days I have to check in with the Lord to get my heart back on track. Johnny and I communicate a lot to make sure everything is running alright but it's a constant learning game that we are eager to understand! I think lists are important and prioritizing is also super important. Staying focused on our core values helps us not get side tracked and having fun and laughing a lot helps keep the stress to a minimum and the smiles constant!

What's something you've been loving lately?

I've been loving reading lately. I picked up some novels I read forever ago and I guess I'm getting really old because I didn't remember how any of them ended. Reading is a great way for me to unwind and rest so it's been wonderful.

And just for fun, what is something might never guess about you?

As a child, I desperately wanted to be a CIA agent!

Follow along with Christin & Sweet Aroma Coffee

Website   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   Blog

And I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to bless one of you with some Sweet Aroma Coffee! Enter the giveaway below to win a 3-month coffee subscription. 

Recent Work: Little Bit Funky

My heart for other creative small business owners has grown tenfold since I started Elle & Company. Now that I have a business of my own, I understand all of the time and thought that goes into every detail and the effort that it takes to keep a business up and running. That's why I love taking on branding projects. There's something so fun about learning someone's style, highlighting it, and designing for their needs. When I can help someone in a tangible way and get excited with them about their passion, that's where I find my purpose as a designer.

While I didn't design an entire brand for Little Bit Funky, Crystal was one of those clients that I could design for all day long. This wife and work-at-home mom has such a quirky style, and her one-of-a-kind "hoho" creations are in high demand. Hohos are are "purposefully wonky" little creatures stitched by Crystal whose purpose is to "remind you that you are lovely and you don't have to be perfect to be lovable." She makes them from a variety of bright prints and fabrics, posts them to Instagram, and they fly like hotcakes. They've become so popular that she's begun selling products with hohos on them, like wrapping paper, notecards, and kids' shirts. Her business is so unique and refreshingly different, and I've enjoyed watching it grow the past few years. 

Last month Crystal was looking for some designs for stickers, notecards, and fabric for her business, and I jumped at the opportunity to work with her. Once I started playing around with all of the bright colors and fun illustrations, I couldn't put this project down! Here's a look at some of the designs I came up with for Little Bit Funky.

Buttons to pin on orders

Colorful notecards for the shop

Hoho fabric

Even a new Facebook cover image!

Clients like Crystal make my job so much fun. Partnering with other creatives and helping them with their business is one of my greatest joys as a designer. Are you in need of a new brand or even a few collateral pieces for your business? I would love to hear from you! Visit the contact page or shoot me an email at lauren{at}elleandcompanydesign.com.

Follow along with Crystal on Instagram here and here to keep up with her fun creations. You will love her!

Weekly Truth

The perfectionist in me has always been drawn to self-help books, fitness magazines, and how-to blogs. Something about fresh starts and transformation has this way of catching my attention and drawing me in. But after years of following worldly guidelines to a T, I've never been satisfied. This week's verse reveals why I always come up empty.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." 2 Corinthians 3:18

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord"

In the Old Testament, Moses was only able to see the glory of God pass by (Exodus 33). He was not able to see His full glory, and had he seen the face of the Lord he would have died. One of the many beautiful things about living on this side of the cross is that Christians can interact with God face to face.

"are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another"

It blows my mind that God is continuously transforming all believers into the image of Christ. It isn't a one time transformation at salvation, but an ongoing transformation. It doesn't come from a self-help book or tips in SELF magazine; it comes from knowing Jesus and beholding His glory.

And that's the kind of transformation I want to desire. Not a temporary fix or fleeting happiness, but an ongoing refinement that has me looking more and more like my Savior. 

Click here to download this week's wallpaper

Recent Backgrounds

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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 week 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!

Jake's Letters

In a brave attempt to switch things up on the blog this week, I handed over the keyboard to my husband, Jake. Brace yourselves for his take on Monday's Letters...

Dear Mrs. Hooker, I just recently realized how ashamed you are that we eat McDonald's. Every now and again, we treat ourselves to some fries, a Coke Zero, or a McFlurry (it's the American thing to do). But just so everyone knows: LAUREN EATS AT MCDONALD'S.

Dear cat that we rescued last week, you're the world's friendliest cat. In a lot of ways, you have more dog qualities than cat qualities: you come when we call for you, you bark, and you will do anything for food. Lauren and I haven't officially named you, but I personally like CAThy (name suggestions are welcome).

Dear Toro Y Moi, your music may be weird, but I kind of like it. There is a strange ratio associated with your music: the less sleep I get the cooler it gets. I also noticed you're trying to bring back the turtleneck. Niiiiice. 

Dear Lauren, speaking of music, I didn't know you were such a Swifty. Last week you sent me a random text message about your excitement over this song. Since then, we've been listening to it on repeat. Hopefully,you shake this song right out of your head very soon.

Recent Letters

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Monday's Letters - Elle & Company

Each Monday I write four letters: two letters to my husband and two random letters to whatever else is on my heart each week. What originally started as a fun way to record events and funny stories pleasantly developed into a weekly habit of practicing thankfulness.