Category Archives for Design And Grahpics

Using Canva For Super Simple Social Media Images

If you use social media marketing for business you may already know the importance of incorporating images within your social media posts. Preferably gorgeous, unique, professional looking images.

What’s more, visual content is more likely to be shared by others.

For those who like to create their own images but lack the design skills and software to do so, the solution is an online program called Canva. I must admit, I just adore Canva and find it so easy to create amazing graphics, however it did take me a little while to figure out not just how to use it but also what sort of creations I could come up with.

social-media-marketing

So to help you save time in learning this and making all the beginner’s mistakes like I did, I’ve arranged for my good friend and Social Media Marketer, Ingrid Cliff, to take you through the wonderful world of Canva.

https://donna-mariecoggins.com/canva/

We’re holding a free live training webinar – so you can watch it from the comfort of your own home – and Ingrid will give you not only an introduction to Canva, she’s also going to show you:

The brilliant free templates that will fast-track your image creations
How you can add more social oomph to your images
Exactly how to use Canva!

This webinar is now over but you can watch the reply via the button below:

What You Must Know About The Images You Use Online

If you create web pages (or have these created for you) or if you have a blog or post to social media sites, chances are you often use images within this content. If you don’t, you certainly should start doing this.

But where do you get those images from?

So many people will go to a search engine such as Google and find images there or will find images on other websites.

As easy as this is to do, you may be breaking the law in doing so as these images will be protected by copyright. Although the copyright owner is sharing their photos on the internet, that doesn’t mean they are happy for others to use them.

So… how can you source images that you are allowed to use?

One way is to use your own images as long as you’re happy for your images to be shared on the internet.

Another way is to source your images from online image directories.

There’s a number of different types of image directories and it’s worth knowing the difference.

1. Some image libraries charge a membership fee and then allow members to use any of the images for no cost.

2. Others offer free membership, but then charge a small fee to purchase a license to use images. This fee may vary depending on the size of the image and how you’re going to be using it.

3. Some other sites are completely free – there’s no membership fee nor no fee to use the images.

4. Others may ask that you include a link to their site or to the photographer’s site in exchange for using their images.

One other thing it’s important to check is this…

Check the site’s license terms to ensure that you’re allowed to do whatever it is you want to do with this/these photo(s).

Some will offer images for a low or no cost for personal use only or for website use. But if you want to have the image printed on t-shirts that you’ll then sell or for posters or calendars and such, then they may charge a royalty fee.

I’ve listed below some sites where you can source images for use within your business:

There are dozens more, I’ve only listed a small selection here.

IMPORTANT:

Make sure you read their terms of use and/or license terms to make sure they allow what you want to use these images for.

When you find a site you like, save it in your internet browser’s bookmarks so you can refer back to it regularly.

Embellysh Photography – Giving That Little Bit Extra

Those who know me would probably know that I don’t like having my photo taken. However recently I spent an afternoon at a local park with Katie Bennett from Embellysh Photography in Brisbane, Australia, who took some updated shots for me.

I’ve added just a couple of the photos here.

I have to say, Katie is an absolute delight to work with. She really knows how to get people (in this case, me!) to relax and be themselves in front of the camera.

So this post is partly to show off Katie’s work and acknowledge her excellent skills, but I also wanted to highlight the extra care that she gives when providing her services.

I often speak about the importance of giving a little bit more … always doing a bit more than is expected of you or giving more. This can be one thing that really distinguishes you from your competitors.

Katie does just that … gives that little bit more. She not only makes it easy to work with her before, during and after the photo session, but it’s the finishing touches she adds that make the experience all the more special.

This is something you should also consider in your business – what ‘finishing touches’ can you add to your product or service that will make you stand out from your competitors?

Perhaps you could package your product in a way that makes it seem more special? Or could you follow-up with your client a week after providing the services to make sure they’re happy with the results? Maybe you could add a little gift to your customer’s order?

I remember when I bought a car through a car broker a few years ago. Not only had the broker helped me to find the sort of car I was looking for and negotiate a great deal for me, but when I signed the paperwork and took delivery of my new car I was also given a bottle of wine, a bunch of flowers and box of chocolates, all beautifully wrapped, from the broker and the car dealer.

(NB: I’ve bought 5 cars in my lifetime, and this was the only time I’d been given ‘a little bit more’ with my car.)

The gifts wouldn’t have cost much, but made sure I remembered that experience above each of the others.

Then, 12 months later, the car dealer sent my car (yes, my car) a ‘Happy 1st Birthday’ card. This wasn’t for a new car, by the way. This was a second-hand car. But next time I wanted to buy a car, who do you think I contacted first?

So if you’re not already giving that little bit extra with the products or services you provide, please take a few minutes right now to list some things that you can implement in your business to ensure your customers truly enjoy their experience of dealing with you.

Better still, if you don’t mind sharing these ideas, please post them in a comment below. I’d love to hear what you do to

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