Welcome to the Author Toolbox Blog Hop! It’s a monthly blog hop organized by the lovely Raimey Gallant aimed at helping authors discover all sorts of tools to help them be successful! Each month I’ll be sharing a different idea that has helped me or something new that I’ve just discovered that I’m trying out. To continue hopping through other great blogs in the monthly #AuthorToolboxBlogHop or to join, click here.
Graphics for Beginners
Using and creating graphics has transformed my blogging and my use of social media. There are so many ways to use a graphic on its own (and not just for Instagram!) and to use them with content. Now, if you’re a graphics pro, then I’m sure you already know all this stuff. (And I’m ready to learn more!) But for any of you new to blogging or getting ready to be published, these are some graphics basics that can transform the way you communicate!
You need pictures and a means to manipulate them.
- Pixabay = This is a free-use photo site. You may use all these images without needing permission. Whenever possible, I try to link back to the listing to give credit, but you don’t have to. There are many free-use sites out there, but Pixabay has been the best for me. I can’t think of any time when I needed a picture and I couldn’t find it on Pixabay.
- PicMonkey = This is one site I use to add text or edit the photo. Now PicMonkey is even better because they have standard social media templates you can start with. I use PicMonkey when I want to create a plain graphic without a photo or when I want to make something like the graphic I used to introduce this section.
- Canva = This is another site I use to create graphics. I like this one better for graphics that are more like advertisements. There are a lot of pre-made templates for every style of graphic.
For what types of things do you need to use graphics
Blogging
- blog post headers
- weekly meme graphics
- use as section headings in blog posts
- Blog post weekly theme posts
Promotion
- Book review quotes
- Giveaway promotions
- ads for your novel’s release date
- Twitter headers to advertise your book
- Facebook headers
- social media “business card”- with your book cover art, 1-line blurb, web site, headshot
A Sample of Some Graphics I’ve Created
So, get to it! Go find some great pictures and create some great advertisements for your work! And if you’re a graphics pro, please let me know of other great ideas out there 🙂
xo, Leslie
************************************************
About Me
I am a YA writer and middle school teacher. I have a B.A. in English from UCLA and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently reside in Los Angeles, California, with my dog Mr. Darcy.
When I’m not living in fictional worlds inside my head, I run all sorts of distances, torture my body at CrossFit, and DVR entirely too many television shows. I dream of one day returning to the Midwest to live on a farm. Or perhaps owning a cookie delivery service.
My debut YA novel CHASING EVELINE releases July 11, 2017 from Pen Name Publishing. I’d love it if you’d check it out and add it to your Goodreads list!
