beautiful looking good: ways to make your blog jo gifford / dexterous diva

jo gifford / dexterous diva
looking good:
ways to make your blog
beautiful
#dexdivacybher
all tweets on http://www.tweetdoc.org/ search for #dexdivacybher
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
all about
me
designer, writer, blogger
director of cherry sorbet creative
www.cherrysorbet.co.uk
my blog is at
www.dexterousdiva.co.uk
jo.jogifford@gmail.com
twin mumma, endo warrior...
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
all about
you
hello, cybher 2012!
tweet me your introductions, instagram pics and tell us all who you are...
say hi to the people either side of you and tweet me your smiles
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
looking good:
getting creative with blog imagery
So, why is a pretty looking blog important?
- we are visual people
- lifecasting is more visual now (Pinterest, insta.gram)
- eyecatching blogs capture attention
- encourage readers to engage
You don’t need to be a designer or to use expensive software.
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
the image
how do you currently find or create
imagery for blog posts?
- iStock or similar?
- steal imagery......?
Tweet to let me know.
Imagery is subject to copyright and bloggers
need to beCAREFUL and aware.
issue
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
top
tip
Keep imagery
consistent in width
Consistent style looks
better visually
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Iphonography
and
instagr.am
Insta.gram
inkstagram
typoinsta
HDR
These are social in their own
right and help drive traffic too.
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Screen
grab
Really easy way to collage
and generate images!
Mac = Command/Shift/3 saves
screen as PDF to be edited
PC = Print screen saves file to
clipboard to be pasted into
image editing software.
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Free
image
editing software
Picnik (now Google Creative Kit in Google plus)
pixlr.com
splashup.com
Add frames, edit images, add retro style filters,
simple re-touching and even add text
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Polyvore
(a cheat’s guide)
www.polyvore.com
get
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
collaging!
Create a collage by arranging
items/pics and papers and taking
an iphone, instagram or SLR pic
Picframe
Collage Maker
cameraderie
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Use an SLR if you have one
High resolution and ability to crop images better
Worth investing if you are doing lots of outfit shots
or close up beauty products but an extra,
not essential for amazing images
Creative
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Commons search
http://search.creativecommons.org/
Creative commons images are images licensed by the
creators to be used with a attribution link. You can search for
images using the Creative Commons search tool, which may
produce some exciting work you have permission to include
on your site. Remember to attribute where necessary though.
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
iStock
www.istockphoto.com
- inexpensive but can add up
- won’t guarantee originality
Asking!
@dexdiva #dexdivacybher
Maybe you have seen some amazing images by
an illustrator, photographer, designer?
Just ask them if you can use for your blog in return
for a full link and credit.
You never know...
finally...
thank you.
and
Feel free to follow up this session with emails, questions
and feedback.
More from me? Check out my ecourse/sign up on blog
www.dexterousdiva.co.uk
All the tweets from today can be found on
Tweet Doc by searching for the #dexdivacybher