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  • Graphic Design Fundamentals (The Non-Designers Guide to Designing Like a Pro)

    Beginning Graphic Design: Fundamentals of Design Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Balance

    Design is the process of creating something new or modifying existing things. Good graphic design makes products easier to use and increases user satisfaction. Designers develop products that solve problems, improve life, and enhance our lives. The designer must understand how people think and act, what motivates them, and how they interact with technology. A designer should be creative, organized, flexible, and analytical. They must also be detail-oriented and have an eye for aesthetics.

    Line, color, shape, text, image, and space are the main components of graphic design. These elements are used to create an effective graphic design.

    This article covers graphic design basics, including typography, layout, illustration, photography, coloring, and composition. You’ll learn about design elements, such as line, shape, texture, and space. You’ll also explore design principles, such as contrast, repetition, hierarchy, unity, and balance.

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    Graphic Design Fundamentals (The Non-Designers Guide to Designing Like a Pro) 2

    Graphic Design basics include line, shape, color, and texture. These are the basic elements of any design project. Line is used to create shapes, such as circles or squares. Shape is used to draw attention to an object or idea. Colors are used to make objects stand out. Texture is the surface quality of an object. Type is used to communicate ideas. Space is how much room there is around an object. Finally, images are used to convey ideas visually.

    Red, yellow, and blue make up primary colors. Mixing these three colors together creates all sorts of different hues. This means that there are many ways to use these colors to represent something. For example, red could mean anger, while yellow could mean happiness. Blue could mean sadness, while green could mean contentment.

    Tertiary colors are made by combining two primary colors. Secondary colors are made by mixing a primary and a secondary. The secondary colors are violet, green, and orange. The tertiary’s colors are red-orange, yellow-blue, and yellow-orange.

    Textures are the feel of a surface. Graphic designers must use illusions to suggest how their works might feel if viewers could feel them. To master texture, they should work with organic textures such as leaves, tree bark, rocks, fur, flowers, and grass.

    Textured patterns are used in this design. Typography is used throughout the design. A photograph is used as a background. Color saturation and transparency levels are adjusted.

    Analogous color schemes use colors lying next to each other on the color wheel. Triadic color schemes use colors that have an even spacing around the color wheel. Split-complementaries use a base color and its complement. These are all great ways to create a sense of balance and harmony in your designs.

    Weighty words are usually important words. Large or thick fonts convey importance. Thin fonts can convey elegance or modernity. Too many fonts can make a logo appear cluttered.

    Tetradic schemes can be very versatile and creative. They are often used in interior design, graphics, fashion, and advertising. They are also very popular in web design because they add variety and interest to a page.

    Square color schemes can be very versatile, but they need to be carefully planned out. They should always be balanced and not too similar to each other. Pastels tend to calm people down, but bright colors can make them feel happy. Darker shades can make people feel serious, but they can also make them appear dull and boring.

    Color is an important part of our culture. We use colors to communicate certain emotions. For example, red means stop, blue means go, yellow means caution, green means safe, etc.

    Grab Your FREE Mini-Course: Graphic Design Fundamentals You NEED to Know Here

    Alignment is used in many ways in graphic design.

    alignment graphic design

    Alignment makes designs easier to follow, and the text flows smoothly. Designers should align-items so that they connect visually.

    You can use it to make things easier to understand. For example, when you align text in a paragraph, it makes it easier to read because there is less space between words. In Microsoft Word, you can also use alignment to change the direction of your paragraphs. This is useful when writing emails or blog posts.

    A line is a shape that connects two or more points. Lines frequently appear in designs because they give a feeling of movement and speed. Lines can be used to create a flowchart that guides the reader’s eyes from one element to another.

    When using lines, remember that they can be used in many ways. Weight, color, style, and texture can make a huge difference in how something looks. Use these qualities when designing.

    There are many different kinds of shapes. Some shapes have a clear, defined boundary, while others do not. Regular shapes include rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, ellipses, arcs, etc. Organic shapes include irregular polygons such as hexagons, octagons, and decagons.

    Shapes are very important in design. Look for them in other designs, and soon you’ll see them everywhere.

    A sculpture is an object that shapes clay or another material into the desired shape. Sculptures are often used as decorations and art pieces. Architecture is any building structure. Three-dimensional objects include statues, buildings, bridges, etc. Two-dimensional designs include drawings, paintings, illustrations, etc.

    Shadows are used to indicate form and give an object a sense of place. Simple shadows can also be used to add more realism to our work.

    A cactus in a shiny pot has an exciting texture. It looks like it could be made out of metal. The texture makes it look more realistic than other objects like a plastic toy.

    Don’t make your graphic too busy or complicated. Keep them simple and easy to understand.

    Asymmetrical designs look balanced because the elements appear to be the same on both sides. This design is visually appealing because the elements are evenly distributed. Asymmetric design is used to call attention to the right things.

    Grid

    Using a consistent grid system allows designers to place similar elements next to each other, creating a sense of continuity. Repetition helps people recognize that objects belong together. In packaging, each product has a unique shape, but they are all the same size. The logos are positioned similarly, and they use the same typeface. All products are made of the same material.

    Hierarchy

    Hierarchy creates organization. Think about it, and hierarchy is usually something we consider when describing rank in a business or organization like politics and the church. It’s a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance. In design, hierarchy creates a visual organization to a design and gives the reader an impression of where to start and end reading. Each element that’s part of the design can have a ranking of priority. For example, headline.

    Website Call To Action. Body Copy.

    Designers should design according to hierarchy. Clients may ask designers to increase the size of many elements on the page because they think everything is really important. But if everything is equally important, nothing stands out anymore. Usually, there is a single message or piece of information that is more important than other pieces of information. This piece of information should be highlighted the most and will lead audiences into the rest of the website.

    A hierarchy is used in these posters and postcards, where the artist and date are shown first, followed by the title, then the location, and finally the price. The packaging uses a similar hierarchy, but instead of being grouped into categories, the products are separated into different sections.

    A hierarchy in packaging is so important! The consumer needs to be drawn in. This is achieved by using a strong focal point. The consumer needs to know exactly what they’re buying. Typography is used to highlight the main points. The hierarchy of the copy is very clear.

    Typography – The Basics of a Typeface and Character Spacing 

    Graphic Design Fundamentals (The Non-Designers Guide to Designing Like a Pro) 3

    Typography

    Typography is the art of arranging type elements in an aesthetically pleasing manner. This resource provides definitions and explanations of common typographic terms.

    Symmetrical balance can be seen as a yin-yang symbol. Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper shows a perfect example of this type of balance.

    The identity works well because it shows that this company is reliable and professional. The layout is simple but effective. The logo uses symmetry and balance to make it look more appealing. The positive copy is placed on the top left side of the design. The negative space is also used effectively.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The

    Five Principles of Graphic Design

    The five principles of graphic design are the underlying basis for all visual communication. They provide a framework that allows designers to create effective and meaningful images, whether they’re used in print or onscreen. The principles are:

    1. Readability – making sure that your audience can understand what you want them to read

    2. Legibility – making sure that your text is easy to read

    3. Memorability – making sure that the words and pictures stick in your mind long after you’ve finished reading or viewing

    4. Coherence – ensuring that your work makes sense within its context

    5. Controllability – allowing you to change the way someone else interprets your work

    Graphic Design Software Options

    What is Gimp?

    GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source raster graphics editor for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It can be used to edit images in various formats including GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, EPS, PSD, BMP, CXF, PICT, PCX, Targa, CUR, and others. It was originally developed by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. GIMP has been downloaded over 100 million times since its release in 1995. GIMP is available for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, etc.

    What is Canva?

    Canva is a free online tool that makes it easy to create professional-looking graphics, such as business cards, posters, and flyers. It’s also great for creating social media images, like Instagram posts or Facebook covers. You can use your own photos or choose from a library of high-quality stock images.

    What is Easil? 

    Easil is a free, open-source, cross-platform, and easy to use tool for creating and managing your own website. It’s the easiest way to create and manage websites on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux or any web server. Easil is based on PHP and MySQL. It supports all major browsers and platforms, including mobile devices.

    What is Vista Create? (Previously Crello)

    Crello (now Vista Create) is a social network that allows you to create your own profile, share content and connect with other people. You can also use it as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family. It’s free to join, but there are some paid features which include: unlimited storage, private messaging, custom domain name, etc.

    What is Visme?

    Visme is a free online tool for designing modern websites and landing pages. It includes templates, fonts, illustrations, icons, and animations. There are two versions – one for desktop computers and another for mobile phones.

    What is Adobe Photoshop?

    Adobe Photoshop is a vector graphics editing software package designed primarily for photo retouching and image composition.

    What are Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop?

     Adobe InDesign is a page layout program that allows you to create professional-looking documents. It can also be used to make brochures, flyers, newsletters, magazines, catalogs, books, etc. The program has many features including text formatting, typography, tables, charts, layouts, styles, grids, illustration tools, effects, animation, video, audio, and much more.

    Illustrator is an art creation application that lets you draw, paint, type, and manipulate digital artwork. It can help you create logos, banners, buttons, t-shirts, book covers, magazine ads, packaging, and more.

    Photoshop is a powerful image manipulation program that gives you control over every aspect of your picture.

    What is Affinity Publisher? 

    Affinity Publisher is a low-cost desktop publishing software that allows you to create professional-quality publications. It supports the creation of books, magazines, newsletters, brochures, and more. You can use it for personal or commercial projects.

    What Is PicMonkey?

    Picmonkey is a free online photo editor. It allows you to edit your photos in an easy and fun way, without having to learn complex editing techniques. You can use it to make simple changes like crop, rotate, add text or filters, adjust brightness/contrast, apply special effects, etc.

    What is Pixlr?

    Pixlr is a free online photo editing app that offers basic editing functions such as cropping, rotating, adjusting color balance, adding borders, frames, and watermarks, etc.

    Different Types of Design

    • Visual identity graphic design
    • Marketing & advertising graphic design
    • User interface graphic design
    • Publication graphic design
    • Packaging graphic design
    • Motion graphic design 
    • Environmental graphic design
    • Art and illustration for graphic design

    What is Typography?

    Typography is the art of arranging type in a way that makes it easy to read and understand. It’s about how words are arranged on a page, whether they’re set in all caps or lowercase, what size font they’re printed in, and how many lines of text there are.

    Typography also includes things like calligraphy and handwriting.

    Why is typography so important?

    When used correctly, typography can make your content more visually appealing and memorable. It can help you convey information effectively, and it can even increase engagement.

    What Are The Different Types Of Typography?

    Typography is the art of arranging type on a page. There are several types of typography, including:

    1. Display Type

    2. Body Copy

    3. Headline Type

    4. Callout Type

    5. Caption Type

    6. Subhead Type

    7. Tag Line Type

    8. Quote Type

    9. List Type

    10. Paragraph Type

    11. Photo Type

    12. Slideshow Type

    13. Infographic Type

    14. Icon Type

    15. Banner Type

    16. Button Type

    17. Image Type

    18. Map Type

    19. Slide Type

    20. Table Type

    21. Video Type

    22. Web Page Type

    23. Word Document Type

    24. Email Type

    25. Brochure Type

    26. Poster Type

    27. Magazine Type

    28. Book Cover Type

    29. Newspaper Type

    What is Color Theory?

    Graphic Design Fundamentals (The Non-Designers Guide to Designing Like a Pro) 4

    Color theory is the study of how colors are perceived by humans and other animals. It’s also a science that has been around for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists started to really understand color perception.

    Color theory was popularized in the late 1800s by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Piet Mondrian. They were inspired by the work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Darwin. In fact, Goethe wrote a book called “Theory of Colours” in 1810.

    In this article, we’ll explore the basics of color theory and show you how to apply it to your designs. We’ll cover everything from RGB color models to complementary and triadic color schemes. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to select colors that complement each other and create harmonious color combinations.

    RGB vs CMYK

    There are two main ways to represent colors on computers: RGB (red, green, blue) and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). When using RGB, every pixel contains three values: red, green, and blue. These values determine the intensity of the color. For example, a pixel with 100% red would look completely red; a pixel with 50% red and 50% green would appear half-way between red and green.

    CMYK works differently. Instead of having three values for each color, CMYK uses four values: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Cyan represents the amount of blue in the color. Magenta represents the amount of red. Yellow represents the amount of green. Black represents the absence of any particular color.

    CMYK is used in printing because ink doesn’t mix very well with RGB. This means that if you print an image using only RGB, the colors may not turn out exactly as expected. However, since CMYK is based on the way light interacts with objects, it can accurately reproduce colors even though they don’t exist in nature.

    How Do I Choose a Color Scheme?

    Choosing the right color scheme is crucial to creating a cohesive web design. You need to consider several factors before choosing a color palette:

    1. 1. What mood or feeling do you want to convey?
    2. 2. How does the color affect your audience?
    3. 3. Do you have enough space to use all the colors?
    4. 4. Does the color scheme match the rest of your website?
    5. 5. Is there any specific brand identity that needs to be reflected?
    6. 6. Are you trying to achieve a certain effect?
    7. 7. Can you find a free stock photo or icon that matches the color scheme?
    8. 8. Will the colors help users navigate through your site more easily?
    9. 9. Does the color scheme fit with your overall branding strategy?
    10. 10. Have you considered accessibility issues?
    11. 11. Is the color scheme aesthetically pleasing?
    12. 12. What about the color wheel?
    13. 13. Do you like the color?
    14. 14. Is it easy to read?
    15. 15. Does it make sense?
    16. 16. Does it reflect who you are?
    17. 17. Is it representative of your company?
    18. 18. Does it match what you sell?
    19. 19. Is it consistent throughout your site?
    20. 20. Is it unique?
    21. 21. Is it memorable?

    What Is Contrast In Graphic Design?

    Contrast in graphic design can be defined as the difference between two or more colors, tones, values, textures, and lines. It’s a very important aspect of any good design because it helps to create balance and harmony within an image.

    Contrast is measured by dividing one value by another. If the ratio is 1:1, then the contrast is perfect. A ratio of 2:1 creates a moderate level of contrast while a ratio of 3:1 creates high levels of contrast.

    The most common types of contrast are:

    •  Color

    when the same hue is used but different intensities, such as dark vs. light gray

    •  Value

    when a lighter tone is placed over a darker area, such as white text over a black background

    • Texture

    when similar materials are combined, such as wood grain and metal

    • Line

    when thick and thin lines are contrasted against each other, such as thick and thin strokes

    • Space

    when large areas of solid color are juxtaposed against smaller shapes and patterns

    Why Should I Use Grayscale Images?

    Grayscale images work best for websites that offer information rather than products. They also work well for logos and icons. Since grayscale images lack color, they tend to look cleaner and simpler.

     What is Balance In Graphic Design?

    The term “balance” in graphic design refers to the visual harmony of composition. It is not just about balancing colors or shapes, but also about creating a balance between different elements within a single image. Balance can be achieved by using complementary colors (opposite hues), analogous colors (similar hues on opposite sides of the color wheel) or split-complementary colors (a combination of both).

    Complementary Colors

    Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel. For example, red and green are complements. When these colors are mixed together, they cancel out each other. This means that their brightness will decrease.

    Analogous Colors

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    Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel. Red and orange, blue and purple, yellow and green, etc., are all examples of this type of color relationship. When these colors are combined, they produce a brighter result.

    Split Complements

    Graphic Design Fundamentals (The Non-Designers Guide to Designing Like a Pro) 6

    A split complement is created when two colors are opposite each other on the color spectrum. These colors include red and violet, blue and orange, yellow and magenta, pink and cyan, etc. Split complements add depth and dimensionality to a design.

    What is Unity In Graphic Design?

    I think the best way to describe Unity in graphic design would be to say that it’s a sense of unity. It’s not necessarily about having all your elements match, but rather how they fit together as one cohesive unit. This could mean using similar colors or shapes, or even matching up the size of different elements.

    It is a combination of harmony and balance – something that works well together. For example, you wouldn’t put a picture of a flower next to a picture of a car because they’re completely out of sync. But you might place a picture of a flower on top of a picture of a car for a very specific reason – because they work together harmoniously.

    When you combine these three concepts (harmony, balance, and unity), you’ll find yourself creating a great looking design.

    In order to achieve a good amount of unity within a design, you should try to avoid any kind of imbalance. A good example of this is when you have a photo next to a headline, which is usually considered a bad idea.

    The same goes for color combinations. When you mix two colors together, it will almost always result in a less than ideal outcome. So instead of mixing red and green together, try to stick to monochromatic schemes where everything is either black or white.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that a single color scheme doesn’t work for every type of content. You may have some pages that are more suited to dark backgrounds while others need light ones. Or maybe you want to make certain sections stand out more than others. All of these things require multiple color schemes.

    How do I know what colors to use?

    There are several techniques that you can use to figure out which colors go with each other. One of the easiest methods is to pick a few colors from your existing palette and then see if those colors complement each other. If so, then you’ve found a set of complementary colors.

    If you don’t already have a color palette, there are plenty of free tools online that will help you create one. Here are just a couple examples:

    • Color Scheme Designer
    • Palette Generator

    Once you have a list of colors that work well together, you can start to apply them to your design.

    But before you jump right into applying colors, take a moment to consider how you’re going to use the colors. Do you want them to be subtle, bold, or somewhere in between? Will they be used in a large section of your page, or just a small part? These questions will help guide you towards choosing the right colors.

    You can also use an app like ColorZilla to test out different color combinations. Just upload your image and click on the button at the bottom left corner. Then you can play around with different hues and saturations until you come up with a look that you like.

    It’s important to remember that there isn’t a correct answer here; it depends on the context of your site. There are many ways to approach a design, but ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

    Harmony, Balance, Unity

    These 3 terms are often confused and used interchangeably, but they actually mean quite different things. Harmony means that all parts of a composition are related to each other by their similarity in shape, size, color, value, etc. Balance refers to the overall distribution of elements in a composition. Unity refers to the fact that all parts of a design relate to each other as a whole.These 3 concepts are very closely related, but not exactly synonymous. Let me explain…

    Harmony

    This term has been defined as “the relationship among the parts of a whole.” It can refer to the relationships between objects (i.e., balance), or it can refer to the relationships among colors (i.e., harmony). In general, both types of harmony exist in any design, although they might be expressed differently.

    Balance

    This concept is similar to harmony, except that it focuses on the relative sizes and positions of the individual elements within a composition. For example, if you were designing a logo, you would probably want to pay attention to the relative sizes of the various letters in order to achieve a balanced composition.

    Unity

    The third concept is unity, which is sometimes referred to as “cohesion”. The idea behind this concept is that everything in a design should relate to everything else in some way. This could be achieved through repetition, contrast, symmetry, or other means.

    The most common type of unity is repetition. Repetition occurs when something appears more than once in a design. For example, if I were to show you two logos for the same company, you’d likely notice that they share certain similarities. One reason for this is because the designers of these logos wanted to make sure that people would recognize the brand immediately upon seeing the logo.

    Contrast

    Another form of unity in contrast. Contrast is the difference between one thing and another. When you see a picture of a sunset, you may notice that there is a great deal of contrast between the sky and the ocean. However, if you were to compare the same scene taken from a plane flying over the ocean, the contrast would be much less noticeable.

    Symmetry

    Symmetry is another form of unity. If you look at the image below, you’ll notice that the top half of the page looks just like the lower half. This is called mirror symmetry, and it creates a sense of balance in a design.

    Asymmetrical designs can create a feeling of imbalance, so asymmetry is generally avoided unless necessary.

    There are three main aspects of good design:

    Good Organization

    The structure of the content, how it flows, where it goes, what its purpose is. Good organization is about making sure that the content of your design makes sense. You don’t want to confuse the user by having them navigate around your site without knowing why they’re doing it. A good organizational principle is to keep the navigation simple and intuitive.

    Good Aesthetics 

    The appearance of the content, how well it fits together visually, how it feels. Good aesthetics is about how things look. You want to avoid using distracting images or animations, and you want to use fonts that are easy to read.

    Good Usability

    The ease with which users can interact with your content and find what they need. Good usability is about how easily people can access the information they need. There’s no point in creating a beautiful website if nobody ever sees it!

    Don’t forget that good design isn’t always pretty. It has to work too.

    I think that the first step is to understand what we mean by ‘good’ design. What do we expect from a designer? Is it functionality? Usability? Or perhaps aesthetics?

    If we’re talking about functionality then we have to consider what our audience expects from us. Do they expect us to provide solutions to their problems? Or do they want us to entertain them? Whatever the case may be, we have to ensure that whatever we produce meets those expectations.

    If we’re talking about aesthetics, then we have to ask ourselves whether we’re trying to appeal to an artistic sensibility or a functional one. In other words, should we be designing for beauty or for function?

    Finally, if we’re talking about usability, then we have to consider how easy it will be for our target audience to use our product. We also have to consider how easy or difficult it will be for them to learn how to use it.

    What is Repetition In Design?

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    The concept of repetition in design has been discussed for many years. The term was first used to describe the use of a similar pattern or motif across multiple elements within an object, such as the repeated use of geometric shapes on a building facade.

    The idea behind this approach is that it helps to make the overall design more coherent and memorable. For example, if you were designing a logo for a company, you might choose to repeat certain symbols throughout the design. These could include circles, squares, triangles, or any number of other shapes. By repeating these shapes, you help to reinforce the message that the company stands for stability and reliability.

    In web design, repetition is often used to create a consistent feel across different pages. This consistency allows visitors to quickly identify the page they’re looking at. If all the links on a particular page are blue, for instance, then it’s much easier to spot the link that takes them back home than if the links had different colors.

    There are two main types of repetition in web design:

    1) Repetition of color, shape, size, and position

    2) Repetition of structure (elements like headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.)

    When choosing which type of repetition to use, we need to consider the following factors:

    1) Does it add value to the design?

    2) Will it distract users from accessing important parts of the page?

    3) How does it affect readability?

    4) How does it affect accessibility?

    5) Is it appropriate for the content of the page?

    6) Can it be done without using images?

    7) Is it visually interesting?

    8) Does it fit with the rest of the site?

    9) Is it aesthetically pleasing?

    10) Are there any special considerations?

    For example, if we’re creating a navigation bar, we can use a simple line of text to label each button. But if we wanted to create a menu that included sub-menus, then we would need to use some sort of image.

    We’ll talk more about the various ways to incorporate repetition into your designs later in this course.

    How To Use Repeating Patterns On A Webpage

    We’ve talked about the benefits of using repetition in web design, but how exactly do we go about doing it? Well, it depends on the situation. Let’s take a look at three common situations where we might want to use repetition.

    First, let’s say that we’re redesigning a website and we want to give the homepage a unique look. One way to achieve this goal would be to use a repeating pattern on the background.

    Second, let’s assume that we’re redesigning an eCommerce store and we want to highlight the products that are currently featured on the homepage. We could use a repeating pattern on top of the current product photos.

    Third, imagine that we have a new section on our homepage called “About Us.” In order to separate this information from the rest of the page, we could place a repeating pattern between the About Us heading and the rest of the page.

    What is Visual Hierarchy?

    Visual hierarchy refers to the order in which we perceive information. It’s an important concept because it helps us understand how our brains process visual stimuli, and what that means for design.

    In this article, I’ll explain what visual hierarchy is, why it matters, and how to apply it to your own designs.

    The human brain is very good at processing visual information. We’re able to recognise objects and identify patterns quickly simply by looking at them. Our eyes move around the scene, constantly scanning the environment for new information.

    When we notice something interesting, we tend to stop moving and focus on it. In other words, we become aware of it.

    This is known as selective attention.

    The problem is that our eyes don’t always work together effectively. Sometimes, our eyes may be focused on two or more items simultaneously. This creates confusion and uncertainty about what’s really going on.

    To solve this problem, our brains have developed an automatic system that works out which object is most important.

    It does this by assigning priority to each item based on its position in space.

    For example, the closer an object is to the centre of the screen, the higher its priority. Objects further away receive lower priority.

    This is known in psychology as ‘visual precedence’.

    We use visual precedence to determine what we pay attention to first.

    If we see a person standing next to a car, we’re likely to look first at the person.

    If we saw a person standing next to the same car but with a dog sitting beside him, we’d probably look at the dog first.

    Our brains do this automatically without us having to think about it.

    But if we want to influence the way people think, we can use visual hierarchy to guide their perception.

    How Does Visual Hierarchy Work?

    There are three main ways in which visual hierarchy affects our perceptions:

    1. We prefer to look at things that are close to the centre of the image.
    2. We prefer to look up and down rather than left and right.
    3. We prefer to look towards the middle of the image.

    These rules of visual precedence affect our ability to detect changes in images.

    They also affect our ability to make sense of complex scenes.

    So, when we look at images, we tend to focus on objects closest to the center of the picture.

    And we tend to ignore objects furthest from the center. When we’re looking for something specific, we often scan the whole scene very quickly. We then stop scanning once we find what we’re looking for. This means that we only ever see part of the image at any given time.

    The more important or interesting parts of the image are always near the center.

    Visual Hierarchy Helps Us Detect Changes In Images

    As well as helping us locate objects in pictures, visual hierarchy helps us spot changes in images too.

    For example, if someone walks into frame, we’ll usually be able to tell straight away whether they’re a new character or an old one.

    It’s because we have a preference for looking at things closer to the center of the screen.

    If we don’t recognize them, we may assume that they’re new characters. But if we do recognize them, we might assume that they’re returning characters.

    Because we like to look at things closer to the middle of the image, we can’t easily tell how many people are in the room unless we actually count them. We can’t tell how big the room is unless we measure it. And we can’t tell where the walls are unless we walk around them. All these things require us to move our eyes around the image.

    This leads us back to the idea of visual precedence. If we want to understand the world around us, we need to pay attention to all the different elements within it. Each element has its own importance. We need to learn about each one individually before we can make sense of the whole.

    To really understand the world around us requires us to look at everything. Our brains are wired to detect changes in scenes. We can’t help but notice things that are changing.

    Our brains are constantly comparing the current state with the previous state. They compare the two states and decide which one is better. If the difference isn’t great enough, they use their memory to fill in the gaps. If the difference is large enough, they discard the information from the previous state and start again.

    What is Structure In Design?

    Structure in design is the process of organizing content into a logical, coherent and consistent manner. It’s about creating an overall structure that makes sense to users and helps them navigate your website or application easily. This includes things like:

    • Page layout
    • Navigation
    • Content organization
    • Typography
    • Color
    • Layout
    • Organization
    • Readability
    • Visual hierarchy
    • Contrast
    • Scale
    • Positioning
    • Alignment
    • Typographic Elements
    • Text
    • Font
    • Weight
    • Style
    • Size & Space
    • Typeface
    • Line Height
    • Margins

    What Is Composition In Graphic Design?

    Composition is the art of arranging and designing elements in a way that makes sense to the viewer. It’s not just about making things look good; it’s also about making them work for the purpose they are being used for.

    Composition is about balancing form and function.

    In other words, composition is about using design elements in ways that create balance between what you want to achieve and what works best.

    • This means thinking about the following questions:
    • What does this part of the page mean?
    • How will I use this part of the page?

    Does this piece of text fit well with the rest of the page?

    How To Use Composition

    Here are some tips on how to use composition effectively.

    • Balance: Balance is achieved by having equal weight given to each component. If there are too few items, then the reader won’t be able to get a clear picture of what’s going on.
    • Hierarchy: A hierarchy is created when the most important parts of the page are placed first.
    • Repetition: Repetition is useful because it allows the eye to know where to go next.
    • Movement: Movement creates interest. When something moves, the brain automatically processes it as interesting.
    • Symmetry: Symmetrical objects tend to draw more attention than asymmetrical ones.
    • Proximity: Proximity is another tool that helps readers focus on certain areas of the page.
    • Clarity: Clarity refers to the amount of detail needed to convey a message. Too much information can overwhelm the user.
    • Focus: Focus is a key element in any design project. You need to make sure that all the components on the page have a specific purpose.
    • Simplicity: Simplicity is about removing unnecessary details and keeping only those necessary to communicate the message.
    • Order: Order is very important in design. It gives a feeling of control over the chaos.
    • Rhythm: Rhythm is about repetition. It’s often used to give rhythm to a page.
    • Unity: Unity is about bringing together different elements into one cohesive whole.
    • Variety: Variety adds excitement to a design. It keeps people interested and prevents boredom.
    • Balance: Balance is about achieving a perfect equilibrium between two opposing forces.
    • Emphasis: Emphasis is about drawing attention to a particular area of the page.
    • Interest: Interest is about adding variety to a design.
    • Harmony: Harmony is about finding the right combination of colors, shapes, textures, etc., so that everything fits together nicely.
    • Contrast: Contrast is about creating contrast between light and dark.
    • Repetition: Repetitions help the eyes move around the page.
    • Proportion: Proportion is about ensuring that the size of an object or group of objects doesn’t exceed the space available on the page.
    • Color: Color has many effects on our emotions.
    • Texture: Texture is about giving your designs a three-dimensional look.
    • Space: Space is about making room for things.
    • Shape: Shape is about grouping similar objects.
    • Value: Value is about the darkness or brightness of color.
    • Size: Size is about the relative importance of an item.
    • Line: Line is about the way something is drawn.
    • Pattern: Pattern is about repeating a shape or pattern throughout a design.
    • Light: Light is about the illumination of an object.
    • Depth: Depth is about the distance between the viewer and the subject.
    • Mood: Mood is about the emotional state of the viewer.
    • Perspective: Perspective is about how we see things from above or below.
    • Composition: Composition is about arranging elements in such a way that they create a pleasing image.
    • Visual Flow: Visual flow is about the movement of the eye through a design.
    • Movement: Movement is about the way things are moving.
    • Motion: Motion is about the speed at which something is happening.
    • Time: Time is about the passage of time.
    • Dimension: Dimension is about the length, width, height, depth, and thickness of an object.
    • Symmetry: Symmetry is about having equal parts on both sides of a line.
    • Placement: Placement is about where you place items on a page.

    What is Perspective In Graphic Design?

    The perspective of a picture tells us what part of the scene is being depicted. A camera can be placed anywhere, but it will always show the same view of the scene. Here’s an example: If I were standing next to my desk, I could take a picture of myself sitting at my desk with my feet up on the chair. This would be a vertical view of me sitting at my desk. But if I stood behind my desk and took a picture of myself, I’d get a horizontal view of me sitting at the desk. Now let’s say I was standing next to my desk and took a photo of the desktop itself. That would give me a “bird’s eye” view of my desk. And if I moved away from the desk, I’d have a bird’s eye view of the whole room. So, perspective is all about showing different views of the same scene.

    How Do We Use Perspective in Graphic Design? 

    We use it when we want to make our viewers feel like they’re looking into a scene as though they were there themselves. For instance, if you wanted to draw a picture of yourself sitting at your desk, you might start by drawing a box around your head and shoulders. Then you’d add lines going out from your head and shoulders to your arms, legs, and toes. You’d also add lines going down from your head and shoulders so that you looked like you were sitting at your desk. When you drew these lines, you created a perspective. It looks like you’re sitting at your desk.

    How Can We Use Perspective in Our Designs?

    We can use perspective in many ways. Let’s look at some examples.

    • To Make Things Look Bigger
      • If you put two people side-by-side in a small space, they’ll probably appear smaller than they really are. By using perspective, you can make them seem bigger.
    • To Show How Far Away Something Is
      • If you’re designing a poster for a concert, you can use perspective to make it look like the audience is far away.
    • To Make Objects Appear Smaller
      • When you draw a picture of someone sitting at a table, you can use perspective so that he appears smaller than the table.
    • To Create Depth
      • You can use perspective to make objects appear closer together or farther apart.
    • To Draw Attention to One Object Over Another
      • When you use perspective, one object will appear larger than another. This makes it easier for the viewer to notice the object that you want him to focus on.
    • To Help Your Viewers See What They Are Looking At
      • If you want your viewers to see something clearly, you can use perspective.
    • To Give People a Feeling of Being There
      • If you want your readers to feel like they’re actually inside the scene you’ve drawn, you can use perspective in your drawings.
    • To Help Readers Understand Where They Are
      • If you’re writing a story, you may need to use perspective to help readers understand where they are in the story.
    • To Distinguish Between Two Different Views
      • Sometimes you may want to create two different perspectives of a single image. For example, if you’re creating a map, you might want to display both a top-down view and a side-view.
    • To Add Interest
      • Sometimes you may want to use perspective to add interest to your designs.
    • To Help Readers Remember Places
      • If you’re writing about places, you may want to use a perspective to help readers remember where they are.
    • To Help Readers Recognize Objects
      • If you’re writing an article about a particular subject, you may want to show pictures of things related to that subject.
    • To Help Readers Feel Like They Know Someone
      • If you’re writing an article, you may want to include a person’s photograph.
    • To Make Objects Seem Closer Together
      • If you’re writing something about science, you may want to draw diagrams showing how atoms work.
    • To Help Readers Recognise Faces
      • If you’re writing articles about famous people, you may want to have their faces included.

    What is Motion in Online Design?

    Motion in online design can be defined as the movement of objects, people or other elements on a website. It’s one of the most important aspects of web design and it has been used to create some pretty amazing effects. Here are 15 examples of motion in online design:

    1. An animation effect that shows a user moving from page to page
    2. A video with a scrolling background
    3. A slideshow of images
    4. A series of videos that play automatically
    5. A sequence of photos that move across a screen
    6. A sequence of text that scrolls down a page
    7. A series of images that change over time
    8. A series of links that open up when clicked
    9. A series of animations that scroll through a page
    10. A series of words that move across a page
    11. A series of videos with music playing in the background
    12. A series of images with sound
    13. A series of images changing every few seconds
    14. A series of images, each one representing a step in a process
    15. A series of images showing a process

    How Do I Create Motion Effects?

    What Can I Use To Make Motion Graphics? + How Do I Add Animation To My Video?

    You can use many different tools to animate videos. Some of these tools are listed below.

    If you want to make something really special, then you’ll need to invest time into learning new software.

    There are tons of different ways to make motion graphics. They range from simple techniques to complex animation systems.You don’t necessarily need special software to create these kinds of effects. In fact, there are many free tools available for you to try out. Some of them even come preinstalled on your computer.

    Here are just a few of the best ones:

    • Adobe Flash

    dobe Flash is probably the most popular tool for creating motion effects. You can find tutorials all over YouTube and elsewhere. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out this collection of Flash animations.

    • AfterEffects

    AfterEffects is another great tool for creating motion graphics. There are plenty of resources online to teach you how to use it effectively. 

    • Canva

    Canva is a user-friendly web software tool that can also create motion graphics easily.

    • GIMP

    GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful free program that lets you create lots of cool effects. Check out this tutorial to learn more.

    • Photoshop

    Photoshop is also a very useful tool for creating motion graphics, but it requires a lot of practice before you get good at using it. This tutorial will give you a basic idea of what you can do with Photoshop.

    • Illustrator

    Illustrator is a great tool for making vector graphics. But if you’re not familiar with it yet, it might take you a while to figure out how to make things look right. This tutorial will show you how to make simple shapes and lines.

    • Dreamweaver

    Dreamweaver is a popular web development tool which includes a built-in motion editor. You can use it to add motion effects to any HTML document.

    • Fireworks

    Fireworks is a web design tool that’s similar to Photoshop and Illustrator. It’s not as easy to use as those programs, but it does have its own set of features. You can read about them here.

    • Google Chrome

    Google Chrome comes with an integrated motion editor called “Animation.” You can find a short tutorial on youtube.

    • Microsoft PowerPoint

    Microsoft PowerPoint is a common presentation tool. It doesn’t include a dedicated motion editor, but you can still apply effects like fading between slides.

    • Paint Tool SAI

    The Paint Tool Sai is a free photo-editing application. It includes a motion editor too. Here’s a video tutorial that shows you how to use it.

    What Is Texture in Graphic Design?

    Texture is a visual element that creates depth and dimension. It can be used to create the illusion of three-dimensionality, as well as adding interest to your design. The texture you choose should complement the overall look of your graphic design.

    How Do I Create A Text Effect?

    Text effects are one of the easiest elements to create. All you need is some text and a background image. Then you can edit the text to suit your needs.

    What is Form In Graphic Design?

    Form in graphic design is a way to make your work more interesting and engaging. It can be used as an element of composition, or even as the main focus of your piece. The idea behind form in graphic design is that it helps you tell a story.

    What is Space In Graphic Design?

    Space in graphic design refers to the amount of visual information that a viewer can take in at one time. The more space there is, the easier it is for them to process and understand what they are looking at. This means that less space makes it harder for viewers to understand.

    What Is Color Theory In Graphic Design?

    Color theory in graphic design is all about understanding color and how it affects our emotions. By applying this knowledge, you can come up with designs that are more effective and appealing.

    What are Gradients in Graphic Design?

    Gradients are a type of color transition that is used to create the illusion of movement. They can be created by using different colors, or they can be created by blending two colors together, creating a gradient effect. The most common types of gradients include:

    • Linear Gradient
    • Radial Gradient
    • Directional Gradient
    • Interpolated Gradient

    What is Typeface in Graphic Design?

    Typefaces are the fonts used to create a design. They can be found on websites, printed materials and even mobile apps. The most common typefaces include Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman and Verdana.

    What is Symmetry In Graphic Design?

    Symmetry is a fundamental concept in the world of graphic design. It can be used to create balance, harmony and unity within an image or layout. The most common forms of symmetry are radial, axial and bilateral.

    What is Composition in Graphic Design?

    Composition is the arrangement of objects on a page. It is often used to create balance and rhythm. When composing images, you should try to keep things simple, but not too plain. You should also avoid making everything look like a photograph.

    What is Balance in Graphic Design?

    Balance is the act of having equal amounts of positive and negative space in a design. If you have too much positive space, it will feel overwhelming. Too much negative space will leave your design feeling empty.

    What is Rhythm in Graphic Design?

    Rhythm is the repetition of elements in a design. It creates a sense of flow and motion. For example, if you want to create a sense of movement, use a repeating pattern such as stripes, dots, lines or circles.

    What is Movement in Graphic Design?

    Movement is the change over time of something. For example, when you read a story, you move from beginning to end. This is called linear movement. However, there is another form of movement that occurs when you watch a movie or listen to music. This is known as non-linear movement.

    What is Perspective in Graphic Design?

    Perspective is the way that we see things. We tend to focus on what is closest to us, while ignoring anything farther away. As you draw or paint, you need to think about where the viewer will be standing and how far away they will be looking at the object.

    What is Proportion in Graphic Design?

    Proportion is the relationship between parts of a design. It refers to the size of one element compared to another. For example, if the text is larger than the background, this would make the text appear out of proportion.

    What is Scale in Graphic Design?

    Scale is the distance between two points. For example, if a person is 5 feet tall, then their height is 1 unit of scale. If a building is 100 feet high, then its height is 10 units of scale.

    What is Color Theory in Graphic Design?

    Color theory is the study of how colors affect our emotions. There are many theories about which colors work best for certain situations. Some believe that red works well for happiness, orange for energy and blue for calmness.

    What Is Texture in Graphic Design?

    Texture is the surface quality of an object. Textures can range from rough to smooth. Smooth textures are usually more commonly seen in nature, while rough textures are more commonly found in manufactured products.

    What is Value in Graphic Design?

    Value is the lightness or darkness of an area of color. A value scale goes from 0 (black) to 255 (white). Black has no value, while white has maximum value.

    What is Contrast in Graphic Design?

    Contrast is the difference between two colors. One-color may seem lighter than another, even though they both have the same value. In order to create contrast, you must choose different values for each color.

    What are Complementary Colors in Graphic Design?

    Complementary colors are those that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They are always used together because they cancel each other out. For example, green and magenta are complementary colors because they are opposite each other on a color wheel.

    What is Analogous Colors in Graphic Design? What is Monochromatic in Graphic Design?

    Analogous colors are similar colors next to each other on the color spectrum. These colors are often used together because they complement each other. For example, yellow and orange are analogous colors because they are adjacent to each other on the rainbow. Monochrome means having only one color. For example, black and white are monochromes.

    What is Polychromatic in Graphic Design? What Is Symmetrical in Graphic Design?

    Polychromatic means having multiple colors. For example, a sunset is polychromatic because it contains all of the colors of the rainbow. Symmetrical means that something appears the same when viewed from either side. For example, a circle looks symmetrical when viewed from any angle.

    Summaries of Core Graphic Design Basics

    What is Metaphor in Graphic Design?

    Metaphors are images that represent ideas by using words instead of pictures. For example, the word “love” could be used as a metaphor for marriage.

    What is Calligraphy in Graphic Design?

    Calligraphy is the art of hand-writing letters. It’s also known as handwriting.

    What is Layout in Graphic Design?

    Layout refers to the arrangement of elements within a page. Elements include headings, paragraphs, lists, photos, graphics, etc.

    What Is Visual Hierarchy in Graphic Design?

    Visual hierarchy is the way that we organize things visually. We put important items at the top of a page and less important items lower down.

    What Is Color Theory in Graphic Design?

    Color theory is the science behind choosing colors. It involves understanding what colors make us feel good, what colors work well together, how colors affect our moods, etc.

    What Are Principles of Good Graphic Design?

    Principles of good graphic design are rules that help designers create effective designs. There are many principles of good graphic design.

    What Is Semiotics in Graphic Design?

    Semiotics is the study of signs. Signs can be anything from language to symbols to objects.

    What Is Typographic Style in Graphic Design?

    The typographic style is the overall look of a piece of writing or artwork. A designer may choose a particular font, size, weight, etc. to achieve a specific effect. 

    That’s an in-depth look at the fundamentals of graphic design! Check out these articles or tutorials below to get a closer look and understanding of each.

  • Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs

    Perfect Gifts For Bloggers

    If you’re looking for the best gift for the blogger, writer, or entrepreneur in your life, then look no further. Seriously. I’ve been working from home in the online space for almost a decade y’all and everything on this list is the best thing you can buy any blogger, new or veteran. (And I’ve tried and purchased A LOT of products smh) I’ve done the work for you, now all you need to do is pick one (or a few of these investments), attach a card, and voila! All done. *dusts hands* I only share the services, products, etc that make the cut. Things I LITERALLY use ALL THE TIME. This isn’t a post stuffed with nonsense affiliate links to make a quick buck. I abhor wasting money on crappy services and products and you wont find any of that rubbish here.

    Youtube Premium

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 8

    This subscription will allow the blogger or entrepreneur in your life to have an even better listening experience on the go. i can guarantee you that youtube has nearly ever answer or tutorial your blogger will need, and the lack of ads will be a very much welcomed experience.

    Domain & Web Hosting 

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 9

    Every blogger should have their own website. Having this will allow them to monetize from the start and have the best start possible with a site and domain they own. Instead of building their business on another companies platform. 

    Canva Subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 10

    Canva is an easy to learn program created for non-designers. However, don’t let this throw you off because this program can make anything and everything a blogger could need to monetize and develop products. 

    Picmonkey subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 11

    This is similar to Canva. It was created for anyone, including non-designers, to create the products they need to fast. i find that Picmonkey can be a smidge more challenging to learn with more capabilities and control over images, etc. is created. 

    Laptop

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 12

    Having a powerful laptop will make blogging a breeze. 

    Phone

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 13

    Despite what most bloggers believe, you can blog solely from your phone if you needed to. How can I be so sure? Because I do it! If you have a reasonably new smartphone, there’s so much you can do with it. Even if you don’t or choose not to blog solely from your phone, you’ll be able to get so much on the go!

    Planner

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 14

    Honestly, it doesn’t matter whether you choose a physical or digital planner. Only that you plan! And every blogger will need a planner, and a specific planner geared towards blogging is incredibly helpful. 

    Apple gift card

    Google play gift card

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 15

    This gift is a fantastic idea because it’ll allow your loved one to purchase blogging tools or snag the subscriptions of their choice! Like canva, adobe spark, or even MS Word. 

    Local cafe gift card

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 16

    This gift is unique because it’ll allow the blogger in your life to get the opportunity and workspace to, you know, blog! Focused uninterrupted working can be difficult for many entrepreneurs whether or not they are work at home moms, and now they can have the funds to get free coffee and snacks!

    Chair

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 17

    Having a good quality chair is a wise investment because bloggers will spend a significant amount of time sitting down. This isn’t the best for our spine, neck, or body overall, and so a good chair will aid in proper posture. 

    Portable desk

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 18

    Every blogger and writer should have a desk or desiccated workspace, but a portable can be useful, especially in small flats and apartments! They can literally move the desk around their home with ease and have a space to work. 

    Webcam

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 19

    This isn’t completely necessary, especially for newer bloggers; however, bloggers or those with a heavy focus on video marketing will want it. It’s great to up the quality of your videos, even if you have a MacBook! Its auto-adjust light features are priceless.  

    Headphones

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 20

    The type of headphone you purchase will depend on your loved one’s needs. I have every kind of headphone because, well, I need them, LOL. The most common option is wireless headphones. These are my favorite because nothing is standing in your way when you’re out and about. I can cook and easily listen to a podcast at the same time.  

    External charger

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 21

    This is a must for new and veteran entrepreneurs because we all experience low on battery at some point. Also, this is something everyone should have in the arsenal! my two favorites are these: 

    One is strong enough to charge your phone and other mobile devices. While the other is powerful enough for a laptop! The worst feeling is running on a 2 percent battery with no outlet or cord around!

    Post-it notes

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 22

    So, this is a personal fave, and most people either love or hate this method! HAHA, Juvenile or not, post it can transform the way an entrepreneur plans. Seriously. And because they are one-time use, they will need an endless supply. Do your blogger a favor and buy a ton worth!

    Trello premium

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 23

    I can’t mention post-its without mentioning Trello. I am a planning freak, I mean guru, LOL and Trello is pretty much the digital version of post-its. So if you’re keen to save our planet or prefer digital resources and like post-its, this is your answer. 

    Appsumo gift card

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 24

    If you arent already familiar with Appsumo, you should be. This is a well-known, reputable company that every blogger needs in their arsenal. They offer a ton of access to many tools and services for LTD (lifetime deals)! And have a generous 60 day (unheard of) return policy with fantastic customer service. I know because I tested them. Vetted and verified, check!

    Laptop riser

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 25

    Alright, similar to a quality chair, your blogger needs a laptop riser. The best option for THEM. It doesn’t need to be expensive but effective. Using a laptop riser ensures that their computers will remain at eye level, which is essential for bloggers spending an obscene amount of time behind a screen. This ensures their posture is straight, and neck strain doesn’t occur.

    Blue light blocking glasses

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 26

    Another important one is blue light blocking glasses. This protects their eyes and is so so important. Read this article, my blogging friend shared about her experience. Now, her experience may not be common, but it isn’t something you want to dismiss! If they wear glasses, I love using Zenni.com to purchase affordable options with blue light blocking features! The prices and styles are excellent. If you don’t care about fashion or don’t wear glasses, consider these you can have delivered to your home in a day, right from amazon. 

    Screencast-o-matic

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 27

    This subscription is great because it allows an affordable and easy beginner to create and edit video content. They also have an app that I love, which makes filming and editing on the go easy.

    Krisp

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 28

    Krisp is another one of my TOP favorite subscriptions! They appeared on Appsumo first, and I am totally bummed, I missed on the offer. This service allows bloggers to record and listen to content without background noise! Imagine the blogger in your life attempts to record a video for their website, podcast, or course…and the dog won’t stop barking, the cat continues purring, and the kids decide to play karaoke for the millionth time?! Well, with this service, you can continue to record without the fear that these sounds will make an appearance on your videos!

    Loom subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 29

    Loom, similar to screencast but much easy to use for non-techy bloggers and not as robust, makes it easy to quickly screen-record content and share. I use both loom and screencast because I love the simplicity of loom when I’m in a rush. But need the editing tool options in Screencast-o-matic for complicated videos.

    Grammarly subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 30

    Let’s stop and take a break here for a moment. If your blogger isn’t already using Grammarly, sign them up RIGHT NOW. Grammarly offers a free version, and it’s a wise service to use. Even the most experienced writers make mistakes, and this helps to proofread a ton. The premium subscription version is great because it has many features bloggers can use that aren’t available otherwise.  

    Omm writer

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 31

    Omm writer has a soft spot in my heart. This program is incredibly cheap and offers wonders to those writers that want the total ambiance experience. This program eliminates all distractions, has proven effective calming backgrounds and music to support your writing sessions. 

    Privacy camera cover

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 32

    This simple item is more for conscious than anything else, really. Everyone should have one, just in case to support and provide an extra sense of privacy. 

    VPN service

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 33

    Another tool to protect your privacy is a VPN. Using a VPN will not only protect your online activity but allow you to view websites and use services from areas you otherwise would be unable to do. 

    Music brain.fm subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 34

    Going back to “ambiance,” this service is scientifically proven to enhance your productivity. It’s an extremely effective way to get “in the zone” fast! 

    Books for bloggers

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 35

    As a self-proclaimed neek, I love a good book. Check out this post to read some of my favorite books for bloggers.

    Sendowl

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 36

    Sendowl is a service that will allow your blogger to sell and deliver digital products and services! So they can start making money! The only negative here is that this service doesn’t allow one to purchase annual subscriptions, so you’d need to gift one month only or provide the funds for the whole year.

    ESP subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 37

    ESP= email service provider. Every blogger needs to focus on building an email list. It’s one of the best ways to remain in control of your income as you own your list. You can contact them anytime, and it’s one of the easiest ways to make money fast. An annual subscription to a service like Mailchimp, Mailerlite, or Convertkit is best.

    Social bee

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 38

    Socialbee is an excellent scheduling service that can manage all of your blogger’s social media posts and strategies. Full disclosure, I snagged this one on app sumo with a lifetime deal, and it’s so worth it!

    Toggl

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 39

    Every blogger needs to KNOW where they spend their and how long it takes to complete a task. It’s so easy to think. We only spend 1 hour on social media or a half-hour editing our web design, when in reality, it’s around 3 or 4 hours. This service is a great way to monitor your tasks so you can plan better. 

    Dropbox

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 40

    Online storage can be a lifesaver to many of us, and frankly, we should also use some sort of “cloud” service. Dropbox is an excellent option for bloggers as it allows them to save and access their work from any device! And depending on the plan you gift, they may have the ability to “share” links, which is great when sharing products with their readers or collaborating with others. 

    Theme

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 41

    I probably should have listed this way up top, considering that nearly every blogger will need a theme for their website design if they aren’t designing it themselves. This gives them a pretty look without tech headaches. 

    Plugins

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 42

    If your blogger is using WordPress, they will use plugins for sure! at some point or another, they’ll need some. Read this post to gauge an idea of the best plugins to use. 

    Web security subscription

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 43

    Unfortunately, hackers are an inevitable part of blogging, and all bloggers will bear this fight at some point or another. 

    Blogging courses 

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 44

    I’ve taken more blogging courses than I care to admit. Wayyyy too many to list here. So, I’ll list a few of those most impactful ones below for every blogger at any stage. If you want to read reviews of all the courses I’ve taken and blogging ebooks, click here.  

    Tailwind

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 45

    Theres a ton of chatter going around about whether or not tailwind is still useful or worth it. Personally, I say yes. If you are genuinely strapped for time or are forgetful like ahem, myself, this tool makes scheduling Pinterest pins and Instagram posts a breeze. 

    Tens unit

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 46

    If you aren’t aware, a tens unit is a small device that uses a mild electrical current to provide pain relief. they come in all price ranges, and you can purchase them from practically anywhere. Now, you absolutely should, not must consult your doctor is using one. Some people cannot use these due to certain conditions etc. However, I use one (because it’s safe, i can, and got the okay from my doctor first) because it helps immensely with neck and back pain.

    Step tracker

    Gifts For Bloggers and Entrepreneurs 47

    This is one of my best recommendations because it’s so easy to lose track or put your health on the back burners. Bloggers spend a considerable amount of time behind a computer screen, which doesn’t allow for much blood circulation. A step tracker is a fun, encouraging way to keep track of your steps to ensure you meet that 10,000 a day goal!

  • How Bloggers Create A Profitable Business With Their Passion

    We all have things that we absolutely love to do. Maybe you love to write. Maybe taking photos makes you feel like a million dollars. Or maybe you love crafting hand-made signs. It’s the thing that makes you feel alive. That creates a fire in your bones. 

    But you don’t think you could ever create a profitable business from your passion. Surely, you think, I can’t make money doing [insert your passion]. Nobody would pay me to do that. It’s too much fun and I love it too much. No way could I make money doing that. That’s where you’re wrong.

    Thanks to the internet, almost any passion can be turned into a profitable side hustle. 

    Did you catch that? 

    You can make money doing the things that you love the most. Yep. You can turn your passion project into a profitable project. 

    Let’s be honest. We all could use some extra cash in our lives. We’ve got bills to pay, kids to send to school, car repairs to make, and a dozen other expenses. Some extra cash could be really useful and go a long way toward making our lives easier. 

    How would it change your life to make an extra $1,000 per month? Or double that? 

    You can easily make that if you know how to create a profitable side hustle. In fact, if you know what you’re doing, you may be able to turn your passion project into your full-time job. 

    Can you imagine how rewarding it would be to get to do what you love for your job? Your quality of life would drastically improve, and your overall life satisfaction would go through the roof. 

    A side hustle isn’t just about money in the bank, as helpful as that can be. A side hustle really can change your life. When you build something for yourself, even as you continue to work your day job, you become empowered. You gain confidence. You create security, both in the form of that extra cash and also in the fact that you’re opening up future opportunities for yourself.

    Chris Guillebeau

    Of course, all this raises the critical question: how do you start a side hustle? 

    Because, honestly, there are a lot of questions that come with starting a side hustle. 

    • What products or services should you sell? 
    • Where should you sell them? 
    • How much should you charge? 
    • How do you market yourself? 
    • How do you determine if your side hustle will actually make money? 

    Well, I’m going to give you a roadmap for turning your passion into a profitable side hustle. I’m going to guide you, step-by-step, to making money doing what you love. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need to do in order to start making money on your side hustle right away. 

    Ready? Let’s get started! Prepare Yourself 🙂

    If you’re interested in get rich quick schemes, then this post isn’t for you.

    Because here’s the reality: creating a profitable side hustle takes a lot of time, diligence, hard work, blood, sweat, and tears (well, hopefully not tears!). 

    If you want to succeed with your side hustle, prepare to put in some work. You shouldn’t expect to start working and immediately have boatloads of cash pouring in. You need to be ready to put in many hours of work over the long haul. 

    How do you create the motivation needed to put in all that hard work? 

    Take a look at your life as it currently is. Are you living your best life now? Are you completely fulfilled with your day job? Are there other things you would love to do to make money? Do you see others doing what you want to do? 

    If you’re not living your best life now, let that serve as a motivator for your side hustle. You really can make money doing what you absolutely LOVE. You can generate significant income doing something that brings great satisfaction into your life. 

    How would it change your life if you were doing work that actually made you happy? 

    How would it revolutionize things for you if you actually enjoyed the work you do every day? 

    To increase your motivation for your side hustle, envision what a successful outcome would look like for your side hustle. Paint a picture in your mind of what your best life will look like. 

    Get very clear on:

    • How badly you want to succeed in your side hustle
    • The benefits you’ll experience 
    • How the extra cash will help you
    • The joy you’ll experience in doing what you love

    If you’re not highly motivated to make your side hustle a reality, it won’t happen. Because here’s the truth: your side hustle is going to take you away from other good things that you could be doing. 

    You may need to give up:

    • Television
    • Hobbies
    • Some time with friends

    You may even need to sacrifice some time with your family, although obviously I don’t recommend doing this over the long haul. 

    The point is simply that you’re going to have to make sacrifices in order to make your side hustle a reality. You’re going to need to do the hard work necessary. You have to be willing to give up some good things in order to achieve a great thing. 

    What most people don’t realize is that it usually takes a significant amount of time and work before you start making good money from your side hustle. 

    Success happens over the long haul, not overnight. If you want your side hustle to be truly profitable, you need to be willing to make sacrifices again and again until you’ve finally reached your objective. 

    Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.

    Pele

    If you want to succeed, you must be willing to work hard and persevere. The good news is that if you persevere, you almost certainly will succeed. 

    All that being said, you must be confident that you can do it. If you’re constantly doubting yourself, you’ll have a hard time getting traction. But if you have faith in yourself and believe firmly in your abilities, you truly can achieve great things. 

    The best time to start a side hustle is right now. Don’t wait any longer. There will never be a perfect time to get started. Start working on your project today and simply adjust as time goes on. Identify Your Passions and Interests

    So how do you identify what your side hustle should be? How do you know what you should give your time to? How can you determine the best activities to focus on? 

    You start by identifying the things you’re most passionate about and interested in. 

    See, a side hustle is the intersection of passion and profit. In other words, it’s all about taking the things you love and are good at and turning them into a profitable gig. 

    So, the first step is to identify what you love to do AND are good at doing.

    Both elements are required. If you want your side hustle to be sustainable, you must love doing it. If you don’t, you’ll burn out quickly. When hard work and sacrifices are needed, you won’t want to. A successful side hustle involves an activity that you love doing. 

    You must also be good at your side hustle. In other words, you must have the necessary skill set to make it a reality. If you’re not good at creating your product or performing your service, others simply won’t want to pay you for it. 

    Ask yourself these questions:

    • What do you absolutely love doing? 
    • What have people told you that you’re good at? 
    • What do you lose track of time doing? 
    • What valuable skills do you have that people would pay for? 
    • What needs can you meet? 

    These questions will help you find the intersection of passion and profit. They’ll help you determine both your skillset and what you love. When these two things combine, you have a viable side hustle. 

    There is a psychological concept called “flow.” It’s when you find yourself so immersed in an activity that you lose all track of time and are simply focused on what’s in front of you. Your mind isn’t distracted at all. Rather, you simply “flow” with your activity. 

    When do you find yourself in the “flow” of things? Pay attention to these moments. It’s these activities that could turn into viable side hustles. Validate Your Side Hustle

    Once you’ve determined what you think your side hustle should be, it’s important to validate it. In other words, be able to demonstrate that people will really pay you for what you offer them. Determine if there’s a “market need” for the product or services that you will offer. 

    After all, it won’t do you any good to start your side hustle, only to discover that no one actually wants what you’re offering. You’ll end up spending hours and hours on things that won’t generate any extra income. You’ll also become discouraged and probably want to give up. 

    Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that people will want what you have to offer, even if it’s just a few people. 

    So how can you do that? Where can you find an audience on which to test out your idea? 

    Some simple ideas include:

    • Ask your friends on social media if they would be interested in what you have to offer.  
    • If you have an email list, send out a poll to them, asking who would be interested in what you’re going to offer.
    • Create a sign-up list where people can get more information. If numerous people sign up, it’s a sign that your idea has legs. 
    • Offer to let people pre-purchase your offer. If a number of people purchase from you, you know that you’re onto something good. 

    Your goal is to avoid wasting time on ideas that won’t get any traction. If your polls, emails, and sign-up list aren’t getting much of a response, it may be time to move on to a different side hustle. 

    It’s really important that you not get discouraged at this point. If you can’t get any traction on your side hustle, that doesn’t mean you have to give it up altogether. It simply means you may not be able to make a sustainable income from it. Or, you may simply need to adjust your approach to your product.

    There are dozens of ways to make money, and you can certainly find a side hustle that allows you to do what you love. 

    Determine What Sets You Apart From Your Competitors

    Unless you’re building something completely new and revolutionary, you’re going to be competing against others. Whether you’re selling a widget or offering coaching services, there are going to be others against whom you’re competing for business. 

    If you’re going to succeed with your side hustle, you need to find a way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. In other words, figure out how you’re going to stand out from the crowd. How you’re going to attract customers. How your offer is different from what others are offering. 

    How can you differentiate yourself from your competition? There are numerous ways, including:

    • Better quality products or services
    • Better customer service
    • Faster delivery
    • Less expensive products or services
    • Aggressive sales tactics
    • Higher or lower profit margins
    • A noble cause that you support with profits from your product

    For example, let’s say you’re selling soap online. You could create a unique soap that is better quality than most other soap out there. Because your soap is better quality, you can sell it for a higher price and make higher profit margins. 

    Or you could sell your soap at a discount and sell a higher volume of soap. Or you could create an aggressive online marketing campaign where you’re trying to get your soap in front of more eyeballs than anyone else. 

    If you don’t find a way to differentiate yourself from your competitors, there’s no reason that customers should purchase from you. You absolutely must find a way to stand out in the crowd. 

    Define Your Goals

    Once you’ve determined what your side hustle will be, have validated that idea, and determined how you’ll stand out from the crowd, it’s time to define your overall goals. Defining clear goals will help you know what steps you need to take in order to turn your hustle into a reality. 

    Consider laying out a set of goals that sequentially follow one another.

    For example, if you’re going to sell products on eBay, your first goal may be to create an eBay account. Your second goal may be to research the products that sell best on eBay. Your third goal may be to source the products to sell and your fourth goal may be to list those products. 

    When setting your goals, ensure that they are realistic. 

    Your goal is to get traction, not reach your end goal right off the bat. Setting a goal of selling 1,000 bars of soap is a great goal, but there are probably a dozen smaller goals that need to be achieved before you can reach your final goal. 

    Each goal should be realistic and achievable. If your goals aren’t realistic, you’ll again find yourself getting discouraged when you don’t meet those goals. The more discouraged you get, the more inclined you’ll be to give up your side hustle. 

    So what are some small goals you can set that will give you traction on your hustle? These small goals should all contribute to your big, overall goal. 

    Do you need to…

    • Research your market? 
    • Research the desires of your ideal customer? 
    • Create a website? 
    • Send out an email to your list, letting them know about your offer? 

    Start taking small steps that will lead you to your overall goal. Try to set goals that will move you forward on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. 

    Create Milestones

    One of the great temptations with a side hustle is to put off actually launching. You can get so caught up in trying to make things perfect that you never actually get your side hustle off the ground.

    Eventually, you just need to get started. Yes, you need to reach the small goals that will lead you to your big goal, but eventually, you just need to get your idea out into the wild and evaluate the response. 

    Side hustles are iterative. In other words, you launch, refine, fix problems, and then keep going. With each iteration, your side hustle gets better and better. The more iterations you do, the more highly refined your hustle becomes and the more revenue you generate. 

    In order to launch, set milestones that will force you to take action. Setting milestones for yourself will ensure that you actually take action and don’t delay. Each milestone should be tied directly to a date. 

    For example, let’s say you’re launching a coaching program. Your first milestone might be to create your website within the next month. Your next milestone might be to send out an email to all the potential clients you know. Your third milestone might be to advertise your coaching practice on Facebook. 

    Think of it this way: 

    Milestones equal movement. 

    When you set milestones for yourself, it forces you to move forward and prevents you from trying to get everything perfect. 

    Like your goals, your milestones should also be realistic and achievable. For example, it’s probably not realistic to think that you can get a website designed in a day (unless you’re an amazing web designer). Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to achieve your milestone. 

    The more you reach your milestones, the more encouraged you’ll be about your side hustle. The more encouraged you are, the more you’ll want to reach more milestones, which will keep your project moving at a rapid pace. Avoid making excuses when it comes to meeting your milestones. Hold yourself to deadlines, and if you need to get friends to hold you accountable, don’t hesitate to do that. 

    Determine How You Will Sell

    Before you can launch your side hustle, you’ll need to determine how you’re going to sell your product or service. 

    Thankfully, there are dozens of ways to sell products and services, such as:

    1. You can always sell in person.
    • If you’re selling a product, you can take it to trade shows and markets.
    • You could even go from door to door if you have the courage.
    • You can sell directly to your friends or host parties where you show off your product.
    • You can meet one-on-one with potential customers and tell them about the benefits of the service you offer.
    1. You can also sell just about any product or service online as well.
    • For example, if your product is crafty (like soap), artisan, or vintage you can sell on Etsy.
    • If you’re getting products from thrift shops, you can sell them on eBay or Poshmark.
    • If you’re trying to break into the freelance world, you can find jobs in dozens of industries on websites like UpworkFiverr, or Thumbtack.
    • If you’re selling eBooks, you can list them on Amazon.
    • If you’re promoting a course you’ve created, you can sell it through HeightsTeachableShopify, or Thinkific.
    • If you’re handy, you can find hundreds of jobs on TaskRabbit.
    • If you’re a coach, you can use Tailored.coach to connect with your clients.
    • And, of course, you can build your own website (or blog) – your business’ home on the web.

    No matter what you’re selling, there is an online platform to sell it. 

    A simple way to find the platform that’s best for you is to Google “Sell [PRODUCT/SERVICE] online”.

    This will bring up dozens of results and allow you to find the best place to sell your product or service. 

    Start Selling

    This point is short and sweet. Once you’ve done the initial work up front, you simply need to get started. 

    Your side hustle will not be perfect when you first launch it. You’ll make mistakes. You may have trouble landing your first customers. Regardless, at some point, you must launch your side hustle if you want to make any money from it. 

    As noted above, building a successful side hustle involves a lot of tweaking, refining, and making changes on the fly. If you try to get everything perfect before you launch, you’ll never get started. 

    In the initial launch phase, it may take some time for you to gain significant traction. You’ll have to work hard to promote yourself. But it’s worth the work. If your side hustle is valuable, people will eventually buy into it. 

    Avoid getting discouraged if you don’t have massive success right off the bat. Keep working, refining, promoting, and selling. Eventually, you’ll hit on the right combination and the customers will start coming. 

    Market Yourself

    To make your side hustle as successful as possible, it’s essential to consistently market yourself. You’ll need to promote your hustle, so it gets in front of as many people as possible. 

    Don’t be modest on this point. If you truly believe in what you’re doing, then go for it with all your might. Market yourself hard and relentlessly. 

    What are some effective ways to market your side hustle? 

    • Ask your friends and family to spread the word.
    • Hand out flyers telling others about what you offer.
    • Give out free samples (if you’re selling a product).
    • Tell people about it on social media.
    • Build an email list and regularly promote your product or service to the list.
    • Start a blog and consistently talk about pain points your customers feel.
    • Create a YouTube channel specifically dedicated to giving loads of value to potential customers.
    • Start a podcast in which you talk about elements of your industry and business.
    • Appear as a guest on other’s podcasts.
    • Do webinars where you teach valuable lessons and then promote your product or service at the end.
    • Use paid advertising to drive people to your website.
    • Consistently apply for jobs on the platforms mentioned above.

    Generally speaking, the more value you can give potential customers for free, the more likely they are to pay for your product or services. 

    For example, let’s say you’re a health and fitness coach. You could create a YouTube channel in which you teach people exercises and workout routines. This is giving free value to people. 

    The more you do this, the more people will see that you’re an expert in your field and the more they’ll want to hire you as their health and fitness coach. 

    Again, don’t be afraid to market yourself. You’ve put in hours of hard work to get to this point. You’ve created a product or service that you truly believe in. You know that you truly can help people and really want to make a difference in the world. 

    So, try to get yourself in front of as many people as possible. Don’t worry about what others will think. If you want to succeed with your side hustle, you must market yourself constantly. 

    Get Feedback From Your Customers

    After you’ve launched, keep improving. If you want to achieve the kind of success that will change your life, you need to constantly better the product or service that you’re offering. 

    After all, some people will buy an okay product or service. A LOT of people will buy an outstanding product or service. 

    This is where customer feedback is invaluable. Your customers can honestly tell you what is and what isn’t working. They can help you see past your blind spots and identify areas for change that you never would have seen on your own. 

    So, ask your customers these important questions:

    • What do they like about your product or service?
    • What features do they find most valuable and which ones could use improvement
    • How has your product or service benefited them and what benefits would they still like to see?
    • Which pain points could you more effectively solve?
    • What features could you add that would make your offer even more valuable to your customers?
    • How can you create the absolute best experience for those who have bought into what you’re selling? 

    Asking customers for feedback is a way of being transparent and authentic with your customers. It shows them that you really care about them and their opinion and that you want to offer them the best possible product or service possible. 

    The more authentic you are with your customers, the more they’ll support you over the long run. As they see how dedicated you are to constant improvement, they’ll want to continue working with you and using your product or service. 

    Provide Amazing Experiences For Your Customers

    One of the best ways to get new customers and keep your existing customers is to create amazing experiences for them. These experiences don’t need to be anything crazy. Your goal is to show them that you care deeply about them and want them to be incredibly happy with what you have to offer. 

    How can you create incredible experiences for your customers?

    There are literally dozens of simple ways:

    • Provide amazing customer support
    • Send a handwritten thank you note with every product
    • Include an extra surprise with your product 
    • Dedicate extended time to helping your clients work through their challenges
    • Send a card on the anniversary of their first purchase 
    • Create short, custom videos thanking each one of your clients or customers
    • Call each customer just to say thank you

    The list goes on and on. The goal is simply to make your customers feel special. You want them to feel like they really matter to you and aren’t simply a way for you to make money. 

    The more you can delight and surprise your customers, the more likely it is that they’ll tell their friends and colleagues about you, which will generate referral business. If you really go over the top with the way you treat your customers, you may even get exposure in prominent publications. 

    But ultimately, it’s not about getting referral business or big exposure, although those things are certainly valuable. It’s about treating your customers like real people who you actually care about. 

    Build Sustainable Cash Flow

    Eventually, if all things go well (and they will!), there will come a point where you have to decide whether or not you want to quit your day job and make your side hustle your full-time job. 

    Isn’t that exciting to think about? You really could turn your passion project into a full-time, income producing job! 

    So how do you do that? 

    The final step is to get to the point where you have sustainable cash flow. In other words, you need to have a relatively stable amount of money coming in every month. If you have consistent cash flow, this gives you the option of quitting your day job. 

    How much sustainable cash flow should you have? Ideally, you want your side hustle to be generating at least 75% of your income. This will give you the flexibility to decide whether or not you want to quit your day job. 

    When thinking about your income, remember to take into account expenses. You’ll have to pay self-employment tax at the end of the year. You also probably have expenses involved in keeping your side hustle up and running. Take all these things into account when deciding whether to make the plunge. 

    One important thing to note when it comes to quitting your day job. There will probably be a sense of fear and apprehension around quitting your job. After all, your job offers you stability. 

    Avoid allowing fear to keep you from following your dreams. 

    Fear is a big dream killer. If you’ve gotten your side hustle to the point where you’re generating significant income, then it’s time to seriously consider whether or not you should focus on doing it full time. 

    And consider this. If you’re only doing your side hustle part time and you’re making enough money to consider quitting your day job, think about how much more you could make if you were doing it full-time! Going full-time with your side hustle could actually produce significantly more income for you. 

    When that time comes, ask yourself, “What is keeping me from taking the leap? What is keeping me from pursuing my dream full-time?” 

    If the answer is fear, that might be a signal that it’s actually time to go all-in on your side hustle. 

    Side Hustle Your Way To Freedom

    The beauty of the side hustle is that, when done properly, it can create freedom for you. If you’re working a day job, it can give you additional income that can set you up for financial freedom. If you’re not working a full-time job (like a stay-at-home mom), a side hustle can provide valuable income to your family. 

    And eventually, you may be able to take your passion and turn it into a full-time job. That’s the real power of the side hustle!

    Over the course of this book, you’ve learned a lot!

    We talked about:

    • Preparing yourself for the hard work of the side hustle
    • Identifying your passions, desires, and skills
    • Validating your side hustle
    • Defining the goals that you want to achieve 
    • Creating milestones that will keep your side hustle moving
    • Determining how you’ll sell your side hustle products or services
    • Starting the actual process of selling
    • Marketing yourself effectively
    • Getting feedback from your customers
    • Providing amazing customer experiences
    • Building sustainable cash flow

    You now know what you need to do in order to start making money with your side hustle. You even know what you need to do in order to transform your side hustle into a full-time job. 

    The only question now is, “What’s stopping you?” Nothing is holding you back from getting your side hustle up and running. 

    So, don’t wait any longer. Get hustling!

  • How to make money with your passion

    We all have things that we absolutely love to do. Maybe you love to write. Maybe taking photos makes you feel like a million dollars. Or maybe you love crafting hand-made signs. It’s the thing that makes you feel alive. That creates a fire in your bones. But you don’t think you could ever make money from your passion. 

    Surely, you think, I can’t make money doing [insert your passion]. Nobody would pay me to do that. It’s too much fun and I love it too much. No way could I make money doing that. 

    That’s where you’re wrong.

    Thanks to the internet, almost any passion can be turned into a profitable side hustle. 

    Did you catch that? 

    You can make money doing the things that you love the most. Yep. You can turn your passion project into a profitable project. 

    Let’s be honest. We all could use some extra cash in our lives. We’ve got bills to pay, kids to send to school, car repairs to make, and a dozen other expenses. Some extra cash could be really useful and go a long way toward making our lives easier. 

    How would it change your life to make an extra $1,000 per month? Or double that? 

    You can easily make that if you know how to create a profitable side hustle. In fact, if you know what you’re doing, you may be able to turn your passion project into your full-time job. 

    Can you imagine how rewarding it would be to get to do what you love for your job? Your quality of life would drastically improve, and your overall life satisfaction would go through the roof. 

    A side hustle isn’t just about money in the bank, as helpful as that can be. A side hustle really can change your life. When you build something for yourself, even as you continue to work your day job, you become empowered. You gain confidence. You create security, both in the form of that extra cash and also in the fact that you’re opening up future opportunities for yourself.

    Chris Guillebeau

    Of course, all this raises the critical question: how do you start a side hustle? 

    Because, honestly, there are a lot of questions that come with starting a side hustle. 

    • What products or services should you sell? 
    • Where should you sell them? 
    • How much should you charge? 
    • How do you market yourself? 
    • How do you determine if your side hustle will actually make money? 

    In this post, I’m going to give you a roadmap for turning your passion into a profitable side hustle. We’re going to guide you, step-by-step, to making money doing what you love. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need to do in order to start making money on your side hustle right away. 

    Ready? Let’s get started!

    Prepare Yourself

    If you’re interested in get rich quick schemes, then this book isn’t for you. Because here’s the reality: creating a profitable side hustle takes a lot of time, diligence, hard work, blood, sweat, and tears (well, hopefully not tears!). 

    If you want to succeed with your side hustle, prepare to put in some work. You shouldn’t expect to start working and immediately have boatloads of cash pouring in. You need to be ready to put in many hours of work over the long haul. 

    How do you create the motivation needed to put in all that hard work? 

    Take a look at your life as it currently is. Are you living your best life now? Are you completely fulfilled with your day job? Are there other things you would love to do to make money? Do you see others doing what you want to do? 

    If you’re not living your best life now, let that serve as a motivator for your side hustle. You really can make money doing what you absolutely LOVE. You can generate significant income doing something that brings great satisfaction into your life. 

    How would it change your life if you were doing work that actually made you happy? 

    How would it revolutionize things for you if you actually enjoyed the work you do every day? 

    To increase your motivation for your side hustle, envision what a successful outcome would look like for your side hustle. Paint a picture in your mind of what your best life will look like. 

    Get very clear on:

    • How badly you want to succeed in your side hustle
    • The benefits you’ll experience 
    • How the extra cash will help you
    • The joy you’ll experience in doing what you love

    If you’re not highly motivated to make your side hustle a reality, it won’t happen. Because here’s the truth: your side hustle is going to take you away from other good things that you could be doing. 

    You may need to give up:

    • Television
    • Hobbies
    • Some time with friends

    You may even need to sacrifice some time with your family, although we obviously don’t recommend doing this over the long haul. 

    The point is simply that you’re going to have to make sacrifices in order to make your side hustle a reality. You’re going to need to do the hard work necessary. You have to be willing to give up some good things in order to achieve a great thing. 

    What most people don’t realize is that it usually takes a significant amount of time and work before you start making good money from your side hustle. 

    Success happens over the long haul, not overnight. If you want your side hustle to be truly profitable, you need to be willing to make sacrifices again and again until you’ve finally reached your objective. 

    World famous soccer player Pele said:

    Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.

    If you want to succeed, you must be willing to work hard and persevere. The good news is that if you persevere, you almost certainly will succeed. 

    All that being said, you must be confident that you can do it. If you’re constantly doubting yourself, you’ll have a hard time getting traction. But if you have faith in yourself and believe firmly in your abilities, you truly can achieve great things. 

    The best time to start a side hustle is right now. Don’t wait any longer. There will never be a perfect time to get started. Start working on your project today and simply adjust as time goes on. Identify Your Passions and Interests

    So how do you identify what your side hustle should be? How do you know what you should give your time to? How can you determine the best activities to focus on? 

    You start by identifying the things you’re most passionate about and interested in. 

    See, a side hustle is the intersection of passion and profit. In other words, it’s all about taking the things you love and are good at and turning them into a profitable gig. 

    So, the first step is to identify what you love to do AND are good at doing.

    Both elements are required. If you want your side hustle to be sustainable, you must love doing it. If you don’t, you’ll burn out quickly. When hard work and sacrifices are needed, you won’t want to. A successful side hustle involves an activity that you love doing. 

    You must also be good at your side hustle. In other words, you must have the necessary skill set to make it a reality. If you’re not good at creating your product or performing your service, others simply won’t want to pay you for it. 

    Ask yourself these questions:

    • What do you absolutely love doing? 
    • What have people told you that you’re good at? 
    • What do you lose track of time doing? 
    • What valuable skills do you have that people would pay for? 
    • What needs can you meet? 

    These questions will help you find the intersection of passion and profit. They’ll help you determine both your skillset and what you love. When these two things combine, you have a viable side hustle. 

    There is a psychological concept called “flow.” It’s when you find yourself so immersed in an activity that you lose all track of time and are simply focused on what’s in front of you. Your mind isn’t distracted at all. Rather, you simply “flow” with your activity. 

    When do you find yourself in the “flow” of things? Pay attention to these moments. It’s these activities that could turn into viable side hustles. Validate Your Side Hustle

    Once you’ve determined what you think your side hustle should be, it’s important to validate it. In other words, be able to demonstrate that people will really pay you for what you offer them. Determine if there’s a “market need” for the product or services that you will offer. 

    After all, it won’t do you any good to start your side hustle, only to discover that no one actually wants what you’re offering. You’ll end up spending hours and hours on things that won’t generate any extra income. You’ll also become discouraged and probably want to give up. 

    Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that people will want what you have to offer, even if it’s just a few people. 

    So how can you do that? Where can you find an audience on which to test out your idea? 

    Some simple ideas include:

    • Ask your friends on social media if they would be interested in what you have to offer. 
    • If you have an email list, send out a poll to them, asking who would be interested in what you’re going to offer. 
    • Create a sign-up list where people can get more information. If numerous people sign up, it’s a sign that your idea has legs. 
    • Offer to let people pre-purchase your offer. If a number of people purchase from you, you know that you’re onto something good. 

    Your goal is to avoid wasting time on ideas that won’t get any traction. If your polls, emails, and sign-up list aren’t getting much of a response, it may be time to move on to a different side hustle. 

    It’s really important that you not get discouraged at this point. If you can’t get any traction on your side hustle, that doesn’t mean you have to give it up altogether. It simply means you may not be able to make a sustainable income from it. Or, you may simply need to adjust your approach to your product.

    There are dozens of ways to make money, and you can certainly find a side hustle that allows you to do what you love. 

    Determine What Sets You Apart From Your Competitors

    Unless you’re building something completely new and revolutionary, you’re going to be competing against others. Whether you’re selling a widget or offering coaching services, there are going to be others against whom you’re competing for business. 

    If you’re going to succeed with your side hustle, you need to find a way to differentiate yourself from your competitors. In other words, figure out how you’re going to stand out from the crowd. How you’re going to attract customers. How your offer is different from what others are offering. 

    How can you differentiate yourself from your competitors? There are numerous ways, including:

    • Better quality products or services
    • Better customer service
    • Faster delivery
    • Less expensive products or services
    • Aggressive sales tactics
    • Higher or lower profit margins
    • A noble cause that you support with profits from your product

    For example, let’s say you’re selling soap online. You could create a unique soap that is better quality than most other soap out there. Because your soap is better quality, you can sell it for a higher price and make higher profit margins. 

    Or you could sell your soap at a discount and sell a higher volume of soap. Or you could create an aggressive online marketing campaign where you’re trying to get your soap in front of more eyeballs than anyone else. 

    If you don’t find a way to differentiate yourself from your competitors, there’s no reason that customers should purchase from you. You absolutely must find a way to stand out in the crowd. 

    Define Your Goals

    Once you’ve determined what your side hustle will be, have validated that idea, and determined how you’ll stand out from the crowd, it’s time to define your overall goals. Defining clear goals will help you know what steps you need to take in order to turn your hustle into a reality. 

    Consider laying out a set of goals that sequentially follow one another.

    For example, if you’re going to sell products on eBay, your first goal may be to create an eBay account. Your second goal may be to research the products that sell best on eBay. Your third goal may be to source the products to sell and your fourth goal may be to list those products. 

    When setting your goals, ensure that they are realistic. Your goal is to get traction, not reach your end goal right off the bat. Setting a goal of selling 1,000 bars of soap is a great goal, but there are probably a dozen smaller goals that need to be achieved before you can reach your final goal. 

    Each goal should be realistic and achievable. If your goals aren’t realistic, you’ll again find yourself getting discouraged when you don’t meet those goals. The more discouraged you get, the more inclined you’ll be to give up your side hustle. 

    So what are some small goals you can set that will give you traction on your hustle? These small goals should all contribute to your big, overall goal. 

    Do you need to…

    • Research your market? 
    • Research the desires of your ideal customer? 
    • Create a website? 
    • Send out an email to your list, letting them know about your offer? 

    Start taking small steps that will lead you to your overall goal. Try to set goals that will move you forward on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. 

    Create Milestones

    One of the great temptations with a side hustle is to put off actually launching. You can get so caught up in trying to make things perfect that you never actually get your side hustle off the ground.

    Eventually, you just need to get started. Yes, you need to reach the small goals that will lead you to your big goal, but eventually, you just need to get your idea out into the wild and evaluate the response. 

    Side hustles are iterative. In other words, you launch, refine, fix problems, and then keep going. With each iteration, your side hustle gets better and better. The more iterations you do, the more highly refined your hustle becomes and the more revenue you generate. 

    In order to launch, set milestones that will force you to take action. Setting milestones for yourself will ensure that you actually take action and don’t delay. Each milestone should be tied directly to a date. 

    For example, let’s say you’re launching a coaching program. Your first milestone might be to create your website within the next month. Your next milestone might be to send out an email to all the potential clients you know. Your third milestone might be to advertise your coaching practice on Facebook. 

    Think of it this way: Milestones equal movement. When you set milestones for yourself, it forces you to move forward and prevents you from trying to get everything perfect. 

    Like your goals, your milestones should also be realistic and achievable. For example, it’s probably not realistic to think that you can get a website designed in a day (unless you’re an amazing web designer). Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to achieve your milestone. 

    The more you reach your milestones, the more encouraged you’ll be about your side hustle. The more encouraged you are, the more you’ll want to reach more milestones, which will keep your project moving at a rapid pace. Avoid making excuses when it comes to meeting your milestones. Hold yourself to deadlines, and if you need to get friends to hold you accountable, don’t hesitate to do that. 

    Determine How You Will Sell

    Before you can launch your side hustle, you’ll need to determine how you’re going to sell your product or service. 

    Thankfully, there are dozens of ways to sell products and services, such as:

    You can always sell in person. 

    If you’re selling a product, you can take it to trade shows and markets.

     

    You could even go from door to door if you have the courage.

     

    You can sell directly to your friends or host parties where you show off your product.

     

    You can meet one-on-one with potential customers and tell them about the benefits of the service you offer. 

    You can also sell just about any product or service online as well. 

    For example, if your product is crafty (like soap), artisan, or vintage you can sell on Etsy.

     

    If you’re getting products from thrift shops, you can sell them on eBay or Poshmark.

     

    If you’re trying to break into the freelance world, you can find jobs in dozens of industries on websites like UpworkFiverr, or Thumbtack.

     

    If you’re selling eBooks, you can list them on Amazon.

     

    If you’re promoting a course you’ve created, you can sell it through KajabiTeachableUdemy, or Thinkific.

     

    If you’re a handyman, you can find hundreds of jobs on TaskRabbit.

     

    If you’re a coach, you can use Tailored.coach to connect with your clients.

     

    And, of course, you can build your own website – your business’ home on the web.

    No matter what you’re selling, there is an online platform to sell it. A simple way to find the platform that’s best for you is to Google “Sell [PRODUCT/SERVICE] online”. This will bring up dozens of results and allow you to find the best place to sell your product or service. 

    Start Selling

    This point is short and sweet. Once you’ve done the initial work up front, you simply need to get started. 

    Your side hustle will not be perfect when you first launch it. You’ll make mistakes. You may have trouble landing your first customers. Regardless, at some point, you must launch your side hustle if you want to make any money from it. 

    As noted above, building a successful side hustle involves a lot of tweaking, refining, and making changes on the fly. If you try to get everything perfect before you launch, you’ll never get started. 

    In the initial launch phase, it may take some time for you to gain significant traction. You’ll have to work hard to promote yourself. But it’s worth the work. If your side hustle is valuable, people will eventually buy into it. 

    Avoid getting discouraged if you don’t have massive success right off the bat. Keep working, refining, promoting, and selling. Eventually, you’ll hit on the right combination and the customers will start coming. 

    Market Yourself

    To make your side hustle as successful as possible, it’s essential to consistently market yourself. You’ll need to promote your hustle, so it gets in front of as many people as possible. 

    Don’t be modest on this point. If you truly believe in what you’re doing, then go for it with all your might. Market yourself hard and relentlessly. 

    What are some effective ways to market your side hustle? 

    • Ask your friends and family to spread the word.
    • Hand out flyers telling others about what you offer.
    • Give out free samples (if you’re selling a product).
    • Tell people about it on social media.
    • Build an email list and regularly promote your product or service to the list.
    • Start a blog and consistently talk about pain points your customers feel.
    • Create a YouTube channel specifically dedicated to giving loads of value to potential customers.
    • Start a podcast in which you talk about elements of your industry and business.
    • Appear as a guest on other’s podcasts.
    • Do webinars where you teach valuable lessons and then promote your product or service at the end.
    • Use paid advertising to drive people to your website.
    • Consistently apply for jobs on the platforms mentioned above.

    Generally speaking, the more value you can give potential customers for free, the more likely they are to pay for your product or services. 

    For example, let’s say you’re a health and fitness coach. You could create a YouTube channel in which you teach people exercises and workout routines. This is giving free value to people. 

    The more you do this, the more people will see that you’re an expert in your field and the more they’ll want to hire you as their health and fitness coach. 

    Again, don’t be afraid to market yourself. You’ve put in hours of hard work to get to this point. You’ve created a product or service that you truly believe in. You know that you truly can help people and really want to make a difference in the world. 

    So, try to get yourself in front of as many people as possible. Don’t worry about what others will think. If you want to succeed with your side hustle, you must market yourself constantly. 

    Get Feedback From Your Customers

    After you’ve launched, keep improving. If you want to achieve the kind of success that will change your life, you need to constantly better the product or service that you’re offering. 

    After all, some people will buy an okay product or service. A LOT of people will buy an outstanding product or service. 

    This is where customer feedback is invaluable. Your customers can honestly tell you what is and what isn’t working. They can help you see past your blind spots and identify areas for change that you never would have seen on your own. 

    So, ask your customers these important questions:

    • What do they like about your product or service?
    • What features do they find most valuable and which ones could use improvement?
    • How has your product or service benefited them and what benefits would they still like to see?
    • Which pain points could you more effectively solve?
    • What features could you add that would make your offer even more valuable to your customers?
    • How can you create the absolute best experience for those who have bought into what you’re selling? 

    Asking customers for feedback is a way of being transparent and authentic with your customers. It shows them that you really care about them and their opinion and that you want to offer them the best possible product or service possible. 

    The more authentic you are with your customers, the more they’ll support you over the long run. As they see how dedicated you are to constant improvement, they’ll want to continue working with you and using your product or service. 

     Provide Amazing Experiences For Your Customers

    One of the best ways to get new customers and keep your existing customers is to create amazing experiences for them. These experiences don’t need to be anything crazy. Your goal is to show them that you care deeply about them and want them to be incredibly happy with what you have to offer. 

    How can you create incredible experiences for your customers?

    There are literally dozens of simple ways:

    • Provide amazing customer support
    • Send a handwritten thank you note with every product
    • Include an extra surprise with your product 
    • Dedicate extended time to helping your clients work through their challenges
    • Send a card on the anniversary of their first purchase 
    • Create short, custom videos thanking each one of your clients or customers
    • Call each customer just to say thank you

    The list goes on and on. The goal is simply to make your customers feel special. You want them to feel like they really matter to you and aren’t simply a way for you to make money. 

    The more you can delight and surprise your customers, the more likely it is that they’ll tell their friends and colleagues about you, which will generate referral business. If you really go over the top with the way you treat your customers, you may even get exposure in prominent publications. 

    But ultimately, it’s not about getting referral business or big exposure, although those things are certainly valuable. It’s about treating your customers like real people who you actually care about. 

    Build Sustainable Cash Flow

    Eventually, if all things go well (and they will!), there will come a point where you have to decide whether or not you want to quit your day job and make your side hustle your full-time job. 

    Isn’t that exciting to think about? You really could turn your passion project into a full-time, income producing job! 

    So how do you do that? 

    The final step is to get to the point where you have sustainable cash flow. In other words, you need to have a relatively stable amount of money coming in every month. If you have consistent cash flow, this gives you the option of quitting your day job. 

    How much sustainable cash flow should you have? Ideally, you want your side hustle to be generating at least 75% of your income. This will give you the flexibility to decide whether or not you want to quit your day job. 

    When thinking about your income, remember to take into account expenses. You’ll have to pay self-employment tax at the end of the year. You also probably have expenses involved in keeping your side hustle up and running. Take all these things into account when deciding whether to make the plunge. 

    One important thing to note when it comes to quitting your day job. There will probably be a sense of fear and apprehension around quitting your job. After all, your job offers you stability. 

    Avoid allowing fear to keep you from following your dreams. 

    Fear is a big dream killer. If you’ve gotten your side hustle to the point where you’re generating significant income, then it’s time to seriously consider whether or not you should focus on doing it full time. 

    And consider this. If you’re only doing your side hustle part time and you’re making enough money to consider quitting your day job, think about how much more you could make if you were doing it full-time! Going full-time with your side hustle could actually produce significantly more income for you. 

    When that time comes, ask yourself, “What is keeping me from taking the leap? What is keeping me from pursuing my dream full-time?” 

    If the answer is fear, that might be a signal that it’s actually time to go all-in on your side hustle. 

    Side Hustle Your Way To Freedom

    The beauty of the side hustle is that, when done properly, it can create freedom for you. If you’re working a day job, it can give you additional income that can set you up for financial freedom. If you’re not working a full-time job (like a stay-at-home mom), a side hustle can provide valuable income to your family. 

    And eventually, you may be able to take your passion and turn it into a full-time job. That’s the real power of the side hustle!

    By now, you’ve learned a lot!

    We talked about:

    • Preparing yourself for the hard work of the side hustle
    • Identifying your passions, desires, and skills
    • Validating your side hustle
    • Defining the goals that you want to achieve 
    • Creating milestones that will keep your side hustle moving
    • Determining how you’ll sell your side hustle products or services
    • Starting the actual process of selling
    • Marketing yourself effectively
    • Getting feedback from your customers
    • Providing amazing customer experiences
    • Building sustainable cash flow

    You now know what you need to do in order to start making money with your side hustle. You even know what you need to do in order to transform your side hustle into a full-time job. 

    The only question now is, “What’s stopping you?” 

    Nothing is holding you back from getting your side hustle up and running. 

    So, don’t wait any longer. Get hustling!