Easy Learn Facebook Marketing

 

 

 

 

Facebook Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

With over 2.74 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the world’s most popular social media platform. From a marketing perspective, there are many opportunities to engage with new audiences and expand your company’s reach.  

How do you capitalize on these opportunities? By devising a Facebook marketing strategy. 

For beginners, this can all seem a little daunting but don’t worry. If you’re new to Facebook marketing, let me walk you through using the tools available to your advantage.   

What Is Facebook Marketing?

Facebook marketing is a catch-all term for the different ways you can market your business on Facebook. It includes: 

• Facebook Ads
• Business Pages
• Facebook Marketplace
• Facebook Groups 

There’s a marketing strategy for every budget, whether you’re looking for a free social media marketing solution or you want to set aside a regular sum for paid Facebook Ads. 

Why Should You Use Facebook Marketing?

Firstly, over 90 million businesses are already on Facebook. Around 1.88 billion users access Facebook at least once per day, and at least 17 percent of users join Facebook to connect with brands and products.

In other words, businesses are actively pursuing customers across this social media platform, so it makes sense to build your own presence there. 

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What’s more, 45 percent of internet users across the globe turn to platforms like Facebook to find out more about products they want to buy. You can help them discover your brand by advertising effectively on Facebook.

Types of Facebook Ads

Facebook lets you choose from four main ad types. 

Image Ads

Static image ads are ideal for driving traffic to your website. 

They must be in JPG or PNG format, and the headline shouldn’t exceed 40 characters. Since you only have 125 characters for the main message, they’re best for clear and concise calls to action (CTAs).  

Video Ads

With video ads, you can showcase a product, promote customer testimonials, or boost your brand. Video posts, in general, have a 6.09 percent engagement rate on Facebook, which is impressive, but you’ll lose viewers if it’s a poor-quality video with an unclear message.  

Carousel Ads

With carousel ads, people can scroll through a host of images to see the same product from multiple angles. 

While this is great for e-commerce, carousel ads aren’t ideal for showcasing different products or listings e.g., properties in real estate marketing.  

Collection Ads

Image collections are great for showing products in your e-commerce store, but as with image ads, you’re limited to a short headline and a 125-character primary message, so they’re not suited for conveying much information. 

The ad type you choose depends largely on your campaign goal. For example, an image is great for driving home a visually compelling CTA, whereas videos are useful for engaging audiences. 

There’s no set cost for Facebook Ads, either. Since you bid on ad slots across the platform, how much the ad costs depends on how much you’re willing to pay to secure the slot you want.  

Steps to Start Facebook Marketing

To use Facebook Ads, it’s best if you set up a Facebook Page for your business if you don’t already have one. Set one up by heading here.

Access Ads Manager

First, you need to access Ads Manager. 

Ads Manager is the “hub” to create, manage, and track Facebook Ad campaigns. You can log in here.  

Choose Your Ad Objective

Next, determine what you want from your campaign by setting your ad objective. There are three categories to choose from:

1. Awareness Goals

• brand awareness
• reach

2. Consideration Goals

• traffic
• engagement
• app installs
• video views
• lead generation
• messages

3. Conversion Goals 

• conversions
• catalog sales
• store traffic

Click the green “Create” button and choose your goal:

Name Your Campaign

A name helps you keep track of the campaign within Ads Manager. 

Once you’ve chosen a name, confirm if you want to test different versions of the same ad against each other using A/B testing. This is optional, and you can change your mind later. 

Move on to the next screen.

Set Your Budget and Schedule 

First, choose which Page to promote. This is probably your company’s Page.

Then, set either a monthly or daily budget for your Facebook Ad campaign, and determine when you want your campaign to start. You can set an end date, too.  

If you want, you can schedule your ad based on time zones to ensure your target audience is most likely to see it. For example, if you’re targeting a U.S. audience, you can run your ads during U.S. daytime hours, and so on:

Choose Your Audience

Build your target audience based on gender, age, location, and language. Once you’ve got a broad sense of your ad reach, you can customize your audience based on user behaviors and interests to improve your chances of reaching the right people. 

If you’re happy with your ad reach, move on.  

Select Your Ad Placements

Decide where your ad should appear. For beginners, you might be best choosing “Automatic Placements” so Facebook can determine where you’re likely to get the best traction.

If you’re more knowledgeable, you can customize placement based on, for example, device type, social media platform (Facebook or Instagram), and operating system:

Determine Your Brand Safety Controls

You can specify content you don’t want your ad to appear alongside, such as violent, sensitive, or offensive content. 

From this screen, you can also customize your bidding strategy a little more. For beginners, though, it’s a good idea to stick with the default options at first and make changes later if required.

Create Your Facebook Ad

Finally, choose your ad format, type in the ad copy, and enter your images or videos. Once you’re happy with the ad, click the “Publish” button to go live.   

Congratulations, you’ve created your first Facebook Ad!

Tips for Creating Great Facebook Ads

To get the most from your Facebook Ads, here are some tips to bear in mind. 

• First impressions matter, so use quality, high-resolution images for every ad. 
• Highlight your value proposition clearly and avoid overly busy, cluttered graphics.  
• Keep your CTA highly visible and compelling to grab a user’s attention.
• Bring your products to life by showing people using them in your video ads.   
• Include user-generated content where appropriate to build a sense of community.
• Make your videos and images vertical, so they display properly on mobile devices. 
• Monitor which version of an ad works best by deploying A/B testing.

Examples of Great Facebook Marketing Campaigns

Want to see how businesses just like yours are making Facebook advertising work? Here are two companies putting some of the tips I’ve just outlined into action.      

The Teaching Company

To advertise its one-month free trial, The Teaching Company, a college-level course provider, ran a variety of image ads to appeal to different demographics:

The value proposition is clear, the CTA is unmistakable, and the company makes it easy for customers to sign up for the trial. As a result, the campaign generated 15,540 new subscriptions, which was 10 times more than its average monthly subscription numbers. 

The takeaway? Keep your ad fresh by switching out the images regularly, and always include a clear CTA.  

GoPro

To build hype around its HERO9 camera, GoPro ran a contest called the “Million Dollar Challenge.” In exchange for sending in raw GoPro footage from a HERO9 camera, people entered a contest to win a share of the $1-million prize pot. 

Twenty-nine thousand people entered the contest, over 668,000 Facebook users viewed the video, and 56 winners took home nearly $18,000 each. 

The lesson? Use video ads to bring your audience closer to your brand and reach diverse new demographics. 

Other Ways to Use Facebook Marketing to Grow Your Brand

As I explained earlier, Facebook Ads are definitely not the only way to grow your brand through the platform. If you’re looking to make the most of your Facebook presence, here are some other strategies to try out. 

Start a Facebook Group

Give your customers a place to interact by setting up a Facebook Group for your business. 

You can use Groups to:

• build hype around products.
• promote brand events 
• start conversations about your business 
• engage with your followers

It’s free to start a Facebook Group. 

Join the Facebook Marketplace 

If you sell products online, check out the Facebook Marketplace. The Marketplace lets you quickly connect with potential customers who are already primed to buy, and you can also reach local buyers more effectively through highly targeted listings.

It’s free to list on the Marketplace, too. 

Use Your Business Page

Your Facebook Page is essentially a free marketing tool. 

At the most basic level, you can use it to share content and engage audiences. However, depending on your business type, you can also use it to:

• set up appointments 
• answer questions
• share promotions
• nurture people to download an app.    

What’s more, you can link to your Marketplace listings to help turn Page visitors into loyal paying customers. 

How to Track the Success of Your Facebook Marketing Campaign

When you run a Facebook marketing campaign, you want to track metrics such as:
– ad impressions
– ad frequency
– click-through rate (CTR)
– conversion rate
– cost per conversion

Facebook offers three main tools for tracking metrics like these: Ads Manager, Events Manager, and Facebook Business Suite. 

1. Ads Manager

   The Ads Manager “reporting” feature lets you view, at a glance, how your ads are performing. From video ad views to website conversions attributed to a Facebook Ad, you can view all the relevant stats by creating a report. 
   
   To create a report, simply open Ads Manager, go to “Analyze and Report,” click “Ads Reporting,” then select the data you want to report on:
   

2. Events Manager

   With the Events Manager tool, you can set up a pixel to analyze what actions people take on your website. 
   For example, whenever someone adds an item to their cart or completes a sale, the pixel records this as an action or “event.” You can view this data in a report and then target these users with customized ads in the future. 
   Access Events Manager here.  

3. Facebook Business Suite

   The Facebook Business Suite lets you quickly view key data about your Facebook account, including:
   -audience demographics  
   -post and content engagement
   -paid ad performance
   
   What’s more, if you have an Instagram account, you can access key insights through the Facebook Business Suite, which helps you unify your social media metrics tracking. 
   
   You can also use alternative tools like Google Analytics to measure ad performance and conversions if you prefer.

More Facebook Marketing Resources

Need some extra help with your Facebook marketing? Here are some other resources to read. 

• Facebook Business Help Center: The Help Center has a range of guides and troubleshooting articles to help you navigate the platform.
• Facebook Blueprint: Facebook Blueprint offers online courses and training programs to help you build effective campaigns.   
• Shopify Blog: Do you run an e-commerce store? This Shopify post can help you tweak your e-commerce ads most effectively.  

For even more help, check out my personalized consulting services. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Facebook Marketing

What Is Facebook Marketing?

Facebook marketing offers a variety of ways for businesses to reach customers and advertise their products across Facebook. From ads to Facebook groups, you can choose which tools you want to use based on your digital marketing objectives.

How Do I Start Using Facebook Marketing?

Open a Facebook Business Page then access Ads Manager. Choose your objective, name your campaign, set your schedule, pick your ad placement, and you’re good to go. 

Is Facebook Marketing Free?

It’s free to set up things like a Facebook Page or Group for your business. You need to pay to use Facebook Ads, though. The cost is generally calculated per click or impression, depending on the type of ad you select.

How Can I Create Great Facebook Ads?

Less is often more. Keep images and videos clear and uncluttered, and make sure you highlight your CTA and value proposition. Choose the right ad type for your objectives by figuring out your goals beforehand. 

Facebook Marketing Conclusion

If your audience is on Facebook, then you should really try out Facebook marketing for your business. Try a variety of Facebook Ads and measure your progress regularly to ensure you’re getting the most from your campaigns. 

Got a limited budget? You can still utilize Facebook Pages and Groups to draw traffic, nurture leads, and ultimately increase sales long term. 

Are you ready to give Facebook marketing a try?

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Learn Data Entry Easy way

 

 

 

6 Simple Ways to Improve Your Data Entry Skills

December 18, 2020

By: Indeed Editorial Team

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Volume

Data entry is an expansive field that has differing data entry requirements depending on the role, industry and company.

If you work in a data entry job or are interested in a data entry job, you may consider learning how to develop or enhance your data entry skills. In this article, we discuss what data entry is, required skills, common career titles and tips on how you can improve your own data entry and typing skills for your career.

What is data entry?

Data entry is the process of entering data and updating information into some electronic service or database. An individual that enters data does so by directly inputting data into a company database with a computer, mouse, keyboard, scanner or other data entry tool. Here is a list of a few job titles that perform data entry duties:

• Data entry operator
• Accounting data entry clerk
• Data entry clerk
• Data entry executive
• Data entry ngineer
• Human resources data entry clerk
• Insurance data entry
• Medical records data entry clerk
• Order data entry clerk
• Payroll data entry clerk
• Personnel records data entry clerk
• Purchasing data entry clerk
• Shipping/receiving data entry clerk

Several jobs have data entry duties that aren’t the main functions of their job titles. There are other job titles that may perform data entry as the main responsibility that are not mentioned on this list.

Data entry skills and responsibilities

Accurately processed, entered or archived data is essential to customer or client satisfaction. Therefore, it is important that data entry clerks possess certain skills and are qualified to perform daily responsibilities to do the job well. There are many responsibilities and hard and soft skills that may be required by those in data entry job fields. Here are a few skills and responsibilities that data entry personnel should have and perform:

Responsibilities

• Entering account or customer data from documents
• Complying with data entry deadlines
• Sorting data information to prepare for computer entry
• Scanning documents and other files, when needed
• Reviewing data for errors
• Correcting necessary data items
• Assisting with building data management systems
• Maintaining confidentiality according to company policies and regulations
• Generating reports and performing backup operations, as needed

Skills

Basic software skills

Individuals in data entry need to have basic software skills because they work with word processors, databases, spreadsheets and related software on a daily basis.

Efficient written and verbal communication skills

Data entry professionals must communicate often with inside and outside teams and provide feedback on any issues they may encounter with incorrect data or other database issues. It is important that they also employ active listening so they can enter and sort data the way a company prefers.

Fast typing speed

This skill is essential to the success of individuals in data entry since they will likely need to perform large quantities of data entry within a limited period of time. Many employers expect an average typing speed of 30 to 40 words per minute.

Proficient typing skills

Beyond fast typing, it is also important to type accurately. 

Self-motivation

Data entry is often performed remotely or with little supervision or team effort. It is important that a data entry professional has a strong self-motivation when repeating often mundane and repetitive tasks.

Attention to detail

Details are the priority in a data entry job.

How to improve your data entry skills

There are many ways to improve data entry skills on your own, with the help of a computer system or with classes in a structured environment. Here are a few tips you may find helpful to improve your data entry skills:

1. Enhance current typing skills.

Take note of your current typing structure and body language. Check to make sure you are using the proper posture and hand positioning for optimum accuracy and comfort. This way you won’t need to shift positions or get up as often, which should increase your typing speed skills and efficiency.

2. Improve desk space.

Data entry requires you to sit and type on a computer for extended periods of time. Sitting for long periods of time may be linked to certain health issues and it is important to rework your desk space to be more ergonomic. The best way to do this is to have a comfortable chair with lumbar support that can be swiveled and has height adjustments. 

Computer monitors should be at eye level with minimized glare and the monitor should be placed near the mouse. Dual monitors may also help with fact-checking, data entry speed, efficiency and productivity.

3. Make use of online typing tools.

Several online programs allow you to test your current typing abilities so you can identify areas for improvement. These typing tools allow you to practice and increase your typing speed and efficiency. You may also try viewing online videos that demonstrate the basics of data entry computer software to improve your basic computer and software knowledge.

4. Master data entry hacks.

Many shortcuts can be used with certain software programs to save a sufficient amount of time. For example, you can use the TAB and ENTER keys in Excel to enter information that has been written before. Many spreadsheet and keyboard hacks can be found online or you may try asking your supervisor for other recommendations.

5. Block distractions.

When you work in data entry, it may be a challenge to stay focused on the tasks you are performing. Try forming a strict schedule and blocking your time by splitting tasks up by their priority. It may also be helpful to place your phone out of reach and put it on silent during working hours to limit distractions.

6. Allow time to proofread.

Mistakes may happen throughout your workday and it is important to have time to review your work before you submit it. If you do not have access to an editor or anyone available to proofread your work, then it may be helpful to try stepping away from a project. This way when you come back to it to proofread it yourself, your eyes will be fresh.

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10 Best Digital Marketing Learning Step

 

 

 10 Best Digital Marketing  Learning Step

1. Google Digital Marketing
2. Reliablesoft Academy 
3. SEMRUSH Academy
4. ClickMinded Digital Marketing
5. HubSpot Online Marketing
6. Udemy Digital Marketing
7. Simplilearn Digital Marketing Specialist
8. Copyblogger Online Marketing )
9. Udacity Digital Marketing
10. Optinmonster Digital Marketing

What Is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is the use of the Internet, mobile devices, social media, search engines, and other channels to reach consumers. Some marketing experts consider digital marketing to be an entirely new endeavor that requires a new way of approaching customers and new ways of understanding how customers behave compared to traditionaKey Takeaways

• Digital marketing is the use of the Internet to reach consumers.
• Digital marketing is a broad field, including attracting customers via email, content marketing, search platforms, social media, and more.

Understanding Digital Marketing

Digital marketing targets a specific segment of the customer base and is interactive. Digital marketing is on the rise and includes search result ads, email ads, and promoted tweets – anything that incorporates marketing with customer feedback or a two-way interaction between

Internet marketing differs from digital marketing. Internet marketing is advertising that is solely on the Internet, whereas digital marketing can take place through mobile devices, on a subway platform, in a video game, or via a smartpIn the parlance of digital marketing, advertisers are commonly referred to as sources, while members of the targeted ads are commonly called receivers. Sources frequently target highly specific, well-defined receivers. For example, after extending the late-night hours of many of its locations, McDonald's needed to get the word out. It targeted shift workers and travelers with digital ads because the company knew that these people made up a large segment of its late-night business. McDonald's encouraged them to download a new Restaurant Finder app, targeting them with ads placed at ATMs and gas stations, as well as on websites that it knew its customers frequented at night..

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Learning Web Design And Earning

Learning Web Design And Earning

How to learn web design (in 9 steps)

• Understand the key concepts of visual design. Line. ...
• Know the basics of HTML. ...
• Understand CSS. ...
• Learn the foundations of UX. ...
• Familiarize yourself with UI. ...
• Understand the basics of creating layouts. ...
• Learn about typography. ...
• Put your knowledge into action .

 Web Design Know Need

1.HTML

2..CSS

3.Responsive Design

4.User Experience Design

5.JavaScript

6.Photoshop

7.PHP

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How To start Learn Graphic Design for beginner

 

 

How To start Learn Graphic Design for beginner

1. Dive into the History of Graphic Design 

By learning design history, its movements and designers, you’ll become more informed and appreciate not only the work of past designers but also take inspiration from current design practices. This will allow you to diversify your taste and learn about what makes good design. As you navigate the different design disciplines, start to pick areas that you’re drawn to and learn more about that subject to discover where your passions lie and areas you want to explore further. 

As a designer, you will dedicate your life to learning new techniques and processes. Having knowledge of design history will enrich your skills as a designer as you learn more about the profession and past design movements. Knowledge of past movements and designers will enrich your skills, inform your approach to new projects and serve as inspiration for the work that you will create. 

There are many places where you can get started with your design history knowledge, from podcasts to documentaries and design books. Want to get started building your own design library? We’ve curated this list of both classics and newer releases that can be a great starting point of important books to start reading. To get you started, be sure to add these five to your list:

• Graphic Design School: covers the essentials of visual design, theory and practical examples with case studies covering both print and digital.
• History of Graphic Design Vol 1: is a great starting point for your graphic design studies. This first volume from Jens Müller is a comprehensive history of 70 years of graphic design, designers and developments from the late 19th century to after the Second World War.
• History of Graphic Design Vol 2: is a comprehensive resource on the history of designing from the 1960s until the mid-2010s explaining the work of prominent designers like Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher and Stefan Sagmeister, providing you a concise summary of key figures in design. 
• 100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design: gives an overview of the most influential ideas within the world of design from the 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting key ideas and providing valuable insights that shaped post-war consumer society.
• Graphic Design Visionaries: goes beyond theory and focuses on 75 designers that shaped history, sharing their stories and important works. The book covers the development of design, mid-century design, corporate branding, typography, magazine design and iconic posters.

For more book suggestions, check out Shillington’s Book Club recommendations where Shillington teachers share their favorite books from their own personal libraries. And for some more inspiration, explore Design History 101 in the Throwback Thursday series on our blog for brief lessons on design legends like Aaron Douglas, Louise Fili, Alan Kitching, Emory Douglas and many more.  

2. Master the Design Principles & Process

Graphic design is the effective visual communication of an idea or concept. Design is all around us—from food packaging and logos to billboard posters—design is a daily part of our lives, enticing us to buy a product or helping with an everyday task like using an app on your phone. 

Every designer knows the 5 key principles of design which are alignment, repetition, contrast, hierarchy and balance. These principles help to create a cohesive design, stability, organization, consistency, impact and a clear message. By following these fundamental principles, designers can solve visual and conceptual problems as a part of the design process, from the research to the idea generation and final outcome that answers the client brief. 

In order for a piece of design to be successful, it needs to adhere to these fundamental design principles and how each one works together. Alignment helps to create a more cohesive and orderly design. And through repetition, the design is strengthened by tying the elements together through association, creating a familiar and consistent visual style. 

On the other hand, contrast is a method to create emphasis within a design for impact, which can be seen in color choices, scale, or making specific text bold thereby creating a central focal point. To create an organization in your design, hierarchy helps to create a system where each element is organized according to its level of importance. 

And, to achieve balance, the design needs to have structure through either symmetry or tension. Next time you’re looking at a design online or out on the street, try an exercise and see if you can identify these principles.

3. Geek Out On Typography

Typography relates to the way copy is formatted and arranged within a layout and plays a pivotal role in graphic design. Type includes typefaces, point sizes, line-spacing, letter-spacing and kerning. As you navigate your way through design, you’ll learn about the differences between a sans serif and a serif, deepen your knowledge of typefaces and learn which fonts pair well with one another. 

Typography gives character to a brand and is crucial to all communications, from magazine copy to advertisements and logos. By understanding typography, you’ll be able to justify typographic choices in your own work and how it can elevate the design. Apart from being central to the communication of ideas, type gives the design a specific mood through the tone of voice. 

Type can be created by hand or digitally, but it’s also worth noting the different specializations within typography. Let’s review lettering, typeface design and typesetting in detail to learn more about each one:

• Lettering: custom-drawn letterforms created either by hand or digitally that can be used for logos, murals, signs, album artwork, advertising, products, wedding invitations and more. 
• Typeface Design: is the creation of type characters that can be the full set from A-Z (along with numerals, punctuation, accents). Although some typefaces contain the full set, others can be limited to just upper case or only lowercase. The characters are created within a vector-based program like Adobe Illustrator before transitioning to an application like Fontographer for further refinement.
• Typesetting: is the process of laying out text within a layout, whether it’s a newspaper, brochure or magazine. The typesetter usually works with large blocks of text and establishes a hierarchical structure for the headings, quotes, captions and so on.

If you’re finding yourself curious about typography and possibly experimenting with letterforms, then why not explore some Instagram accounts to further familiarize yourself with some awesome creatives. We’ve compiled this list of Instagram accounts for type lovers and you should give these accounts a follow. 

4. Study the Fundamentals of Color 

Color affects the mood and personality of a design. The best way to learn about color combinations is to look at the work of other designers and studios. You can then begin to create your own inspiration boards with color palettes that invoke different moods. You can also explore Adobe’s Color CC to further experiment with various color combinations. Palettes can be created from photos, prints, patterns or any other graphics that you find. 

Color is such an important part of design because it can be used to affect the mood of design and the brand, being used as a tool to persuade and entice. Designers learn about the meaning of each color, color combinations and how the palettes can be used for emotive impact. When selecting colors for a design, it’s important to have a solid foundation of color and the science behind it. By understanding color theory, the designer can make the proper choice in the color selections to ensure the brand stands out and is relevant to the target audience. 

The book Color Now: Color Combinations for Commercial Design Color is an excellent resource to help guide you in making thoughtful decisions about color use, color combinations and examples of successful projects for inspiration. By looking closely into the psychology of color, associations and its application, this book is your go-to manual for research and inspiration. Perhaps after reading this book, you’ll look at ads or apps more critically, and then learn to apply the concepts within your own work, ensuring the color palettes you select evoke an emotion that is aligned with the brand and audience. 

5. Get Well Versed in Design Terminology

As you start learning more about graphic design, it’s also important to become acquainted with the terminology so that you can speak the same language as other designers. We’ve put together a list of 120 design terms to help you understand the meaning behind each one. 

A few common terms you may have heard of include the golden ratio, rule of thirds, hierarchy, kerning, leading, tracking and x-height. By becoming fluent with the common design terms, you’ll be able to understand the “design speak” when meeting with other designers as well as communicating with your team.

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6. Master Design Programs

As a designer, you’ll need to learn the basics of the Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and Sketch to learn how to work with them together to create everything from a logo to a poster or a book. By mastering the essential design programs, you’ll be able to tackle client briefs with ease. The top four you need to start with include: 

• Adobe Illustrator: is a vector-based program that allows you to create shapes and draw using the pen tool. The great thing about the tool is that it allows you to create a broad range of artwork from logos to icons and illustrations. Plus, each graphic can be reproduced and expanded to any size since it’s a vector. 
• Adobe InDesign: is a layout tool that can be used for both digital and print, working cohesively with Photoshop and Illustrator. As the industry standard, it’s a powerful program for creating multi-page documents, creating master pages and paragraph styles that can be used to create everything from magazines to brochures.
• Adobe Photoshop: is a powerful program used by many creative professionals from designers to developers and photographers. The purpose of the program is for image editing, retouching, image manipulation and creating compositions. 
• Sketch: is the standard for digital designers. The program combines vectors with basic image effects making it a very intuitive program to use for designing apps and websites.

7. Get Creatively Inspired

Looking through design blogs, design books, creative magazines and social media (Instagram, Pinterest, Behance) is a good starting point to discover what type of aesthetic you gravitate towards. By learning from the work of other designers, you start to learn about different styles and current trends. Over time you’ll begin to develop your own personal style based on your interests. 

As a creative, it’s good to know what the latest trends are and what other designers are creating. By following blogs, you can get your dose of inspiration and maybe get a few new ideas in the process. We’ve put together this amazing resource of 50 blogs on art and design that you can explore so that you can stay up to date on what’s going on in the creative space, as well as push your creative projects forward. Here are a few to get you started: 

• Create by Adobe: a magazine by creatives, for creatives—available online and as a mobile app. Visit them for inspiration and tutorials on photography, illustration, graphic design, web design, motion graphics, audio/video, branding and more.
• 99U: started by Adobe which is aimed at helping creative professionals within their careers. The practical articles offer guidance on productivity, positive work habits, work & life balance, personal branding, leadership and much more.
• Wix Creative: offers great content for creatives, from inspiration to tips and resources with helpful guides on topics from mood boards to creating an online portfolio.
• It’s Nice That: is a popular industry resource for top articles on design, art and illustration around the world. 
• The Inspiration Grid: an online magazine that showcases global creative talent, providing you with the best in art, photography, illustration, design and typography.

To learn more about studios and other designers, take a look at the I Love These Geniuses selections from Shillington students and staff from around the world to find out about the creatives who inspire them. 

As any creative knows, Instagram is full of visual delight from illustration to lettering,  photography and design. As the third most popular social media platform, it’s the perfect go-to for your daily inspiration and to connect with other creatives. To help you get started, take a look at our curated list of 100 Instagram accounts to follow to discover your new favorite creative.

Our next place to browse for inspiration, research and creating mood boards is on Pinterest. It’s the perfect platform to discover new boards and create themed boards that you can reference later or share with a friend. To save you time, we’ve put together our top 100 Pinterest accounts for graphic design inspiration that you can start following now and begin creating your own boards today.  

And lastly, Behance is our next source for inspiration where you can discover top designers, typographers, digital artists and studios. Explore this list of 60 Designers on Behance that we think you should know about and bookmark for future reference. 

8. Get Social 

Social media platforms like Dribbble, Behance and Instagram are great resources for not only discovering the work of other creatives but an opportunity to connect with other designers from around the world that you admire. By regularly publishing your work on these channels, you’ll be sure to get your work noticed by other designers. These platforms allow you to share your work and receive feedback for an ongoing exchange which can help you grow as a designer and possibly land your next job. 

You never know what can develop from a new connection and find an unexpected opportunity. Through social media, you can exchange in conversations with other designers, share your latest work and ask for feedback from someone you admire. Stay engaged, join groups and follow companies that you respect. Want some tips on mastering your social media strategy and deciding which channels you should be sharing your work on? Then read this list of tips for Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook and portfolio websites.

 9. Submit your Work

Once you start producing your own work, updating your online presence should be an ongoing part of your overall strategy to ensure you gain visibility and get your latest projects noticed by other designers, recruiters and agencies. This is the first step to getting your work seen! Though social networks like the ones mentioned above are good places to share your designs, they’re not the only places where you should be showcasing your talents. Reach out to other sites such as blogs and online magazines to gain visibility with a broader audience. 

There are a lot of websites out there and you may be wondering what are the best places to submit to? To help you out, we’ve put together a list of 40 design blogs you can familiarize yourself with and submit your work to. Here’s a preview of five favorites you can start with:

• Creative Review: the leading publication in showcasing the latest design work and supporting new talent. To submit your work, contact their editorial team. 
• Visuelle: your go-to resource for graphic designers around the world for a daily dose of visual inspiration. To be considered, email submit@visuelle.co.uk.
• Creative Boom: has been the key player in celebrating creativity and curating a wide range of work from various disciplines. It’s also an amazing blog for expert tips and industry insights. To submit your project for consideration, go to their guidelines page. 
• Eye On Design: one of the oldest associations for design in the United States and has a huge membership base. Their Eye On Design blog is the perfect destination to discover emerging and established designers. To apply, reach out to past blog contributors to be considered. 
• Design by Women: founded by graphic designer Mary Hemingway and aims to showcase and champion female creatives from around the world, as well as to inspire other women. If you’re a creative working in design and identify as female, get in touch with Design by Women for a feature.

Getting your design work featured in magazines and blogs is an incredible way to advance, but equally, submitting to awards can help with gaining international exposure. A few popular design awards you can look into are The Design Kids Awards, Indigo Awards, AGDA, Creative Design Awards, Adobe Design Achievement Awards, Young Guns and the D&AD New Blood Awards.

 10. Join Design Groups and Network

By attending design events (now virtually!), joining global and local design groups and professional organizations, you can network with other creatives to build your connections in the industry. By connecting with and learning from fellow designers, you can create long-lasting friendships and potentially find a mentor (which is great even if you’re not a beginner) who can help you in your design career.

As a creative, especially when you’re a beginner first getting started, you’ll need to continue learning as much as you can and network. But of course, the learning never ends, especially when you want to ensure your long term success. As technology is constantly evolving, you too need to learn about the software, new techniques and ways to be a more efficient designer. Taking a design course is an important step in gaining practical knowledge and building a portfolio, but the learning doesn’t end beyond school. As a designer, you need to stay curious and continue self-training. 

A few popular creative events you can bookmark to stay in the loop about future happenings are: 

• Adobe Max: offers live and on-demand content that you can watch on topics relating to creativity, technology and entertainment—with over 300 sessions to watch, there’s plenty to choose from depending on your interests. 
• Adobe 99U: the annual conference is aimed at inspiring creatives through keynote speakers, workshops, talks and masterclasses so that you can reinvigorate your work with new ideas and network with other creatives. Some famous past speakers include Debbie Millman, Adam Kurtz, Tina Roth Eisenberg and Michael Bierut. 
• Nicer Tuesdays: monthly event with talks featuring four speakers from around the world that talk about their latest project. Every month there’s an incredible line-up of speakers you should not miss. 
• Creative Mornings: hosts virtual events in cities around the world centered on a different monthly theme. They also provide a platform called FieldTrips which are meetups where you can interact with others, learn and collaborate. 
• Wix Playground: hosts monthly events that include workshops, talks and portfolio reviews hosted by creatives for designers. Topics covered include type inspiration, illustration and talks with well-known creatives about their career to name a few. 
• Ladies, Wine & Design: is a global group started by Jessica Walsh with the aim of promoting diversity in the creative industry and creating a space inclusive of all women. Through the group, there is a free mentorship offering, along with portfolio reviews and creative meetups. 

For local design events in your home city, check out the Design Event listing on the Shillington blog. 

 11. Explore Creative Career Paths

As you’re learning more about graphic design, start thinking about the type of creative work you’re interested in. The design industry is constantly evolving and an exciting career to pursue. As a designer, no day is ever the same and you will be tackling a wide variety of projects at a fast pace. A job as a graphic designer is in high demand with some impressive starting salaries and a promising trajectory. 

While you’re in the exploratory stage and learning more about design, start thinking about the type of work you want to specialize in, such as UX/UI Designer, Visual Designer, Digital Designer, Creative Director, 3D Designer, VR Designer, Muralist, Product Designer, Motion Designer, Animator and so on. 

There’s nothing better than working in a field that you love and are passionate about. It’s exciting to have so many different career options to choose from as a creative once you’ve acquired the training. If you start off as a junior designer, your career can progress to an art director and after a few years in the industry, you may choose to go freelance or start your own studio. If you didn’t start off in a creative industry, it’s not too late to change paths. 

Want to hear from other designers who took the plunge and changed careers? Find out about their stories and discover how they were able to change from working in various professions like marketing to accounting and become a full-time designer. 

Learning graphic design offers many opportunities in the type of work that you can be doing. To help you decipher the world of design and the different areas you can take in your professional career, we broke it down into several parts:

• Branding/Visual Identity Designer: whether it’s an individual, startup or small company, every business has its unique story to tell. As a designer, you would work with the client to develop the brand identity to bring the brand to life.
• Advertising & Marketing Designer: as advertising is all around us, from billboard posters to social media ads and Youtube advertisements, the advertising designer’s role is to create a concept that is targeting the demographic of the product. 
• Digital Designer: refers to design produced on a screen and covers everything from User Interface (UI) for websites to apps. As a digital designer, you will be working on all the visual elements for the digital experience. Based on your design, UI developers code to bring the final product to life. 
• Product Designer: as a product designer you are part of the entire design process for the product and can be in one of these roles—Interaction or UX Designer, Graphic or Visual Designer, User Researcher, Data Analyst,  Prototyper or Business Strategist.
• Editorial Designers: are responsible for the design of magazines or books, such as creating a cover, layout and graphics. As an editorial designer, you’re responsible to convey the idea of the editorial.
• Packaging Designers: make a significant impact on the visibility of the brand in the market through creating the packaging for a new brand or redesigning old packaging which can greatly impact the brand image and boost product sales. 
• Typeface Designers: combine their knowledge of typography to create typefaces. As you already know, typography is an integral part of visual communication and typographers are essential to design and know the ins and outs of typography. Looking to familiarize yourself with some of the best type foundries? Multidisciplinary designer Tobias van Schneider shares his picks of some of his favorites from Milieu Grotesque to Hoefler & Co.
• Human-Centered Design: is also known as design thinking that informs all facets of design and the design process—identifying the problem and then finding the solution. Essentially finding an effective way to solve the design problem. 
• Design for Good: focuses on the user as part of human-centered design and social change for positive impact and making the world a better place.
• Ad Agency or In-House Marketing Design: when you’re beginning as a designer, you may ask yourself if you want to work at a studio, ad agency or in-house for a company. Of course with the choice you make there are always positives. With an in-house role, you will be part of the team and work according to the brand guidelines, becoming an expert in the overall direction of the brand. However, working at an agency you’ll work across a broad range of products and get to apply your knowledge and skills in different industries. 
• Freelancer: want to go freelance after graduating? It’s an excellent path if you want to work from anywhere in the world! Working as a freelancer comes with additional responsibilities where you have to find clients, handle contracts and build your own brand. To learn more, hear from the Liverpool designer Matt Pealing who offers some advice on how to succeed as a freelance designer and what tactics you can use to build up your client list. 

12. Start a Passion Project

Passion projects are a wonderful way to develop a new skill that is outside of your comfort zone or start a self-initiated project that is connected to what you’re passionate about. The work that you develop can turn into an interesting series and a future addition to your portfolio. 

If you’re in need of some creative inspiration and have the time to start something new, take a look at these six approaches to start a new project, either solo or to collaborate with another creative. Apart from learning new skills or collaborating with another creative, you can start with self-initiated timed experiments, creative or design challenges.

As with any project that you initiate on your own, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, allow yourself to experiment freely and make this a time for play. To get those ideas flowing, you can browse other designer portfolios, explore creative blogs and scroll through Pinterest or Instagram. For some ideas on creative projects, check out this list that Format put together for seven design projects to get those creative juices flowing regardless of your background.    

The graphic design track can be perfect for you if you have a creative eye and an endless curiosity about the world around you. By committing yourself to a practice of learning and applying the skills you learn daily, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a graphic designer. You may even want to deepen your knowledge and gain a certificate in graphic design so that you can advance your skills even further and set yourself apart from the competition. 

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