From time to time, when I’m creating a post in Photoshop, I like to use hand-drawn arrows to dress things up. I enjoy the fun, playful feeling they give…and of course (seeing as they are arrows) they are great for pointing out details that you want to be sure that nobody will miss. So today I thought I’d share a set of them that I made over the weekend. They were created in Photoshop CS3, so as far as I know (I’m not very techie when it comes to these things) you’ll need the same version or higher in order to use them. I’ve put together two little screencast videos to hopefully make everything nice and clear. (bonus: if you play a drinking game for every time I say “um”in the videos you’ll be nice and saucy by the end).

The first clip shows tips on loading the brushes in Photoshop (if you’re unfamiliar with the process), and the second one shares a couple ideas on how to use the brush set. If you’re already comfortable with Photoshop, then feel free to just scroll on down for the download and dive right in.

VIDEOS:

How To Load Photoshop Brushes

Tips On Using Photoshop Arrow Brushes

Tip: I suggest using the fill screen button (at the bottom of the page) to view the videos, so that it is sized correctly for the computer that you are using.

If you’re new to Photoshop brushes, I’ve have a few simple pointers on using them to pass on. Please let me know if you need me to clear up any steps. Again, I’m not very savvy when it comes to the technical side of Photoshop, but I should at least be able to get you going with this brush set.

LOADING PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES:

1. Scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the download button
2. Double click on the file once it has downloaded onto your computer. This should automatically load the brushes into your brush library.
3. If that doesn’t work, open photoshop > Window > Brushes
4. When the Brushes palette opens click on the tiny triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the palette
5. Select load brushes from the menu box that opens > select the arrow brush file from your computer (file name cc_arrow_brushes.abr) > click ‘load’
6. Your brushes will now appear in the brush palette library

Now that you have your brushes, here area a few ideas on how to use them: Arrows are great for highlighting details on a post or image.

You can also use them to create a decorative pattern like this.

BRUSH USING TIPS: 

• You will need to use a new layer to get started using your brushes.
• I recommend using a new layer for each brush that you want to use on your page, that way they will be easy to edit individually.
• You can change the opacity of your arrows (allowing more or less of the background to show through them). To do this make sure you have selected the brush tool, toggle the opacity and flow percentages in the very top menu bar before stamping down your chosen arrow. Once you have the opacity looking how you like, apply your brush anywhere you’d like on your page. 

If you have any awesome photoshop tips to share, I would love for you to chime in below. I’ve taught myself photoshop, so I’m sure there are more technically correct ways of doing things…but if you’re up for sharing, I’m always happy to learn. xo Ez

Important fine print stuff: These photoshop brushes were created for personal non-commercial use only. They are not to be distributed or sold. If you’d like to share them, please link to this post and don’t host the file yourself. Thanks for your support. You’re the bees knees!

Hi everyone! Thanks for your great feedback on my first Alt Summit Wrap-Up post. I’m so glad that it was helpful to you. Today I’ll be sharing what I learned in the Building Relationships with Ad Networks & Sponsors panel, presented by Erin Loechner, Danielle Wiley, Meg Keene, and Sarah Stringfellow (thank you Deb for helping me out with the links I was missing). Once again (for the sake of actually making this post happen) I’ll be noting everything in bullet point form. If you have questions about any of the information or if you feel like I missed anything, please just drop me a note in the comment section below and I’ll do my best to find a helpful answer for you. I’ve made bold the tips that resonated most with me. Here we go!

Building Relationships with Ad Networks & Sponsors: 

• If you’re wondering if you have to work with an ad network in order to run successful ads on your blog, the answer is you don’t. It is possible to do things on your own.
• You have to do the work. There is no magic formula.
• Put together a strong media kit for your blog.
• Be picky about the sponsors you accept on your blog.
• If you don’t know what you are doing because you are just starting out, that’s okay. Guess, pretend, and/or research until you get it right.
• It’s okay to ask other bloggers for advice, just be sure to be up front about why you are requesting their help (i.e. asking to see another bloggers ad rates so that you can determine how to base your own rates).
• Understand your community so that you can provide a valuable service to them through the sponsors and ad networks you work with.
• You define the rules for your brand. Always keep your community in mind. Make choices and negotiate so that the end result still provides a service to your community.
• Know your value and your brand, and be passionate about it.
• Present passion driven content that is good.
• Work on building a passion driven community
• Have confidence in your brand and be prepared to let it go if a sponsor does not fit or see eye to eye with your vision.
• Never take on an advertiser who is not right for your blog, it will dilute your brand and confuse your community.
• Don’t be afraid to dive in and just test the waters.
• Everyone has a moral compass…use yours and learn from it.
• If advertisers don’t come to you, you should go get them.
• Always keep your audience in mind.
• Work to fit the content of your site in with the ads that you host.
• Sponsors should only add to your brand, not confuse or dilute it.
• Always ask for what you want. Be proactive.
• When pitching to a potential sponsor, be creative and memorable. Be sure to talk about why you are passionate about their brand, and not just how great yours is.
• Consider your complete online sway (i.e. Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, blog traffic, and more).
• Be up front about your strengths.
• Get everything in writing.
• Consider legal obligations.
• Don’t forget about taxes.
• Check in with your sponsors after a campaign ends for a debriefing so that you can learn what did or did not work for them. This helps to keep things open for future projects together.
• If you can, create an outline showing the success matrix of their campaign.
• Send a real thank you card.
• When approaching a company for potential sponsorship, think of how you can solve problems for them.
• Brands care about what you can do for them…not just how great your blog is.
• In your approach, explain how you will meet their goals.
• Don’t work for free!
• Be aware that the other ads and sponsors you currently have may conflict with the new brand you are approaching, and plan accordingly.
• Build relationships with potential sponsors before contacting them about possible sponsorship.
• Social networking is a great way to do this.
• Create a clean premium layout that supports the ad content you host.
• Ads should be complimentary to your site.
• Focus on your content and connecting with your readers. Advertisers love that.
• Facilitate authentic conversations with your readers and make communication as easy as possible.
• Sponsored content should be organic. Ask yourself: “Would it fit, not matter what?”
• Be aware of your mobile presence. How are visitors accessing your site and on what devices?
• Know whether your site looks good on multiple platforms.
• Mobile ad networks are growing, and it is wise to stay ahead or on top of the trends.
• When reaching out to a new company, if you don’t know who specifically to approach, ask to be put in contact with their “media contact.”
• And finally…when it comes to negotiating the amount you will earn for a sponsorship, you will know you have the dollar amount right, when the number makes your stomach hurt a bit.

In case you missed my first post covering Site Design Do’s & Don’ts you can find it right here.

Hi everyone! So it’s been taking me ages to formulate my thoughts after Alt Summit. I took loads of notes…half a notebook full…and today I thought I’d try to share a few of the great tips and tricks I learned regarding site design dos and don’ts. For the sake of timeliness I’ll be sharing them in bullet pointed fashion. I’m afraid I would never make this post happen if I didn’t simplify and start somewhere. Please let me know if you have questions in the comment section below and I will be happy to answer them for you to the best of my ability. I’ve made bold the tips that resonated most with me.

Site Design Dos & Don’ts:

• Determine the purpose of your site and have a message to convey.
• Your design decisions should always support that message.
• A quick glance at your site design should make your purpose/message clear.
• Keep the big picture in mind.
• Include a line of descriptive text under your header i.e. a tagline.
• Be thoughtful about your site layout. The design should lead readers around the page.
• Your site navigation is vital and should be easy to find.
• Take time to determine the hierarchy of your content and then categorize and tag to make it as easy to navigate as possible.
• Whenever possible condense content into fewer categories.
• Fonts play a very important roll in the design of your site so use them wisely.
• Choose only a few typefaces and stick with them.
• Use fonts to help aid navigation.
• Be sure to use a font that gives the right meaning for your site (i.e. preppy, artistic, vintage, etc.), the wrong font can easily confuse readers about the nature of your site.
• Consistency with design and content is vital. Decide what the goal of your blog is, and always use that to guide your design decisions.
• Too many messages (content, contrasting visuals, fonts, etc.) results in noise.
• More messages will dilute the main focus. More is not always more, so be selective.
• The internet has changed the rules. Online, first impressions happen multiple times. Make sure you are making the right impression every time.
• Begin by always including a personal photograph of yourself along with a bio on the front page of your blog.
• Show your readers the person behind the blog…it builds trust.
• Make the profile image you use consistent across all online social media outlets.
• You are your brand!
• Brand consistency builds a trusted reputation.
• When choosing colors for your site, select between 3-5 colors.
• Keep the look consistent throughout your site.
• Think of your blog like a polished outfit. What does your look say about you? Do you need to change or remove anything to make the look represent you better?
• If you’re stuck on color inspiration, you can find inspiring palettes on sites like Kuler or ColorLovers to get you started.
• Don’t be afraid of “white space.” It gives eyes a place to rest.
• White space isn’t necessarily white…it just means you’ve left appropriate space between elements to allow them to “breathe.”

Next Alt post I’ll be covering what I learned in the Advertising / Ad Networks panel. xo Ez

P.S. They’ve removed the schedule information from the Alt Summit website, so unfortunately I can’t remember exactly who presented on this panel. There were four talented ladies: two of them were Christine Castro of Darling Studio, and Arianne of Aeolidia. I apologize that I can’t recall the names of the other two. Update: The last two speakers were Alyssa of We Like We Love (thanks Liz) and Laurie of Upside Up (thanks Alyssa).