An Ode to Canva
There is a lot of content on the internet. I can lose hours at a time just swiping on my phone. (Thanks, TikTok). With this sea of content for people to choose from, it can be a battle just to get viewers to your Facebook page, website, e-newsletter, etc. Once someone lands where you want them to, you need to grab their attention within seconds in order to ensure that they continue interacting with your content.
This can be hard. Graphics can help.
Whether you’re posting to social media, updating your resume or creating a website, you can take your work to the next level with the help of a graphic design program.
Now, if you’re like me and have never had any formal education in graphic design, the whole thing can feel pretty daunting. Many programs are far from user friendly and require a pricey monthly subscription.
For example, Adobe’s Creative Cloud offers top level graphic design programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. However, these can feel overwhelming for beginners and you might end up spending more time Googling how to use the program than actually working on your design project — I’ve been there.
If you’re just getting started, check out Canva. You can create an account for free and access thousands of design templates to get you started. I love Canva because it’s very user friendly and accessible for people that don’t have any previous design experience. The program also automatically sizes your projects for you, based on what you’re creating, which can be really helpful for beginners.
Here are some things I use Canva for everyday:
Social media graphics. Planning content for 10+ client social pages can get tricky. I love to liven things up with a fresh graphic. Taking the extra time to design a visual to go along with your post will help boost engagement. A win-win!
Print materials. Canva is great for creating programs, brochures, invitations, posters, and anything else I might need to design for a client’s next event.
Digital advertisements. Ah, the banner ad. We all love (hate) them. Canva can help you create those as well! The program has a wide variety of stock photos available that definitely come in handy when working on ads.
Pro Tip: If you really want to treat yourself, spend $12.99 a month and get your very own Canva Pro subscription (much more reasonable than the $50+ Adobe price). With a Pro account, you gain access to more content including additional stock images, graphics, templates, and more. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Logos. Logo projects are my absolute favorite, and with my Canva Pro account, there are tons of fun elements available that I can incorporate into my designs. Plus, you can save multiple brand kits to your Canva account so that your brand’s logo, colors, and font are all saved to your account. This ensures that all of your designs are cohesive and match your brand.
Websites. Canva offers a free one-page website builder. It can be used for different purposes such as Business, Event, Internal Communication, Portfolio, Retail, Service, and many more! Check it out here.
I’ve introduced clients, friends, and family to Canva and everyone loves it. I find myself using it outside of work too. One day, I plan to graduate to Adobe’s fancy suite of design software, but I have a feeling that Canva will always be my go-to.
Need attention-grabbing graphics for your social feed? Going through a rebrand and need a refresh on that boring logo you’ve been using for five years? Hoping to create a website that people actually enjoy using? The Resch Strategies team is here to help.