Design Like a Pro Using Canva | Courtney Woods
It goes without question that appealing and engaging graphics can make or break a business. And with some platforms, it can take years to develop the skills to do it successfully. But what if there was a platform that could help you create those graphics? In today’s episode, Ricardo is joined by Courtney Wood (AKA Tech Queen 88) to tell you about a tool that does just that, helping you design like a pro from the comfort of your couch.
Courtney’s design origins:
- She’s always had a passion for design, but she didn’t apply it to her life until an internship her senior year of college.
- After her internship, Courtney created her own websites, which led to people requesting her services.
- Now, Courtney is a master designer who spends her time helping business owners, nonprofits, and other organizations create appealing visual materials and design strategies.
Today’s tool: Canva
- Canva is a powerful graphic design tool that allows you to easily create visuals, graphics, promotional materials, and presentations.
- Courtney still uses more professional software (like Photoshop) for intense editing, depending on the project. But for smaller tasks, it’s easy to resize images, remove backgrounds, and create simple graphics, brochures, and promotional materials.
- From restaurant owners to marketing professionals, anyone can find a use for Canva.
- It is especially great for teams and collaborative editing, giving you the ability to view edits and changes as they occur.
What makes it different from the competition?
- You can pull it up on any computer.
- It has a robust image library.
- It’s super easy to use and requires little to no training.
- There is both a free and paid version. You can do many things with the free version, but some services (like the background removal) are only available with the paid option.
Courtney used Canva to create a Visual Post Planner:
- We all know how significant an online presence is. But you can’t just post random stuff; you need a design strategy behind it.
- She created a setup where there’s a different graphic for each necessary format (like social media posts, flyers, or other graphics) all on one page.
- This makes it easy for her team to create simple changes quickly and easily.
How has Courtney stayed in business for so long?
- She chooses to welcome suggestions and be open to feedback. She listens to what people tell her, and she implements the things she feels are best for her business.
- She pays attention to new trends and places to expand her knowledge and structure to best accommodate her clients’ needs.
- She is intentional about the things she does.
Courtney’s book and podcast recommendations:
- The MORE Podcast (if you’re reading this, hopefully, you know where to find it)
- Passport to Prosperity by Tiffany Buckner
For those interested in learning the Canva basics, check out her workshop digital visuals to learn the basic graphics you need and how to create them. You can find Courtney on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
