In this post, we're going to look at six of the best graphic design tools for bloggers and content creators! These are my recommended tools that I use in my business every day; let's go!
If you love creating beautiful and visually appealing content for your blog, marketing campaigns, or website, then you'll love checking out these amazing graphic design tools.
There is no shortage of tools, apps, and various other interesting platforms to discover and use when it comes to your creativity. Over the years, I've come across many of them myself, but only a few have stuck with me.
If you're not creating or using visual content in your marketing or in your blog articles, I think it's high time you rethought your strategy. Don't you?
Just adding a few images to your blog posts can make all the difference. According to OptinMonster, 32% of marketers and bloggers say that images are the most critical form of content in their business!
Even if you've been outsourcing your images and graphics, perhaps you use a cheap graphic designer on Fiverr; well, the truth is if you learned to use just one tool, you could save yourself a small fortune in the long-term.
As I said, we're inundated with options these days regarding graphic design tools, apps, and platforms! Whatever your goal or whatever idea you envision, it can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of hiring a graphic designer!
Outsourcing a graphic designer is all well and good, but do you really want to be waiting around for days or even weeks for your projects to be completed?
Right then, enough waffling on from me. Below I've outlined some amazing tools I recommend using to take your digital graphics and visual design projects to the next level, whether you're a blogger, marketer, or all-around content creator.
Let's dive right in!
Let's start with one of the most popular online graphic design tools out there, Canva.
By now, I'm pretty sure you've heard of this one! I discovered Canva for myself when it was in its infancy. I've watched Canva progress into a remarkable tool, with new features being added regularly.
Don't worry if you don't have a design bone in you; with Canva, you have access to tons of ready-made templates for you to get started with right away.
You can even customize those templates even further, add some personalizations and branding to your designs. But that's just the start...
If you are the creative kind, you can access hundreds of layouts, elements, text styles, backgrounds, or even upload your own content/design to add to your visual projects.
If you're a blogger looking to create some custom featured post images, or infographics, for example, Canva is the perfect tool for doing just that.
Now, although Canva is free if you want to access special features, such as the ability to save your color palettes, logos, fonts, etc. Or if you want to organize your design and photos into folders and more, you have to upgrade to Canva For Work first.
Note: A quick note on copyright, make sure you read the terms of use page carefully before you use Canva for creating custom website logos, icons, for client projects, etc., especially if you're going to use the design elements and icons inside of Canva.
I'm not sure if you would have come across PhotoScape before. If you've never heard of it, you're going to love it.
PhotoScape is a simple but incredibly powerful image editing tool, with some amazing graphic design elements, overlay, effects, and more.
There's a free version of this app and a premium version. The free version is already packed with a ton of awesome tools and options. You can use them all to add some serious flair to your graphics and images.
This app is available for both Mac OS and Windows OS. Great, right?
So, what is included exactly -
With the free version of this app you get;
The Pro version of this app unlocks additional editing tools, options, and features, including stickers and additional film effects.
Why do I recommend PhotoScape?
I have been using this app in my business since 2011. I use it almost every day, and it's just quick to launch and drop images in and customize. It's convenient for quick little jobs.
So, now we get to one of my all-time favorite graphic design tools. This app is always open on my computer, and there's always a project I'm working on, whether it's for myself or for one of my clients.
Affinity Designer is a powerful, premium, fully-loaded professional graphic design application for creative bloggers and marketers.
Designed for the pros, however, anyone can benefit from having this app in their visual design marketing toolkit.
There are way too many advanced features, options in Affinity Designer for me to list here; however, if you've ever used other design applications like Adobe Illustrator or the SketchApp, then I guess you can compare Affinity Designer with the likes of those.
Here is a list of the types of visual content I like to create using Affinity Designer -
Pablo is an online tool brought to you by Buffer.
Using it will allow you to quickly create striking custom images and graphics to share on your social media sites.
There's a nifty image size guide depending on which social network you want to create images for.
For instance, if you're active on Pinterest, there's a size guide for optimizing your images for Pinterest. Likewise for Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram.
You can also change templates - there's over 600k to choose from. In addition, you can use filters, add texts and insert your own logo or graphics over the top.
Next, we get to Stencil.
The Stencil App is something I recently discovered for myself, so I'm still learning about it; however, already, I'm in love with this tool.
'Stencil' is a simple and quick-to-use image development tool for all types of content creators and marketers.
Use it to create striking visuals and add fancy text-overlay and filters. Perfect for social media posts and boosting engagement and conversions.
'Stencil' is free if you're only interested in creating up to a maximum of 10 images per month. You also get access to limited backgrounds and icons.
The premium version, however, opens up more options, features, and resources.
Features include:
MyEcoverMaker is a great online graphic design tool for creating attractive marketing materials, such as eBook cover art, 3D cover art, product over art, screen mockups, and more.
There is over 100 predesigned cover artwork to choose from, a cover design for every marketing need.
Moreover, you don't need a graphic design degree to use it. Anyone can create a great looking eBook cover art using MyEcoverMaker.
You can either create a simple A4-sized ebook cover art using any graphic design tool mentioned in this post, or you can use the built-in template creator, including text and graphic elements.
Once you're done with the design, you can choose the cover template you want from eBooks, box, magazine, and more.
So there you have it, 6 amazing graphic design tools and apps to make good use of in 2021 and beyond.
If you're not already using any of these, go ahead and add one or two to your design toolkit, you won't regret it.
I use all of these tools myself to this day, some more than others. I'm very happy to say that I'll continue using them for as long as possible.
Before I finish up, I want to quickly talk about the importance of using visual content in your online projects and digital marketing.
Visual content marketing (use of images, graphics, videos to promote your brand, message, products, or services) plays a critical role right now.
Smart businesses and entrepreneurs are pushing the boat on out on creating more engaging and interesting visual content.
People respond to visual content more than they do with text or even video content.
Images and graphics strike many chords with an individual. In fact, according to this article, it is said that our brains process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
In that very same article, there is an infographic that states the best visual engagement content for social media is images and pictures.
Check out the graph below. It shows the most important tactics for optimizing your content on social media. As you can clearly see, the use of images and photos is right up there.
So, should you care about creating more visual-based content for your blog or for the marketing of your brand, products, or services?
Of course. And the tools I shared with you in this post will help you make a killer go of it.
Best of luck and have a great time getting creative for your blog and business!
