How to make your Website & Social Media Design Stand Out in the Crowd

Do you want your website & social media design to stand out in the crowd? 

Not feeling creative and need some expertise? 

Let me introduce you to Orana from Orana Creative!

Over the last year I have built a friendship with Orana whom I met through a blogging group Have Your Cupcake run by Daniela Uslan.  Members of this group are fairly new to blogging and we were all learning how to design our websites and reach out to our readers.

Orana has recently revamped my website header, logo, templates for Instagram and Pinterest which I’m very, very happy with.   They are bright and energetic – just like me LOL:)

Orana also created a media kit for me.  I was asked for one by a company who wanted me to write a post for them but I had no idea of what was included.  Orana to the rescue and she did it within a day which was great services.

Working with Orana has helped me to bring a brand to my blog.  I have to admit I am not very creative and would pull my hair out trying to get some kind of brand for my images.  Enter Orana!  She listened to what I was looking for and came back with several ideas until we found something that we were both happy with.

I can’t recommend Orana highly enough and thought that interviewing her might introduce her to you and also the services she provides.

Apart from her work, Orana has a very interesting background and life and although she hasn’t quite reached Midlife yet I’m excited for you to meet her!

Orana tells us about her life and also provides her tips on why having a brand is so important.

Tell us a little about Orana.

I grew up in a artist world, both my parents are fine artists, my moms is a graphic designer and my dad a caricaturist. My childhood smells are oil paints and rubber cement. My first word was “cuadro” which means painting in Spanish. My mom says that’s because there were more paintings than anything in our house.

I am an artist of many trades, currently I work doing graphic design but before I worked as a Makeup Artist for fashion, theatre and special effects.

I am a mom of three, 17, 6 and 4. The oldest wants to go to Music School, which I find fascinating! I currently live in Sri Lanka with my husband and two little ones. We are nomad expats, always moving on the next place.

I am 38 going on 39 and love being a mompreneur from my laptop!

You have two websites.  Can you tell us about them?

My first website is an expat travel blog called Crazy Little Family Adventure. It is about 4 years old and has been telling the story of our expat life in Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The second website is Orana Creative and it’s where I offer my graphic design services for bloggers and mompreneurs wanting to get that extra edge with their sites.

What was the catalyst to starting your new website – Orana Creative Social Media and Design?

After leaving my makeup artistry work in Peru to travel, I started to miss work and being financially independent. I thought of many things that I could do to earn money and then realized that I had it in me the entire time. My readers started to noticed my design in my own blog and social media and asked if I did any designs for other bloggers. Things just snowballed from there.

What services do you provide?

I offer design work for any visual aspect of a blog or website. I also offer branding packs with logos and headers and templates for a blog renewal or launch. Anything that a blogger might need in terms of visuals, I can do it.

What is your favourite Social Media and why?

I really love Instagram because it lets me be artistic and creative. I have three Instagram accounts. One for my expat lifestyle blog, another for my Design website and another for my artwork. I go back and forth between them. Different times in my life call for different creative outputs.

@oranavelarde, @orana.creative   @orana.artist.in.disguise

What is ‘branding’ and why is it important?

Branding is essentially creating a brand. It is pretty straight forward when it comes to a small business, you need a brand to be able to sell. The same applies for a blog.

When you brand your blog you are choosing its personality, it’s vibe. When you brand, you solidify it’s name and description in every aspect of the design. The colors, the fonts, the style, everything is a complement to each other and creates a balanced identity.

Being branded makes you more recognizable on Social Media specially. Being branded makes you look professional.

I notice you also produce videos which you have included.  How important is this type of medium for the blogger?

Videos are very new to me but so important! Videos are everywhere now, not only as blog and vlogs. Facebook Live and now Instagram Stories. Video is the greatest thing for anyone on Social Media!

What are 3 design tips for bloggers wanting to update their ‘brand’?

Think of three words that describe your blog and expand from there. Think of your blog as a place and how it makes you feel. Never forget who your readers are, you are not branding only for you, you are also branding for them.

About Orana

Orana is an expat mompreneur who travels with her family and works from her laptop. She loves to drink coffee, eat grilled cheese sandwiches and has never done yoga (although that is about to change). At the moment she lives in Sri Lanka and gets up everyday at 6 am to get the kids to school so she can get designing!

Follow Orana on Social Media

www.oranacreative.com

https://www.facebook.com/OranaCreative.and.CLFA/

www.instagram.com/orana.creative

www.instagram.com/oranavelarde

www.instagram.com/orana.artist.in.disguise

www.twitter.com/CLFAdventure

Let’s Keep Sizzling!

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