“Disclosure: There’s an affiliate link below, but it’s a product I highly recommend. I will never put anything on any post that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.”

I love to joke when asked when I began writing by stating “In the womb, when I mistook the umbilical cord as a neat writing implement.” As far back as I can remember, writing was a passion I possessed.

In grades five and six I won first place in writing competitions, and in grade seven I came in…geez, I think it was second or third place…in a speaking competition. Now that was the hardest thing to do, and it continues to be one of my pet peeves. I simply get flustered, feel myself turn red when speaking in public, and the urge to run off the stage and toss my guts hits me…HARD!

But tossing my guts isn’t what I want to talk to you about. In my first blog post, Ten Tips for Writers: Slump Climb, I suggested for writers to join critique groups or to have critique partners and/or beta readers. The reason I’m mentioning this is because it’s great to have people in your corner who are honest and can give you guidance, whether in a critique, a helpful link for your career, or as I’m about to show you, a program that will help in your marketing banner blitz.

As a newbie, other than reading up on the craft, I had basically no clue what programs/softwares were out there. All I knew is that I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg to get Photoshop or have to learn it. I needed something easy, and affordable. In all honesty, I had tried the monthly subscription to Photoshop but after migraine after migraine trying to figure it out, I gave up.

Then I discovered LAUGHINGBIRD Software: The Logo Creator 7  and, well, I haven’t stopped using it since. I love it not only because it’s way affordable (and every year they introduce an add-on at ridiculous low prices, which I’ll admit I’ve bought them all as they are ‘born’) but mainly for the simplicity to use this program. Stress level is nonexistent, other than recently with one of their new add-on features, and that was my mistake. I was in a rush to use the new feature and didn’t realize my mistake that I had to click on the box first where I wanted to place the imported image to go. Figured it out and was a stress-free gal again.

Let me display a few of the banners I’ve done:

This banner is to engage readers on my Facebook page by changing the sentence each week. So you can design your own engaging banners and draw readers/fans to like/share/comment.

Needless to say a bookmark to use as a promo banner on social networks to switch it up by using the cover image and the bookmark alternately.

I’ve made hundreds of various promo banners over the years using either just The Creator 7 software, or one of their add-ons to design business cards, logos, quotes using character mascots, Facebook/Twitter banners, holiday/special event banners, and more.

I’ve been trying to think of something negative to say about the software but there’s nothing bad to say. If there was I wouldn’t have invested in every single add-on they produced each year.

So to go back to my original thought in the beginning…it’s extremely helpful when you have the opportunity to communicate with people who are there to critique/review your work openly and honestly, and also to offer you links that can help you in your career. And that’s my goal with this site, to offer you whatever I’ve come across over the years, tried and tested, and can honestly recommend.

You also have the ability to change the canvas size which is really neat.

Laughingbird Software, The Logo Creator 7.

Let me know your thoughts if you happen to buy it, and send me a few of your banners to showcase in a future post.

Thank you for reading.

Until next time, be well.

Lea