Resources
I am a huge believer in learning as much as you can and in using all the tools at your disposal to do so, including blogs and podcasts. Here are a few that I’ve stumbled upon that I really enjoy.
– Katie
- Co.Create and Co.Design – These blogs, by Fast Company, have really interesting stories. I recommend signing up for the daily emails instead of using an RSS to read them because the design and visuals of the email are so powerful.
- Communication Arts – I’m a subscriber to their magazine, which also gets you access to their full website content. My typical method is to follow them on social media and read the magazine. Then anything I see that I like I pin to inspiration boards on Pinterest.
- Digital Photography School – I dream of having the time to develop my photography skills. I copy a lot of the articles on this site to my Evernote notebooks for future reference.
- Disney Parks Blog – The Walt Disney Company is pretty high on my list of companies doing communications and marketing well. I love reading their blogs just for ideas that I might be able to adapt to my own work. (Also, I wanted to be an Imagineer when I was a kid, and I’m still a big fan!)
- eduStyle – This website is a gallery and resource for web and publication designers working in education.
- Embedded Podcast – I follow several NPR podcasts, as they’re all great examples of storytelling. This one digs deep on one news story per episode.
- I Love Ligatures – I love the recent trends toward hand lettering and calligraphy. This site curates great examples!
- Information is Beautiful – I’m a big fan of cool infographics, and this site makes me envious of many designers’ skills!
- MMMinimal – I love the simple, clean designs that are posted to this site.
- Naldz Graphics – This site often features round-ups of fonts, designs, and templates that are useful for jump-starting a design concept.
- Serial Podcast – This podcast tells one story in an episodic fashion over the course of several weeks, with an investigative journalism approach. It’s addicting.
- Shorpy – This blog features vintage (and we’re talking old) photos that are just fun to look at.
- Buffer Social – The Buffer App company blog offers useful insights into audience expectations and streamlining your social media marketing efforts.
- CASE Social Media – This blog, by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, covers social media usage in higher education and non-profits.
- CoSchedule Blog – CoSchedule is another social media management platform, and their blog provides useful ideas for content and strategy.
- Donor Relations Guru – This blog features donor communications and stewardship ideas and resources.
- edSocialMedia – This site’s blog discusses the use of social media in marketing and teaching in higher education.
- HootSuite Blog – HootSuite, a social media management company, blogs across three channels: social, life, and innovation. I find their social media content useful for work.
- Mashable – I specifically follow their social media feeds to stay up-to-date on the latest tools and trends.
- Nonprofit Tech 2.0 – This is “A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits” and offers useful tips and insights.
- npENGAGE – This blog features communications tips for non-profit organizations to engage their donors.
- Princeton Social Media – There are several higher education institutions that blog about their social media and communications practices. This site I find to be particularly useful in that it is more generically applicable outside the specific institution that runs the blog.
- Ragan.com – This website offers news and ideas specifically for professional communicators. They also curate news articles related to public relations in their standalone website and daily email series, PR Daily.
- Social Media Examiner – I find the platform tutorials and updates on new features curated by this site to be helpful in staying on top of what’s new in digital marketing.
- The Storytelling Non-Profit – The blog from this company focuses on the use of content marketing to aid the efforts of non-profit organizations.
- Canva Design School – Canva, a cloud-based graphic design tool, blogs about graphic design for all levels of knowledge. They cover everything from layouts and color theory to cropping and photography.
- Design Tuts+ – This site has everything related to Adobe Illustrator and graphic design, including great tutorials and challenge projects.
- Digital Photography School – I dream of having the time to develop my photography skills. I copy a lot of the articles on this site to my Evernote notebooks for future reference.
- Naldz Graphics – This site is my go-to for finding fonts, patterns, brushes, etc., and it also has great tutorials.
- NPR Training – National Public Radio has a public website that serves as an internal training tool for their reporters and staff. It covers social media, video and audio production, storytelling, and more. I’m a big fan of these resources!
- Spoon Graphics – This designer posts tutorials and tips for various graphic design software programs, plus occasional free downloads.
- Camille Styles – I enjoy this blog that has a little bit of everything: entertaining, food, style, and life.
- Day Designer – This is my go-to calendar, and their blog is a good read for ideas on work-life balance.
- Inspired By Charm – Michael is one of the few branded streams that finds its way onto all my platforms. I follow the blog, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. The photos are great, as are the ideas!
- Pop Culture Happy Hour – This NPR podcast offers funny commentary on music, TV, and movies. It also helps me relieve FOMO by keeping me up-to-date on media wihtout having to watch every single thing.
- The Yellow Cape Cod – This blog by Sarah Macklem Interiors is a great source for interior design ideas.
- Zen Habits – This is another good blog on balancing work and life.
- Asana – This is my go-to project management tool, and their blog is full of tips on productivity.
- Being Boss – This website and podcast are focused on creative entrepreneurs. It’s one of my must-listen podcasts, and the emails and blog posts are great.
- Braid Creative – This company focuses on helping creatives brand their companies. Their blog is a great resource!
- Classy Career Girl – Great tips for young professional women on getting the job, acting the role and dressing the part.
- Crew.co – This site promises tips, tricks, and advice for working smarter.
- Levo – This site features content to help you plan and build a rewarding career.
- Millo.co – This site features advice for freelancers around the world.
- Ms. Career Girl – As a freelancer with a full-time career, I particularly enjoy the articles on #SideHustle on this blog.
- The Muse – This social network / job site features a great Advice section that covers anything career-related.
- Time Management Ninja – This blog has helpful advice for those of us who have a hard time saying ‘no’ to new projects.