Let’s face it. Not everyone is a designer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t create content that looks good and performs well with your audience. Before you begin, it’s important to have a goal and purpose for every piece of content that you put out there. Otherwise, it can feel as though you’re creating content just for the sake of having more content.

Once you have your goal and purpose defined, here are some tips for you non-designers out there to get started creating great looking content:

1. White space is your friend. Not only does it look more refined, it also makes it easier for readers to understand your message. If things are looking a little cramped, consider breaking the content up into multiple pieces or editing out some text. When in doubt go with more white space.

2. Limit your fonts. There are a ton of free fonts out there and it can be tempting to load a bunch of them into your design, but it’s best to stick to no more than two easy-to-read fonts. Ideally, one for headlines and one for body copy. Then use varying treatments to differentiate text, for example font weight, capitalization, or color.

3. Be consistent with alignment. Generally, it’s a good idea to use the same alignment throughout your content. This makes it clearer and more organized. I recommend left or center aligned, as those are easier to read than right aligned content. That being said, mixing alignments purposefully can be a great way to make an element of your design stand out.

4. Define your brand’s color palette. The colors you use should reflect your brand voice and personality. Scrolling through a brand’s social-media feed is much more visually appealing when the content looks like it all fits together. If you already have a defined color palette, great! If not, here’s a quick tutorial on the basics of color theory.

5. Use stock photography wisely. It would be great if we all had the time and money to take our own photography for use in design, but that’s often not the case. That’s where stock photography comes in. There are lots of stock photography sites out there where you can find great options (both free and paid). Instead of posed photos, choose stock photos that are more natural, candid looking.

If after reading those tips you’re still not sure where to start, that’s where Life Happens Pro comes in. We have a library with hundreds of pieces of expertly created content for you to use in your marketing outreach. You can pick and choose what works best for your brand. Check out lifehappenspro.org to get started.