When you see a good opportunity knocking at your door, you seize it. That’s what Diane, from Social Gems, did when she discovered her talent for creating social media posts.
26 years into her marriage, and with a 10-year-old cat and 2 well-raised children, Diane was living a comfortable life in England. She was satisfied with her 9-5 job up until she worked as a news editor for an entertainment blog. While she was still in the process of polishing her raw talent, multiple graphic design opportunities came her way, and she happily gave it a shot.
Long story short, Diane is now a successful entrepreneur and owner of Social Gems –a Canva templates business, which specializes in social media content for fitness enthusiasts and service providers.
We know the gist of your story. Can you tell us in detail what got you started in Design?
Yes, up until 6-years ago, I was happily doing a 9-5 job until I started editing for an entertainment blog. I discovered that I could create excellent social media posts and designs. Luckily, during the same time, my husband was starting a Martial arts Club and my friend, a new business. Both of them approached me to help with their social media content.
Their trust gave me the initial push I needed to begin this journey. After working with them, I decided to set up an online store where I could sell my social media designs and eventually became a business owner. Later on, I expanded my products range to include other business and marketing templates such as course e-books, client packages, and business plans.
Can you tell us what inspires your creativity?
I’m inspired by the wonderful creations of the artists all over the world. Whenever I have something to create, I go online and do a lot of research. I see what the current social media and graphic design trends are, and what other artists are creating.
The feedback and questions I get from my clients are also a big source of inspiration. They help me decide what I should tackle next, or which type of social media content is in need.
What is your daily process like as a Graphics Artist?
My day always starts with 2 cups of morning tea while I check my emails. But after that, I don't have a regular process or schedule. My day is a mix of household tasks, errands, and work tasks.
I don’t always feel inspired to design every day, but I try to devote some of my time daily to research and see what's trending in social media and graphics design. This, itself is a process, which helps me get my thoughts together. Once I have an inspiration in mind, I use the valuable information I've gathered to create designs for my customers!
Can you tell us a bit about your design style?
I think my signature style is clean, modern-looking photo-based templates. Instead of adding web elements or other graphics, I try to create my designs around photo aesthetics because they perform extremely well on social media.
As for the themes, I don’t think my designs follow a single one because each bundle is centered on a different niche, such as coaching, fitness, beauty, health, and wellness.
Who buys your art from Social Media Calendar?
My customers are usually small business owners or individuals from various countries and niches, looking for a head-start with their social media campaigns and presence. So, I create easy-to-edit, no-fuss designs that anyone can customize according to their needs. I also include content ideas in my bundles so even people with little-to-no previous experience can use them efficiently.
What do you want to say to your fans?
I want to tell them that their reviews –especially when they show me how easy it was to use my templates, and how they loved my designs –are very close to my heart. I also use their feedback and reviews to constantly grow and improve myself.
So, if you have something to tell me, don’t hesitate! I am grateful for anything you have to tell me, and will use it to improve my products and customer experience!
Supporting Artists on Social Media Calendar
Diane is one of the many creatives on the Social Media Calendar who have found a fresh, new career through graphic design. You can support their ventures by purchasing their guides, courses, e-books, puzzle templates, etc. from our products page.
Remember, with every purchase you make, you are supporting a dream, a career, a pursuit, and a life!
Becoming a Seller on Social Media Calendar
Do you have templates and designs you want to sell online? Do you want to be known by a wide and diverse audience for your graphics? This is your chance!
Join our Seller’s program to get started with your templates shop on Social Media Calendar. Whether you are new to the market, or well-established in your niche, this place is for you.
We offer email promotions, blog features, homepage highlights, and many other forms of free advertisements while you enjoy fast payouts and a targeted audience for your products. So, what are you waiting for? Join us now!
