What the heck are QR codes?

I recently talked about using QR codes to help promote your business at a business to business meeting, and was overwhelmed with the response.  It seems many people are still unaware of this new tool.  Basically a QR code (QR stands for Quick Response) looks like a black and white square.  Instead of the traditional scanable barcode that has just vertical lines, QR codes have blocks in different patterns.  They are meant to be scanned by your smartphone, which will then take you directly to the website.  No punching in a long URL name.  It's fast and easy.  And helps move traffic to your site, which increases your status on the web search engines.

This code can be small (like on a business card) or large (on a billboard).  I put it on the back of a t-shirt that I wear when I street paint.  Since most people see my back, I figured it would be seen more that way.

To get a QR code, you can type in "Free QR code generator", and you will get many choices of sites that will produce one for you quickly.  You just save the png or jpg file to your harddrive, and use it whenever you need it.  I recommend that you test your code before you have it printed on anything.

Google Alerts - Are you taking advantage of the internet?

Many of my clients tell me they don't have time to keep up with all the new technology and social media marketing sites that pop up daily.  I don't either!  But what I do tell them is to take advantage of Google Alerts.  They can help you stay on top of what is going on in your industry, and what your competition is doing.

It's pretty easy to set them up, if you already have a Google account.  You just enter key words that you want searched and how often you want them delivered to your inbox (daily, monthly, etc.).  Then Google does the work for you, and searches through blogs, websites, youtube posting, and more.  You only need to choose a few key words to get a lot of information (maybe more than you want or need), but it might turn up something really interesting (like your own postings!).  Try it - what do you have to lose?  It's free, and it's easy to opt out or change the key words if you find they aren't working for you.

Logos by Design for the Future

Past & Current Client List

• Affordable Insurance Superstore
• Airpark Ohio
• Always Ballroom (Dance Studio)
• American Red Cross of Martin County
• Bailey Engineering Corporation, Inc.
• Blacktip Manufacturing
• Brady Ware (Accounting)
• Chemical Injection Technologies
• Children's Golf Foundation
• Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
• Circuit Center, Inc.
• Coastal Construction
• Comprehensive Pain Care of South Florida
• Cooke's Environmental Services
• Cuenot & Forsythe
• Culpepper & Terpening
• Dayton Chamber of Commerce
• Dayton Visual Arts Center
• Dreamscapes of Belize
• Ear, Nose & Throat Institute of South Florida
• Evolution
• Financial Investment Network
• Great Walls of Palm Beach (Asian Furniture)
• Harbortown Marina
• Heal My PTSD
• Hospice of Martin & St. Lucie Counties
• ICS (In Control Services, Inc.)
• International Laminating Corporation
• JeuneNu Aesthetic Beauty & Laser Center
• Kettering/Moraine/Oakwood Chamber of Commerce
• Law Offices of Stuart Morris
• Martin County Bar Association
• Meyers Turf & Nursery
• Nile Aesthetic Institute
• Orthopaedic Spine & Fracture Clinic
• Palm Beach Gastroenterology Consultants, Inc.
• Palms West Pediatric Neurosurgery
• Pet Team
• Physicians Immediate Care
• Premier Dent Repair
• Prescriptions Plus/Diabetic Support Program
• Ram Nut Diet Program
• Ronald McDonald House of Dayton
• Statements Jewelry
• Sterling Centercorp
• SystemsOne
• The Other Place (Day Shelter)
• Treasure Coast Sport Fishing Expo
• Waggers Dog Depot
• Wenco, Inc. (Construction)
• Women's Health Specialists
• Worldwide Produce Marketers
• Yates & Associates

What is design for the future?

Design for the Future is graphic design that works. Started in 1994 by Jennifer Chaparro, Design for the Future has created logos and marketing materials for a wide variety of companies.

Who Needs Design?
Everyone! Your logo, literature, signage, etc. often make the first impression on your future clients. You wouldn't even consider going into a job interview or meet w ith a new client without dressing appropriately. The same applies to your visual identity. A good first impression lasts a long time, and can make the difference between getting the job or not.

Results!
As an independent consultant, costs can be kept at a miminum, so that you get the most impact for your dollars. No design or campaign is a success if it costs too much or straps your budget. You CAN afford the quality your business deserves.

Experience
Jennifer N. Chaparro has a B.A. in Design from UCLA and over 20 years of experience in advertising, graphic design and marketing. Her past employment includes Art Director for Domino's Pizza World Headquarters and Design Supervisor for Life Fitness (Lifecycle). She has experience in designing concepts for all types of markets, including retail, in-house communications, direct mail, point of purchase and business-to-business, with an emphasis on corporate identity and logo creation.