Product Spotlight: QR Code Business Cards

Some may say it’s a fad, but QR codes are here and they won’t be going anywhere any time soon. As I have mentioned in some of my previous blogs, business cards are still one of the most important tools that you can use to promote yourself and make a good first impression! So, what is the advantage of having a QR code on your business card? One distinct advantage of having a business card with a QR code is that you are making print interactive. People you meet have instant access to whatever you choose to share with them. Some examples include, your website, blog, Twitter profile, Facebook page, event sign up, and etc.

Here are some great examples of QR Code business cards that I found on http://bit.ly/bkzpoM.

Geng Gao - QR code leads to his creative portfolio.

Reblis - QR code leads to a live Twitter feed as well as has links to Facebook, Linked In and Flickr.

QR Code leads to his photography portfolio.

Check out the links for each of them to see what creative ways people are using QR codes on their business cards! 

Source:  http://bit.ly/bkzpoM

What to Cook, Bake or In General Make Wednesday - Beer Cheese Dip

In honor of National Chip and Dip Day...a Wisconsin Favorite...

Beer Cheese Dip

Source: www.hiddenvalley.com

Servings: 3 cups

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 packet (1 ounce) Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dips Mix
1/2 to 3/4 cup beer
Chopped green onions and shredded cheese, for garnish
Pretzels, Chips or assorted vegetables, for dipping

Instructions:
Combine Cheddar cheese, cream cheese and dips mix in medium bowl. Gradually stir in beer until mixture reaches desired consistence. Garnish with green onion and additional Cheddar cheese. Serve with pretzels, chips or assorted vegetables.

Considering Color when Designing a Logo

Color is an important part of visual arts….more importantly your logo. Different colors have different meanings and are used in logos to convey a specific message.  So, when you are designing your logo for the first time or you are going through a redesign, be sure to pay attention to the definitions of colors below and choose wisely!

Red: Action, Adventure, Aggressive, Danger, Drive, Energy, Excitement, Love, Passion, Strength and Vigor.

Red is an extreme and emotionally intense color. It is often used in logos to grab a viewer’s attention, raise one’s blood pressure or make people hungry.

Pink: Appreciation, Delicate, Femininity, Floral, Gentle, Girly, Gratitude, Innocence, Soft and Tranquil.

Pink conjures feelings of innocence and delicateness. It is often used in logos to add a feminine flare.

Orange: Affordable, Creativity, Enthusiasm, Fun, Jovial, Lighthearted, High-Spirited and Youthful

Orange is a common color seen in logos that offers a sense of openness and friendliness. Its bright and cheery nature captures the attention of viewers. Orange is used in logos to create playfulness or stimulate emotions and even appetites.

Yellow: Caution, Cheerful, Cowardice, Curiosity, Happiness, Joy, Playful, Positivity and Warmth

Yellow is the most difficult color for the eye to take in. Yellow is often used in logos to get attention, create happiness and warmth.

Green: Crisp, Environmental, Fresh, Harmony, Health, Healing, Inexperience, Money, Mature, Renewal and Tranquility

Green is calming, refreshing and conservative. You can often find it used in companies that want to portray themselves as eco-friendly.

Blue: Authority, Calm, Confidence, Dignity, Established, Loyalty, Power, Success, Secure and Trustworthy

Blue is the most popular color in logo design. It is used extensively in government, medical and fortune 500 company logos.

Purple: Ceremony, Expensive, Fantasy, Justice, Mystery, Nobility, Regal, Royalty, Sophistication and Spirituality.

Purple symbolizes rank and authority. Purple is rarely used in logos because it is rare in nature.

Brown: Calmness, Depth, Earth, Natural, Roughness, Richness, Simplicity, Serious, Subtle, Utility and Woodsy.

Brown suggests utility, earthiness, woodiness and subtle richness. It is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. It is widely used in legal logos.  

Source: http://www.logoblog.org/wordpress/color-psychology-of-logos/

What's In An Address?

When we use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to deliver our mail, we need to be very specific and give all the information needed to insure the mail piece gets to the intended person(s). This information is placed on several lines of the label or mailing piece.

Line:                        Type of Information

First                        Name of person(s) or Company Name

Second                        Attention line or Address 1

Third                        Address 2

Fourth                        City, State, Zip

"Mail prepared by a Mailer Service will process the address data record and add the +4 (digits) to the Zip Code and also add a barcode--POSTNET barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode. Automated mail pieces have a barcode to allow for electronic mail sorting by the post office." 

Automated mail systems use the ZIP+4 to sort. Which identifies the city & state. Then it looks at the line directly above the City, State, Zip. This line must tell then the exact place to deliver the mail item. This can be a PO Box number or a location address. There is a +4 number assigned to every location address in each postal area (City) of every State.

The location address (see Third line of address example: Address 2) consisting of:

Example —818 E 23^rd Street  or 2408 13^th Street

Primary Number + directional (E,W,N,S) + (name of or number for) + (ST, AVE, BLVD, DRIVE, LANE, ROAD) + (SUITE #, ROOM #, UNIT #, APT #)

Larger cities with high rise buildings begin to add more complex sequence to the address structure, but keep in mind that it is important to have all of the parts to the address to provide complete and correct addresses. We are mailing this important letter to this person. With accurate and complete addresses the mail will arrive on schedule just at the exact location we included in the address block on the envelope.

Watch for discussions when we review considerations for planning, creating and managing our home or business mailing list database.

Questions and comments to:

Gary at Big Red Printing

gary@bigredprinting.net           

Design Tutorial: How to Package a File in InDesign

When you package a file, the folder that you will create will contain all of the images and fonts that are used in your document. Packaging a file means that you do not have to outline your fonts before sending a file to a printer. Be sure to check with the printer to see what Suite of Adobe they are using. If you are using a higher version then them, there will be an additional step that you will have to do.

STEP 1: If you are using a higher version of Adobe then the print shop you will be sending your files to, you will first need to export your file to an IDML (InDesign Markup File). If you are using the same or a lower version of Adobe, then you can skip STEP 1.

STEP 2: Go to File> Package

When you click on package, the screen below will automatically pop up.

It appears that all links and fonts are found. If it appears that links and/or images are missing, you can go to their individual summary pages by clicking on the list on the left hand side of the box. 

If any of your fonts are missing, you will be able to correct that on this menu by using the find font feature.

Same goes for links. If any are missing, you will be able to update and find them here.

STEP 3: When you are done checking the details of you document, click PACKAGE. A box will pop up and say that  the publication must be saved before continuing. Click SAVE.

STEP 4: After you click save, a Printing Instructions box will pop up. (see below). You should fill in your basic contact information as well as any special instructions you have for the printer.

STEP 5: After you click continue, the Create Package Folder will automatically pop up.  Make sure that Copy Fonts, Copy Linked Graphics and Update Graphic Links In Package are all checked. Then click PACKAGE.

After you click package, a warning box will pop up where you have to verify that you have rights to the fonts that you used. Click OK

Below is a screen shot is what your packaged folder should look like.

Once your file is packaged, you can either burn your files to a disk or compress your folder and either upload it to the printer’s website or email the file directly to them.

The CMO's Guide to: The Social Landscape INFOGRAPHIC by @Mashable

Do you subscribe to Mashable’s Social Media Newsletter yet? If not, I would highly recommend it. It is a great resource for all the latest and greatest happenings in the social media world. I read their newsletter on a daily basis and enjoy every minute of it. In addition to Social Media news, they also have news on the latest Tech & Gadgets, Business & Marketing, Video, Mobile, Dev & Design, Media, Social Good and Startups.

Today I was intrigued by one of the articles that they had up. An infographic of “The CMO’s Guide to: The Social Landscape.” Mashable creates infographics on a number of topics, but I think this is by far the best yet. They graphically display which of the most of the popular social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Linked In, You Tube, Digg, StumbleUpon and Reddit are good, bad and okay for customer communication, brand exposure, traffic to your site and SEO.

Check it out!

Mashable's Infographic, "Which Social Sites are Best for Which Marketing Outcomes?"

What to Cook, Bake, or in General to Make Wednesdays

(a Rosarita recipe)
FAJITAS (fa-hee-tas)

Ingredients:
1 LB skirt steak, cut across grain in 1/4" strips - or cubed, boned and skinned chicken
2 TBS each: Corn oil and lemon juice
1 tsp each: garlic pwd. and seasoned salt
1/2 tsp each: ground oregano and pepper
1/8 tsp liquid smoke flavoring
1 c. each: green pepper strips, thin onion wedges and thin tomato wedges
1/2 c. Mild Chunky Taco Salsa
8 hot corn or flour tortillas

In medium bowl, combine first 8 ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours to marinate. In a 10" skillet, heat 3 tbs oil over high heat until very hot* Saute half of meat until beginning to lose redness, about 30 seconds. Add half of green pepper and onion and continue cooking 1-2 minutes or until crisp-tender; remove all from skillet. Repeat with remaining meat, pepper and onion, in additional oil if needed. Return all of meat mixture to skillet. Add tomato and 1/2 cup of salsa; simmer, tossing meat and vegetables, 1 minute longer. Serve immediately with additional salsa. Makes 4 servings.
*Note: Oil must be very hot to quickly sear meat and seal in juices.
Serving suggestions: Pieces of fajita meat and vegetables can be wrapped in a tortilla, pick up and eat taco-style.