Working with CAA: Our Process & FAQs
- Standard Project Process
- Sending Existing Artwork & Copy to CAA
- Retainers & Program Management
- Billing & Payment Questions
- Communication & Emergency Support
- FAQs
Standard Project Process
Each project that CAROLINE ANDREW & ASSOCIATES, LLC undertakes is essentially unique. But there are standard steps that almost always occur when we work with our clients on web or print initiatives. We have outlined these below.
INITIAL CONSULTATION
The initial consultation is always free. At this point we discuss what you are looking for in your design project, what your overall corporate goals are, the goals you have for this project. We aim to obtain as much information as possible in order to supply you with the best estimate and the best possible finished product.
ESTIMATE
After the initial consultation, we will provide you with an estimate. This formal quote details the scope of the work to be done and the costs involved. Most of our estimates involve a fixed fee. However, for projects under $300, we estimate by the hour. Rush jobs also are billed by the hour.
STATEMENT OF WORK & DEPOSIT
On approval of our quote we will supply you with a project agreement or statement of work. This finalizes the details and scope of all the work to be carried out as well as the legal details, ownership, copyright, and payment plan. A signed copy should be returned to us with your deposit check (if applicable) at which point your project will be added to the workflow.
WORKFLOW
For most projects, the beginning stage of workflow is dominated by preliminary design development/wireframes. Depending on your contract, we may be working on 2 or 3 preliminary designs to present to you for your particular marketing project. After the preliminary designs are presented, we work with you to incorporate changes to the design you like the most, including involving elements from the other designs, changing color or other elements. At this point, we begin writing content, if needed, as we also continue finalizing design. Print work will be e-mailed to clients for editing rounds and approval. Websites will be loaded to CAA's test area for private reviewing and commenting.
PROJECT COMPLETION
Print or design projects are completed the print piece has dropped in the mail or final files have been delivered to the client. Websites are considered completed when deployed into public use. Upon project completion, we will invoice any balances. All postage, payable to the Postmaster, is required before a piece is delivered to the post office.
How to Send Content & Client-Provided Graphics
CLIENT-SUPPLIED ARTWORK
CAA offers a wide range of stock photography for print and website projects, in addition to original or stock icons. However, sometimes our clients have product photography, logos, or other artwork that is to be used in a project. For the best results and the most efficient project work flow, we request that all client artwork be sent as one of the following:
Print Projects
- Resolutions of no less than 300 dpi
- Photography should be sent as a .jpg
- We prefer to receive logos and other illustrations in their original, unflattened .ai files and with transparent backgrounds.
- Resolutions of no less than 72dpi
- Photography should be sent as a .jpg
- We prefer to receive logos, icons, and other illustrations/vector images with transparent backgrounds in their original .ai, .png or .gif formats.
Artwork files can be large. Please compress your artwork files before e-mailing. For large amounts of artwork, we can work with you through YouSendIt or a cloud-based application.
CLIENT-SUPPLIED CONTENT
Generally, our clients take advantage of our copy and editing services. However, especially with re-designs, content may already exist. Client content should be e-mailed in unformatted Microsoft Word or in Adobe PDF attachments. We will also accept e-mail messages for small amounts of copy. For the most efficient design and/or programming, please provide plain, black type, stripped of all Microsoft formatting, except for paragraph breaks.
Retainers & Program Management
For small businesses, associations, law firms and other professional practices that do not have an in-house marketing department, managing and maintaining various advertising, website, social media and other marketing channels can be overwhelming. CAA offers marketing management and project implementation for some or all of a firm's marketing activities, giving our clients more time to focus on other aspects of their businesses. These services are available on an affordable retainer basis. A retainer contract offers on-going clients a discount on our hourly rates and makes annual budgeting easier. Please e-mail us or call 312.577.6972 for more information.
Flexible Billing & Payment Information
CAA accepts checks as well as credit card payments through PayPal® We bill fixed rate projects in thirds (as deposit, at preliminary presentation and at project completion). Hourly projects and retainers are billed monthly. For small businesses and start-ups with large projects, we do offer other installment payment options.
Client Communication & Emergency Support
We take pride in the professional relationships that we have developed with our clients, many of whom have been with us for several years. Much of our success is due to the strength of our client service. We are easily reached via e-mail, phone and cell phone throughout the work week. Our office hours are 8:30am–5:00pm, but we are usually available for evening calls to support time zone differences and busy schedules. Ms. Andrew is frequently available for local evening meetings for clients who are unable to schedule during the workday.
We are available on weekends via cell to current clients experiencing the very rare marketing or website emergency. While we are not technicians, we will do our best to help with e-mail issues. We do not handle hardware or software problems.
FAQs
Q: Our in-house marketing team is overloaded. Do you work with corporate marketing departments or with other departments within a company?
A: Yes! We are available for contract / 1099 work with your marketing team or with departments requiring help with print or web projects of their own.
Q: How long is your design and development process?
A: The planning, design, development and writing process varies from project to project. Website development and lengthy print catalogs, books and reports may take the longest. But time also varies depending on complexity and on client responsiveness, feedback and edits. Websites can take anywhere from six weeks to four months depending on the site's size and complexity. On the other hand, postcards generally require no more than 10 hours for design, excluding client feedback. Printing and mailing can take anywhere from 4 days to 14 days, depending on budgets and urgency.
