Frequently Asked Questions

How large does my budget have to be for me to use an advertising agency?
Clark & Company is proud of the individual service and attention it can provide to its clients. As a small business, you can work with the people who are actually working on your project. We believe in offering our clients great work for a fair price within a reasonable time.


What if I don’t want to use all of the agency’s services—can I just have something designed individually or use a single service for a special need?
Our creative team includes graphic designers, copywriters, photographers, videographers and media planning specialists. Your project may require logo design, brochure design, business card and letterhead layout, radio and television commercial production and website design. Any of these services may be sought with or without enlisting Clark & Company as your advertising agency.


What’s the difference between an advertising agency and a graphic design firm?
Typically, a graphic design firm provides creative and design services only. An agency must invest more time in developing and implementing advertising and marketing concepts because it is an all-encompassing business. We research your current advertising, assist you in developing immediate and future goals, target your ideal audience through effective media and create a creative campaign to meet your business’ needs. Further, we can track the effectiveness of the creative campaign and expand your efforts in order to create and maintain a consistent message for your business.


What services are done in your office and what things are done out of the office?
All creative development from idea generation, technical layout, copywriting, photography and website design are handled within the agency. A network of business associates whom we respect and trust with your individual project’s needs handles the actual production of printed materials, radio and television commercials and outdoor advertising. Our business partners are equally committed to your satisfaction and provide the highest quality services.


How do agencies get paid?
Clark & Company bills clients in the way that best fits for each individual client and their budget. Some of our clients are billed by individual job or project; others on a monthly retainer in turn for a negotiated number of hours worked.


What is ‘media placement’ and why should I use an advertising agency to buy media instead of buying it myself?
‘Media placement’ is the strategic scheduling of advertising in order to achieve the most effective results for each advertising dollar spent. By placing your business’ advertising in segments relating to your target market, agencies can ensure that your message reaches your desired customer. Agencies often buy media in bulk packages in return for better rates, then pass on a percentage of the savings to clients who need specific timeslots within that package. In addition, agencies also receive a discount on your individual media purchase for their knowledge of and ability to negotiate during the media placement project, while you still receive full value for your money.


What are some of the advantages of using an advertising agency?
Agencies can provide a meaningful and profitable advantage to your business. Entrusting Clark & Company to develop a coherent, targeted campaign for your business means dollars aren’t wasted on reaching the wrong audience. In addition, the personalized service you receive is an invaluable asset. Small agencies such as ours mean your business and ours can develop a close and meaningful relationship in which you have direct contact with the managers and designers working on your project, reducing turn around time and increasing your flexibility to tailor your campaign to suit your needs. Most importantly, we allow you to do what you do best, without interruptions from media salespeople and other distractions.


How can an advertising agency help me to increase my business revenues and professional image?
Agencies like Clark & Company have the savvy and resources to outline and research your business’ deficiencies and develop a complete targeted campaign to reach your goals. In turn, value for your dollar is ensured and your profits are increased. By enlisting the talents of a professional agency to develop or update your business’ image, you reinvest in the integrity of your business and hit the market with a fresh image that differentiates your business from the rest of the market.


I took some pictures myself—can you use them in my project?
Yes, we can. We appreciate receiving any materials that you may already have prepared for your project and we evaluate those materials on an individual basis for their inherent value to the project. Clark & Company wishes for your public image to be of the highest standard. Therefore, we sometimes recommend that you allow our agency to produce photographs that are controlled in order to capture the essence of your business and therefore ensure a quality end product.


What if I don’t have any photos or information to provide for my project—how can the agency help me to have a good end product?
As a full-service agency, Clark & Company is proud to offer your project any service it needs. We have a creative team who possesses a number of talents from graphic design to copywriting to photography. After conducting an initial interview to establish a desired image and feel of your business, we can produce any creative materials needed to ensure that your message and image are coherent and capture the true essence of your business.


What is ‘copywriting?’
‘Copy’ is an industry term used to describe the text and verbage used in a creative document, whether it be printed materials, radio or television scripts or website content. Professionals known as ‘copywriters’ are experts in language and grammar and can provide clear, concise and creative communication for your project while maintaining a professional image. Oftentimes copy is just as important to the success of the campaign as are headlines and photographs used.


What is the method you use for developing marketing/advertising/public relations’ goals?
We conduct initial meetings with prospective clients to discuss current marketing, advertising and public relations and tactics that have been used in the past. We follow by discussing the needs of our clients and their business’ goals, then we prioritize those goals and relate them to the allotted budget. In consideration, we discuss demographics or markets desired to be reached, the appropriate media needed to meet those goals and creative ways to communicate the client’s message. Finally after receiving approval of creative concepts, we implement the agreed plan and monitor its results throughout the campaign’s inception.


You guys must make a lot of money.
What’s it like being rich?
We enjoy living like rock stars. We wish everyone could work three or four hours a day then go fishing the rest of the afternoon. Oh, yeah, and everyone should know the joys of having their own speedboat and the luxuries of living on the beach. Now, that’s creative copywriting. We are a service business working hard to make a living. Flexible hours allow us to fulfill special production requirements for photo shoots, schedule meetings around a client’s business hours and stage television commercials while being right in the action.