Illustrator Gets Cookin’, Adds New Menu Item

If you look up at the blog menu here, you’ll see a new item: FAQs.

It’s long overdue.

If you’re a brand offering a service, visitors are going to have questions– and they’ll want easy access to answers.

The new page explains what I do and how I work; i.e., my process, fee structure, what clients can expect. It also includes some client testimonials, how to connect with me on other social media platforms, and some fun facts.

Still needed: a new About Page (the current one is absurd and embarrassing), and a separate page devoted exclusively to Client Testimonials.

I’ve copied and pasted the entire FAQs page below.

Please take a look at the questions and answers and let me know what you think. I’d appreciate the feedback– thanks!

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: I’ve been a full-time illustrator since 1989.

Q: What kind of services do you provide?

Illustration, cartoons, infographics, animated GIFs, slideshows, stop-motion animation, videos. These can take many forms: editorial art, marketing and social media images, cartoon strips, posters, greeting cards, book covers, storyboards, website graphics, etc.

Q: Who are your clients?

When I first started out, most of my clients were magazines needing editorial art: covers and inside illustrations. Today, I work mostly with brands who need images, infographics, and videos for marketing and social media campaigns.

I’ve done work for Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A Restaurants, Guardian Life, RBC Dain, Discover Financial Services, and other major brands.

Q: What do you charge?

I charge by the project, not by the hour. I don’t have set fees because every job is different. I’m always happy to supply a quote (free estimate). Fees typically run from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Q: Are your quotes take-it-or-leave-it, or do you negotiate fees?

Depending on the job, I often use an approach called “three-tier pricing.” I say: we could do this, or this, or that, and supply three different prices. Sometimes I offer more options if the job is open-ended. Everyone’s more comfortable when they have options.

Q: Why hire Mark Armstrong instead of someone cheaper on a crowdsourcing site?

You get what you pay for. When you buy art, you’re investing in your brand. You want to hire someone who will be equally invested: a partner who asks questions, and offers suggestions. Someone who follows up, and makes sure you’re satisfied. You want to be able to vet that person: check out their portfolio and read client testimonials.

Q: Where is your portfolio?

I have a Facebook portfolio, and samples on both my LinkedIn profile and my website.

Q: Where can we see your client testimonials?

I have 28 testimonials on my LinkedIn profile, but you can only see them if you are also a member of LinkedIn. Here are 3 of them:

Mark is a supremely talented illustrator and visual communicator with a unique ability to inject his signature blend of creativity and humor into every project while staying true to his client’s vision and strategic direction. Over the last 18 months, we’ve consistently trusted Mark to visually articulate Coca-Cola Journey editorial pieces with compelling illustrations and animated short videos that have brought an artistic flair to our digital magazine and supporting social media channels. The quality of Mark’s work is second to none, but equally valuable is his attention to detail, respect for deadlines and clear communication style.

—Jay Moye, Global Editor-in-Chief, Coca-Cola Journey

Mark is very thorough, easy to work with and professional in his approach. He has a great sense of humor which is often reflected in his illustrations.

—Ashley Callahan, Content Strategy & PR Manager at Chick-fil-A Corporate

In addition to being an exquisitely gifted illustrator, Mark is a pleasure to work with. On the project we collaborated on, Mark brought new ideas to the table, while executing his illustrations to the client’s delight. I would recommend Mark to anyone in need of high-quality illustration work.

—Daniel Reed, Creative Director at Square 2 Marketing

Q: Do you ever turn down jobs?

Yes. Some jobs just aren’t right for me. I tried doing a realistic portrait once. It came out OK, but it was a struggle. Same with logos. Most involve typography more than illustration, and I just don’t have a strong interest in that kind of work. Much better, in such cases, for me to recommend someone else.

Q: Could you describe your process? What can a client expect?

When I receive a job query, I jot down questions. There are always things the client hasn’t thought of– that’s normal. It’s part of my job to figure out what additional information I need. When I have all that information, I supply a quote along with several options.

After we agree on the work to be delivered, the due date, and the fee, I’ll sketch out some ideas. (If the client has a specific idea, I’ll sketch that out, along with one or more of my own ideas.) I submit roughs via email, and the client reviews them. They may approve a particular rough “as is,” or they may ask for revisions. If they want to combine ideas from several different sketches, that’s fine, too.

I’ll make any revisions based on their feedback, and submit the revised rough. They’ll either approve the revised sketch or ask for additional changes. This process continues until they approve a rough– then I proceed to the final art.

I make it a point to send the client status reports as I go along. That way, they don’t have to worry. If I encounter unexpected problems, I call them immediately.

Q: Does your fee cover all the above?

Yes. The only time I charge an additional fee is if the client requests a change to the final art; that is to say: after they’ve approved a rough and know what to expect. That’s unusual, but it does happen occasionally.

Q: How can people contact you?

They can send me an email, or call me at 603-827-3985 between 9AM-5PM. I’m in New Hampshire, USA, on Eastern Standard Time.

Q: Can people connect with you on social media?

Yes. They can follow my blog. They can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the Medium blogging platform. If they’re on LinkedIn, they can follow me or send me a connection request.

Q: How about sharing some fun facts?

1. I’m from Cooperstown, NY, “The Home of Baseball,” and site of its Hall of Fame.

2. I worked as a bank teller for 6 months. Nobody’s nicer to tellers than I am.

3. I once did a century; i.e., rode 100 miles on a bicycle in a single day.

4. I sold a cartoon to TV Guide back in the 80’s. It referenced ABC News. Roone Arledge, who was president of ABC News at the time, requested the original for his office.

5. I once drew caricatures of owners and their dogs at an animal hospital open house.

6. My first car was a Ford Pinto, the model famous for its exploding gas tank.

7. I self-syndicated a weekly cartoon strip for 7 years (1996-2002).

8. I was an extra in the original Jumanji, starring Robin Williams. I never met him.

9. A client once sent me a half-pound of fudge to “keep me going” during an assignment.

10. My old iMac computer died in 2015, and took Photoshop with it. I got an assignment from Coca-Cola the next day. I bought a new iMac, a new image-editing program, and a new scanner, and completed the assignment on time.

Q: What should people do if they want more information?

Send me an email, or call me at 603-827-3985 in the USA, between 9AM-5PM, EST.

    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

About Mark: I’m an illustrator specializing in humor, branding, social media, and content marketing. I create images that get content seen and shared.

You can view my portfolio, and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Questions? Send me an email.

Follow @mrstrongarm