Pricing social media management for a client

Who this is for

This page is for a freelance social media manager preparing an offer for an active business account.

The pricing question

Which channels, formats, publishing duties, and community responses are included in the fee the client is waiting to see?

What to decide before you send the price

Ask before quoting: Which channels are included? How often should each publish? Who creates raw footage? Are captions and graphics required? Who approves posts? How fast must approval happen? Are comments monitored? Are private messages handled? What needs escalation? Is weekend coverage expected? Also clarify brand access, community tone, languages, campaign dates, creator coordination, reporting needs, paid media boundaries, and existing content assets.

A defined service can include channel planning, monthly content calendar, caption writing, simple graphics, short-form editing, scheduling, publishing, comment moderation, and a results summary. Assume working account access, client-supplied product facts, timely approvals, and one escalation contact. Exclude photo shoots, on-site filming, influencer negotiation, paid ads, customer support, crisis communications, giveaways, translations, and inbox sales unless explicitly listed. Name any required response templates.

Offer a Publishing option for planning and scheduled posts, a Community option adding weekday comment handling, and a Studio option adding editing from agreed raw footage. Allow one consolidated calendar revision and one correction pass on produced assets. Re-filming, last-minute promotions, platform changes, weekend incidents, approval gaps, and requests to answer specialist complaints can expand the work quickly. Reserve nothing outside those windows.

A weak scope says, "Manage Instagram and LinkedIn every day." A clear scope says, "Plan and publish the agreed monthly post set on Instagram and LinkedIn, review public comments once each weekday, and escalate complaints without replying on the client's behalf." Define response hours and prohibited topics. Account growth, reach, and sales depend on factors beyond publishing activity and should not be promised in the scope.

• Name every channel, format, and monthly output.
• Set approval deadlines and a single escalation contact.
• Define response hours for comments and private messages.
• Separate organic publishing from paid media and customer support.
• Treat filming and rush campaigns as additional production.

FAQ

Pricing for other services

Useful glossary terms

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