What to Charge for Social Media Work (as a Freelancer or Consultant)

September 27, 2012

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How much to charge for social media services

With more companies and organizations looking to hire social media help, and more social-media-savvy young professionals recognizing that opportunity, the same question keeps landing in my inbox again and again: How much should you charge for social media consulting?

Social media consultants charge rates across the board using a variety of fee structures – from $15/hour to thousands per project. How do you know where you fit in?

Here are a few tips for helping you figure out how to charge and what to charge next time an opportunity comes your way:

What to Charge Per Hour

Social media consultants charge anywhere from $15-$250+ an hour. That’s a HUGE spectrum, just like all business services consulting. Take these factors into consideration when figuring out how much YOU should charge per hour:

Work Experience. For most of us (who aren’t famous in the digital world), the biggest factor in how much you can charge is your work experience. If you’re new to the working world, you might want to stick with $15-$40/hour. If you have five years of professional experience under your belt, transition into the $45-$75 range, and if you have more than five years experience, you can usually get away with charging $80-$100 or more.

As with all consulting work, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the per-hour question, partly because it also depends on the type of client, the type of work and the project scope. But if you stay within these guidelines, you’ll likely be considered fair.

This also applies to whether you’ve worked specifically in the social media field. Maybe you’ve been working in an unrelated field for five or 10 years, and now you’re looking to make some money on the side as a social media strategist. Your going rate will likely be higher than the just-out-of-college crowd, but still lower than experienced strategists.

Type of client. You’ll also want to consider the type of client and what they can afford. Because remember, you don’t have to charge the same amount for each client.

Charge corporate clients more than non-profits, and thriving companies more than struggling individuals! This might sound shady, but it’s smart business. Plus, social media consultants often tailor packages and offerings according to the needs of each client, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll wind up offering the exact same service (with the same content, frequency and effort) to two clients.

Location. This might affect how much you’d like to make (so you can cover living expenses), but it probably won’t affect your actual prices. Why? Because an increasing number of social media consultants work remotely. You’ll likely live in a different city or even country than your clients anyhow.

Charging hourly is the easiest way to go, the status quo. You track the hours it takes to work on each project, then bill the client accordingly. The more hours you work, the more money you’ll make.

But what if you instead charged per project or a monthly retainer or a combination of the two? Lots of business experts say that’s smarter than charging an hourly rate. Why? Because if you don’t tie your fees to your (limited) hours, you have the potential to bring in far more income. And if you land recurring work (and put systems into place), you’ll become faster over time, and you can use your extra hours to bring in more income. Once you get to the point where you hire people to help you, you can leverage that, too.

So how should you go about charging on a project basis? That’s what we’ll talk about next.

What to Charge Per Project

Charging per project – which works well if the project is, for example, creating a social media strategy – takes some effort up front; you’ll want to figure out how much time and effort you’ll spend on the project and how much you need to earn to make it worth it. Here are some tips for doing that:

Know what you want to make. Even though you’re not charging per hour, having some idea of how much you’d like to earn for each hour of your time will help you determine your fee. Initially, it might be difficult to figure how many hours you’ll spend, but this will become easier to estimate with each passing project. (Make sure to account for the time and effort it takes you to prepare for each project, especially if it’s a one-time training gig or seminar.)

Don’t forget your knowledge is just as valuable as your effort. If you’re able to complete a project quickly because you’ve done similar projects so many times before, base your fee on how much your work is worth – how valuable your knowledge is to the client – not how many hours you’ll spend on it. Otherwise you might end up undervaluing your work.

Try a monthly retainer for recurring work. This works well when you’re growing an online community for a client. (Think that’s bogus? Check out this post on why it sometimes makes sense to outsource social media.) For new clients, I usually charge a one-time set-up fee that covers strategizing and creating social media profiles, then a monthly retainer to maintain the networks and grow quality followings.

Check out what other consultants charge. Want some examples of how much other consultants charge for various social media projects? Mark Collier offers a great post that shows rates for a variety of projects – from creating a social media strategy to updating a blog – based on a survey of consultants who work either independently or as part of an agency. The “Most Charge” category is most helpful, as it shows what most of the people he surveyed charge for each project. For example, most consultants he surveyed charge $1,000-$2,000/month for managing a Facebook page, and $1,000-$3,000/month for writing or editing about two posts/week for a blog.

Remember, you could “build a Twitter following” by simply tweeting once in a while, or you could put quality time and effort into building one strategically, connecting with specific targets and really growing a kick-ass community. Make sure the client knows specifically how you’ll do the latter, so they understand why they’re paying you well.

If you’re clueless about how much the client might be willing to pay, try offering tiered packages. The first basic package costs, say, $1,000 a month, the second costs $2,000 and the third comes in at $3,000.

Make sure the cheapest option isn’t less than you’ll work for though, because plenty of clients will choose Door Number One. And it’s in your best interest to also offer a package that’s higher than what you think the client will pay, because it makes the other options look more appealing.

Remember: You’re worth what you say you’re worth

This might sound simple, but it’s the best piece of consulting advice out there. Especially in a crowded field like social media, where rates fall across the board, you could choose a whole spectrum of rates and still be considered reasonable.

No matter how much you decide to charge, some people will think you’re charging too much and others will think you’re charging too little. The challenge, then, is figuring out how much you need to earn to make it worth your while, and finding clients who will pay what you decide you’re worth.

So pick a price, and own it. Be confident about how much you’re worth, do an amazing job, and you might be surprised by how much clients are willing to pay for your abilities.

Got questions? Happy to discuss in the comments!

If you’re looking to make money from your social media skills, check out my guides on this topic:

Want more FREE info? Here are all my posts on social media consulting.

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    97 Replies to “What to Charge for Social Media Work (as a Freelancer or Consultant)”

    • katiiisays says:

      I’ve been browsing all over the web looking for info on social media consulting fees but you’ve done a lot of the work for me! The article has great tips and tons of links that I can refer to while in the process of starting my social media consulting business. Thanks for this, I look forward to reading more of your posts!

      • Ashley says:

        Hi Katii (sp) and Alexis,

        I also found this post helpful. I hadn’t considered that pay per project could be more lucrative. I knew it would be a good route for social media work, though, if you consider finite project work like audits and strategies. Affordable and practical for companies.

        However, NO one should freelance for $15/hour. If you factor in sick days, work days, the cost of health insurance, etc. you’d be destitute if you only charged $15/hour. No one deserves that, no matter how inexperienced. Even if you have no experience, freelancing should allow you to live comfortably. I don’t think I’d want to work for a company that would feel comfortable paying me $15/hour. They’d be benefiting from my insecurity and ignorance about the expenses one must pay to live.

        -Ashley

        • Lindsey says:

          Thanks Ashley, I’m glad you said it! Writing continues to be devalued, especially with the rise of commodity-for-hire sites that grossly underpay. Let’s keep our standards for a very specialized talent/skill up!

        • Anderson says:

          But how do I measure time so as to charge per hour?

          Thank you.

          • Alexis Grant says:

            Have you tried using a time-tracker like Harvest to keep track of hours?

            • Anderson says:

              Yes Alexis. I checked it and it is wow. I really need to be plain with you here. I have a long time presence on the Internet emphasis on social media. But making money with it had not come to mind till a company contacted me to manage and build their social media accounts.
              I want to please know individual steps to get myself prepared for this task as I see myself growing in this domain. As such I don’t wish to have a trial on this first contract. I want to do it right.
              I will get your videos in few weeks. Please I need a guide.

              Thanks.

              Jes Anderson

          • Becky says:

            I use Toggl for tracking my hours and I can setup each client. Free for basics.

    • Sam says:

      Is it fair to charge one-off payment that’s under $1000 up front? I know a lot of web designers etc do this and I’m just curious.

      • Alexis Grant says:

        Hey Sam — Sure, whatever works for you! I’ve had one client pay me a lot more than that up front because he wanted to invest for a particular time frame. It’s all about your needs and the needs of the client.

    • Liz says:

      I’m curious about how much to charge for my social media strategies. I have a Bachelors degree and have spent the past five years working in the marketing industry. Basically, I use a proprietary template that has demonstrated success, i.e. I was able to sell a $60,000 product using a simple Twitter strategy. My prior clientele is limited to about five individuals and businesses, all with proven success. Only one has 1,000 Facebook fans, the rest have much less, though acquiring fans and followers is not part of my strategy. I find that when I offer to strategize for companies, charging $25/hr, they balk. I offer them my template, with customized, research-driven information pertinent to every aspect of their marketing team. I tell them this usually takes about four hours to accomplish. After reviewing the strategy they can determine if they want to keep me on long term, or simply keep the strategy and attempt to implement it of their own accord. I don’t have a website, thought I do have an oDesk profile and Twitter feed. What are those who are being paid more offer?

    • Ashli says:

      Hello- I am looking to break into the Social Media Consulting business! I have two BS degrees and am 28 yrs old with a baby boy… I have an opportunity right now with a small business skin care client. They are really great and brand new. Their Facebook currently has less than 500 followers and their Twitter about 15 followers. Skies the limit. I have arranged to present some ideas to help them with their Twitter account in exchange for free product… However, I have been doing some research on the company and their social media platform usage and brand coherency are severely lacking. But there is ALOT of potential. I’d like to present the with a solid strategy but am wanting to propose being paid with cash money instead. Something around 20$/hour with a max of $200/week. ANY ADVICE IS WELCOME!!! Thanks SO much in advance. Best, Ashli

    • Sigourney says:

      Fantastic article Alexis!! This as truly helped me so much. My business partner and I have designed some social media packages including graphic design, advertising credit, details reporting & analysis, constant monitoring, posting and customer interaction. We’ve priced the packages per the amount of pages the client wants managed. At first we thought that our prices were too high and were worried about alientating the client but your article has really instilled faith in what we’re offering.

      The challenge isn’t the prices per hour or month. We’re up against companies not understanding the value of social media and their online brand. We need to teach them about the social revolution so they understand the value in what we’re doing.

      Thanks again for a great read!!

    • Ashli says:

      Great point Sigourney!

    • Susan K says:

      Just found this post (helpful, confirms the direction I was already headed) and clicked through to the Linked In discussion and discovered that, alas, they just took down LinkedIn answers at the end of last month, blast them!

      Never fear, though, the Wayback Machine has it. Link is here…. Suggest you update your post link to one that actually works. Or, if not, well, here it is:

      http://web.archive.org/web/20120131023453/http://www.linkedin.com/answers/marketing-sales/advertising-promotion/internet-marketing/MAR_ADP_INM/691087-23397754

    • I think the scope of work determines the money in most cases. If I can freeze the scope of work, it becomes pretty clear how much to charge. Most of the time the struggle is in the scope of work while discussing clients and hence the unsure feeling on time. It would be nice that in a future post you do the above analysis vis-a-vis scope of work. I mean what can be considered a good scope of work at various levels of fees. I remember sometime back you had posted a check-list of SM strategy points. Similar kind. Anyway good post and thanks for the same. @VaradhKrish

    • Ben Robson says:

      Nice article, Alexis. I had this very thing come up the other day – working in Melbourne at the moment and was asked what my freelance rate was. I pitched in the end for $210 a day and that is for some copywriting/social media support.

    • Jason Staniforth says:

      WHO THINKS THIS IS THE BEST ARTICLE TO DATE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT ON THE WEB? I certainly do! Great Article, It’s always refreshing to get someone else’s opinion as to what works and what used to work but doesnt any more. The links in this article are also fantastic. As an idea, I offer a range of options for my customers, It’s almost a tick box form that goes through what they want and want they dont want from my service range. All options have fall backs, so if they want to manage it themselves or want a copy of my strategy then i charge £1,500. If they want me to manage it then i dont charge them for the strategy, I charge per hour at £85 or by project (dependent on project type). I have worked with a retainer before, I charged at the start of the month a small amount, this fee rolls on each month, then work that went over the retainer was charged alongside the retainer the following month, however, to incentivise the retainer, I offer a discount on the hourly cost when on a retainer. I like to work with small businesses as with large companies that are looking to set this type of thing up, you will find a you have too much to do, too many areas of the business, and more often than not, a lack of communication from the business to enable you to perform your duties.

    • Thanks for this! I love the tiered option idea! I get squirmy when it comes to talking about money, so giving potential clients a list of choices instead of just quoting a specific number is so much more appealing to me, lol.

    • parikshit says:

      hi , i am a web designer based in kolhapur (maharashtra , INDIA) . i want to start social media consultant business in my city , how can i start this business ?

    • This is so reassuring because I had to turn down a recent offer because I felt $250 was just too little for me. I’m glad I valued my time and work that much.

      Thanks for sharing, Alexis!

    • ali says:

      I have a B.SC degree in computer science, my wife and I started a home based clothing business in late 2011 and in about 18 months we were able to acquire over 8000 facebook fans. We have a monthly advertising budget of $150. I have been offered a sub contracting position through a reference to manage their client’s facebook business pages. I have comprehensive knowledge due to our business of all facebook has to offer in terms or ads, event, offer, reporting, analysis etc.

      I do not have a formal offer, but the compensation will be project based, where each project will last atleast 3 months. I am not sure how much I should charge per month per project. I am looking for some feedback. Thanks in advance.

    • Pamela says:

      Hey Alexis,

      Thanks for this excellent, helpful post.

      I have a client who I did extensive web development work for. Several months ago he paid me $4000, but now he owes me $8000 and I’ve been waiting 6 weeks and he still has not paid!

      During the time I was doing work for him, I turned down two other offers, so I’m very short on money. Do you have any tips how I can get this client to pay?

      He is VERY happy with my work. He just doesn’t like paying.

      Thanks!

      Pam

      • Barcards SMM says:

        I have a Similar issue with a Client who is a longtime friend his Business had to move about 2 hours away due to the building flooding and he left me hanging on about $400 back pay.
        Thought he was going to pay me made me drive an hour to meet him he was over an hour late and then told me he was flat broke left me scraping change and borrowing $ for gas to get home at a gas station.
        get it on paper is all i can say and get money up front.

    • Roxann Souci says:

      As always Alexis, you written another helpful & practical how-to-I appreciate that your information and recommendations are specific. You obviously do your homework and have working knowledge about your topics. Thanks!

    • Daniel Quinones says:

      You have done a tremendous job with this article. Thank you so much! !

    • This article is just what I needed. I have two projects I had just put quotes in for. each company wanted exposure on Twitter and Facebook and coming up with rates was daunting. Thanks so much for sharing such valuable information.
      Wendy

    • Bri says:

      This was certainly a great article! I am in the idea stages of my business venture as a social media consultant. I was not sure of my worth in this industry or what my pay rate should start at since I have no experience. I have a bachelors degree in journalism and I will soon be certified in social media consulting (just for the professional title). Thank you for sharing your insight.

    • Pamela says:

      Great article Alexis.

      I love how you put, “Remember: You’re worth what you say you’re worth.” There is nothing like a great portfolio & confidence to bring to a potential client.

      I try to be flexible when I meet with someone about my SEO & Social Media Consulting work.

      I know my bottom dollar of what I would like/need to make and never go below that. Some startup companies need that flexibility & if you treat them right – they will be around for a long time 🙂

      Still, your article makes me think I am undercharging.

    • Rylie says:

      Hi Alexis!

      This article has definitely helped me but I still have a couple of questions. My aunt and uncle are owners of a little shop that makes baby and children’s décor. They are handcrafted and are made in their work shed in the backyard. They have recently spent a good amount on a great website and were looking for ways to direct traffic to the site. They asked for my help. I have a Bachelor’s degree in this area. I told them I would assess what they have already accomplished through their Twitter and Facebook accounts. It was a mess.

      I am offering to clean it up for them as well as continue to do their social media. I know that I need to ask for compensation but how much is a good amount for a family member? How do you pitch the idea of being paid?

      Thanks so much! Any advice would be welcome!

    • Cody says:

      Hi Alexis,

      I live in a small town where hardly any advertising is done outside of billboard and radio. I interned for an advertising company for social media and was asked to stay on. What should I charge for being in a small town and working for a struggling advertising company. I was considering doing a monthly charge with a $2 fee for every “like” and “share”. I want to help her and myself. Also I am considering starting as social media consultant. Any Help would be appreciated!!

      Great Great article by the way. Very Helpful and inspiring.

    • Tony says:

      Thanks for this article. I’ve been using social media for years and am just starting a consulting company. This article really helps ground what I’m doing and feel confident about speaking with potential clients.

    • Nelson Hernandez says:

      Good Morning Alexis! I currently got hired by a small hardware store in East Los Angeles to work on their community outreach and social media maintenance. Most of the customers are spanish speaking, and either dont have a computer at home or dont know how to use a computer. Im posting up deals of the day and other things happening around the community and Im getting followers but I dont feel its making any difference in regards to sells. What advice would you give me? Right now the only way I know how to connect with customers would be via house mail. Do you even think having social media sites will even work for this small hardware store?

    • Benjamin says:

      Alexis,

      Awesome article. This is such a gift to the community of social entrepreneurs that are out there working to make their own luck, as you put it. It was very helpful to my own business model, and gave me confidence in what I’m charging my current clients and validation that I’m moving in the right direction!

      Cheers!

      ~Benjamin

      P.s. What comment system are you using? I love the trackback and attached post feature!!

    • Annie says:

      I love this article! Do you have any information on what to charge for Pinterest? I have very large followers on Pinterest and get contact frequently for pinning for other companies etc, but I just haven\’t done it and would like to see what’s out there possibly. Here’s my pinterest page: pinterest.com/anjo0926. Where can I go to research what to charge? Thanks! 🙂

    • Bridget says:

      Thank you!I\’ve been searching for an idea of where to start when it comes to charging for the work I love doing. This has been a great help to me.I\’ve decided on a once off set up charge and will follow with a weekly fee to update posts

    • Katie Stuart says:

      I’ve read SO many articles (this one has probably been the most informative), but I still have no idea what to charge. I was asked by Mood Fabrics to take 12 Instagram pictures a month at their store, and come up with new blog post ideas for them. Do I charge hourly or by project? Should I charge by picture? I have no idea… Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

      Thanks,
      Katie

    • Jennifer says:

      Thanks so much for sharing using what you\’ve shared to expand my thoughts and my value. Peace, Jenn

    • Patti says:

      GREAT article! The web offers every answer to any question. I am writing my first proposal for a fairly large concern (lifestyle mall) to handle all their social media-Facebook to Yelp and all in between. Your article confirmed that I was on the right track but gave me the concrete knowledge to properly prepare my bid. Thanks much.

    • Ainka says:

      Thanks Alexis for this relevant and practical article. For anyone thinking of jumping into the freelance social media world this is great information on where to start when it comes to fees. Freelancers must remember that the value they bring to businesses seeking a certain skill set (social media) is priceless.

    • Great article!! I started out as a writer, but when clients found out I had a blog, they assumed (correctly) that I also understood how to use social media. Now half of my assignments are writing and half are in maintaining social media platforms. It has worked out well. If your readers would like to see another price guide, they can check out my complete list on my blog on searching for the happiness under pricing chart.

    • Kathleen says:

      I really don’t agree with the fact that you think people in the work force with experience in something totally unrelated should be charging more than a college grad who studied digital or marketing. The college grad has studied this topic for 4 years the other knows nothing other than how to send out a tweet. working in social media is MEDIA it is more than just sending out tweets. It is marketing and using this as a marketing platform. I hate that a random person think “hey i know how to use social media, that means I’m a strategist” if you don’t know business marketing PR or anything related why do you think you can just jump and charge more than a college grade with 4 years learning the topic. I would hire the college grad any day over a person who worked as a receptionist or dental assistant or cashier or some other totally unrelated field.

      I can’t stand articles that encourage this. If you don’t know what you’re talking about and if you think social media marketing or strategy is just sending out tweets, or if you don’t at least know how to write a decent strategy and tactics for a business, if you don’t even understand the terminology don’t do it. It totally cheapens it. Then when you suck at it, it makes SM marketers or social media look like it just doesn’t work or look like it isn’t important all because nothing converted just because you as an individual with no skill or expertise in the topic thought it was okay to charge money to do it and sucked at it.

      • Nicole says:

        Hate to break it to you, but that’s business. I’m a web designer and my field has been cheapened as well, by people willing to build a website for $50. Or, what about photographers…people think they can just pick up a camera and be one. Or what about people who want to make an app, but they don’t know the first thing about what it takes to actually create one.

        That’s just the way it is. Nowadays, people don’t need to go to college to learn every skill. People are desperate for money and will do whatever they can to get it. I have 2 degrees and a mountain of student loan debt, yet I know people who have zero degrees and better-paying jobs in the same field as me. Instead of bitching about it, I just work harder. If it really bothers you so much, then you are in the wrong field.

        • Kathleen says:

          You get what you pay for, I understand that people are going to charge nothing for work. I get that, but you can also smell skill, or shittness from a mile away. You see a real web designer compared to an unskilled one, it is night and day. Big companies are not paying a teenager to develop their website. Maybe your marketing to the wrong audience, because the only people paying 50$ are the ones who couldn’t afford it either way so they are not going to pay you the 10,000 you deserve either way. What i was upset about was that she said, that is what it should be.

          quote “Maybe you’ve been working in an unrelated field for five or 10 years, and now you’re looking to make some money on the side as a social media strategist. Your going rate will likely be higher than the just-out-of-college crowd, but still lower than experienced strategists.”

          That is what i don’t like, this is being publicly condoned. Why should a cashier or receptionist with no expertise be making more than someone who has thoroughly, studied the topic for years, and does have expertise just because they are older pretty much. What does your waitressing or dental assisting experience have to do with digital marketing. Understanding what it’s like to go to work everyday? big deal.

          • Nicole says:

            It’s not about “marketing to the wrong audience.” It’s also not about what someone can afford. People that know nothing about web development cannot tell the difference between a $50 website and a $5,000 website, so they will always go with the cheaper option until they learn. The same thing is true here: Many people do not understand social media marketing, so they cannot tell the difference between someone who knows what they’re doing and someone who doesn’t.

            And your outrage over that quote is kindof funny to me. People can and will charge whatever they want. It’s not about what a college grad “should” be getting paid. I think all college interns “should” get paid for their work, but they don’t. I think waiters “should” get paid more than they do, but they don’t. Again, that’s just the way it is. I don’t think the quote is trying to say that you should just do this whether you know anything about it or not.

            And, wow, so people can’t have ambition or dreams to do something else with their career? So, someone who is a waitress that develops a desire to work in social media can’t, because they didn’t go to college? And, if they do, they can’t charge whatever they want?

            I think I’m going to stop the debate here. Oh, and according to your “don’t do it if you suck at it” logic, maybe your company shouldn’t be offering blog design services since you clearly don’t know much about it.

    • Kathleen says:

      Other than my little rant though great Article other than that small tidbit. I just got a little like :S when i seen that.

    • DANIEL IBANGA says:

      Great article Alexis, I have been studying your post on social media strategies, the do\’s and don\’t, guides on social media channels and their usage, etc. Although I\’ve not done some work on the client/money aspect.Have read through a lot of post but yet to start a social media consulting biz, of which I found out am good with media channels like Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin. I have seen small businesses use social media as a marketing platform and would love to be a part of their marketing team. Please how do I start and where do you think I should start from. I\’ve done a lot of writing, blogging and discussing in media channels, but have not posted an article. I can start with your advice on getting the right Niche, knowing my personas, how to attract relevant visits for small businesses(which of course as a beginner would not go for big brands Yet!) And knowing the right Keywords to engage a visitor.Thanks.

    • Ceci says:

      I’m also looking for ideas on what to charge. I met a wedding photographer that wants me to get him established on Pinterest and post weekly on his established fb page and check on his other sites like yelp and possibly get Instagram going. I was thinking a set start up fee for the time it will take to set up his Pinterest boards. But after that I don’t know about the weekly or monthly fee to keep his sites active. I have a lot of volunteer experience with a non profit and he liked what he saw but no formal training (just self taught and common sense) means I feel I can’t charge a lot. Also it would be my first paid job doing this so he’s taking a bit of a chance on me. We live in a relatively small town. Any ideas would be helpful.

    • Wade Harman says:

      This was very informational and it helped a lot. There’s all kinds of people on social that I have made connections with that have clients and I have never really went that way because I didn’t really know the pricing models.

    • tami rogers says:

      I have over 25 years of experience as a copywriter doing both freelance and working with agencies. In recent years I have been blogging and spent time on both facebook and twitter. I just had someone approach me about doing social media for her very successful restaurant/catering company. She already has a presence on Twitter and Facebook. What are the best resources for me to use to get started here? I have never done social media professionally before. Thanks! Tami Rogers

    • Matt says:

      This was truly helpful to save. I’m finishing my first proposal in hopes it becomes a loose template for my future gigs!

      Would social media consultants include a “indemnity and hold harmless” clause in the contract? I’m going to be managing services for a small company.

    • Mrs J L Keval says:

      Dear Alexis, i found this article very helpful, however i need some pointers on where to actually start looking for someone who is able to take on a job for a nonprofit organisation, at the lowest end of the budget. DO you know anyone who is working for £15 per hour? Its not that i undervalue the work, or the potential impact it could have for an organisation, but we simply don’t have funds at the moment to pay for it.
      DO you know of any student groups who might volunteer for experience?

      Are there different fees for crowdfunding campaigns?

      Are there any people that you can put me in contact with who might be interested in running a croudfunding campaign that could in part cover their fee as part of a larger project?

      • Alexis Grant says:

        Hi there — If you can summarize what you’re looking for in 2 sentences, plus add your contact info, I will post it in a group for newish social media consultants, who should be more affordable!

    • Michelle says:

      How do you respond when potential clients ask you how long until you can get them to 1000 likes?

      • Alexis Grant says:

        Use case studies from other clients I’ve worked with, but emphasize that it depends on so many factors, including whether they’re willing to put money into an ad spend.

    • I really appreciate this article, thank you!

    • Sonja says:

      Hi…I have a facebook fan page with over 8000 fans that is sitting and not making money. I post local events in a booming area. My website is getting re-vamped but I post events there too and do blog posts on events. Also, I have a twitter account. I’d like to start doing a couple things. Selling ads to companies on my website, and start getting paid for posts for on my facebook feed and twitter account. Twitter needs more followers tho. How do I charge for this and what do I charge? Also, I’d like to offer social media marketing to these smaller companies for a fee but have no idea how to go about doing it. Can you please give me some ideas? Thanks.

    • Sharon says:

      I recently placed my print work in a newly formed gallery, in a newly rejuvenated shopping district, open less than a year. They have 815 facebook followers but very little walk-in traffic beyond those that know the owners personally. They’re email blasts and facebook posts are limited to special events. I would like to offer my services as a facebook administrator to take product photos, create consistent/frequent facebook posts and manage comments. I’m wondering what to charge for these services only. I have a masters in visual arts management and significant professional experience in fields unrelated to social media.

    • Wendy says:

      It’s hard to come up with a monthly retainer for posting on either one, or a few, social media sites. You never know the extent of the copywriting needed, the frequency of posts and status updates, etc. What’s a good dollar amount to quote for the top five when the frequency follows industry standards? For example, Faceook, 2-3 posts per week with media and possible links
      Twitter, 1 Tweet per day; one price for just copy, another for linking and adding media. I just need a starting point and an work it out from there. I love the monthly retainter idea because I do charge per hours and I know I am getting the short end of the stick.

      • Alexis Grant says:

        Sometimes it takes a few clients to figure this out. You make your best guess, then you adjust accordingly for the next proposal/client. It’s never easy to figure out the first time around!

    • Nick Roy says:

      This is a great article. I just want to add that when setting your rates, its not all about the amount of work experience. Although that is a factor to take into account. You also have to take into account your target market. Lets say that you are targeting small businesses that have a minimum budget of $5,000 to spend. Then you have justification to charge $75 to $150 per hour. If your target market is small businesses that are on shoestring budget, you might have to charge $15 per hour.

      I have two websites targeting these two markets. On the small budget market, I set packages based on the number of monthly campaign hours. For example, one package is $450 and is based on 20 campaign hours. $15 per hour to cover my salary plus $150 gross profit. I will be making a loss in the short run, but make a profit based on volume in the long run. It also gives me the flexibility to hire a someone for a project in the event that I can’t take it on. I still make the $150 gross profit on each project which goes towards my office expenses, phone, internet, etc.

    • Hannah says:

      Hi,

      I have a question as a soon-to-graduate Journalism/PR student. I’m about to be hired as a social media manager, where I’ll be growing my client’s post reach and popularity on Facebook and Instagram. Since I have a lot of experience for my age and she hired me as a “cheaper” yet effective alternative to an out-of-college professional, what would you recommend I charge?

    • Joanne says:

      Thank you
      This is exactly the information I was looking for. I’m starting a very small Social Media Management business and I need a guide for how much to charge.
      I will be reading your other blogs also.

    • Thomas James says:

      This is a must read! Goes out well in sharing tips and ways on how to deal with social media works and strategies. Thanks for this interesting article!

    • steve says:

      Great except for charging non for profits less then corporations. Most non for profits are in fact REALLY profitable.

    • Mikaela says:

      Hi, I’ve just made a proposal to manage the social media of a company. I offered data analysis, social media strategy, copyrighting, graphic design and posting in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I’ve asked 1000/month. They told me it was too much. Need advice, how much should I charge for these services?

    • Diana says:

      Excellent advice. Thank you so very much!

    • I’ve been hired to upgrade someone’s social media (improve their LinkedIn,Twitter ect..) and they wanted to know how much I charge. I’ve never been paid just to do social media marketing by itself so do you have a suggestions on what a good price is? I’ve done social media marketing for two other companies but one was an unpaid internship and the other was part of a part time job that required sales and other skills. The client wants me to just sit with her and improve her social media for a couple of hours. Should I do a flat fee (like $100)or charge by the hour? I have no clue. Please help!

    • Ramon Thomas says:

      Why does not nobody recommend a per post rate? I mean how the hell does the client know whether you are posting, replying or writing 5 or 50 posts in one hour?

    • I have spent more time than I wish I had trying to understand the price points of social media marketing. The prices your team have quoted for social media and copywriting seem very reasonable.

      I don’t believe I have come across another site that is as transparent as you guys are. Being new to social media strategy, I have been scouring the Web for information resources and this definitely qualifies as such. Keep up the solid work!

    • Priyanka says:

      Thanks for sharing your insight! I am just starting out and this really helps a lot. Of course, eventually I guess it does depend on the client and on you but it is good to know how things are in the market before you’ve begun to take charge.

    • Yvette says:

      I am interested in working with Pinterest. I have an active account and would like to show my ideas and hopefully one day inspire others by my creativity! I am also a working college student and am up to bring out the beauty in my everyday life.

    • Sheena says:

      What about a commission type of structure? Also do social media marketers expect a % of ownership in a company if they do really well and create a lot of sales? Would ownership be something a social media marketer would ever get?

    • Jenna says:

      I Googled “how much to charge to set up a social media page” and it’s SCARY! $150 ?

      I am working on a proposal that has packages as you describe and my estimates are going to make them run to a firm in India! My prices: $350 to set up a business Facebook/Linkedin/Twitter and then maintain is between $1400-4000 a month (the latter includes creating MailChimp program and a blog). I am scared to send it to the potential client!

    • Barbie says:

      Perfect! It helps me so much in doing my social media platforms.

    • Alexis,

      You composed another accommodating and functional how-to-I welcome that your data and proposals are particular. You clearly get your work done and have working learning about your subjects. Much appreciated!

    • Leah says:

      Is there anything newer sources? I noticed some of the stuff that had looked good, but realized it was as old as 2013. In the ever growing and changing social media world..3 years is pretty old.

      • Alexis Grant says:

        So true, Leah! I think a lot of this still stands, but it’s also worth looking around for more updated resources. I don’t focus on this niche anymore as much as I used to!

    • Christina says:

      It’s great that you are so detailed with the rates. Learning what others charge can be really helpful for learning consultants.

    • Christen says:

      This is just fabulous! This confirmed numbers I knew. Thank you for giving such great details and explanations.

    • M. N. says:

      Hi Alexis! My name is Megan and I currently work for Facebook Ad Support. I have been here over a year but we recently had a management shift and as a result have to reach certain metric goals in order to stay employed. Now I am the person who found out that the reason so many have no access to their Pages and Ad Accounts in Business Manager is because they didnt have the email they use in Business Manager attached to their personal Profile…because the help center didnt say to do so as Facebook had no clue at rollout that this would create issues. I say all this to say i am getting let go…very soon. All because i dont look at your billing question then look in your account and see you have a bunch of wrongly structured ads that are eating your bank account and simply answer your billing question and go about my business. I approach you about your ads and it makes it where i wasnt closing as many cases per hour as the others in suppirt. I say all of this to say i have no idea how to truly make Your particular business succeed but i know how to address all that other account related stuff & my passion is to see you ROCK what your goals are….what kind of niche is this kind of passion? Do people actually need me and would they actually pay for my consultation if I was limited on offering some bid/auction-specific advice but could offer any and all advice on most every other issue? Facebook says i spend too much time walkin my people thru the steps vs just shooting them a link. As a result, my position is at risk but I love my job and I want to continue to help people who are throwing their money away hand over fist….

    • Sam says:

      Is the above rates still pertinent to today’s market (2020)
      Also would those rates be doubled if a single client is asking you to manage two accounts for them?

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