Unveiling The Myth Of Social Media Management Pricing

If you have ever asked a social media agency for their rates before you will have probably been greeted with the answer ‘It depends?’ while this answer is frustrating, it is often the harsh reality. 

Unlike a simple product offering, social media management pricing in the UK can be rather complex. But how do you know if you’re being ripped off or if it is a fair price? 

This mini-guide will shed some light on the factors that can influence agency pricing, along with the average costs. We will also look into the pros and cons of choosing an agency versus a freelancer, helping you make an informed decision.

The factors that influence social media agency prices

Social media agencies aren’t always a one-size-fits-all. These are some key factors that can influence an agency’s pricing:

• Experience

Established social media agencies with a proven track record can charge more than average due to their expertise and experience. This factor is often one of the main reasons why an agency may be charging above the average. 

• Location

Agencies that are based in major cities, such as London and Manchester often bump their prices up as they typically face higher overhead costs and may charge more to attract the top talent.

• Competence

Top-performing social media agencies that consistently deliver high ROI for clients can justify charging higher fees, just like how the top-performing athletes earn more. 

• Clientele

Agencies that typically have high household names as clients often have higher rates due to the complexity and scale of their work.

• Services offered

Some agencies that offer specialised services for a particular niche might charge more. Agencies that offer a more generalised service might cost less. 

• Contract length 

Longer-term contracts can be more cost-effective, but they do lock you in. Shorter contracts incentivise agencies to deliver strong results to retain their clients.

A Breakdown of Social Media Management Costs 

Social media management is more than just posting updates. It is a strategic move involving managing a brand or creator’s social accounts, developing strategies and creating engaging content that aligns with the client’s audience. 

In the UK, agencies typically charge the following rates for their services. 

• £300 – £500 per month 

The pricing of social media management is always dependent on the needs of the business, many factors can affect the price. Pricing may be affected by the number of platforms, the volume of content being created, social advertising and influencer marketing integration. 

Social Media Marketing: Freelancers vs. Agencies

While freelancers often can come with a lower initial price tag, there is more to it than that. Agencies have more overhead costs like salaries, software and profit margins. However, this does translate to a team of experts in a variety of roles, like content creation and paid advertising. 

An agency’s expertise and access to resources 

Granted a single freelancer might excel in one area but might lack expertise in others. Hiring multiple freelancers to fill those gaps can often become expensive and requires great project management from your end. 

An agency can offer you a team of experts who all excel in different areas, particularly if you go for a full-service marketing agency, they often have, for example, an in-house design team that can create engaging social graphics and adverts. 

Why we think agencies are a better option than freelancers

We are not here to tell you that freelancers are awful, because they are not and for some businesses, freelancers are better than using an agency. However, we’re just going to go through the reasons why we think agencies are a better option, for some businesses, than freelancers. 

While freelancers can be a good option for specific needs, businesses looking for comprehensive full-service social media management and success might find partnering with an agency more advantageous. Agencies offer a broader range of services and expertise, with teams of specialists. 

In addition to this, agencies typically have a wider range of access to resources and can handle larger projects with greater scalability and consistency. This ensures that social media efforts remain effective even when facing fluctuating workloads. 

But what option is better for you?

We wish there was a simple answer to this question, but unfortunately choosing between a freelancer and an agency isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The best place to start is to consider your priorities. 

Is social media a make-or-break channel for your business? Or do you just need help with a specific task? For smaller well-defined projects with a set budget, a freelancer might be a good fit, especially for content creation or media buying in a single campaign. 

However, if you’re aiming for a long stint of social media success and a bespoke strategy, an agency is the better option. As mentioned above agencies typically have a broader range of expertise, and resources and offer a tailored strategic approach that can lead to stronger results in the long run. 

Ultimately, we can’t give you a direct answer, because there is no easy answer. It all depends on what your business needs and your specific goals and resources.  

What are our social media management prices?

We offer 3 core packages in social media marketing. We have tried to keep our prices low and accessible to all businesses no matter how big or small. This is so you can make a judgement on whether social media management is for your business and fits in with your budget. 

Our cheapest package comes at £550 per month and every single proposal we create is completely bespoke to your brand. We also offer bespoke packages where you can tell us what your issues are and what you want to achieve and we will provide you with a recommended customisable package.

Contract-wise, there isn’t one. We operate on a monthly rolling contract, which means you can cancel at any time! The only thing we ask for is 30 days’ notice if you want to cancel. 

We do highly recommend a minimum of an initial 3 months, this is so we can get settled with your social media and allows us a chance to provide you with a good set of results.

Check out our social media management page for more information. To see how we can help you achieve social media greatness, get in touch with us here.

We are also currently offering FREE social media audits to ANYONE, which you can get here.

Thank you for reading!