How Much Does A Social Media Manager Cost?

How Much Does A Social Media Manger Cost For A Small Business?

In today's digital age, a robust social media presence is a vital component of any organization’s marketing strategy.

Whether you're a budding startup, nonprofit, church or a well-established small business, navigating the ever-evolving landscape of social media can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor.

This is where a skilled Social Media Manager can help – a professional who not only understands the nuances of various platforms but also crafts compelling content, engages with audiences, and strategically elevates your brand.

What Does A Social Media Manager Do?

A Social Media Manager takes social media to the next level by managing social channels, engaging with target audiences, and tackling scheduling to help clients stay ahead of their competition and make lasting connections with their community and target audience. 

Here are some typical tasks that Social Media Managers do—and don’t do … 

Basic Social Media Manager Costs Per Month and Year

The cost of hiring a basic social media manager can fluctuate depending on factors like their experience, location and the extent of the work required. Here's a general overview of potential costs:

For monthly expenses:

• • Beginners or freelance social media managers might charge roughly $300 to $800 per month for fundamental services.
  • Social media managers with a bit more experience might fall in the range of $800 to $1,500 per month.
  • More seasoned managers or those associated with agencies could command prices from $1,500 to $3,000 or more per month.

For yearly expenditures:

• • Basic social media managers charing around $300 to $800 per month could result in an annual cost of about $3,600 to $9,600.
  • Mid-level managers charging $800 to $1,500 per month might translate to an annual expense of around $9,600 to $18,000.
  • Higher-end managers or agency services charging $1,500 to $3,000 per month could mean an annual cost ranging from $18,000 to $36,000 or beyond.

Keep in mind that these are rough approximations, and actual costs can significantly differ based on the aforementioned variables. 

The Indirect Costs of DIY Social Media Management

While managing your organization’s social media presence in-house may seem like a cost-effective choice, several indirect costs should be considered. These costs can impact your organization’s overall efficiency, brand image, and growth potential. 

Here are some common indirect costs associated with DIY social media management:

1. Time and Opportunity Costs: Managing social media requires consistent effort. The time spent on crafting content, scheduling posts, and engaging with audiences could be used for core organization activities or strategic planning.

2. Quality of Content: DIY content creation might lack the professional touch that specialized social media managers or agencies can provide. Low-quality content could negatively affect your brand's image and engagement.

3. Inconsistent Posting: Without dedicated resources, posting schedules may become inconsistent, affecting your ability to maintain audience engagement and attract new followers.

4. Lack of Expertise: Social media trends and algorithms change rapidly. Without expert knowledge, your content strategy might fall behind, leading to decreased visibility and engagement.

5. Engagement or Community Management: Engaging with your audience is crucial for building relationships. Neglecting this aspect could lead to missed opportunities and reduced customer loyalty.

6. Analytics and Insights: Monitoring social media analytics helps refine strategies. Without proper analysis, you might miss opportunities to optimize your approach.

7. Content Planning and Strategy: Developing an effective content strategy requires expertise. DIY efforts may result in content that doesn't align with your organization's goals or resonate with your target audience.

8. Ad Campaign Efficiency: Running successful ad campaigns on social media requires understanding targeting, budgeting, and ad optimization. Inexperience can lead to inefficient spending.

9. Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent brand image across various platforms can be challenging without a dedicated strategy and expertise.

10. Missed Trends and Opportunities: Staying on top of industry trends and viral content is time-consuming. Missing out on these trends could hinder your engagement and reach.

11. Reputation Management: Responding to negative comments or reviews requires tact. Mishandling these interactions could damage your brand reputation.

12. Burnout and Stress: Juggling DIY social media management with other organizational responsibilities could lead to burnout and stress for employees or owners.

13. Scalability Challenges: As your organization grows, handling social media demands becomes more complex. Scaling up DIY efforts might require more resources.

14. Tracking ROI: Measuring the return on investment (ROI) for social media efforts is crucial. Inaccurate tracking could lead to misinformed decisions.

Considering these indirect costs, organizations often find value in outsourcing social media management to professionals who possess the expertise to create engaging content, analyze results and stay current with industry trends. 

It's recommended to evaluate the pros and cons of DIY social media management against the potential benefits of hiring a dedicated social media manager or agency.

How To Hire The Right Social Media Manager Yourself

Hiring the right social media manager is essential for any organization that wants to succeed on social media. Here are some tips on how to hire the right person for the job:

Define your needs.

Before you start looking for candidates, take some time to define your needs. What are your goals for your social media accounts? How much time do you have to devote to social media management? What is your budget?

Create a job description.

Once you know what you're looking for, you can create a job description. This should include the responsibilities of the position, the skills and experience required, and the salary range.

Screen candidates.

Once you have a job description, you can start screening candidates. This may involve reviewing resumes, conducting phone interviews, and asking for references.

Conduct interviews.

The interview process is your chance to get to know the candidates and see if they're a good fit for your organization. Be sure to ask questions about their experience, skills, and approach to social media marketing.

Make an offer.

Once you've found the right candidate, it's time to make an offer. Be sure to negotiate the salary and benefits package to make sure it's a win-win for both parties.

By following these tips, you can hire the right social media manager for your organization and achieve your social media goals.

Or, you can let BELAY handle all of that – and more – for you.

Stop Doing It All Yourself. BELAY Can Help.

Once upon a time, social media was easy enough to manage on your own. A Tweet here, a follow there, and some icons in the footer of our websites and emails. Set-it-and-forget-it, right?

Not anymore.

Because now, social media moves at the speed of life – and if your organization is growing, it may be time to call in the cavalry.

Need a plan for social to reach your ideal audience? A Social Media Manager can do that.

Want monthly analysis and a continual feedback loop to help reach your social channel goals? You got it.

Those menacing red-number notifications as prospects and customers alike all engage with your social media? Your Social Media Manager can handle that for you, too.

Better still, by leveraging AI, our Social Media Managers can now get even more done for you every month, maximizing their time and your return on investment.

Let a BELAY Social Media Manager manage your unique social media needs – which can be varied, extensive and exhaustive – and build a strong online presence to get you back to what you love most: running and growing your organization.