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Social media moves at the speed of life – sometimes at the speed of light if the headlines are compelling enough – so more and more businesses are hiring full-time managers to handle the 24/7 influx of activity, engagements and opportunities.
So businesses have to have a social media presence. That’s a non-negotiable now.
But if you’re a small-to-medium business, the thought of hiring someone to manage your social presence seems lofty at best, and decadently impossible at worst.
Ask yourself: Can you afford your own hourly rate if you were to take time away from other pressing matters to handle your own social media?
You may not have considered it from that perspective – but it warrants some thought.
Because while you may think you can’t afford to hire a social media manager, you’re technically costing yourself whatever your hourly time is worth every time you sit down to handle a task that could be delegated to someone – often surprisingly – more affordable than you. And let’s not even get into how they’re more qualified, dedicated to handling social media and nothing else and – GASP! – really enjoy doing it.
So here, we’ll cover how the cost of social media manager services varies depending on several factors and all the options available depending on the needs of your business.
First things first: Let’s cover what a social media manager is – and does.
A social media manager manages all of a client's unique social media needs to take their social media presence to the next level by managing their social channels, engaging with their audience, and tackling their scheduling to help them stay ahead of their competition and make lasting connections with their community and target audience.
Here are some typical tasks that social media managers can do, both for organizational and personal brands.
| Personal Brand SMM | Corporate Brand SMM |
| Example Represents 40 Hours A Month | Example Represents 80 Hours A Month |
Every 1 – 2 Days:
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Daily:
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Weekly:
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Weekly:
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Monthly:
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Monthly:
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Quarterly:
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Quarterly:
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Meetings:
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Meetings:
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As Needed:
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“So then why couldn’t my VA handle all of the above?” you counter.
Great question! Technically, they can. And maybe for what you and your business need, that could be perfect. But maybe your needs exceed the bandwidth, expertise or experience of a Virtual Assistant.
So here’s a side-by-side comparison of two of our contractor services – social media managers and virtual assistants – so you can decide which one is right for your business – and realize why you probably need one, like yesterday!
“Got it,” you say. “But then why not hire a social media assistant or manager? Aren’t they the same thing?
Another great question.
So let’s break this down. They all involve ‘social media.’ So we can nail that down. We know what they work on. But who does what?
See, a manager can pull double duty as an assistant and manager but the assistant and manager are likely not managers.
Clear as mud, right? Stick with us here.
Fear not – we can do this! Below, we compare both managers and assistants side-by-side, too!
| Social Media Manager | Social Media Assistant |
| A Social Media Manager is responsible for the overall strategy of your social media from a big picture perspective. | A Social Media Assistant is responsible for the execution of the manager's plan. |
| Tasks | Tasks |
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Maybe – hopefully – you’ve concluded you can’t afford your own hourly rate to keep managing your social media. Bravo!
Now, let’s lay the argument of in-house vs. outsourced social media squarely on what this looks like in application – with real dollars-and-cents.
On average, remote work is very often cheaper for employers – reportedly $11,000 cheaper – when instituted on just a part-time basis.
But let’s break it down a little further, shall we? Let’s compare the cost of an in-house social media employee vs. an outsourced social media manager. But keep in mind that these numbers are industry averages, and are subject to variables, like your location.
Full-Time In-House Social Media Costs
On average, a full-time in-house social media manager's annual salary is roughly $58,000 but unless you actually need full-time social media help – and we’re guessing you don’t … yet – you’re paying for more hours than you need.
Then, overhead costs add an additional 20 percent on top of an employee’s base salary and include …
Outsourced Social Media Manager Costs
On average, outsourced social media manager services cost anywhere between $35 to $70 an hour for small and medium businesses depending on the hours you need each month.
And BONUS! You pay only for the hours you need – nothing more.
And DOUBLE BONUS! Outsourced social media services come with none of the a la carte overhead expenses.
Now that you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, here are five questions to ask to make sure you hire the right social media manager for your business.
Why this is an important question to ask: This question gets at the heart of why this person is or wants to be a social media manager. This is your opportunity to have them walk you through their goal development process
Asking this will let you know …
Why this is an important question to ask: Listen for the reasons why they like the tools to help you better visualize their experience in their previous position.
Asking this will let you know …
Why this is an important question to ask: The answers to this question will give insight into their ability to plan, and lead a team and see a campaign through.
Asking this will let you know …
Why this is an important question to ask: Knowing what they admire gives you insight into the direction they could take your company’s social presence.
Asking this will let you know …
Why this is an important question to ask: You want a social media manager who’s always at the forefront of new trends and willing to try new things.
Asking this will let you know …
For five more of the most important questions to ask when choosing the right social media manager, check this out.
Whether you’re a church, nonprofit, or small business, social media has in large part leveled the exposure playing field, and its opportunities are endless for businesses to increase brand awareness and new customer gains – all without paying-to-play like in the traditional advertising media days of yore.
And all it takes is one quick call to get started.
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 business.
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Related BELAY article: 5 Signs You Need A Social Media Manager