Should You Outsource Your Social Media Marketing?

Determining your budget for outsourcing social media requires a careful balance between understanding the market rates for these social media marketing services and aligning them with your financial capabilities and business objectives.

You must recognize that the investment in outsourcing will vary widely based on the agency or freelancer’s expertise, the complexity of your social media needs, and the specific goals you aim to achieve through your social presence.

An effective approach involves researching average costs while keeping in mind the unique aspects of your project.

A practical step to determining a social media management budget is to create a list that outlines:

Average monthly costs: Research the typical range for social media management services to get a ballpark figure. On average, freelancer rates can range from $14 to $35 per hour for basic services like content creation and curation, scheduling, account optimization, engagement with followers, and basic analytics monitoring.
Service provider’s reputation and the depth of services offered: The prices from different freelancers or agencies will differ depending on their experience and the scope of their services. Simply getting a few engaging posts a week won’t cost the same as having someone fully handle your social media 24/7.
Expected outcomes: Clearly define what success looks like for your social media efforts. Whether it’s increased engagement, higher web traffic, or more leads, having clear objectives will help you assess the value you’re getting for your investment.
Ad spend allocation: Don’t forget to account for any additional costs related to paid social media advertising, which is often a separate expense from management fees.

Incorporating these considerations into your budgeting process will help you set a realistic budget for outsourcing your social media.

Regularly review your budget against performance and adjust based on results and new business needs to keep your social media strategy both cost-effective and impactful.

Broadly, your choices fall into three categories: freelancers, agencies, and social media management tools. Each option comes with its unique set of key advantages, catering to various business sizes, budgets, and levels of required involvement.

1. Social media freelancers

Freelancers are social media marketers who offer a flexible and often cost-effective solution for social media management. They are ideal for businesses looking for specialized skills or needing to scale their social media efforts up or down quickly.

Freelancers can provide personalized attention to your brand’s needs, offering services ranging from content creation to full-scale social media strategy and execution.

Here are some popular platforms and strategies for finding skilled social media freelancers:

Upwork: A vast freelance marketplace where you can search for social media professionals by skill, rating, and specialization. Upwork facilitates the hiring process with advanced tools for proposals, billing, and communication.
Fiverr: Known for offering a wide range of services starting at relatively low prices, Fiverr allows businesses to explore different freelancers offering outsourced social media services, from content creation to full campaign management.
LinkedIn: Leveraging your professional network on LinkedIn can lead to valuable freelancer connections. LinkedIn’s search and posting capabilities allow you to find freelancers who come with endorsements and a professional history.
Industry forums and communities: Niche forums and online communities related to digital marketing and social media are often frequented by professionals offering their services. Engaging in these spaces can help you discover freelancers who are well-versed in the specific areas of social media you’re interested in targeting.
Referrals: Sometimes, the best way to find a reliable freelancer is through a referral from business associates, partners, or other connections within your industry who have had successful social media outsourcing experiences.
ConciergeBee: Offering personalized assistance in finding the right social media freelancers for your needs, ConciergeBee takes a hands-on approach to match you with professionals. By understanding your specific project requirements and objectives, they can connect you with vetted freelancers who have the skills and experience to help your social media efforts succeed.

The typical expense of working with an expert social media manager for campaign ranges from $4,000 to $7,000 monthly, with potential increases exceeding $20,000.

However, for smaller tasks, such as social media content creation only, you should expect to pay around $200 – $400 on a monthly basis.

2. Social media marketing agencies

Social media agencies bring a team of experts to manage your social media presence comprehensively. They offer a wide range of services, including strategy development, content creation, community management, analytics, and paid advertising.

Here are some things to consider if you choose to work with a social media marketing company:

Specialization: Look for an agency that specializes in your business niche or has extensive experience in your industry. Their understanding of your market can significantly increase the effectiveness of your social media campaigns by ensuring you are on the same page.
Client portfolio: Consider the size and type of companies the outsourced agency usually works with. An agency experienced in working with businesses similar in size to yours, or one that has successfully managed campaigns for larger companies, might offer the scalability or expertise you’re looking for. Also have a look at their success stories to know what they are capable of.
Pricing structure: Agencies have varying social media marketing cost structures based on the scope of services provided. Discuss and understand their budget requirements upfront to ensure they align with your financial planning for social media marketing.

Focusing on these aspects will help you identify the right agency that not only fits your budget but also understands the nuances of your industry and has a proven track record of successfully collaborating with companies at your scale.

Agency-based social media management typically ranges from $100 to $5,000 per month, and hourly rates fall between $1 and $50.

3. Social media management tools

If you’re managing content across multiple social channels, a social media management tool can make a huge difference. These tools help you schedule posts, create content, post consistently, and track how your content is performing, all in one place.

One great option is SocialBee, which comes packed with features that make managing any successful social media account a lot easier.

Schedule and publish your content across your social media platforms with ease from SocialBee.

SocialBee key social media management features:

Post to all your platforms from one place: SocialBee supports Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, and even Google Business Profile.
Create visuals without leaving the app: It connects directly to Canva, Unsplash, and GIPHY so you can design and find visuals quickly without opening other tools.
Use AI to write your posts: The AI Post Generator helps you come up with captions and even images, saving you time and creative energy.
Organize your content into categories: You can group posts by theme (like tips, promotions, or user-generated content) to make sure your feed stays balanced and engaging.
Import content automatically: Connect an RSS feed so your new blog posts or articles show up in your queue without manual uploading.
Customize posts for each platform: Tweak your captions or images to fit each social network, so your content looks right no matter where it’s posted.
Generate hashtags: SocialBee can suggest hashtags based on your image or caption to help more people find your posts.
Reuse your best content: Set evergreen posts to repeat automatically, or schedule expiration dates for time-sensitive content.
Collaborate with your team: Set up multiple workspaces, assign roles, and work together easily without confusion.
Track what’s working: See which posts perform best, monitor your account growth, and check how your links are doing with built-in analytics.
Engage without switching apps: Reply to comments and mentions directly from SocialBee so you can stay responsive and active with your audience.

Tools like this are designed to help you save time, stay consistent, and make better decisions based on real data. Whether you’re a solo creator or part of a team, a good management tool can take a lot of pressure off your daily workload.

If you want to explore more underrated social media management tools that can help with tasks like turning blog posts into videos, quickly designing visuals, finding influencers to collaborate with, and more, watch our YouTube video.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which tools can help you save time, stay organized, and focus on what really matters.