How much for social media marketing? A Comprehensive Guide to the Cost of Social
As a small business owner, you know that every dollar counts. You know your business should be doing more on social, but the question that often lingers is, “How much does social media marketing really cost?” The cost of social media marketing can vary widely.
That’s why it’s crucial to understand the true cost of social media marketing and avoid overpaying for services that may not deliver the value you need.
Factors Influencing Social Media Marketing Costs
Campaign Size and Scope:
A small local business with a limited target audience will naturally have lower costs than a multinational corporation aiming for global reach. The number of platforms you’re active on, the frequency of posting, and the type of content impact the cost, with additional post types like video content and carousel posts costing extra.
Content Creation:
High-quality content is essential for social media success. Whether you create it in-house or outsource to professionals, the cost of images, videos, graphics, and written copy can add up quickly if you choose the wrong agency. You need some marketing budget leftover for other priorities, so don’t blow the budget on organic social.
Social Media Management:
Managing social media accounts effectively takes time and expertise. Hiring a social media manager or agency can free up your time to focus on other aspects of your business. Social media was designed to be distracting.
Social Media Advertising:
Paid advertising on social media can be highly targeted and effective, but it comes at a cost. Ad spend can vary widely depending on your goals, target audience, and competition. (We deliberately choose to focus only on organic social media. You may want to look for an ad agency that is proficient in social media ads and Google ads because you may find that Google ads are more cost-effective.)
Social Media Analytics:
Tracking and analyzing your social media performance can help optimize your strategy, but don’t be afraid to question expensive agencies who give your reports and tell you everything is great when you feel you are overspending and not getting enough results. This is the number one complaint we hear from people who have been burned by other marketing agencies. People understandably expect a ROI when a marketing agency has convinced them to pay an uncomfortably priced monthly retainer. Some marketers hide behind big numbers like “reach” and “impressions” in reports to justify charging that uncomfortably expensive budget. We know that results vary wildly depending on the strength of your relationships. That’s why we keep our prices affordable. Over time, you will grow those relationships, and we’ll share content that supports your business goals for them to see. Some basic analytics are usually free when you log into your account (except for X, which requires you to pay to see analytics). Your agency may pay for more advanced tech. For you to access that yourself, you may need a subscription or investment.
Agency vs. In-House:
Hiring a social media agency can provide expertise and resources, but it also comes with management fees. Managing social media in-house may be more cost-effective, but it requires dedicated time and skills. Social media was designed to be distracting. Do you want your employees or, even worse, yourself as the business owner to be “researching” content ideas of your competitors? You will go down the social rabbit hole and waste time that could be better spent on other priorities.
Breakdown of Social Media Marketing Costs
Content Creation Costs:
This includes costs for graphic design, video production, photography, copywriting, and other content creation services.
Social Media Management Costs:
This includes salaries for social media managers, community managers, and customer support staff, as well as costs for social media management tools and software.
Social Media Advertising Costs:
This includes costs for pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, display advertising, and sponsored content on social media platforms.
Social Media Analytics Costs:
This includes costs for social media analytics tools and software, as well as costs for data analysis and reporting.
Budgeting for Social Media Marketing
Creating a social media marketing budget requires careful consideration of your goals, target audience, and available resources. Start by defining your objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). Then, research the costs associated with your chosen platforms and strategies. Be prepared to adjust your budget as you track your results and refine your approach. We suggest you get your regular content done affordably so you can pay for an ad agency to run social campaigns for you as needed.
Maximizing Your Social Media ROI
To get the most out of your social media marketing investment, focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. Make sure you engage with your followers regularly to build meaningful relationships. If you’re B2B, that means connecting with people you meet on LinkedIn so they see your content. Stay in touch with them via messenger. You may even want to send them a private message with a link to a social post on your business page, that will help them, educate them, or entertain them in some way. This is also a great way to boost engagement on your organic social media posts. This is best done by individuals in your company to make it personal and genuine. That’s the kind of communication that builds meaningful relationships. An automated bot can’t express kindness and thoughtfulness, but you can.
The Value of Social Media Marketing
While social media marketing can be a significant investment, it can also provide a substantial return on investment (ROI). By building brand awareness, driving website traffic, and generating leads and sales, social media can help you grow your business and achieve your marketing goals.
How Much Should You Really Pay for Social Media Marketing?
As a small business owner, you know that every dollar counts. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the true cost of social media marketing and avoid overpaying for services that may not deliver the value you need. At OfficeHounds, we believe in making social media marketing affordable and effective so you have money left over for other important campaigns like Google Ads.
Industry Standards for Social Media Marketing Costs
The cost of social media marketing can vary widely depending on the scope, platform, and service provider expertise. Here’s a quick overview of industry standards:
Agency Fees for Social Media Marketing
Typically, social media content creation prices range from $750 to $15,000 per month.
Here’s a list of prices published by the Social Media Agencies on page 1 of Google
(Updated January 25, 2025 – websites on page 1 will change)
- We Are Social – no prices (usually = expensive)
- Sculpt $3000 – $20,000
- Spark $3000
- Lyfe Marketing $750
- Cave – no prices (usually = expensive)
Overall, these prices are not suitable for small businesses. The SBA Small Business Administration says that businesses with gross revenue less than $5 million should spend 7% of their revenue on marketing. Let’s say you’re a small business with revenue of $150,000. The SBA says you should have a marketing budget of $10,500 for the year. Even the least expensive agency charging $750 per month or $9,000 per year would only leave you with $1,500 left to spend on marketing for the whole year. That’s just $125 per month.
We get small businesses. We are one. We are priced for you. Our most popular package is $300 per month. We leave you room in your marketing budget and that matters because you need more than just organic social media content in your marketing strategy!
Just to Give you Some Context, Here’s an Example Total Monthly Budget for a Big Brand
For a big brand, the total monthly budget for social media marketing can range from $20,500 to $127,000 or more, depending on the scope and scale of the campaign. Some marketing agencies make the mistake of downsizing their pricing compared to what big corporations pay. $3000 per month seems reasonable compared to $20,500. That price is devastating for a small business if it doesn’t lead to sales. We set our pricing by looking at what small businesses need, not our wants.
Why Paying More Isn’t Always Better
Many social media agencies charge high prices but deliver less value. At OfficeHounds, we offer a comprehensive social media package for just $300 per month, which includes posting 3 weekly posts to Google Business Profile, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X.
Our Social for Social Good Campaign
We also have a unique social for social good campaign where we donate money to buy naloxone (opioid overdose reversal medication) to help save lives. Working with us means you’re not only getting affordable social media marketing but also contributing to a meaningful cause. All you have to do is mention the Social for Social Good campaign when you place your order, and we’ll make a $50 per month donation to help save lives! Let’s do some good together!
Trusted by Marketing Agencies
Less expensive doesn’t mean less experienced. We’ve been doing social media and helping businesses get found online since 2009. Our services are trusted by other marketing agencies who resell our social media content. We work behind the scenes for other marketing agencies and create social media content for them that they sell to their customers.
Choosing the right social media marketing partner is crucial for your business’s success. Don’t overpay for services that don’t deliver the value you need. With OfficeHounds, you get affordable, high-quality social media marketing that helps you achieve your goals and make a positive impact on society.