Finding a social media management package often resembles standing in front of a restaurant menu that simply doesn’t suit your expectations. Agencies in this industry usually present a handful of pre-fixed packages, but the dilemma is that your needs very rarely fit one of their boxes.
In fact, you may primarily want posting and engagement, but you are being forced to pay for paid media campaigns you are not even ready to roll-out! Alternatively, you may require deeper levels of strategy, and the so-called ‘premium’ service appears packed with add-ons that add no real value to your business. Frustrating, right?
The reality is that in today’s world, businesses simply cannot afford to treat social media as anything but serious. Be it a local bakery or a SaaS startup, a strong online presence helps businesses build trust, increase visibility, and lead to sales. And it is not surprising that these social-media-led businesses are growing at record rates. So, we are here with the guide.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the common problems people face with pre-made social media packages and show you what to look for in a service that truly fits your goals.
What Are Social Media Management Packages?
A social media management package is a service (or package of services) that agencies use to manage your brand’s online presence. Rather than hiring an in-house employee or marketing resource, you pay one fixed fee for services such as content, posting and engagement.
Typical Pricing Strategies
- Flat Monthly Fee – a standard charge regardless of platform or content volume.
- Tiered Packages – basic, standard, and premium tiers with increasing services.
- Custom Pricing – tailored based on unique needs and ad spend.
Common Types of Packaging
- Platform-Based – Instagram-only, LinkedIn-focused, or multi-platform.
- Service-Based – content creation, ads, or full-service management.
- Performance-Based – paying based on growth or conversions.
How to Choose From SMM Packages
The first step is to be certain about what exactly you want. Are you looking for someone to simply be consistent, or are you looking for a complete strategy including ads, growth, and reporting? Once you sort that out, it’s easier to identify which package will actually fit your aspirations vs getting roped into paying for things you won’t need.
List Down Your Service Requirements
One mistake a lot of business owners make is jumping into a package without fully listing what they need. What are your daily pain points? Are you sick of wasting hours creating posts when you could be selling? Or are you missing DMs because you don’t have time for replies? Each of these pain points are telling you exactly what to put on your list.
Checklist Examples
- Do you need content creation (posts, captions, graphics)?
- How many platforms would you like to use?
- Do you need someone to reply to comments and messages?
- Are you looking for someone to manage paid ads at the moment?
- Is it valuable for you to have analytics and monthly performance reports?
- Would it be beneficial to have a long term growth strategy (not just post)?
Direct answers to these questions will steer you towards not paying for fluff and instead paying for what is actually going to support your business.
What’s Usually Included in SMM Packages?
Most agencies group similar core services into packages, often with different names or levels of detail. Research shows that around 73% of businesses hire social media managers mainly for content creation and posting consistency.
Common Inclusions
- Content Creation – Posts, captions, graphics, or videos aligned with your branding.
- Scheduling & Posting – Consistent posting at the right times to keep your pages active.
- Community Management – Responding to comments, messages, and engaging with followers.
- Analytics & Reporting – Weekly or monthly reports to track organic growth and performance.
- Ad Campaign Management – Running and monitoring paid ads (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) while supporting overall growth strategy.
- Strategy Development – Planning campaigns to meet goals and aligning social media engagement with your broader business strategy.
Considering a Budget Friendly Package?
After making a list of your requirements from the social media agency, a budget estimation becomes easier. You then pick a few agencies and ask for their quotes. You may be surprised to find that your ideal package does not fit your budget. That is quite common.
In that scenario, create two lists of your requirements: Plan A (must-haves) and Plan B (nice to haves). Check the quotes you get, determine which agency covers your must-haves, and then consider the additional features. That means you get to keep your spending in check while still getting the services that are most necessary at the moment.
A 2017 Clutch survey on digital marketing stats found that 41% of companies spent less than $10,000 on advertising and marketing, which includes social media advertising, while mid-sized businesses spent $1,000–$5,000. On the other hand, HubSpot reports that 77% of marketers say social media marketing has been effective for their business, proving its worth an investment.
What to Look for in Agency Quotes
When you receive quotes, don’t just look at the final price. Check these factors carefully:
Service Breakdown
Don’t get distracted by catchy package titles. Pay close attention to the specifics line by line: the number of posts; the content mix—graphics, videos, reels; whether captions are provided; and if engagement (responding to comments/messages) is included. A detailed breakdown prevents you from shelling out money for undefined offerings such as “content strategy.”
Hidden Costs
The base price you see may be appealing, but some agencies omit other critical components, such as ad spend, setup fees, or charges for extra revisions. What is not included in this quote? Whoever you are speaking with should be able to answer this. Asking this simple question could save you from unexpected bills.
Posting Frequency & Platforms
Verify the posting frequency and the platforms on which they’ll post. Having “10 posts a month” might look good, but if your audience is on Instagram Stories or TikTok and those are not included, this package may not suit your needs.
Contract Terms
A lot of agencies require a 6 to 12-month lock-in period. This is acceptable if you know the agency well; if not, it’s a shot in the dark. Check what the cancellation policies are, what the renewal policies are, as well as whether you can scale up or down while the contract is active. This sort of flexibility is important.
Support & Communication
A package can look great on paper but fall flat if you don’t know who’s managing your account or how often you’ll get updates. Check if they assign a dedicated manager, how quickly they respond, and if they’ll share regular performance calls or just a PDF report at the end of the month.
Average Cost of Social Media Management Services
There are a number of factors that can contribute to the price for social media management services in the United States. The pricing will depend on the level of services, the agency itself, and the size of your company. Let’s go into a little detail about how the costs are broken down:
Hourly Pricing
Freelancers and agencies charge $50 to $100 per hour on average.
Monthly Packages:
- Small Businesses: $500 to $5,000 per month.
- Medium to Large Businesses: $5,000 to $15,000 per month and as much as $40,000+ per month for very large enterprises.
Freelancer Retainers:
- Entry Level: $300 to $800 per month.
- Mid-Level: $800 to $1,500 per month.
- Experienced Freelancer: $1,500 to $3,000 or more per month.
📌 Klubz Media Pricing
Klubz Media pricing for social media management services starts at $199 per month. This entry-level package provides content creation, scheduling, and community engagement on your social media platforms. This is a great price for a small business that wants to start or keep their social media presence without spending a lot of money.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the best social media package isn’t the one with the most features. It’s the one that truly fits your business. Don’t get persuaded into add-ons you don’t need. Focus on the basics that can actually move the needle for you right now. Take time to evaluate the quotes, check what’s included, and ask for real examples of past work. If you find a package that balances cost with impact, you’ll know you’re on the right track. The real challenge isn’t spending more, it’s spending wisely.