Is it worth paying someone to do your social media?
Short answer: Is it worth paying someone to do your social media? For most small UK businesses, yes, if the time you would spend on it is worth more than the fee, or if posting keeps slipping. Done-for-you plans start at £150 + VAT a month. Doing it yourself is fine if you enjoy it and can post every week.
What do you actually pay for?
When you pay someone to do your social media, you are mostly buying time and consistency. Someone writes the captions, designs the posts and publishes them on schedule, so you do not have to think about it on a busy Tuesday.
It is worth being clear about what a low-cost service does not include. A plan like ours covers branded static posts, not video, shoots or paid ads. Those sit with a full agency, and the price is higher.
How much does it cost to pay someone to do your social media?
Prices in the UK vary a lot, from a freelancer charging by the hour to an agency with a monthly retainer. For a full breakdown, see our guide to social media management cost in the UK.
These are our own prices, so you can see what done-for-you looks like at the low-cost end:
| Plan | Posts a week | Price a month |
|---|---|---|
| Active | 1 | £150 + VAT |
| Active Plus | 2 | £250 + VAT |
| Always On | 3 | £350 + VAT |
Every post goes to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Business Profile. There is a one-off set-up fee equal to one month, and a 3-month minimum before it rolls monthly with 30 days' notice. You can compare all three on the Socially Active pricing page.
What is the real cost of doing your social media yourself?
Doing it yourself looks free, but it costs your time. Writing a caption, picking a photo, designing the post and publishing it in four places easily takes a chunk of an evening, every week.
A simple way to check: think about what an hour of your time is worth when you are doing paid work. If a weekly post takes you a couple of hours, you can set that against a monthly fee and see which is cheaper for you.
Our guide to DIY vs done-for-you social media goes through this in more detail.
When is it worth paying someone to do your social media?
Paying someone tends to make sense in a few situations:
- You are a tradesperson, salon owner or shop owner and your day is full of customers, so posting is the first thing to slip.
- Your last post was weeks or months ago, and the account looks inactive to anyone who finds you.
- You are unsure what to say, and a blank caption box puts you off.
- You want a consistent, branded look without learning a design tool.
Consistency matters because people often check a business's Instagram or Google Business Profile before they get in touch. An account with regular recent posts tells them you are open and active. If you are unsure how often to post, read how often a small business should post on social media.
When is it not worth paying someone?
It is not always worth it. If you enjoy social media, post every week without effort and your own photos and words already bring in enquiries, keep doing it.
It may also be too early if you have no photos of your work, no clear services to promote or no budget to spare. In that case, start small yourself and revisit the question in a few months.
What should you check before you pay someone?
Before you sign up, ask a few plain questions. They apply to a freelancer, an agency or a done-for-you service.
- What is included? Ask how many posts, on which platforms, and whether design and captions are covered.
- Do you approve posts first? You should see everything before it goes live.
- What is the minimum term? Check the length of the contract and the notice period.
- Are there set-up or extra fees? Ask for the full monthly cost in writing.
- What do they need from you? Photos and a logo are usually the minimum.
If you are weighing up the options, our page on affordable social media management in the UK explains how low-cost plans differ from a full agency.
How does done-for-you social media work?
With Socially Active you sign up online in about 10 minutes. Each month you send your logo and at least 10 photos through an upload link. We write and design branded static posts, and you approve everything by email before it goes out. Then we publish weekly.
That keeps your time to a few minutes a month. You can see each step on our how it works page, or read what done-for-you social media means.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth paying someone to do social media for a small business?
It is worth it if your time is better spent running the business and posting keeps slipping. It is less worth it if you enjoy posting and do it reliably already.
How much should a small business pay for social media?
It depends on how much you need. Low-cost done-for-you plans start at £150 + VAT a month for one post a week. Full agency services including video and ads cost more, from £495 + VAT a month with Compelite Pro.
Can I do social media myself and still use a service?
Yes. Many owners start themselves, then hand over the routine posting once it gets in the way. You can keep sending your own photos so the posts still show your real work.
Will I still have control over what is posted?
You should. With Socially Active, you approve every post by email before it is published, so nothing goes out without your say.
The bottom line
Paying someone to do your social media is worth it when your time is tight and consistency matters more than doing it yourself. If you enjoy it and keep to a routine, you may not need to. Work out the value of your time, compare it with the monthly fee and decide from there.
If you would like a regular, branded presence without the weekly effort, Socially Active is a low-cost, done-for-you option for small businesses anywhere in the UK. See how it works or view the plans and pricing.
