What drives the price of social media management
Seven things that change the number on a quote the most. When you compare two quotes, check each one separately.
Number of posts
Four reels a month is different work from twelve. The simplest way to compare quotes is by finished posts, not by hours.
Type of content
A text graphic, a carousel, a reel cut from footage and a motion-designed reel take different amounts of work. A reel with planned motion needs a sketch, animation and an edit.
Number of platforms
Every platform has its own formats and safe zones. The same reel on three platforms is three files to check and three posts.
Who publishes
Handing over files is less work than posting to your accounts on schedule, with captions, hashtags and covers.
Comments and messages
Replying to customers every day is separate, ongoing work. Some quotes include it, some don't, and that moves the price a lot.
Paid ads
Running campaigns is a separate service, and the ad budget is paid to the platform. Check whether the quote includes it.
Check-ins and reports
A weekly check-in and a report with conclusions take the provider's time, but they are what makes next month better than this one.
What the Reelelle subscription includes, and what it doesn't
One list for every plan. The number of reels, graphics, carousels and platforms depends on the plan.
Included
- 4 to 12 motion-designed reels a month
- Graphics and carousels in your brand's colours and typefaces
- A cover for every reel
- A posting plan with captions and hashtags
- Posting to your accounts as planned
- 2 rounds of revisions on every piece
- A weekly call or email summary
- A monthly report with your account results
Not in the subscription
- Replying to comments and messages: conversations with customers stay with you
- Running paid campaigns and the ad budget
- On-site filming: reels are built from motion, photos and your short clips
What the first 3 months cost
The subscription has a 3-month minimum and a one-time setup fee. This is the full cost of starting on each plan.
| Plan | Per month | Setup fee | First 3 months in total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $690 | $190 | $2,260 |
| Growth | $1,290 | $190 | $4,060 |
| Pro | $2,390 | $190 | $7,360 |
Prices exclude tax. After the minimum term you pay only the subscription, month to month, and it gets cheaper: after 3 full months without a break the loyalty discount takes 5% off, rising step by step to 30%.
How many posts your business needs
The best starting point is a rhythm you can keep for three months. This is how we match a plan to a business:
- 4a monthonce a weekA local business that wants to be seen and show its offer: a bakery, a clinic, a garage, an office.Start: $690 / mo
- 8a monthtwice a weekA business with something new every week or a seasonal offer: a shop, a restaurant, a studio.Growth: $1,290 / mo
- 12a monththree times a weekA business that sells through social media and runs paid ads.Pro: $2,390 / mo
Freelancer, agency, subscription or doing it yourself
A freelancer is often cheaper for a single reel, and an agency covers the widest scope. The difference in what you get and how much of your time it takes:
| Reelelle, a freelancer, an agency, or doing it yourself? | Reelelle | Freelancer | Agency | Yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | A fixed fee from $690 a month | Per piece or per hour, different every month | Usually a higher retainer, often a longer contract | Your time instead of money |
| Motion and editing | Motion design in every reel, following your motion guide | Depends on the person you find | Depends on the team and the budget | Depends on how much time you spend learning |
| Posting plan | A monthly plan to approve, with captions | Usually on you | Yes, often with a strategy | On you |
| Your time | A weekly check-in and approvals | A brief for every reel and chasing deadlines | Meetings, approvals, reports | Evenings and weekends |
| Posting | We post as planned | Usually hands over files | Yes | You |
| Report | Monthly, with conclusions | Rarely | Yes, often extensive | You count it in the apps |
| Contract | 3 months minimum, then monthly | One-off jobs | Often a year | None |
| When it is a good choice | You want a steady rhythm and reels that look like your brand, without finding people for every job. | You need one reel now and then, or you already have someone you trust. | You also need paid campaigns, PR and comment management in one place. | You enjoy editing, have the time and want to learn it from the inside. |
Reelelle
- Cost
- A fixed fee from $690 a month
- Motion and editing
- Motion design in every reel, following your motion guide
- Posting plan
- A monthly plan to approve, with captions
- Your time
- A weekly check-in and approvals
- Posting
- We post as planned
- Report
- Monthly, with conclusions
- Contract
- 3 months minimum, then monthly
- When it is a good choice
- You want a steady rhythm and reels that look like your brand, without finding people for every job.
Freelancer
- Cost
- Per piece or per hour, different every month
- Motion and editing
- Depends on the person you find
- Posting plan
- Usually on you
- Your time
- A brief for every reel and chasing deadlines
- Posting
- Usually hands over files
- Report
- Rarely
- Contract
- One-off jobs
- When it is a good choice
- You need one reel now and then, or you already have someone you trust.
Agency
- Cost
- Usually a higher retainer, often a longer contract
- Motion and editing
- Depends on the team and the budget
- Posting plan
- Yes, often with a strategy
- Your time
- Meetings, approvals, reports
- Posting
- Yes
- Report
- Yes, often extensive
- Contract
- Often a year
- When it is a good choice
- You also need paid campaigns, PR and comment management in one place.
Yourself
- Cost
- Your time instead of money
- Motion and editing
- Depends on how much time you spend learning
- Posting plan
- On you
- Your time
- Evenings and weekends
- Posting
- You
- Report
- You count it in the apps
- Contract
- None
- When it is a good choice
- You enjoy editing, have the time and want to learn it from the inside.
What to ask before you sign
These items are rarely in the headline of a quote, but they change what you actually pay. Next to each: how it works at Reelelle.
Setup fee
$190 one-time: kickoff call, account review, brand motion guide, animated logo and the first month's plan.
Minimum term
3 months, then month to month with a month's notice.
Revisions
2 rounds on every piece are included. Most changes happen at the motion sketch, before the reel is made.
Music for reels
Chosen as part of the subscription: tracks licensed for commercial use or sounds allowed for business accounts.
Ad budget
Not included, and we don't run campaigns. The Pro plan includes 4:5 and 1:1 cuts of your reels for ads.
Files after you leave
Finished reels and graphics stay with you, and you can use them anywhere.
Tax
All amounts on the site exclude tax and are billed monthly in advance.
Changing plans
Applies from the next month. Up at any time, down after the minimum term.
How to compare two social media management quotes
Seven steps that put two different quotes side by side.
- 1
Count the finished posts
How many reels, graphics and carousels you get a month. Divide the price by that number, not by hours.
- 2
Check the kind of reels
An edit of your footage, a photo reel with captions or a reel with planned motion. Ask for an example of each.
- 3
Ask who publishes
Whether you get files, or posts to your accounts on schedule, with captions and covers.
- 4
Ask about comments
Whether replying to customers is included and, if so, during which hours and how fast.
- 5
Check revisions and deadlines
How many rounds each piece gets and when next month's plan arrives.
- 6
Read the contract terms
Minimum term, notice, setup fee and who owns the files when you stop.
- 7
Check what sits outside the price
Ad budget, music, on-site filming, and whether prices include tax.