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How much can I(F26) charge for freelance social media management + video shoot production?
Hi there,
A potential client approached me to work on her project. Her company allows people to book hair and beauty services in the UK.
She sent me the job details and I have no idea how realistically can I charge. I’m quite new in freelancing, I have 1.5 years of experience in social media management, 2 years of experience as a communications officer. I am specialized in the beauty industry.
Here are the details:
Current goal: Organizing 1 video shoot day/month, to showcase the skills of directory members (hair stylists and MUA)
Pre-shoot responsibilities
– Determine looks for the shoot + mood board creation
– Call sheet production
– Secure models + service providers (hair and makeup)
– Being the main contact with the studio and videographer – confirming booking
– Arrange catering and refreshments for the day
– Budget managementShoot day
– 12 hours shoot, goal: to produce 7 videos
– General management of the day in line with the call sheet / logistics
– Ensuring models and service providers respect the booked space / studioSocial media & PR
– Manage IG, Twitter and Facebook accounts of the companyShe’s asking me my hourly and daily rates.
I was thinking charging her £150/day for social media (copywriting only, images provided) or £270/day if I need to do the art direction
+ £200/day for shoot production and organization.I’m lost! I don’t want to offer my services for too cheap but at the same time, I want to be realistic with what I can offer and deliver.
Thanks for reading me x
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4 Replies
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I’m Canadian, but based on today’s conversion rate I’d say £150/day is the lowest you should go for an assumed 8-hour day. That’s about what I’d expect to pay someone fresh out of marketing school for social media content production. Since you have 3 years of experience it wouldn’t be unreasonable to charge £250/day–I wouldn’t blink if you put that number in front of me. I would advise against charging different rates for different work, since the constant is you and your expertise.
But, best practice when quoting to clients would be to give her 2-3 options at different rates and payment plans (same scope) and let her choose how she wants to buy.
So you might offer:
1. Flexible Plan – Pay hourly, just for the time you incur. Invoice her at the end of every month NET 30. Pick a higher hourly rate for this, since you’re getting paid later and you’re taking on some risk of non-payment.
2. Scope Certainty – She pays you the same amount on the 30th of every month after you’ve done the work as outlined above. Fixed number of revisions and outputs, to manage the risk at your end. Estimate this at a medium rate.
3. Cost Certainty – She pays you the same amount on the 1st of every month to lock in a certain number of your hours, and then you put those hours towards whatever she wants that month. Estimate this at a lower rate because she’s paying you early and often.Generally if you give a client a few different ways to compensate you they can pick the one they perceive to be the right value for them. Have you asked her what her budget is?
Source: I used to run about $1MM CAD in accounts at a large global agency, and now run my own independent consulting firm. I hire freelancers like OP on behalf of clients from time to time.
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It’s pretty hard to find out what similar business are charging so what I’d recommend is
1. Calculate your expenses (Equipment, models etc.) That will be a fixed number you can work with.
2. Assume your minimum rate will be at least minimum wage.
3. Estimate generously how long this project would take.
4. (minimum wage x estimated hours) + Expenses
5. Then go on Fiverr or someplace like that and check what the top sellers are charging for similar scope. If they are charging more than the number you got in step 4 raise your rate until you are at least in that ballpark.It’s not very elegant but Fiverr is dirt cheap so you should at least be in the same price range as those guys. If your potential client doesn’t like it, ask them for a budget and figure out a reduced scope that will achieve the same thing and pitch it.
I say this because we charged waaay too low our first year before finding out our clients paid $500-$700 more for the same services working with previous agencies.
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I think $20-$23 is a fair rate for someone brand new but competent in this industry (in the US.)
I worked for a year at $16 per hour to get my foot in the door as a social media manager and build a better resume, this enabled me to find the $35 an hour job I have now.
I am not sure how this translates to the UK though, you guys could have very different market rates for this type of work.
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Thank you so much guys for your help!
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