Templates / Social Media Manager

Social Media Manager scope of work template

Retainers creep the worst because there is no end date to hide behind. "Can you also reply to DMs" and "can we add TikTok" just slide into the month. Put platforms, post counts and response hours in writing.

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Scope of work

[Project name]: monthly social media management

Social Media Manager: [Your name]Client: [Client name]Date: [Date]

Deliverables

[12] posts per month on [Instagram and LinkedIn]
Content calendar shared by the 25th for next month
Captions, hashtags and scheduling
Monthly report: reach, engagement, top posts

Revisions

1 round of edits on the monthly calendar. Changes after approval count against next month.

Not included (out of scope)

Extra platforms
Community management, DM replies, comment moderation
Paid ads setup or management
Photo or video shoots, influencer outreach
Weekend or same-day posting

Anything not listed under Deliverables is out of scope. If you want it, I will send a short change order with the price and the timeline impact. Work on it starts once you approve.

Timeline

Calendar by the 25th
Client approval by the 28th
Posting runs all month

Dates assume feedback within 2 working days. Late feedback moves the dates by the same amount.

Payment

Monthly retainer paid upfront on the 1st. Add-ons billed as approved change orders.

Approval

Client approval

Date

Template from Scopease, scope locking for freelancers

A Google Doc doesn't stop anyone. In Scopease the client approves this scope through one private link, every extra ask becomes a priced change order, and the invoice builds itself from approved work. Free for your first project. First 10 new signups get 6 months of Pro free, automatically.

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The scope creep every social media manager hears

"Can you start answering our DMs?"

Why it is not free: Community management is daily, ongoing work.

How to price it: Monthly add-on.

"Let's add TikTok."

Why it is not free: New platform, new formats, new strategy.

How to price it: Per platform monthly fee.

"Can you boost a few posts?"

Why it is not free: Ads need setup, budget tracking and reporting.

How to price it: Ads management fee.

Turn the next ask into a change order

Here is one already filled in for a typical social media manager job: add tiktok: 8 short videos per month from existing content, 10 hours at $35/hour. Change the numbers to yours and send it.

Open this change order (free)

Not sure what the freebies already cost you? Run your numbers in the scope creep calculator.

Questions

What should a social media manager scope of work include?

The exact deliverables, how many revision rounds and what counts as a round, a clear out of scope list, the timeline, and payment terms. The out of scope list does most of the work when the client asks for extras.

How do social media managers handle scope creep without losing the client?

Point back to the approved scope, then send a short change order with the price and the new date. Start the extra work only after the client approves it. Most clients are fine with it when it is written down from day one.

Is this template free to use?

Yes. Copy it, edit it, send it. No signup. It is not legal advice, so for big contracts have a lawyer look at your terms.

Templates for other freelancers

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