How to hire a social media manager
If you want to build an audience on social media, either for yourself or your therapy practice, then you’ve probably thought about hiring a social media manager.
But where do you even start? And how much does it cost?
Let’s break it down.
Who to hire
First, you’ll need to decide if you want to hire a freelance contractor or a full-time employee.
Unless you have a large group practice with a big marketing budget, you’ll probably want to start with a contractor.
I recommend hiring someone (not a company or agency) who has worked with other therapists. Get references and work samples.
What they’ll do
Next, you’ll need to decide what they’re going to do.
Do you need someone to create graphics, make videos, write captions, schedule posts, or do community management?
If your answer is “all of the above,” then you may need more than one person. For example, you could hire a graphic designer to create reusable Canva templates and a social media manager to use the templates to create content.
Ideally, you provide the social media manager with content ideas and they execute it for you. You are the subject matter expert.
As a solo therapist, I wouldn’t invest in expensive social media audits, strategic planning, or analytics reports. It’s probably more than you need.
How much to pay them
In terms of compensation, you can expect to pay a freelance social media manager anywhere from $20/hour to $75/hour, depending on their experience and where you live.
The number of hours really depends on what you need them to do. It can range from a few hours per month to 10-15 hours per week.
You may be able to save money by hiring a paid college intern or recent college graduate who is looking for professional experience.
I recommend starting on a trial basis (e.g. month-to-month contract). Don’t commit to anything long-term upfront before you’ve had the chance to work together.
With that said, social media is an investment, so don’t expect immediate results. And beware of anyone who guarantees a certain number of new followers—they’ll probably be fake.
Where to find them
I would start by asking therapist friends and colleagues for referrals. Ask in Facebook Groups and professional email listservs.
You can find good freelancers and contractors on websites like Upwork or Fiverr.
The Productive Therapist Business Directory is a great resource for service providers who work with therapists.
Finally, remember hiring contractors is a tax write off. Use Heard to track your business expenses.