Writing a social media manager contract template can be one of the more tedious tasks that you need to do as an agency owner, but it can’t be overlooked.
Luckily, we’ve got your back.
In this article, find out how a social media contract can benefit both parties and learn what important sections your agreement should include.
(You also can sign up now for a free trial of Agorapulse and get started making your brand’s social media management successful, easy, and fun right away—no contract needed.)
A social media contract is a written agreement between two entities: a contractor and a client. Before they begin working together, contractors and clients typically sign social media marketing agreements to confirm the terms of their relationship.
It will typically outline terms and conditions such as the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms.
When both parties sign a social media management contract, it’s legally binding. That means the contractor and client both have legal recourse if the other party doesn’t fulfill their part of the agreement.
A written agreement is critical for any business relationship.
Take a look at a few mishaps (and their solutions) you can avoid if you have a contract:
Because it’s an agreement between two parties, a social media contract protects everyone involved. That means it can provide a range of benefits to contractors and clients alike.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the positive outcomes a written agreement can achieve.
If you’ve ever tried to work with a social media contractor based on a handful of emails or a couple of phone calls, you know how tough it can be to keep everyone on the same page.
A social media marketing contract clarifies all relevant terms so both parties can set expectations.
You’ll know when to expect your contractor to provide deliverables—and exactly what they’re going to send. You’ll also be able to set up workflows that everyone can follow. Then you can keep campaigns on schedule and lower the risk of missing key launch dates.
As an agency or an employer, an agreement can help you understand what your obligations are to your contractors.
In other words, you’ll know what kind of briefs, data, or account access you’re required to provide. So, your marketing efforts are more likely to succeed and your business relationships are more likely to flourish.
At the same time, a contract also specifies when and how much you’re obligated to pay social media contractors. That means your organization can budget accordingly—while ensuring that you can still afford to run ad campaigns or pursue influencer partnerships.
Ideally, the social media freelancers you hire will work out perfectly, delivering top-notch work right on schedule. But that isn’t always the case, even if you vet candidates thoroughly or if you rehire contractors you’ve worked with before.
Typically, social media manager contracts are legally binding, making them enforceable. If a contractor doesn’t carry out their part of the agreement, you can hold them accountable. Then you can decide whether to allow them additional time or seek another resolution.
If a partnership with a social media freelancer doesn’t work out as planned, a well-written social media manager contract template frees your organization from unnecessary liability.
Most social media manager contract templates outline liability and confidentiality requirements so both parties understand their rights and responsibilities.
How can you prepare an agreement that protects your company and your relationship with freelance marketers?
Use the items below to start drafting your organization’s contract template for social media managers and then add other components as necessary.
(Keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to have your legal team review agreements before signing them or sending them to contractors. A legal expert can modify the social media manager contract to ensure that it’s binding and that it protects your organization’s investment effectively.)
First, list the parties involved in the agreement. Every social media manager contract template should include two parties: the client and the contractor. Be sure to specify which party is the client (the person or organization paying for the services) and which is the contractor (the person or organization providing the services).
Provide as many identifying details as possible, including contact information.
Here are a few essential pieces of information to include:
In most cases, you can state the legal name of each party once. Then you can indicate how you’ll refer to each party throughout the rest of the agreement.
For example, your agreement might begin with: This social media manager contract is between [Contractor Name] (herein referred to as “Contractor”) and [Client Name] (herein referred to as “Client”).
Next, explain the scope of work.
This is arguably the most important part of the agreement, as this section details all the work and deliverables the contract covers.
Clarify who’s responsible for each item, and be specific when describing each task.
Include as much detail as possible so you can avoid misunderstandings. A clear explanation of the work can help your company or agency avoid scope creep while preventing your contractor from underdelivering.
Your scope of work may differ based on the nature of the project or campaign involved. But you can use these prompts to get started:
As you detail the scope of work, it’s also a good idea to outline the editing or approval process. If you need the contractor to provide one or more rounds of edits, get it in writing before asking for changes.
The scope of work should also include a timeline for the deliverables. You can list specific dates for a one-time project. For ongoing campaigns or recurring deliverables, you can state “every Friday” or “on the last business day of each month.”
Typically, the scope of work covers due dates for one-time and recurring deliverables. But it’s also important to specify the time frame for the entire contract. That way you can ensure that the project starts on time and concludes when you’d like it to end.
In your social media manager contract template, leave space for designating a start date and an end date. If the agreement involves a recurring relationship, indicate that the contract renews weekly, monthly, quarterly, or however often you’d like.
If the project is open-ended, you can omit an end date.
However, it’s important to clarify how either party can terminate the agreement. After all, not every client-contractor relationship goes as planned—even when you clarify the scope of work and set a firm start and end date. That’s why it’s a good idea to explain how, why, and when either party can terminate the agreement before the end date.
For example, the client may be able to terminate the agreement if the contractor doesn’t deliver within a set number of days past the deadline. Along the same lines, the contractor may be able to end the agreement if the client doesn’t pay within a set time frame.
If the agreement covers a recurring weekly, monthly, or quarterly relationship, it’s also important to specify how much lead time either party has to give before terminating the contract. For example, you might require 30, 60, or 90 days’ notice.
You can also add a time frame for executing the agreement in your social media manager template. Including an expiration date—such as a week or a month from the issue date—can help get projects started on time and avoid unnecessary delays.
Next, detail the fees and the payment structure. First, state the amount of the social media manager’s salary or project fee. Then clarify whether the contractor will receive a one-off payment or recurring weekly, monthly, or quarterly payments.
If the contractor needs to invoice the client, specify the deadline. For example, the contractor may need to submit an invoice within 30 days of completing the project.
Then state the payment terms—or the amount of time the client has to pay the invoice. For example, the terms could be 15, 30, or 60 days. If the contractor requires payment before starting work, the agreement should clarify these terms.
In some cases, the client may pay certain expenses for the contractor—such as software, hardware, creative assets, or travel. Be sure to outline all included expenses as well as any maximum amounts. Alternatively, state that the agreement doesn’t include any expenses.
In most cases, social media content belongs to the profile that publishes it. However, content ownership can be a gray area, especially if your contractor personally appears in the photo or video content.
To prevent misunderstandings and avoid unwarranted ownership claims, later on, state who owns the content. For example, you might state, “Contractor transfers copy and creative asset copyright to Client upon delivery.”
In situations where the deliverable isn’t social media content, the contractor may retain copyright. For example, if the scope of work calls for training documents, you may need to clarify that the contractor owns the intellectual property (IP) even after delivery.
Whether you represent a brand or an agency, you undoubtedly have a lot of proprietary data to manage. To keep contractors from sharing your plans and processes publicly, include a confidentiality statement that prohibits contractors from disclosing proprietary information.
Then clarify the type of information the contractor must keep confidential. For example, you might list:
Keep in mind that asking contractors to keep information confidential doesn’t prevent them from publicly claiming your business or agency as a client. If you don’t want contractors to disclose your relationship at all, you may need a separate non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
If you’ve worked in social media marketing for long, you know that it’s nearly impossible to guarantee results. Algorithms, seasonality, competition, and other factors can all affect the outcomes of marketing efforts.
But if you do require contractors to meet minimum requirements, you need to specify the metrics. For example, you might require a certain return on ad spend (ROAS) or purchase value for ad campaigns. Alternatively, if you accept that the contractor can’t guarantee results, clarify your understanding in the contract.
In case disputes arise between the two parties, it’s also a good idea to specify the jurisdiction that governs the agreement. That way you can clarify where you’ll handle any disputes.
In this section of your social media manager contract template, be sure to clarify how you’ll resolve or mediate any conflicts that may develop.
Finally, conclude the contract with space for both parties’ signatures. To streamline the process, send the agreement to the contractor to sign first. Then you can countersign the contract if and when you agree to the terms and want to start the project.
You could send a paper copy of your agreement or ask your contractor to print it and sign it. But in most cases, it’s much easier for both parties to sign contracts digitally.
One of these apps may work for your company or agency’s needs:
Once you receive the countersigned agreement back from the other party, you’ll be ready to get to work. Then you can create a process to onboard contractors and tackle projects efficiently.
Writing a freelance social media contract requires a bit of an up-front time investment.
But when you start with a free social media manager contract template, you can modify it as necessary and develop it into a document that works for your needs.
Always remember to consult your legal team before finalizing any contract to ensure that it meets all the legal requirements in your jurisdiction.
That way, you can confidently hire freelancer social media managers and enhance your marketing team while still protecting your brand and your investment.
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