Who does what, by option
| You, with free tools | Freelance social media manager | Agency | SUBAGEN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas and schedule | You | The freelancer | The agency | SUBAGEN, based on what works in your field |
| Shooting | You | Depends on the contract, sometimes on site | Often on site, with equipment | You, about 30 minutes a week, guided on your phone |
| Editing | You | The freelancer | The agency | SUBAGEN |
| Publishing | You, or scheduled with Meta Business Suite | The freelancer | The agency | SUBAGEN, network by network |
| Replies to messages | You | Rarely included | Depends on the contract | Prepared with your link, approved by you or sent on their own |
| Booking tracking | Social media insights | Report, depending on the contract | Report, depending on the contract | Clicks and bookings per post |
| Pricing | Free, paid in time | On quote | On quote | Monthly subscription, no commitment |
Freelancer and agency rates vary too much with volume, region and shooting to be summed up here without a source: ask for several quotes for the same scope of work.
Doing it yourself
It’s the cheapest option in money and the most expensive in time. Meta Business Suite, which is free, lets you prepare and schedule Instagram and Facebook posts and answer messages in one place.
Choose it if you enjoy doing it and have a fixed slot every week. The risk: social media falls behind everything else as soon as the season starts.
A freelance social media manager
Someone who often knows your area and can come on site. Quality depends entirely on the person: ask to see accounts they run, and put in writing who films, how many posts a month, and whether replies to messages are included.
An agency
A team, professional shoots, sometimes ads and the website on top. It’s the most complete option when the budget allows, useful for a launch, a renovation or a property selling a high-end image. Check the length of the commitment and what happens to your photos and accounts when the contract ends.
Software that does the work: SUBAGEN
SUBAGEN does the work of a social media manager on a subscription: ideas, the schedule, editing, publishing, replies with your booking link, and measuring what each post brings in. Your part is to film, about thirty minutes a week on your phone, and to approve.
What SUBAGEN doesn’t do: travel to film, or replace a photographer for a professional shoot. If you need someone on site, an agency or a freelancer will do it better.