As a social media manager, you're probably aware that you need a contract. Contracts help service providers communicate project details & time frames, outline the responsibilities of all parties, and clarify important information regarding any paid working relationship.
“Social media management” is not exactly a black & white job description. It can mean many different things (and come with many different expectations) depending on who you ask.
Without a solid contract and a detailed statement of work–which outlines exactly what your services entail–the job responsibilities of a social media manager can get… complicated, convoluted, and downright confusing–quickly!
If you’ve ever had a client ask for services that fall outside of your package, use your content in a manner you never discussed, or received requests for creative assets you never promised, you know exactly what we mean.
As someone who provides an extremely nuanced service, the information you include within your contract is important. A copy / pasted version you found on the internet probably won’t have everything you need to protect you & your business, should things go sideways or become lost in translation.
Here are 5 things you must include in your social media contracts…
1 | Statement of Work
If you’ve ever been the victim of “scope creep” or constantly asked to do additional tasks outside of your package offerings, pay very close attention. A detailed Statement of Work outlines the work you'll do for your client, when you'll do it, on which specific platforms, and how you'll get paid.
This includes:
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Project Scope
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Client Deliverables
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Agency Deliverables
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Schedule
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Deadlines
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Office Hours
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Communication
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Investment
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Payments
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Refunds
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Cancellations
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Edits + Revisions
2 | Client & Agency Responsibilities
A lot of new social media managers assume a contract is all about what they are responsible for in regards to a client’s services – but that’s only halfway true! When providing any sort of social media services for your client, you will likely need their cooperation in certain areas.
Perhaps this looks like having a client provide you with enough content or branded assets to use on their social media platforms each month, or maybe it’s their responsibility to review and edit content in a specific timeframe in order to publish campaigns.
Your contract should clearly define what both parties are responsible for in order to complete a project or service fully.
3 | Creative Control
When providing a service like social media marketing, it's important to determine & communicate who has the final say on the creative direction your projects will take – and what happens if one party disagrees with that direction. This clause is important in that it reminds the client that they hired you for a reason, including that they liked your style of content.
You can use the section of your contract to provide peace of mind to your clients, so they understand that while you’ll be taking the lead on developing a strategy or creating content on behalf of their brand, they will have an opportunity to make suggestions or ask for revisions on the finished product before it goes live.
4 | Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property (or IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. It's important to include a clause in your contract that covers both your and your client’s IP (AKA your logos and trade secrets) throughout, and perhaps even after, your working relationship.
5 | Copyright Ownership
Some of your IP may be the content you create while working with a client. And it's important to keep in mind that content usage & content transfer rights are not a one size fits all scenario. You need to determine if the content you create for a client will be exclusive to their business, or if you’re providing them with a license to use it only while you work together.
It’s extremely important to outline this within your contract – so both you and your client can come to an agreement on who owns what (and how / when it can be used). That includes detailing where the content can “live” outside of the channels you may be managing.
If all of this sounds like a lot… Well, that’s because it is.
The legal stuff might not be the most fun part of running a thriving social media business, but it’s 100% necessary!
WE’RE SOCIAL MEDIA PROFESSIONALS OVER HERE, NOT LAWYERS – WHICH IS WHY WE RECOMMEND THE BOUTIQUE LAWYER WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING YOUR ASS(ETS).
Every purchase is a massive discount for a lawyer-drafted document – considering their 1:1 services start at $2,500 and only go up from there!
The Boutique Lawyer provides contract templates for social media managers that give you creative control over your social media projects that include:
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Instant access to your template as a digital download in Word & PDF formats.
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Easy-to-use fill in the blank, find and replace template.
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Written without legalese so you actually understand what you're signing.
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Every template comes with a customization guide that walks you through how to edit the document.
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All templates are drafted by Amber Gilormo, Esq. a seasoned entrepreneur and attorney with over a decade of experience in the legal industry, so you know what you get is legally enforceable and will work to protect your business.
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Each contract is peer reviewed by industry specific experts so it has everything you need and nothing you don't.
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Exclusive invite to a private Facebook Group for contract support, biz tips and networking.
