As a social media professional, whether you’re a strategist, manager, or content creator, your time and expertise are your most valuable assets.
Oftentimes when people hire you, they’re doing so because they KNOW that you’re really good at what you do. They’ve probably given the whole social media thing a shot and it’s either taking up too much of their time or they can’t quite figure out how to make it work for them.
But you? You know what works on social media platforms and you likely have processes and systems that make you insanely efficient at what you do for clients.
But no matter how much you love what you do or how good you are at or how well you’ve finetuned your processes, without clear boundaries, client expectations can quickly spiral, leading to overwhelm, burnout, and even strained professional relationships.
All of which could lead to totally resenting the social media services business that you built in the first place!
So, how can you protect your time, energy, AND your peace while still delivering top-notch results for your social media clients?
It sounds simple… and maybe even a little boring. But I promise it really IS the best way – CLIENT. CONTRACTS.
Well-drafted social media contracts do more than just protect you legally – they set clear expectations and boundaries from the get-go so that you can avoid burnout and keep doing the thing that you love and that you’re good at.
Keep reading to learn how to create healthy boundaries as a social media professional and what contracts are a must have when working with social media clients.
How Your Social Media Contracts Can Help Set Client Boundaries
A lot of times when people hear the word “boundaries” their mind immediately jumps to scary or awkward conversations.
And while setting boundaries sometimes does involve tricky client conversations, more often than not, setting boundaries is actually very simple and it can all be done BEFORE you ever actually communicate with a client 1:1.
How? With a simple client contract of course! In my opinion, having a client contract is one of the best ways to set boundaries in a way that feels less awkward.
It’s not a “you can’t do this” type of conversation. Instead, it’s just a formality that EVERY client that you work with has to go through before working with you.
When crafting a client contact, specifically as a social media professional, here’s what to include:
Define Your Services + Scope of Work
First and foremost, define your services and your scope of work! It sounds simple, but it’s actually the very thing that can set clear expectations from the very start.
When your contract clearly states exactly what services you’re providing, whether it’s content creation, account management, strategy sessions, or reporting, it eliminates ambiguity. Clients know what to expect, and you can say no to “extra” requests that fall outside the scope without guilt.
As a social media professional, it may be tempting to adjust your services based on a client’s needs, but the more you do that, the more overwhelmed you can become and that’s a path straight to business burnout.
Instead, I encourage you to develop a few different package options with clear deliverables that your clients can choose from so that you don’t have to customize your services every single time.
Establish Communication Channels + Guidelines
Next, set client communication expectations by choosing your preferred communication channels and create any guidelines that you want around client communication.
In this section of your contract, make sure you specify your working hours and typical response times to help prevent any late-night emails or surprise phone calls, so you can maintain a healthy separation between work and personal time.
Outline Revision Limits and Approval Processes
As a social media professional, revisions are a part of the creative process, but unlimited revisions can drain your time and energy and very easily bleed into you being taken advantage of.
This is why it’s important to establish clear limits on the number of revisions a client can request and include a defined approval process so you avoid scope creep and keep projects on track.
In this section of your client contract, make sure you specify the number of revisions a client can make, when client feedback is due, where they should communicate feedback, and any other specifics regarding their project.
Establish Payment Terms
A lot of times when you think of burnout as a business owner, you think of a packed calendar, an overflowing to-do list, and feeling like you can barely keep your head above water.
And while all of those things can absolutely contribute to burnout, it can also stem from chasing payments or dealing with late fees.
Luckily, the solution to this one is simple! A contract that spells out payment deadlines, deposit requirements, and late payment penalties protects your cash flow and reduces financial stress. 💸
When you wrap each of those sections into one solid Social Media Services Agreement, you can rest assured knowing that you’re setting client boundaries for your social media clients right from the start and you can save yourself from heading down the path of burnout!
The All In One Social Media Services Contract Bundle
In addition to having a Social Media Services Agreement as a social media professional, it’s also important to cover your bases with a Website Private Policy and a Website Terms of Use.
Both of these are incredibly important, especially if you’re using your website to promote your services, collect information (like email addresses), or showcase your portfolio!
These website agreements set boundaries in a different, but equally important way:
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Website Privacy Policy – explains how you collect, use, and protect visitor data, which builds trust with your audience and ensures that you’re in compliance with laws like GDPR and CCPA.
- Website Terms of Use – outlines what visitors can and cannot do on your site, which protects your content and limits your liability.
Together, these policies reduce risks associated with running an online business and give you peace of mind to focus on your creative work!
If you’re in need of all 3 as a social media professional, my Social Media Services Contract Bundle has you covered. 🎉
With the bundle, you’ll get the Social Media Services Agreement, Website Privacy Policy, and Website Terms of Use all together so you can fully protect your social media services business from top to bottom.
CLICK HERE to grab the bundle so you can effectively set boundaries and beat burnout!
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