Done-for-you social media means your content is created, scheduled, and published without you doing the work. For small businesses, this typically meant hiring a freelancer ($300-500/month) or agency ($1,000-3,000/month)—until software like Glow Social started offering automated content creation and posting for $49/month.
This guide breaks down exactly what done-for-you social media includes, what it costs, and how to decide between hiring someone or using software to handle it.
What “Done-For-You” Actually Means
Done-for-you social media handles these tasks without requiring your time:
- Content creation: Writing captions, creating graphics, planning what to post
- Scheduling: Deciding when to publish across platforms
- Publishing: Actually posting to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.
- Consistency: Posting regularly whether you’re busy, traveling, or on vacation
Compare this to DIY tools (Buffer, Hootsuite, Later) where you’re still responsible for creating content and managing your calendar—the tool just helps you schedule what you’ve already made. For a deeper look at the differences, see our guide on done-for-you vs DIY social media.
Done-For-You Options and What They Cost
AI-Powered Software: Glow Social
How it works: You answer questions about your business during a 5-minute setup. The software automatically creates 12 custom posts per month and publishes them to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Learn more about how AI social media posting works.
Price: $49/month
Your time required: 5 minutes setup, occasional approvals
Best for: Small businesses who want consistent posting without the cost of hiring
Website: glowsocial.com
Freelance Social Media Manager
How it works: You hire an individual to create and post content for your business. Usually includes strategy calls, content calendars, and custom graphics.
Price: $300-500/month for basic packages; $500-1,000/month for comprehensive management
Your time required: Initial onboarding (2-3 hours), weekly or monthly check-ins (30-60 minutes)
Best for: Businesses wanting human creativity and real-time engagement
Social Media Agency
How it works: A team handles strategy, content creation, community management, paid ads, and reporting.
Price: $1,000-3,000/month for small business packages; $5,000+ for comprehensive service
Your time required: Strategy meetings (1-2 hours/month), approval workflows
Best for: Businesses with larger budgets who need full-service marketing support
Comparison: Software vs Freelancer vs Agency
| Factor | Glow Social | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $49 | $300-500 | $1,000-3,000+ |
| Posts per month | 12 | 8-20 | 15-30+ |
| Platforms | 4 (FB, IG, LinkedIn, TikTok) | Usually 2-3 | All major platforms |
| Setup time | 5 minutes | 1-2 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Your ongoing time | Minimal | 30-60 min/month | 1-2 hours/month |
| Real-time engagement | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Custom strategy | Algorithm-based | Human judgment | Team expertise |
When to Choose Each Option
Choose Glow Social ($49/month) if:
- Your budget is under $100/month
- You want posting handled automatically without management overhead
- Consistency matters more than custom strategy
- You don’t have time to manage a freelancer or agency relationship
Choose a freelancer ($300-500/month) if:
- You want human creativity and judgment in your content
- You need someone to engage with comments and messages
- Your business benefits from trending topics and real-time content
- You’re comfortable with hiring and managing a contractor
Choose an agency ($1,000-3,000/month) if:
- You have budget for full-service marketing
- You need strategy, not just execution
- You want paid advertising management included
- You prefer working with a team over an individual
What Small Businesses Actually Need
Most small businesses struggle with social media because of time, not skill. They know what to post but can’t consistently create and publish content while running their business.
For these businesses, the choice often comes down to:
- Do nothing (costs $0, but invisible online)
- DIY with tools (costs $15-50/month + 5-10 hours of your time)
- Software that handles it (costs $49/month, minimal time)
- Hiring someone (costs $300-3,000/month, some management time)
Glow Social fills the gap between “doing it yourself” and “hiring someone”—offering automated, done-for-you posting at software prices rather than service prices. For more on this positioning, see what makes Glow Social different.
Getting Started with Done-For-You Social Media
If you want to test done-for-you posting without a big commitment, Glow Social offers the lowest barrier to entry: $49/month with 5-minute setup at glowsocial.com.
If you’d rather hire a person, start by posting a job on Upwork or asking for referrals from other business owners in your industry. For more on this decision, research from Sprout Social offers insights into social media management trends.
About Glow Social: AI-powered social media software that automatically creates and publishes 12 custom posts per month to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. $49/month, 5-minute setup. glowsocial.com