In working with clients, I've found that the most challenging aspect is teaching them about patience. As an entrepreneur, I understand the desire for immediate sales to generate cash flow, but I've learned that things don't always go as planned. Patience is crucial when it comes to your website, social media, and any advertising you may be conducting.
I was contemplating the costs of hiring a social media manager and a website manager. I realized that writing down the figures and examining them would help me comprehend the expenses better. Receiving an invoice for $1500 for a month's work can be shocking, just as it was for me initially, leaving me wondering how to sustain my business.
Managing your own social media, website, and advertising needs, including ads, can be time-consuming. There are two options:
Option 1:
Hire a new full-time employee. For instance, in the state of Iowa, if you pay an employee $50,000 a year, you, as the employer, will also be paying $4,245 a year in payroll taxes just for employing them.
Health insurance benefits cost $450 monthly, amounting to $5,400 annually.
When totaling all the expenses for hiring a full-time employee, the annual expenditure will be $59,645.
Option 2:
Choosing to hire an agency or freelancer for marketing services can result in varying costs. It's worth noting that by avoiding payroll taxes, you immediately save $5,400. Now, let's break down the costs associated with hiring a marketing professional.
Social media management costs $250 per month, totaling $3000 annually.
Blog writing is time-consuming as it requires research and composition. I recommend publishing two blogs a month at an average cost of $200 per month, which amounts to $2400 per year. Blogging can enhance your SEO, depending on the content, but it requires patience to see substantial returns. Additionally, blogging can generate income through ad placements on your blog.
On average, website management should not exceed 15 hours a month, depending on the type of business you operate. For 15 hours of management work, the cost would be $900 per month, amounting to $10,800 annually. However, there may be months where the management time required is less than 15 hours.
When you add up these annual numbers, the total comes to $16,200. Yes, that's a significant amount, but is it really that steep when broken down? Hiring an employee could cost you $59,645, whereas hiring an agency or freelancer might only be $16,200, saving you $43,445. The numbers speak for themselves; it seems more economical to opt for a freelancer or an agency.
When writing a blog, like the one I am currently working on, it's not just me; some people use AI for their blogs. If AI is used to write an entire blog, then the need to hire writers could be questioned, since theoretically, anyone could do it. Right?
You can often identify AI-generated content by its precision and lack of emotion, which are indicators that a computer is writing. If you suspect that your freelancer or agency is exclusively using AI for your blog, it's crucial to verify your assumptions. Offending the writer could mean losing them permanently. When I write my blog, it's a personal endeavor, just like what I'm doing at this moment.
I find joy in assisting entrepreneurs, and writing this blog is a pleasure for me. I take pride in my blogs and public speaking engagements. If I can narrate your business's story in a way that makes your clients feel confident in using your services, then I have done my job well. The key lesson I've learned is that people only do business with those they "Know, Like, and Trust." Let's arrange a meeting to discuss how I can be of service to you!
Captain Brenna Young
Comments