11 Sections Your Social Media Marketing Contract Is Missing
These simple changes just might save your agency ♡
Picture this: It's 11 PM on a Friday, and your phone lights up with an "urgent" client text about a typo in next week's post. Sound familiar?
If you're nodding your head right now, you're not alone. As social media managers, we often find ourselves caught between the 24/7 nature of social platforms and the need for healthy work-life boundaries. After years of managing social for clients (and learning some lessons the hard way), we've discovered that the secret to happy client relationships isn't just in the quality of your work—it's in the strength of your social media marketing contract.
Today, I’m sharing the essential contract sections that most freelancers and agencies overlook. Trust me — you'll want to bookmark this one. ✨
TLDR;
Don’t miss these absolutely ESSENTIAL components in your social media marketing contract:
#1. Office Hours & Communication Boundaries - Set clear working hours and approved communication channels to protect your work-life balance.
#2. Meeting Protocol & No-Show Policy - Establish meeting scheduling requirements and consequences for missed appointments.
#3. Content Revision Limits - Define the number of included revisions and costs for additional changes.
#4. Rush Fee Clauses - Outline additional costs for expedited requests outside normal workflow.
#5. Service Suspension Terms - Specify when services may be paused, such as for late payments or missing materials.
#6. Content Ownership & Usage Rights - Clarify who owns the content and how it can be used by both parties.
#7. Emergency Contact Protocol - Define what constitutes a true social media emergency and response procedures.
#8. Client Responsibilities - List required materials, feedback timelines, and account access needs from clients.
#9. Scope Creep Prevention - Detail exactly what's included (and what's not) in your services.
#10. Termination Process - Outline how either party can end the relationship and final deliverable requirements.
#11. Zero Tolerance Policies - Set clear boundaries around professional conduct and consequences for inappropriate behavior.
11 Sections Your Social Media Marketing Contract Is Missing
#1. Office Hours & Communication Boundaries
Just because social media is a 24/7 platform doesn’t mean that you have to be. And let’s be honest, if we were expected to be, burnout would be lurking around the corner. Our recommendation? Your contract needs clear business hours and response time expectations. At Scott Social, we specify Monday through Friday, 10AM to 5PM. We also note a 48-hour response window, not including holidays, weekends, and our OOO time. This has truly been a life changer for our team.
Psssst – Explicitly list prohibited communication channels (like text messages or Instagram DMs) to maintain professional boundaries and keep your conversations streamlined on one platform.
#2. Meeting Protocol & No-Show Policy
Don't let your calendar become a free-for-all. Include a clear meeting policy that outlines how far in advance meetings must be scheduled (we recommend 24 hours minimum), meeting duration limits, and consequences for no-shows. This protects your time and sets professional expectations from day one.
Psssst – Don’t forget to reinforce your meeting protocols throughout the partnership, even if it’s mentioned in your contract for social media marketing. Clients may forget over time, your gentle reminders will keep your boundaries in check.
#3. Content Revision Limits
As a fellow social media manager, I already know your least favorite part of your job – revisions. There’s nothing quite like sending over your best work yet, only to watch the redlines come through. But here’s the thing, you can add revision limits!
Without them, you could end up in endless feedback loops or the infamous client that always says “oops, just one more edit!" when you already know it’s not truly the last edit. Specify the number of included revisions (we suggest one to two rounds) and the cost for additional changes.
Psssst – Make sure that you also establish a clear timeline for feedback (like 3 business days) after which content is considered approved. This helps you keep your workflows functioning properly.
#4. Service Suspension Terms
Your contract should outline when and why services might be suspended – like late payments or missing client materials. This protects you from having to continue work without being paid or without proper resources to complete the job.
#5. Rush Fee Clauses
Poor planning on your client's part doesn't equal an emergency on yours! Include provisions for rush fees for when clients need continual fast turnarounds outside your normal workflow. This encourages respect for your processes while giving flexibility when needed.
Psssst – In full honesty, we break this rule sometimes. Occasionally, if a client wins an award, has something exciting to share, or forgot to send something our way, we want to get it out on social. But, the key word is occasional. This clause really comes into effect with the repeat offenders.
#6. Content Ownership & Usage Rights
Who owns the content once it's created? Can you use it in your portfolio? Can the client repurpose it? Clear terms about intellectual property rights prevent future disputes and protect both parties.
#7. Emergency Contact Protocol
Define what constitutes a social media "emergency" and how it should be handled. This prevents those "urgent" 10 PM calls about a minor typo while establishing a process for genuine crises.
Pssst – This is an important one, every client views an emergency as something different. However, a new social media platform popping up, algorithm changes, and an “event I forgot to tell you about” aren’t emergencies – at least from our perspective. Make sure that your interpretation of an emergency is well known and documented in your social media marketing contract.
#8. Client Responsibilities
Don't forget to outline what you need from the client! Include sections about providing brand assets, timely feedback, and access to necessary accounts. This ensures you're not held responsible for delays caused by missing client materials (which unfortunately, is bound to happen).
#9. Scope Creep Prevention
Be crystal clear about what's included in your services – and what isn't. List out deliverables in detail and specify additional costs for services outside the scope. This prevents the dreaded "while you're at it..." requests.
Pssst – In our contract for social media marketing, we list out each deliverable in a bullet point list, then provide details below. Each service we offer has at least one paragraph (yes, a full paragraph) of details included within the contract.
#10. Termination Process
Include detailed terms about how either party can end the relationship, required notice periods, and final deliverables. This makes potentially awkward situations much more manageable.
#11. Zero Tolerance Policies
Your social media marketing contract needs clear boundaries around professional conduct and communication. Include a zero-tolerance policy for abusive or harassing behavior, with explicit terms that allow you to terminate services immediately while retaining fees paid if a client behaves inappropriately. This protects your team's wellbeing and sets the tone for a respectful professional relationship from day one.
Disclaimer: Creating Your Contract For Social Media Marketing
This article is based on our experience working with clients and is meant to be educational. Every business is unique, so be sure to work with a qualified legal professional when creating your own contracts.
Remember, your social media marketing contract isn't just about protecting your business – it’s about maintaining your sanity. And setting the foundation for successful client relationships. When expectations are clear from the start, you can focus on what really matters: creating amazing social media content that drives results!
WRITTEN BY:
Chelsea Evans-Flower
Founder + Social Media Strategist