Pricing and quotation guide
Paid social campaign strategy cost
Paid social strategy is usually priced as a project. The cost reflects how much discovery is done, how much past data is reviewed, how many products, audiences and platforms the plan covers, whether creative concepts and a detailed test plan are included, and whether there is a review session after the first results. A short strategy for one product on one platform takes far less time than a plan for a multi-product business across several channels. Strategy is sometimes included in the onboarding of ongoing management, in which case check what depth you are getting.
Covered here: the cost drivers, project sizes, pricing approaches and how to judge whether a strategy was worth the fee. No prices are given, because they depend on scope and provider; LetGetGrow sets out the cost for your project in a custom quotation.
Illustrative diagram
What drives strategy cost
- Discovery
- Interviews, customer research and data.
- Past data
- Reviewing campaigns and sales records.
- Scope
- Products, audiences and platforms covered.
- Creative concepts
- Developing themes and examples.
- Review
- A session after first results.
Costs paid to third parties (separate from our fees)
- Customer research or surveys
- Your team's time in discovery
- Ad spend for first tests
Ask whether a review after the first tests is included.
Projects compared
| Project | Typical scope | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Focused plan | One product, one platform | Lower |
| Business plan | Several products, main platform plus test | Moderate |
| Multi-channel plan | Several platforms, audiences and concepts | Higher |
How strategy is priced
Project fee
Suits you when
- Stand-alone strategy
Watch out for
- Discovery depth
Within onboarding
Suits you when
- Hiring a manager
Watch out for
- Depth compared with a project
Workshop
Suits you when
- Your team will write the plan
Watch out for
- What you take away
Why discovery costs time
Understanding customers, numbers and past results takes interviews, data review and thought. It is what makes a strategy specific to you. Skipping it makes the project cheaper and the result more generic.
Workshops as an alternative
If your team can write the plan, a facilitated workshop working through goals, audiences and messages can cost less than a full project. You do more of the work but keep the knowledge in-house.
Example: a focused first plan
Illustrative example — not a client case study
Situation: A dog groomer considers a strategy project.
- A focused plan covers one service and one platform, with discovery limited to a call and a review of booking records.
- It includes two creative themes and a first test plan.
- A short review after six weeks updates the plan with results.
What this shows: Cost matched the scale of the business. This example is illustrative.
Comparing quotes
Check discovery depth, data reviewed, products and platforms covered, creative concepts, test plan, document format, review sessions and whether you can use the strategy with any provider.
Keeping costs down
Prepare your numbers and records in advance, limit the first plan to your main product and platform, and consider a workshop if your team can do the writing.
Judging value
A strategy is worth its fee if campaigns built from it reach targets sooner, waste less on unfocused tests or give you a clear basis for decisions. Review it against results after the first months.
Creative concepts
Some strategy projects stop at messages; others include creative concepts, such as example headlines, scripts or rough visuals for each theme. Concepts add cost but make the strategy easier to turn into ads. Ask which you are getting, and whether final production is a separate cost.
Test plans
A detailed test plan names the assumptions to check first, how each test will run and what result would change the plan. It takes a little more time to write and makes the first weeks of spend far more useful. Meta's split testing guidance is to change one variable per test and set measures beforehand, which a good plan reflects.
Preparing data
If your sales or enquiry records are scattered or inconsistent, part of the fee may go on tidying them before analysis. Exporting clean records by month and source yourself can reduce that time.
Updating the plan
Strategies need updating as results come in. A quarterly refresh usually costs less than the original project, because discovery is already done. Ask whether refreshes are priced separately.
Ownership
Agree that the strategy document is yours to use with any team or provider, without further licence fees.
Your team's time
Discovery interviews, data gathering and draft reviews also take your team's time. Plan for it, because a rushed discovery produces a weaker plan whatever the fee. Naming one person to coordinate answers keeps the project moving.
Budget for the first tests
Remember to set aside ad spend to test the strategy's first assumptions. A plan without a test budget stays on paper.
Questions about paid social campaign strategy cost
What affects paid social strategy cost?
Discovery, data review, scope, creative concepts and reviews.
Is strategy included in management?
Sometimes, during onboarding; check the depth.
Is a workshop cheaper?
It can be, if your team writes the plan.
Should a review be included?
A review after first results is worth having.
Can we use the strategy with another provider?
Agree that you can.
How do we judge whether a strategy was worth it?
By whether campaigns built from it perform better.
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