Social media is booming and in 2012 more companies will market via social channels than ever before. Internet marketing is truly the wave of the future.

I was recently interviewed for a white paper on social marketing and was asked an excellent question: How will the costs of social media marketing change in 2012?

For one, we can expect a broader range of prices as more people shift careers to ride the social media bandwagon. Nowadays becoming a well-known social media consultant and/or launching a social media company is quite difficult, which is why newcomers will gladly charge below market rate to get projects and build their portfolio. Additionally, the troubled economy has some marketers lowering prices so they can stay above water. Even though low prices may seem appealing, you must remember that you get what you pay for.

Second, experienced social media marketers that are in demand will likely increase prices in 2012 because, quite frankly, there’s only so much time in the day. They have built their reputation by utilizing the very thing they practice, which will continue to drive business and therefore limit availability.

Please find a very rough breakdown of social media costs for 2012 below. Social media pricing is based on a variety of factors and even if I tried to break everything down in a novel-like post, I couldn’t. Pricing varies from project to project and takes a plethora of factors into account, including: company goals, target markets, location, etc. The following numbers are based on rates I’ve seen over the years, statistics from 2011 that I expect to increase, and a shift in our company’s pricing model.

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SOCIAL MEDIA PRICES IN 2012

Social Media Consulting (hourly)
Low: $20
Average: $125
High: $1,500

Social Media Marketing (monthly retainer)
Low: $200
Average: $1,750
High: $15,000+
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Businesses looking to launch social media campaigns in 2012 must understand that social media marketing is a 24/7 venture that requires a lot of work. In essence, it’s not a walk in the park. If you’re looking for the best marketer to lead your company in the right direction, expect to pay a premium. Find the most experienced social media marketer your money can buy because it will pay off in the end.

Aaron Schoenberger
The Brainchild Group

tags: social media pricing, social media prices, costs for social media, social media rates, hourly rates social media