What Social Media Management Actually Includes (and What It Doesn't)

You've finally decided to hand over your socials. Then the questions start. What am I actually paying for? Will it still sound like me? And who's answering the DMs?

They're fair questions. "Social media management" can mean anything from a handful of scheduled posts to a full content team — and the difference matters when you're comparing quotes. Here's what it looks like at our Far North Queensland studio: what's included, what stays with you and how to tell if you're ready.

Strategy comes before the first post

Nothing goes out on a whim. Every monthly partnership starts with an onboarding and strategy phase, so everything is aligned from day one. It includes a pre-session questionnaire, a 60-minute strategy session, an audit of your current profiles with optimisation, your content pillars mapped out and the creative direction set up for your brand.

Your strategy and content pillars shape your themes, your posting rhythm and the kinds of posts that suit your audience — whether that's travellers planning a trip to Port Douglas, locals looking for a tradie they can trust in Cairns or clients choosing a practitioner they'll see every week.

Without that groundwork, posting becomes a weekly scramble for something to say. With it, every post has a job to do.

What a monthly package covers

Our monthly packages are designed for businesses that want to show up consistently, without social media turning into a second job.

The Essentials keeps you consistent:

• 12 posts a month — a mix of reels, carousels and static posts
• Caption writing in your brand voice
• Content strategy, planning and scheduling
• Posting to up to two platforms
• Story recommendations and prompts
• A shared drive for easy content uploads
• Monthly analytics, a monthly check-in questionnaire and a strategy call every three months

The Community Builder helps you grow:

• Everything in The Essentials
• 30 posts a month
• Posting to up to four platforms

Monthly management ranges from $1,200 to $2,500 + GST a month, plus a once-off $600 + GST onboarding and strategy fee. Both packages run on a minimum three-month commitment. That's deliberate — it takes a few months of consistent posting to see what's resonating, and the monthly reports give us something real to learn from rather than guessing.

Where your input fits

Handing over your socials doesn't mean handing over your voice.

Each month, you'll complete a short check-in questionnaire covering anything coming up — events, promotions, launches or a topic you'd like to focus on. Your content is then delivered for approval ahead of the month, so you always know what's going out and when. Nothing is posted under your name without your sign-off.

Every three months, we'll jump on a strategy call to look at what's working and adjust as your business, offers and goals evolve.

It means your feed reflects what's actually happening in your business — the new service, the quiet-season offer, the team member who just joined — rather than a generic content calendar written in isolation.

What stays with you (and why)

Two things aren't included in our social media management, and both are intentional.

Comments and messages. We don't monitor or reply to your comments and DMs. Your team knows your business and your customers better than anyone, and a quick, personal reply from someone who can actually answer the question is worth keeping in-house. A booking enquiry, a question about availability, a review that deserves a thoughtful response — these are relationships, not tasks to hand off.

Photography and content creation. Management covers your strategy, captions, design, planning and scheduling. It doesn't include producing the photos and videos themselves. You'll have a shared drive to upload your images and clips as they come, and if your library needs topping up, brand photography (from $900 + GST) and mobile content creation (from $200 + GST an hour, minimum two hours) can be booked alongside.

Knowing this upfront helps you compare quotes properly. Some providers bundle these in, some don't — it's always worth asking.

Not ready for monthly management?

Some businesses don't need ongoing management. They need a clear plan and the tools to run it themselves.

Our Custom Social Strategy & Templates is a one-off package at $1,000 + GST. It includes a pre-session questionnaire, an audit of your current accounts with optimisation recommendations, a 60-minute strategy session, a custom strategy, ten custom Canva templates and an actionable 30-day posting and engagement plan.

It suits founders who enjoy creating their own content but want direction — or anyone who'd like a solid foundation in place before stepping up to monthly management.

Signs you're ready to hand it over

• You know you should be posting, but weeks slip by between posts
• Your feed doesn't look like the business you've built
• Social media is eating into time you'd rather spend with clients
• Photos and videos sit on your phone and never make it online
• You're ready to commit to at least three months of consistency

If a few of those sound familiar, it's probably time.

Why a local studio helps

We're based just north of Port Douglas and work with businesses across Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman and the Atherton Tablelands — and further afield too. Our social media clients range from Heather's Private Transfers & Tours here in Far North Queensland to Destiny Campervans on the Gold Coast. For Heather's, a single reel led to more than $2,000 in bookings.

Working locally means we understand the rhythm of the region — the busy dry season and the quieter wet, the events that bring the community together and what a Cairns or Port Douglas audience responds to. That context shapes what we post and when.

Most of all, we'll be here with you, not just for you.

FAQs

Do you offer social media management for businesses in Cairns?

Yes. We're based just north of Port Douglas and regularly work with businesses in Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman and the Atherton Tablelands, as well as across Australia.

How much does social media management cost?

Our one-off Custom Social Strategy & Templates package is $1,000 + GST. Monthly management ranges from $1,200 to $2,500 + GST a month, plus a once-off $600 + GST onboarding and strategy fee, with a minimum three-month commitment.

Which platforms do you post to?

Depending on your package, we post to up to two or four platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Do I get to approve posts before they go live?

Yes. You'll review and approve each month's posts, and the monthly check-in keeps everything aligned with what's happening in your business.