Outsourcing Design for Social Media: Looking Good Without Doing it All

Social media is a volatile space. Fleeting trends, ever-changing algorithms, new AI-powered upgrades, even new social media platforms – there is always something new to look forward to. So just when you think you have mastered social media, your strategy feels outdated. Staying on top of it all, while maintaining a consistent visual presence, can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where outsourcing design for social media can be a game-changer.

True, outsourcing once felt like a complicated and expensive process, but now it’s easier and more accessible than ever. Whether you are a brand looking to scale your social media presence or a creator trying to save time, outsourcing design for social media can help you stay agile, professional, and on-trend. 

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through the key benefits of outsourcing social media design and explore the smartest ways to do it today.

Let’s dive in.

The Value of Good Design on Social Media 

First impressions matter

Remember that your social media page is often the first customer touchpoint. So you need a clean and cohesive design to create a strong first impression. For example, take a look at Recess’ Instagram page. It nails first impressions with its pastel-toned, dreamlike aesthetic. 

Let’s not forget the need for a strong first impression when creating paid ads for social media. Because when attention spans are short and when ad prices are high, you do not want to risk losing the opportunity you get due to bad design.

Good design drives engagement 

Good-looking social media posts do not just stop the scroll but also encourage users to interact with them. When you have visually engaging content, like infographics and carousels, your audience is more likely to swipe, like, and share. In other words, meaningful designs boost your brand’s engagement in the digital realm. 

For instance, the post here is from Netflix. While it does look like a normal countdown timer, a true Squid Game fan will grasp the fact that this is indeed a visual reminder of the timer featured in the show. The relevance and attention to detail in the design here are what make this design engaging, particularly to the relevant audience. 

Consistency in aesthetics on social media builds trust and recognition 

In a sea of visuals, consistency is what makes your brand instantly recognizable. 

Repeating visual elements, like a signature color scheme, typography, or layout style, helps audiences identify your brand before they even see your handle. 

For example, TechCrunch discusses a variety of technology-related news and updates. Considering the diversity that comes with it, the brand uses a simple, recognizable template for its posts. This makes its posts stand out in a crowded feed. 

Why Outsourcing Design Makes Sense 

So, now that we know design is of great value on social media, the next question is – the why. Why should you outsource design for social media instead of doing it yourself? 

Unleash pro-level creativity 

Great social media designs take design expertise and experience. Yes, there are plenty of DIY design tools that help you create good designs for social media. But why settle for good-enough DIY designs when you can impress your audience with some stunning options created by pros? Experienced designers bring fresh eyes, diverse styles, and a bunch of useful skills to make your brand pop.

Scale up (or down) on demand 

Remember that social media is not a static space. Some months are busier than the rest. For example, you might need a greater variety of posts and might need to post more frequently when you have a new product launch or during the holiday and sale seasons. Whether you are navigating a busy period or a slower period, outsourcing allows you to scale your content production up or down without disrupting your workflow. This flexibility means you’re never overstaffed or under-resourced.

Save time and focus on your strategies 

Hootsuite recommends posting 3-5 times per week on Instagram and TikTok, 1-2 times per day on Facebook and LinkedIn, 2-3 times per day on X and Threads, and at least once a week on Pinterest. 

While this gives a brief idea, the exact number that works for your page depends on your social media audience and your social media marketing goals. Consistently coming up with so many posts for so many different platforms is indeed time-consuming. That’s why outsourcing design for social media rather than doing the heavy lifting yourself feels like a more practical move. 

The benefit of fresh perspectives 

Designers bring a fresh perspective to your brand’s social media presence. Even if you do have an in-house design team, outsourcing design for social media helps lighten the load on your internal design team and also adds some fresh new perspectives to give your brand a new glow. 

So, if you want to give your brand’s current social media pages a makeover and flaunt your best side, then working with an external design team helps. 

What Are Your Options for Outsourcing Social Media Design? 

Now that you’re convinced outsourcing is the smart move, let’s explore how you can actually do it. The good news is, there’s a perfect solution for every budget and business need.

1. Hire freelancers 

There are freelance social media designers you can hire through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or even LinkedIn. You hire them on a per-project basis, making them ideal for specific, isolated social media graphic needs. Like when you have a single crucial campaign to run, a social media ad where you need professional-quality design. 

When you need designers with specialized skills, this feels like a convenient option since you can compare their portfolio and skillset before collaborating with them. 

However, hiring multiple freelancers for each of your posts or campaigns means an inherent lack of visual consistency, fragmented branding that ends up diluting your brand image on social media. 

How much does a social media designer cost? On freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and UpWork, designers for social media posts charge on average – $20 or more per hour. But here’s the catch: a single social media post sometimes takes more than an hour and a lot of back-and-forth communication as well. When you consider the need for consistent posting, say, 3-5 times a week or even daily, those hourly rates quickly add up. You can do the math – yes, the expenses can be high, and it can get highly unpredictable too. 

2. Working with a creative agency 

If you are looking for more strategic support, if you need a team that can tackle higher volumes of design output, then design agencies are what you need. The best part is that there are various design agencies that provide comprehensive services. So, from static posts to GIFs and videos, most of your design needs can be met in the same place. 

Their multi-disciplinary teams bring variety to the table, therefore elevating your social media designs in no time. Additionally, they often provide insights into current social media design trends and best practices, keeping your content fresh.

However, remember that working with a creative agency might often be the most expensive option. So, if you are tight on budget, this might not be the best choice in the long run. Plus, the structured and sometimes rigid workflows and contracts involved in most cases can feel restricting for an agile team with varying requirements. 

3. The subscription-style – unlimited design services 

Another option when it comes to outsourcing design for social media is an option that has recently become very popular with marketing teams and content creators looking for steady design support is the unlimited design model or design subscriptions. 

So, what is a design subscription? This is where you get unlimited design support – unlimited design requests and unlimited revisions – at a flat monthly fee. 

The flat subscription cost means that there are no surprise expenses. And most unlimited design services like KIMP offer a seamless contract-free model. This lets you pause your subscription when your requirements plummet, add more subscription when your design needs surge or altogether stop your subscription when you no longer need to outsource design for social media. This flexibility can make your social media design workflow much smoother. 

One of the most important benefits here is that you get a dedicated design team to tackle all your design requirements. Therefore, maintaining visual consistency on your social media pages becomes much simpler. 

However, if you do not need designs created for your brand regularly, a long-term subscription might not be essential. In such cases, stick to monthly plans and stop your subscription when you do not need it any longer. 

10 Key Considerations Before You Outsource Design for Social Media 

So, you’ve compared your options and have a brief idea about what works best for your brand. But before you jump in, a little planning goes a long way. Let’s talk about a few key questions to ask before you proceed to the next step. 

1. What does their portfolio look like? 

Go beyond just skimming through their portfolio and how their designs look. Scrutinize them, particularly their social media design projects from the past. Do they truly understand the nuances of different social media platforms or do their designs look like every other design you come across? 

Look for the diverse visual styles they have catered to and the industries they have worked in. But most importantly, look for versatility across different social media formats to ensure they can meet your diverse content requirements.

2. How flexible is their pricing? 

Before getting an initial quote for your projects, consider how flexible their plans are. Are there hour-based rates or per-project prices? In case of unlimited design subscriptions, do they have diverse plans to suit diverse design requirements? 

In addition to comparing the basic prices and plans when outsourcing design for social media, it’s crucial to consider if there are any hidden charges. Like rush-hour charges, fluctuations based on design volume, and extra charges for revisions. 

When working with freelancers and design agencies, talk about the number of revisions supported so that you do not have to face surprise bills later on. But this might not be a problem with unlimited design services since most of them support unlimited revisions as well. 

3. What are their turnaround times like? 

Social media moves at lightning speed, so timely delivery is a must-have trait. Ask for typical delivery times for various assets, from a single static post to a complex video graphic or a full campaign. Discuss their capacity for urgent requests or how they handle peak content periods. Quick turnaround times are critical for jumping on trends and maintaining a consistent posting schedule.

4. What are the red flags to watch for when evaluating design services?

Sometimes, the red flags are out there, but hard to notice. For instance, be cautious of incredibly low prices that seem too good to be true. Or even generic portfolios lacking specific social media examples, or poor communication during the vetting process. 

Additionally, a lack of clear processes for revisions, feedback, or project management can also signal future headaches. 

5. How responsive is the team? 

Effective communication is key to successfully outsourcing design for social media. So, find out about the channels of communication supported and the query resolution time. Will you get a dedicated account manager or a single point of contact who simplifies the process and helps address your queries on time? 

6. Can I scale up or down easily with this design service?

Your social media content demands will naturally fluctuate. So will the chosen partner be able to scale up or down on demand? While a freelancer might not always have the capacity to take in last-minute requests and additional workload, large design agencies might have in-house designers to tackle these fluctuations. But yes, you should also know about the additional charges that come with this increased bandwidth. 

With unlimited design subscriptions, check the number of active requests supported. Can you add more subscriptions when your design needs shoot up? 

7. What happens if I’m not happy with the first few designs? 

Even with clear briefs, sometimes initial designs might miss the mark. Understand their revision policy: How many rounds of changes are included for your social media graphics? A clear, fair process for feedback and revisions ensures you ultimately get social media designs that perfectly capture your vision and meet your goals. 

8. Do they provide support for multiple formats (Reels, Carousels, Ads, etc.)?

Make sure that the design partner you choose can handle diverse design formats. Some freelance designers handle only static posts, while some only cater to motion graphics. Design agencies might have designers to tackle both. When it comes to unlimited design services, you might have to choose the right plan for static posts and motion graphics. It helps when there are plans that support both. 

9. Is there a contract you need to know about? 

Always, always ask about contracts or service agreements. Understand the terms, duration of engagement, and cancellation policies. A clear, mutually understood agreement protects both parties, defines the scope of work, payment schedules, and ensures a professional foundation for your social media design projects. This is applicable to both freelance designers and design agencies. On the other hand, most unlimited design services do not have contracts. 

10. Who owns the designs, and what are the usage rights? 

This is a non-negotiable, but some businesses fail to scrutinize this detail before sealing the deal. This is non-negotiable. Ensure the contract explicitly states that you, the client, own the final designs and their full usage rights for all your social media channels and any other marketing purposes. You don’t want any legal surprises or limitations later on if you decide to repurpose content or switch providers.

Choose the Hassle-Free Way to Outsource Design for Social Media – Get KIMP! 

Navigating the ever-evolving social media landscape can be overwhelming, but consistent access to quality design does not have to be! By strategically outsourcing design for social media, you don’t just save time and money but also ensure that your brand looks well-put-together across all social media channels where customers and potential leads encounter your brand. 

So, what will your choice be when it comes to outsourcing? If unlimited design services seem like your best fit, then sign up for a KIMP subscription today! The best part, you can experiment with this option for free – by registering for our 7-day free trial!