Social Media Proposal Template (Free, Filled Example)

Free, no signup · Updated 14 October 2026 · Opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers

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Proposal outline: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)
Scope and fees: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)
First 90 days: filled example (CSV) · blank (CSV)

In Google Sheets: File, Import, Upload, then pick the CSV.

What's inside

A proposal outline: every section from the client's situation to the next step, with what to write in each.
A scope and fees sheet that lists what is included, what is not, and the fee for each item.
A first 90 days plan so the client can see what happens in week one, month one and month three.
A filled example from Fern & Field Social, a fictional two-person studio, pitching Copperleaf Garden Centre, a fictional garden centre.
Blank CSV copies of every sheet for Google Sheets, Excel or Numbers.

How to use it

Have the discovery call first. A proposal written before you have heard the client's problem reads like a price list.
Open with their situation in their words: what they told you is not working and what they want instead.
Tie every item in the scope to one of their goals. If an item does not serve a goal, leave it out.
Write the 'not included' column as carefully as the 'included' one. Most scope arguments start with something nobody wrote down.
Spell out approvals: who signs off, how quickly, and what happens if feedback is late.
Set your own fees from your costs and the hours each item really takes. The example figures are only there to show the layout.
End with one clear next step and a date, such as a call to agree the start date.

Preview: Proposal outline

A filled example for a made-up small business, first 8 of 13 rows.

Section	What to write	Example: Copperleaf Garden Centre
Cover	Client name, your name, date, and a one-line promise in plain words.	Social media for Copperleaf Garden Centre (example), from Fern & Field Social (example). Prepared 14 October 2026.
What we heard	Their situation, in their words, from the discovery call.	You post when someone has a spare minute, usually a photo of new stock. Weekday footfall is quiet outside spring, and the café upstairs is not well known.
Goals	Two or three goals the client agreed, each tied to the business.	1. More weekday visits from October to February. 2. More bookings for the café's afternoon tea. 3. A steady list of people who hear about workshops first.
Who we will reach	The customer the client wants more of, in a sentence or two.	Keen home gardeners within a 30-minute drive, and families looking for a weekend outing with a café.
Platforms and why	Each platform, its job, and why it suits this customer.	Instagram for plants and the café; Facebook for local events and workshops; Google Business Profile for people searching nearby.
What we will do each month	A short summary. The detail goes in the scope sheet.	Plan the month, write and design 12 feed posts, run stories on delivery days, post weekly Google Business updates, and send a short monthly report.
Content approach	The three to five content pillars and an example post for each.	Seasonal jobs (what to plant now), New in (fresh deliveries), The café, Workshops and events.
Approvals	Who approves, how far ahead, and what happens if approval is late.	We send the next week's posts every Thursday. Approve by Monday 10am; if we have not heard, we hold the post rather than publish it unapproved.

Preview: Scope and fees

A filled example for a made-up small business.

Item	Platforms	Per month	Included	Not included	Fee (example figure, set your own)
Setup and audit (one-off)	All three	Once	Profile clean-up, bios, highlights, link in bio, brand voice notes.	New logo or brand design.	£300 one-off
Monthly content plan	All three	1	A dated plan of every post, shared by the 25th of the month before.	Unplanned extra posts (quoted separately).	Included in monthly fee
Feed posts	Instagram and Facebook	12	Caption, design or photo edit, hashtags, scheduling.	Photography days.	Included in monthly fee
Stories	Instagram	On delivery days	Photos and short clips sent by staff, edited and posted.	Filming on site.	Included in monthly fee
Google Business Profile updates	Google Business Profile	4	Update with photo and a clear call to action.	Replying to reviews.	Included in monthly fee
Comment check-ins	Instagram and Facebook	Weekdays	Replying to public comments on our posts once each weekday.	Private messages and complaints, which go to the client.	Included in monthly fee
Monthly report	All three	1	One page: what went out, what worked, what we will change.	Website analytics beyond social traffic.	Included in monthly fee
Monthly fee	n/a	n/a	Everything marked included above.	Paid ad spend and ad management.	£650 a month

Preview: First 90 days

A filled example for a made-up small business.

When	What happens	Who	What the client sees
Week 1	Kick-off call, access granted, onboarding questionnaire returned.	Both	A shared folder and a kick-off summary.
Week 2	Profile clean-up and first month's plan.	Fern & Field	The plan for month one, ready to approve.
Week 3	First posts go out. Stories start on delivery days.	Fern & Field	Posts on the approved dates.
Week 4	First check-in call: what to keep, what to change.	Both	A short list of changes for month two.
Month 2	Workshop posts start four weeks before each date.	Fern & Field	Workshop sign-ups tracked with tagged links.
End of month 2	First full monthly report.	Fern & Field	One-page report with numbers and next steps.
Month 3	Test one new format, such as short videos of seasonal jobs.	Fern & Field	The test and what we learned in the next report.
End of month 3	Review against the goals; agree whether to continue, change or stop.	Both	A recommendation for the next three months.

Tips

Send the proposal within a few days of the discovery call, while the conversation is fresh for both of you.
Quote outcomes you can control, such as posts published and reports delivered. Never promise follower numbers or sales figures.
Offer one package, or two at most. A long menu of options slows the decision down.
Put the 'not included' list in the contract as well as the proposal.
If you plan to use Zolyp for client work, plans are chosen by brand count: Pro covers 2 brands for $149 a month, Business covers 5 brands for $299 a month, Enterprise covers 10 brands for $499 a month. Team members are unlimited on every plan, and each client can approve their own week.

Common questions

What should a social media proposal include?

What you heard from the client, the goals you agreed, who you will reach, which platforms and why, what you will deliver each month, how approvals and reporting work, what the client must provide, what is not included, the fees and terms, and one next step.

How do I price social media management for a small business?

Work out the hours each item takes, including planning, design, approvals and reporting, then add your costs and the margin you need. The fees in the example are placeholders to show the layout, not a recommended rate.

Should I include a free sample post in the proposal?

One sample post for one pillar can help the client picture the work. Keep it small, and make clear that the full plan comes after they agree.

Is this template free?

Yes. The filled example and the blank CSV files are free to download with no signup. Open them in Google Sheets, Excel or Numbers.

Social media proposal template for freelancers and agencies