Free Social Media Manager Timesheet Template
Social media management involves content creation, scheduling, community management, paid campaign oversight, and monthly reporting, all of which need to be tracked by client and platform for accurate billing. A timesheet makes retainer billing transparent and shows clients exactly what tasks their monthly fee covers. It also gives social media managers data to assess whether a retainer rate is sustainable given the actual time investment.
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What does a freelance social media manager record on a timesheet?
A social media manager timesheet tracks hours by platform, client, and content type, with the date, the task, and the time spent. Note the client, whether the work was content creation, community management, or paid ads, and the platform. Task-level records support a retainer invoice and show the work behind a quiet feed.
Typical line items
- Date of work
- Client and platform
- Task (content, community, paid ads, reporting)
- Posts or output
- Hours worked
- Billable or non-billable flag
- Hourly or retainer rate
- Running total for the period
How the work is charged
Social media managers usually work on a monthly retainer but log hours to show the retainer was used and bill ad campaigns or extra content by the hour. Community management is often timed separately, since it spreads across the month.
Payment terms and deposits
A timesheet supports an invoice rather than collecting payment itself. Retainers are commonly billed monthly with extra work on top, so keep entries dated and tied to the platform for the client to review.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, that applies on the invoice the timesheet supports, not the timesheet itself. Confirm the rules that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track community management time when it happens in small bursts throughout the day?
Estimate total community management time per day and log it as a single daily entry rather than trying to capture every two-minute interaction. Many social media managers schedule two or three community management windows per day, which makes time tracking more practical.
Should I charge separately for photography or graphic design that I produce for a client's social content?
If your retainer covers content creation, these are included. If a client requests work beyond the agreed scope, such as brand photography shoots or bespoke illustration, log that separately and discuss whether it should be billed as an add-on.
How do I handle a month where a client's campaign required significantly more time due to a product launch?
Your timesheet shows the actual hours. Present it alongside the retainer allowance and invoice additional hours at your agreed rate. Product launches and time-sensitive campaigns are predictable reasons why retainer caps get exceeded, and clients who see the evidence generally accept additional billing.
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Read the complete timesheet guide to see how to log hours and turn a tracked timesheet into an invoice.
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