On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02What does social media copywriting include?
- 03How much does a caption cost?
- 04Why is copy often bundled into the post price?
- 05What makes copywriting more expensive?
- 06How can you pay less for good copy?
- 07When is cheap copy a false saving?
- 08What does this look like in practice?
- 09Copywriting cost checklist
- 10Next step
- 11Sources and further reading
- 12Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Social media copywriting cost in the UK follows writing time. A caption written from a clear brief takes about 15 to 30 minutes, so at indicative UK production rates of £60–£90 an hour it costs roughly £15–£45. A month of 12 to 20 captions is about £180–£900.
- £15–£45 is the indicative cost of one caption written from a clear brief.
- A month of 12 to 20 captions costs roughly £180–£900 to write.
- Long LinkedIn posts take 45 to 90 minutes, so they cost more.
- A good brief from you is the biggest lever on price.
Want your caption volume costed? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →What does social media copywriting include?
Social media copywriting is writing the words that go with each post: the hook, the caption, the call to action and the hashtags or alt text. Good copywriting also includes the research behind the post and a version adapted for each channel, because LinkedIn and Instagram readers expect different lengths.
How much does a caption cost?
A short caption from a clear brief takes 15 to 30 minutes including one round of edits. At the £60–£90 an hour indicative for UK agency production, that is about £15–£45 a caption. A researched LinkedIn post of 200 to 300 words takes 45 to 90 minutes, about £45–£135. These are indicative figures, not a GBL price list.
- Short caption from your brief: indicative £15–£45.
- Long LinkedIn post with research: indicative £45–£135.
- Caption plus hook for a video: priced like a short caption.
- Copy rewritten for three channels: add about half again.
Want a monthly copy volume priced for your channels? Send us the details on WhatsApp and we will discuss your requirements.
Chat on WhatsApp →Why is copy often bundled into the post price?
Most UK agencies bundle copy into the price of a post because writing and design are planned together. Buying copy alone makes sense when you already have strong images, such as a trades firm with job photos or a shop with product shots, and only need the words.
What makes copywriting more expensive?
Four things raise the cost: technical subjects, regulated wording, many approval rounds and a missing brief. A financial adviser's post that needs compliance wording takes far longer than a cafe's daily special. Each extra round of changes adds time that someone pays for.
- Technical or regulated subjects that need checking.
- More than one round of approvals.
- No brief, so the writer has to research from scratch.
- Several versions for different channels.
How can you pay less for good copy?
Give the writer raw material. A weekly voice note with three customer questions, a job you finished and an offer you want to push gives a writer enough for several posts. Approving in one round and keeping a short list of words you never use also cuts time.
When is cheap copy a false saving?
Cheap copy is a false saving when it sounds like everyone else. Generic captions written in bulk cost little and earn little, because nothing in them is specific to your business. A caption that names a real job, price range or customer question usually does more work than three generic ones.
What does this look like in practice?
A pattern we see with UK professional services firms: the partners know the answers but never have time to write them down. Global Bridge Labs (GBL) runs a short monthly call, turns the answers into captions and longer posts, and the firm approves them in one pass. Writing time per post falls once the brief is regular.
Copywriting cost checklist
Agree these before writing starts.
- Captions and long posts per month.
- Channels and whether each needs its own version.
- Who supplies the brief and how often.
- Number of approval rounds.
- Words, claims and topics to avoid.
Next step
Tell us your channels and how many posts a month you want written. We will tell you how much writing time that involves.
Message us on WhatsApp for a copywriting estimate, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- Employee earnings in the UK (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings) · Office for National Statistics
- Writing to GOV.UK standards: writing guidelines · GOV.UK
- Meta Business Help Centre · Meta
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social media copywriter charge in the UK?
As an indicative range, a short caption written from a clear brief costs about £15–£45 at UK agency production rates of £60–£90 an hour. A longer LinkedIn post with research is about £45–£135. A month of 12 to 20 captions typically costs £180–£900 to write.
Is copywriting included in a social media retainer?
Usually, yes. Most UK retainers price each post with its copy and design together. Check the scope says who writes captions, how many versions per channel are included and how many approval rounds you get, because extra rounds are a common hidden cost.
Should I write my own captions to save money?
You can if you have the time and enjoy it. A middle route is to supply a voice note or a few bullet points each week and let a writer turn them into finished captions. You keep the authentic detail and save most of the writing time.
Can AI write my social media captions cheaply?
AI tools can draft captions quickly, but they need a human to add real detail, check facts and keep your voice. Used as a first draft they can cut writing time. Used alone they tend to produce generic copy that does little for enquiries.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
