From freelancers charging £500/month to agencies quoting £10k+ retainers, Meta ad management can vary wildly in price — and understandably, that leads to confusion:
- What am I actually paying for?
- Is there a real difference between a £500/month freelancer and a £5k/month agency?
- Why does it cost more when my business grows?
If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions — you’re not alone.
At Marketing Made Social, we work with a wide range of brands: from e-commerce businesses scaling up, to personal brands building a loyal audience, to local businesses and events looking for visibility. The needs are different — but the value of good media buying stays the same.
Here’s what you’re really paying for when you invest in Meta ad management — and why it matters.
1. Clarity and Integrity
A skilled media buyer won’t pad your numbers with fluff or disguise performance behind vague reports. They’ll explain:
- What’s working and what’s not
- What strategy is in play — and why
- What results you can realistically expect
There are no magic tricks here — just honest insights and well-informed decisions based on data. If your offer, website, or funnel isn’t ready yet, a good media buyer will tell you that, not take your money and hope for the best.
2. Platform Expertise
Anyone can set up a campaign. But understanding how Meta works — from Advantage+ campaigns to event tracking, exclusions, and attribution windows — is what separates the amateurs from the professionals.
An experienced media buyer understands:
- How to align campaign settings with your goals (e.g. lead gen vs e-commerce sales)
- How recent platform changes affect performance
- When to let the algorithm work — and when to step in
That technical depth becomes even more important as your ad budget grows.
3. Strategic Thinking Beyond the Ads
Media buying isn’t just about Meta. It’s about understanding how ads fit into the whole customer journey — from offer positioning to landing page conversion and creative testing.
A strong partner will:
- Spot creative gaps that are holding your ads back
- Suggest improvements to your offer, messaging, or funnel
- Know when to scale and when to hold back
For example, if you’re an e-commerce brand trying to scale post-BFCM, or a local business pushing seasonal offers — your strategy needs to reflect that. It’s not just about spending more; it’s about spending smarter.
4. Commercial Awareness
Good media buyers understand that your ad spend is part of a bigger picture. They’re not chasing low cost-per-clicks; they’re focused on meaningful results like:
- Return on ad spend (ROAS)
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
- Margin and cashflow impact
If your revenue goals don’t align with how your ads are being run, you’re not getting the full value.
5. Pattern Recognition and Problem Solving
Is performance down because of a creative fatigue issue, a platform bug, or a sudden shift in buyer behaviour? An experienced media buyer can spot patterns quickly and adjust before you waste money.
They’ve seen the ups and downs. They know when to test, when to scale, and when to pause. They’re not guessing — they’re applying proven experience.
6. Responsiveness and Accountability
The best media buyers don’t disappear for days or need chasing for updates. They treat your ad budget like it’s their own — acting fast if something breaks, and communicating clearly along the way.
It’s not about flashy dashboards or big promises. It’s about someone who shows up, owns the outcomes, and makes it easy for you to trust the process.
So… Why Is It More Expensive to Hire the Right Media Buyer?
Because you’re not just paying for “someone to run your ads.” You’re paying for:
✅ Strategic direction
✅ Technical skill
✅ Proactive performance management
✅ Business-first thinking
If your current ad partner isn’t bringing those things to the table, it might explain why results are falling short — even if the price seems low.
Not Sure If Your Ads Are Being Run the Right Way?
We offer ad audits that uncover where you’re wasting budget, missing opportunities, or under-utilising Meta’s tools. Whether you’re spending £500/month or £50,000/month, it’s worth knowing what’s really going on behind the scenes.
👉 Book an audit here or drop us a message if you want to talk it through.
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