Social media manager refuses to keep working with client after they keep demanding changes to the content: ‘This would mean I work basically for free’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Apr 20, 2026 4:00 PM EDT

When you're a freelancer trying to build up your clientele, sometimes you don't really have a choice when it comes to the people you work with.

For social media managers, this manifests in different ways. A starting social media manager will agree to create content for any business owner willing to hire them, no matter what. Whether the client is someone who owns a plumbing business or a kid selling slimes, as long as they are willing to pay for the service, the social media job will be done. 

The same can be said about the character of the clients as well. As long as someone is at the beginning of their freelancing career, there aren't a lot of clients they would refuse to work with. Even if the client is extra difficult or demanding, it would still take a lot to drop them, because building the portfolio and the name is sometimes more important than finding decent people to work with.

Only when a social media manager becomes more seasoned and builds a name for themselves can they pick and choose their clients. Once you have a steady income and a respectable career, you can decide what type of business matches your branding and whether or not you want to work for a client who comes across as entitled or demanding.

Since the freelancer below is just starting out, they don't have the luxury of dropping every client they don't get along with. However, this one client's demands have reached a point where they basically want the freelancer to work for free, and that is a line that even a starting social media manager is not willing to cross.

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  • Initially, this social media manager started a collaboration with a client for one month, and the client paid in advance for the one month's worth of content.

    However, the client had notes on every single piece of content the social media manager created, which resulted in a month's worth of notes and corrections, but no published posts whatsoever.

    At the end of the month, the client demanded the freelancer finish the job and start posting, but at this point, the freelancer is no longer getting paid for their time, and they are not willing to keep working for a difficult client if they don't get anything in return.

    Keep scrolling to read about the client's reaction.

  • Woman sitting at an open office while on an online meeting.
    via LinkedIn Sales Solutions

    Woman sitting at an open office while on an online meeting.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for refusing to work extra for free after a difficult client month?

    Hi everyone, I need an outside perspective. I'm a freelance social media manager, and I started working with a client who paid the first month in advance. The
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • collaboration lasted a bit over a month, but during that time, we didn't end up posting anything. The reason is that every piece of content I created went through multiple rounds of revisions (sometimes 3-4 times per post).
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • The client kept changing directions we changed the content plan about 3 times, and even right before posting, she would ask to completely modify the post.
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  • There were also a lot of contradictions. For example: She gave me a template, then later told me not to use the same colors or fonts from that template.
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • She asked for voice-over, then refused to use her own voice, asked for Al voice, then rejected it because it wasn't good enough.
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • I asked for brand assets (like photos), she said she didn't have time to provide them. When I used stock images, she said they were too basic; when I used Al- generated visuals, she said it didn't match the brand.
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • Basically, nothing was ever validated, and expectations kept changing. Now that the month is over, she told me: "We didn't post anything, so finalize the content
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  • and post for 1 week, then we'll evaluate how the audience reacts and decide if we continue working together."
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  • This would mean I work an extra 1-2 weeks basically for free, even though the lack of posting wasn't just on me. Now I'm wondering... am I being unreasonable here?
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • hands holding smartphone showing a social media page
    via Swello

    hands holding smartphone showing a social media page.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • ughneedausername NTA Tell her they paid for a month. They got a month out of you. If they want you to do more they need to pay. Or, if you don't want to work with this client anymore, tell her you have work with a new client booked in that time so you won't be able to work with her anymore.
    via ughneedausername
  • sage_ley I mean it sounds like she's the type of person that'll keep pushing boundaries. If you give in to her once shell always push for you to give in again.
    via sage_ley
  • But I think we need more information about what your job entails. I would think there'd be a set number of posts that clients are getting within a specified time frame. And if there is did you tell her they'd be forfeit if nothing was approved within that time?
    via sage_ley
  • MaeEastx Unless you're really desperate for clients or have a lot of time on your hands, I'd tell her you've completed the work and she will need to pay in advance if she wants more.
    via MaeEastx
  • cottonmercer666 NTA. You did the job she paid you to do. It wasn't your fault that every suggestion, edit, re-edit, and expectation was either changed or decline. Now she wants free labor? No. Just no.
    via cottonmercer666
  • If she wants another day, week, or even month from you, she needs to pay you your rate. It's never good to get in the habit of working for free. Boundaries need to be set and enforced. And payment upon services rendered is a big one.
    via cottonmercer666
  • DueConsequence4072 NTA. She paid for a month. You worked a month. The contract is over. Now, wish her well and decline to work with her again. You are just too busy and good luck.
    via DueConsequence4072
  • Chance-Dingo8246 OP Update: First of all, thank you for all your comments. they really helped me see things more clearly. I spoke to my client and explained my position (that I'm not comfortable working extra for free and that my work can't be fairly evaluated in one
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  • week, especially since nothing was posted and a lot of the content was heavily modified). She replied in a calm and professional way. She said she understands my point about the 1-week evaluation and agrees that most of the posts would reflect her input rather than my original work.
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  • She also acknowledged that the many revisions slowed things down, but mentioned there were also issues related to brand design choices (colors, visuals, etc.), which she feels weren't fully respected. She said she's not trying to blame anyone, but wants to discuss improvements and suggested we have a call to debrief
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • and talk about how to move forward professionally. For context, what we initially agreed on was: There account had less the 600 followers and its been online for more then 3 years. 2 reels per week 1 post per week 1 story per day plus the strategy For 300 euros So it was a full monthly content + strategy package.
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • Also, she is my third client so far, so I do see this as a learning experience. My two other clients (an aesthetic doctor and a travel agency with over 200k followers) didn't have issues with my design or execution, and I had already shared my portfolio with her beforehand, so she knew my style and skills. At this point, I think
    via Chance-Dingo8246
  • the issue is more about mismatch in expectations and working style than anything else. Thanks again for all your input it genuinely helped me handle this better
    via Chance-Dingo8246

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