What is a fractional CMO?
A Fractional CMO is the same thing as a full-time CMO, but only working part-time on retainer basis. A Fractional CMO becomes an integrated part of your team as a your executive leader. They will set the strategy, build the team (hiring and managing specialists and agencies), and guide results. They are not a one-person marketing department, they are the leader that will build and guide your strategy & team.
Why fractional vs. full time?
Having a full-time CMO or head of marketing is great.. if you can afford one. To get access to high-quality leadership, it could cost you well over $250,000 per year in base pay, not including payment for healthcare, employment taxes, bonuses or equity. That makes access to high quality talent for small startups extremely difficult. Hiring a fractional CMO allows you to bring that leadership and strategy in house quickly with relatively low risk. ​
Why fractional vs. agency?
Make no mistakes about it.. agencies and consultant specialists are great. In fact, they are necessary. However, if you want to really scale beyond $2 million in annual revenue, they are probably not sufficient. To get to the next level, you will need to build internal capabilities to scale your organization for the long term. A fractional CMO will help you do just that - hire, build, and manage your marketing & sales team. A Fractional CMO is a real, integrated part of your team, however by design are a lot cheaper and less risky than hiring a full-time CMO. ​