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Hire a fractional CMO

Fractional CMO

A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader who works for you part of the week. They decide which customers to go after, build the plan and make sure the marketing money gets results. To hire a fractional CMO, tell us what you need and we send you people who fit.

Send your requirement
  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice

What a fractional CMO does

A fractional chief marketing officer owns marketing strategy and results. They decide which customers to go after and with what message. They choose the channels, split the budget and hold whoever does the work to account, whether that is your own marketers or agencies.

It is a leadership role. A fractional CMO might write a positioning statement or rework a campaign. Most of their value comes from deciding what to do and what to stop.

Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice
Send your requirement

Common reasons to hire a fractional CMO

  • A woman explaining a hand drawn diagram on a whiteboard to two colleagues
    Marketing with no owner Activity across many channels, nobody sure what is working, and a founder who wants it off their desk.
  • A woman writing code on two monitors beside an arched window
    Agency management Several agencies and freelancers who need one senior brief and someone to judge their work.
  • Two women leaning over printed charts spread across a table
    A launch or a new position A new product, market or message that needs senior marketing judgement for a set period.
  • A man on a phone call at dusk with a city out of focus behind him
    Building the marketing group Defining marketing roles, hiring them and getting them productive before handing over.

Fractional CMO, consultant or head of marketing

A fractional CMO

  • Owns marketing strategy and results over time
  • Manages marketers and agencies
  • Reports to the CEO or founders

The alternatives

  • A marketing consultant advises and hands over a recommendation
  • A fractional head of marketing is more hands-on and runs campaigns inside a strategy someone else sets

What to look for

Look for someone who has marketed something like your product to customers like yours. Selling software to finance teams and selling a consumer app are different jobs. Ask how they would measure their own impact with you, and which channels they would cut.

If you already have marketers, ask how they have managed and grown people in a part-time role.

How hiring works with us

Send your requirement with your market, your current marketing set-up and what you need the CMO to own. There is no deposit. We read every requirement ourselves and ask if something is unclear.

We send a shortlist of people who fit, with each person's CV and a short note on why. You talk to whoever you like and choose. You do not have to hire anyone. You pay our fee only when someone starts, on one agreement and one invoice with us, with terms agreed in writing first.

Send your fractional CMO requirement

Tell us about your market, your current marketing and what needs an owner.

  • No deposit to get started
  • Every requirement read by us
  • A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
  • One agreement, one invoice

Where fractional marketing leaders are based

FAQ

Fractional CMO questions

What is the difference between a fractional CMO and a marketing consultant?

A consultant usually advises on one question and moves on. A fractional CMO owns marketing strategy, the people doing the work and the results over time.

How much of the week does a fractional CMO work?

It depends on the work. Leading a launch or rebuilding a marketing group takes more of their time than steering a settled one. Agree the time at the start and review it as things settle.

Can a fractional CMO manage an existing marketing team?

Yes, that is common. They set direction, review work and coach your marketers. Make the reporting lines clear so your people know who they answer to.

How is a fractional CMO different from a fractional head of marketing?

A CMO sets the strategy and sits with the leadership. A head of marketing is more hands-on and runs the work inside a strategy.

What should a CEO ask before hiring a fractional CMO?

Ask what they would do in the early weeks with you. Ask how they would measure success and what they would stop doing. Ask for examples of companies like yours where their plan worked.

When do fractional CMOs actually work?

When the company has a product people want and needs senior judgement on how to grow it. And when the CMO has people or agencies to carry out the plan. They struggle when expected to do all the work alone.

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