Maybe you’ve heard the term everywhere but are still a bit unclear, what is a fractional CMO? 

A fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is a professional with C-Suite level marketing expertise that companies invest in to lead their marketing department, drive strategy and implement processes. 

Who Uses Fractional CMOs?

Companies across all different industries and stages of growth are increasingly embracing a new staffing strategy for their leadership roles.

Unlike full-time employees (FTEs), fractional executives are third-party resources that operate for a set amount of time. Bringing on a fractional executive means you can achieve the deliverables, strategies, and leadership you need without the pressure of a full-time commitment. 

Oftentimes, a fractional CMO can be beneficial for product or strategy launches, project-based initiatives; or, interim or transitional role fulfillment.

What Fractional CMOs Can Do For You

The majority of fractional CMOs have racked up years – sometimes decades – of experience, working for a variety of companies and brands. 

They have an abundance of expertise in developing effective marketing strategies, planning campaigns, aligning sales and marketing teams, and delving into analytics and ROI.

Typically a fractional CMO will create a custom package for your partnership that include any/all of the following:

• Audit your current marketing strategies/campaigns
• Build marketing strategies
• Develop campaigns and campaign planning
• Build out templates and resources
• Align and develop your marketing team
• Hire and/or train new marketing team members
• Facilitate rebrands or messaging shifts
• Project manage larger initiatives like websites
• Put together budgets and reporting

Benefits of a Fractional CMO

There is beauty in unbiased, third-party objectivity. Having a fractional CMO in place in your brand provides the following advantages:

• Flexibility: develop a fixed-length contract tailored to meet your current needs
• Specialized Skills: offer expert advice on specific areas of marketing.
• Scalability: offer strategic guidance on how to scale your operation effectively.
• Perspectives: offer a fresh viewpoint, often when it’s urgently needed.
• Objectivity: fractional CMOs are hired to focus on efficiencies and results.

Finding the Right Fit at a Fraction of the Cost

Most companies agree that the best feature of working with a fractional CMO is the cost savings and effectiveness.

In today’s hypercompetitive marketplace, the ability to attract, recruit, and retain top marketing talent has become an ever-increasing struggle. When there is an opening for a crucial marketing lead position, you want to make sure you have the time and resources to conduct proper evaluations – especially as it pertains to finding a fit for your own company culture. 

Many discover they don’t have this luxury – their need is immediate. That’s precisely where a fractional CMO hire makes sense. 

You can negotiate your own contract terms, based solely on your specific needs and budgetary constraints. The fractional CMO is there to operate on a fixed amount of time, with specific goals to reach before their terms expire. 

In the meantime, you can continue your executive search unabated, but in a much more relaxed atmosphere. 

HelloCMO Fractional CMO Services

Liane Caruso is one of the foremost fractional CMOs in the world of franchising. With over two decades of B2B and B2C experience, her insights have become an invaluable resource for the companies and brands she’s partnered with over the years. 

Having worked with so many franchise brands both in consumer marketing and franchise development marketing, she realized there was a gap in executive leadership in emerging and mid-sized brands to accomplish comprehensive strategic marketing planning, marketing and sales alignment, and initiatives that produce real results with strong ROI. 

And so, HelloCMO was created.

HelloCMO is Liane Caruso’s franchise marketing consultancy dedicated to fractional CMO or outsourced franchise marketing consulting engagements and projects for franchise concepts. If you need the kind of assistance that only a fractional CMO can provide, we’ve got your solutions waiting.