What is a Fractional CMO (And Why Your Business May Need One)

Regardless of the type of business you run, or the size of your company, marketing is an essential piece of the puzzle. After all, how else will customers learn about you?  

You may have tried to start up a marketing department within your company, bringing on board an experienced CMO; only to realize how high the costs would be! What if that’s not feasible? Maybe your brand is too small, or you simply don’t have the budget.  

What if we told you that there was a way to drive more growth and still reduce costs? Hiring a virtual marketing force can give you all the results you’d expect, with much more added flexibility. Keep reading, and our team here at Charisma will show you why hiring a fractional CMO may be the answer you've been looking for.

What is a CMO?

CMO stands for Chief Marketing Officer and is responsible for, you guessed it, all things marketing. Their job is to align marketing strategies with the company’s overall vision and objectives to make sure everyone is on the same page.

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CMO's are typically very experienced, with a skill set that encompasses everything from product development to customer acquisition. Of course, this experience comes at a price; a full-time CMO can cost upwards of 200K a year!

It's no surprise that not all businesses can afford to hire a CMO. However, that doesn't mean they don't need the expertise... this is where fractional CMO's come in.

CMO stands for Chief Marketing Officer and is responsible for, you guessed it, all things marketing.

Does My Business Really Need Better Marketing?

If you’re on the fence about whether or not your company needs a fractional – AKA part-time – CMO, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do we have a marketing plan?
• Are we acquiring enough quality leads & new customers?
• Are we happy with our website traffic?
• Is our brand well-recognized?

If you answered “no” to any of the questions above, it’s a good indicator that your business could benefit from the addition of a fractional CMO.  

It's common for brands that invest in fractional CMOs to see a significant improvement in their marketing efforts, which often leads to increased growth and profitability.  

Learn More > Signs it’s Time to Hire a Marketing Consultant

The Draw of Fractional CMO's

A fractional CMO is essentially a part-time Chief Marketing Officer that you may hire on an as-needed basis. This is a great solution for companies that can't afford a full-time CMO, or simply don't need one full-time.  

The beauty of a fractional CMO is that they can be hired for as little as 10 hours a week, but are still able to provide the same level of expertise and experience as our full-time equivalent.

Why Should You Hire a Part-Time CMO

Through our experience working with other executive-level marketers, we've found that the average hourly rate of a fractional CMO is typically between $200-375 an hour. This is a fraction of the cost of your average full-time Chief Marketing Officer.  

In many cases, we are able to provide you with an entire marketing team for what it typically costs to cover even an entry-level marketing representative (and that’s before their benefits and other overhead like office space).  

Unlike a full-time CMO, with a part-time one, you can bring on help for more seasonal support or use someone year-round. It’s a flexible investment based on your growth needs.  

As part-time CMOs, we support internal marketing reps so they can focus on other company initiatives like events and lead follow-up.

What Services Does a Fractional CMO Provide?

The services provided by a fractional CMO will be tailored to your specific needs and objectives. However, there are some common services that most fractional CMOs offer, including:  

• Strategy development and planning  
• Marketing budget management  
• Customer acquisition  
• Content & social media marketing  
• Email marketing  
• SEO/SEM  
• & more

Learn More > How We Help Your Business Stand Out

If a Fractional CMO Offers the Same Work, Why Would they Take Less Money?

Truth is, there may not be 40 hours a week of work needed to see the improvement you want for your business.  

Plus, fractional CMOs are typically independent contractors or consultants that work with multiple companies. This allows more flexibility with pricing.  

Why commit to a years-long expense when you can have more flexible pricing for the same marketing support?

Simply put, hiring a CMO to work full-time doesn't prioritize efficiency. You could invest in an in-house marketing team or have some of the work done remotely by specialists. Don't sacrifice quality of work for quantity of hours when hiring a part-time CMO will suffice for your growth goals.  

As part-time CMOs, we support several internal marketing reps so they can focus on other company initiatives like events, lead follow-up, video production, and more.  

Market More Efficiently, Communicate with Charisma

Whether you're a new business looking to get your name out there, or an established brand looking to scale up your marketing, we're here to help. Charisma Communications is a full-service marketing agency with a team of expert marketers all across the country!  

If you’re interested in learning more about how a fractional CMO can help your company, we invite you to book a consultation with our team. We’ll discuss your specific needs and objectives, and develop a customized plan to help you achieve your goals. Get started today!

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