Why and How to Hire a Fractional CMO

Slowly but surely, the fractional CMO is gaining momentum.

Companies can eat their cake and have it too.

They can take advantage of the expertise and experience of a marketing leader but not pay full freight.

No options. No perks. No serverance payments. No worries.

Meanwhile, fractional CMOs can work with multiple clients or work less.

It sounds like a win-win proposition but here's some food for thought.

In concept, fractional means part-time. It could range from 8 to 20 hours a week.

But many companies need someone to pull the marketing levers constantly and engage with key stakeholders regularly.

A CMO is also responsible for driving KPIs, so ideally, they're proactively monitoring and optimizing marketing activities.

That can be a challenge when you're not a full-time employee.

My advice: think about what you need when exploring the idea of fractional CMO, and how you can support their efforts.

In my experience, a fractional CMO thrives when a company has marketers who can do tactical execution.

This allows a fractional CMO to focus on strategic guidance and tactical oversight while letting employees work in the trenches.

The other keys to success are:

• Having a CEO willing to engage with a fractional CMO

• Being structured about how and when to use a fractional CMO

• Having clear lines of communication and scheduled meetings.

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