What does a fractional CMO actually do?
A fractional CMO runs the marketing function part time. I set the strategy, own the number, manage the budget and the vendors, and report to your leadership the way a full-time CMO would. The difference with me is that I build the systems too, so the plan and the execution come from one person instead of a strategist and an agency who have never met.
How much does a fractional CMO cost compared to hiring one?
A full-time marketing leader plus a marketing ops hire runs well into the mid six figures with benefits. A fractional engagement is a monthly retainer for one or two days a week, and you can stop it at the end of any month. Companies between roughly $5M and $50M in revenue usually land here because they need senior judgment but not a full department.
Do I have to commit to a retainer?
No. Most engagements start as one project with a fixed scope and a fixed price: a lifecycle program shipped end to end, a funnel diagnostic with a prioritized plan, an SEO and site rebuild, or a vendor search you do not have time to run. Some clients stay there and never move to a retainer.
What is marketing operations, and how is it different from marketing?
Marketing brings people in. Marketing operations is the machinery that decides whether those people convert: CRM architecture, trigger logic, field mapping, lifecycle email and SMS, lead routing, and the reporting that tells you what actually moved pipeline. Most companies that think they have a lead problem have an operations problem.
Which tools and platforms do you work in?
Salesforce, Constant Contact, SMS Magic, Twilio, HubSpot, GA4, Tableau and Power BI, plus SQL and Python for the data work. For conversational AI I handle vendor selection, segmentation, and the handoff into the sales team rather than tying you to one platform.
What industries do you work with?
Most of my work has been in healthcare and multi-location service businesses, where a single lead costs real money and slow follow-up is expensive. The systems transfer to any business with a considered purchase, a sales team, and a CRM worth trusting.