Marketing leadership
by the hour without the contract that connects to sales that builds systems
Fractional CMO and digital strategy for owner-led businesses without a marketing lead. I connect sales and marketing, build the systems that run them, and step in as much or as little as you need.
Hourly. As needed. No contracts. Ever.
Marketing ⟷ Sales
One plan. One connected system.
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You might need a fractional CMO if...
Sales and marketing blame each other, and nobody owns the number
You're spending on marketing but can't say what's working
You have people doing tasks, but nobody setting direction
Your website, social, email and events all run on their own
You're the owner, and also the default marketing department
You're thinking about hiring a marketing lead and don't know who
Checked two or more? Keep reading.
What a fractional CMO actually does
All the strategic thinking of a full-time marketing executive, billed only for the hours you use.
Connect sales and marketing
Marketing should make selling easier. I align messaging, lead handoffs, CRM workflows and follow-up, so prospects show up warmer and nothing falls through the cracks between the two teams.
Build systems and processes
Repeatable workflows, playbooks and reporting that keep marketing running without you chasing it. Documented for your current team, or for the team I help you hire.
Enhance your ecosystem
Your website, SEO, email, social, ads and events should work as one system, not six separate projects. I find the gaps, connect the pieces and make every channel pull its weight.
Lead the team
I set direction, keep priorities straight and hold the work accountable. Your team, my team or a mix of both.
Your team or mine
Every business is set up differently. I adapt to yours, and change with it as you grow.
I lead, they execute.
I step in as the strategic lead: set direction, build the processes, coach your people and keep everyone pointed at the same goals. Your team gets clarity instead of another list of tasks.
- Strategy and priorities
- Processes and playbooks
- Coaching and accountability
My team becomes your team.
I lead the strategy and my team handles execution: content, websites, SEO, creative and more. You get the output of a marketing department without adding headcount, and one point of contact who's actually in the work.
- Strategy and leadership
- Hands-on execution
- One point of contact
Build the system before the hire.
I'll help define the role, write the job description and interview candidates. Then I build the systems and processes they'll step into on day one, so your new hire starts with a playbook instead of a blank page.
- Role definition and hiring help
- Systems and onboarding
- Clean hand-off, or I stay on as their coach
In plain English: however you’re set up today, the systems and processes I build are documented and yours to keep.
Start anywhere. Stop anytime.
Three ways in, no contracts on any of them. Pick the one that fits where your business is right now.
Free assessment
A one-hour review of your digital ecosystem: website, social, search, email and competitors. You'll know what's working and what's costing you.
Strategy project
A clear marketing strategy built around your goals: what to do, why it matters, who does it and how we'll measure it. Yours to run, with or without me.
Fractional leadership
I lead the plan: direct the team, connect sales and marketing, build the systems and adjust as the business changes. Dial it up or down anytime.
Most clients start with the assessment. Some stop at the strategy. Some keep me on to lead it. All of those are the right answer.
How a strategy gets built
Assessment first, always. Then a strategy simple enough that your whole team can actually use it.
Define 3 to 5 goals
For each channel, from your website to social to email, we set three to five realistic goals. Specific deliverables, not wishes.
Write the why
Every goal gets a reason. When people understand why it matters, sales, operations and leadership get behind it instead of around it.
Call out the specifics
The exact actions needed to hit each goal. These become the tasks your team, or mine, works from.
Set the KPIs
You're investing time, money and people, so we define how we'll measure what it's doing for the business.
Track and adjust
Review the numbers, keep what's working and fix what isn't. A strategy is a living document, not a binder on a shelf.
In plain English: goals, reasons, actions, measures. If a strategy can’t fit on a few slides, nobody’s going to follow it.
Steal my strategy template
The same simple format I use with clients: goals, the why, the specifics and the KPIs for every channel, laid out in PowerPoint so you can present it to your team tomorrow.
PowerPoint format · No email needed
How I think about marketing
Five beliefs behind every strategy I build.
Years in the trenches
Two decades across almost every channel, so your strategy is built by someone who's actually done the work.
Six figures a year, or by the hour
When marketing needs a leader, most owner-led businesses reach for one of these. Every option wins somewhere. Here’s where, side by side.
What each option costs per year, fully loaded
These rates shown are ranges pulled from data in 2025 in the Milwaukee area. They may differ based on your specific role, company size and region. This is used as an example to show the benefit of fractional work vs the total cost of an employee. These numbers shown include estimated ranges of salary + benefit costs, payroll taxes and other potential costs of an internal employee. (no bonus is included)
Compare me to:
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$50,000 to $100,000, and marketing gets whatever is left of their week.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Organized and loyal. Marketing just isn’t their trade.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
Already here. Marketing happens when the phones are quiet.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
Nothing new, until the rest of the to-do list wins.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Rarely. They’re busy running the office.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
They are the team, and they’re stretched thin.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
Some posts, and the logins if someone wrote them down.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
Already on payroll and knows your customers. Fine for keeping the lights on.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
A raise and a new title, plus backfilling the job they used to do.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Knows your business. Learning the role on your payroll.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
Months to grow into it, sometimes years.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
A permanent role that’s hard to undo without losing them.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Only if they’ve done both before.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
Now managing former peers, often without a mentor.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
Their growth. They’re still yours.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
Rewards loyalty and keeps knowledge in-house. Works best with a senior coach behind them.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$70,000 to $135,000.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Strong at running campaigns. Usually needs someone else setting the strategy.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
A search, a notice period, then time to ramp.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
A full-time salary and benefits.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Usually does marketing only. Sales if they must.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
Executes well, but looks up for direction.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
The work, if the processes were documented.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
Steady, day-to-day execution.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$85,000 to $145,000.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Brand, design and campaigns. Strategy and pipeline, less so.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
A search, a notice period, then time to ramp.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
A full-time creative, who will want to redesign everything.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Will focus on the look and feel, not the message or strategy.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
Raises the creative bar for everyone.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
A sharper brand and a better design library.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
When the quality of your brand and content is the bottleneck.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$135,000 to $205,000.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Plans and runs programs, and manages people.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
A search, a notice period, then time to ramp. They will want to redo your website and branding first… then talk strategy.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
Full-time salary, benefits and usually a bonus.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Sometimes. It depends on the hire. They will have a basic understanding, but no strategy.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
Manages them day to day. Some will be capable to work as a team of one, others will know the talk, but can’t walk the walk.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
The programs and the plan, if they were documented.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
Full-time ownership of a growing marketing team. Lower cost marketing for very basics.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$165,000 to $255,000, plus a bonus (often 15 to 30% of base) and a search fee.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Senior strategy and team building. Understands multiple areas of marketing, but typically not a do-er of things.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
A search, a notice period, then 3 to 6 months to full speed. Will all depend on other pieces you already have.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
Executive pay, often equity, and severance if it doesn’t work out. A person who understands it all, but can’t build it themselves.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Often, from a seat at the leadership table. Has a deep understand of the sales/marketing relationship, but stays in their lane.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
Builds or reshapes it, sometimes around their own people.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
Whatever was written down before they left.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
If you can find a do-er of things they will be a gem. Great at scaling a large marketing organization and thinking at a higher level. Will bring great insight, a good network and a higher level of execution.
$175/hr for proactive leadership and hands-on work, as needed. Most clients spend $3,000 to $6,000 a month. No equity, no severance, no search fee, no commitment.
$240,000 to $415,000, plus bonus, equity and a search fee.
20+ years building and running marketing projects, building sales systems, websites, content, SEO and events. A fully ready team of expert freelancers. Fully transparent reporting system.
Top level, if you hire well. Typically not a person who executes. They build teams, define strategy and direct you down a better path.
Assessment, strategy build and 3-6-12 month plan recommendation in the first week. Quick wins before month 1. Process/system built by month 3.
A search, a notice period, then a ramp. Will see some low hanging fruit items in month 1, some real impact in months 3-4 and within a year you will be on a new path.
Nothing. Hourly, as needed, no contract.
A permanent executive seat, with severance if it’s wrong.
Yes, that’s the job. One message, one pipeline.
Yes, at the top.
I lead and coach your people, bring mine, or build the playbook for the person you’ll hire.
May keep a few team members, but will most likely restructure the team around their own people.
Every system, process and playbook, documented on your accounts.
The strategy often walks out the door with them. The systems are yours if you like them and if another team member knows how to run them.
Senior strategy for a fraction of a salary. It flexes with your business, and you can stop anytime.
100% of a senior leader’s attention, every single day. A true strategic path, systems, processes and true marketing leadership.
Fully loaded means salary plus about 40% for benefits and payroll taxes (benefits are about 30% of total compensation for private industry workers, BLS, June 2026). Salary ranges: PayScale (marketing manager, marketing director, creative director), Indeed (office manager), Stealth Agents (VP of marketing, owner-led company range) and Orbyt (CMO, Milwaukee). Updated October 2026.
Simple, hourly, out in the open
No contracts. No minimums. No packages. You pay for the hours used, at the rate that matches the work, and every invoice shows where the time went.
Fractional CMO
- Strategy, planning & execution
- Websites, content & SEO
- Email, events & social media
- Ads, branding (design) & video
- Team training & custom technology
Business Coaching
- 1 - 4 hours per month
- Zoom or in-person coaching sessions
- System building and process workflows
- Strategy development
Speaking & Training
- Keynotes & live events
- Webinars
- Group Training
- Custom workshops
- Leadership Training
- No contracts
- No minimums
- No packages
- Every hour itemized
Fractional CMO questions
What owners usually ask before bringing in a fractional CMO, answered straight.
What is a fractional CMO?
A part-time chief marketing officer. You get senior marketing leadership (strategy, direction, systems and accountability) for the hours you actually need, instead of a full-time executive salary.
How is this different from hiring an agency?
Agencies sell execution, usually in packages, with a contract to protect their margins. I lead: I set the strategy, connect it to sales, build the systems and make sure the work gets done, whether that's by your team or mine. Hourly, no contract.
How is this different from hiring a full-time CMO?
You get the same level of thinking without the full-time salary or the long-term commitment. It's built for businesses that need senior direction, but not 40 hours a week of it. If you grow into a full-time hire, I'll help you find and onboard them.
How many hours will I need?
As many as the work needs. Some clients use a few hours a month for direction and accountability. Others use more during a launch, a rebuild or a big push. You can scale up or down anytime.
Is there a contract or minimum?
No contract, no minimum and no packages. You're billed hourly for the time used, and every invoice shows exactly what it went to.
Can you work with my existing team?
Yes. I step in as the strategic lead, set direction, build the processes and coach your people. Your team keeps doing the work, with a clearer plan and fewer fire drills.
We don't have a marketing team. Can you still help?
Yes. I lead and my team handles execution: content, websites, SEO, creative and more. You get the output of a marketing department without the headcount.
Can you help me hire a marketing person?
Yes. I'll help define the role, write the job description, interview candidates and build the systems and processes they'll step into on day one. Then I hand off cleanly, or stay on as their coach.
Do you work with sales too?
Yes, and that's the point. Marketing should make selling easier. I align messaging, lead handoffs, CRM workflows, follow-up and sales scripts so both teams are working the same pipeline.
Do you work onsite or remotely?
Both. Most of the work happens remotely, and I'm onsite when it matters: planning sessions, workshops and kickoffs.
Why are there different hourly rates?
The rate matches the work. Hands-on marketing services bill at the consulting rate. Coaching bills at the leadership rate. Speaking and training have their own rate. All are different, and every invoice shows which is which.
Where do I start?
With the free Digital Ecosystem Assessment. I’ll look at your website, social, search, email and competitors, then tell you what’s working and what I’d fix first. If we’re a fit, we build a plan from there. If not – you can take the plan (at no charge) and run with it.
Let's see if we're a fit
Start with a free Digital Ecosystem Assessment. If we're a fit, we build the plan together. If we're not, you still walk away knowing what to fix first.
Or email nick@nickpackard.com / (414) 416-3335