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.
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.
Consulting
- Strategy and planning
- Websites and SEO
- Content and social media
- Ads, branding and events
- Team training and custom technology
Leadership & Coaching
- Fractional CMO leadership
- Business and marketing coaching
- System building and process workflows
- Strategy development
Speaking & Training
- Keynotes, live events and webinars
- Group training and workshops
- Prep, delivery and promotion
- 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. Leadership, coaching and system building bill at the leadership rate. Speaking and training have their own rate. 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.
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