CEO Secret Weapon: A Fractional CMO to Drive Measurable Marketing Results

As a no-nonsense CEO or Founder, you know marketing is the lifeblood of your business. Without a steady stream of qualified leads and customers, growth grinds to a halt. But what many leaders are realizing is this: hiring a full-time marketing executive isn’t always the answer. That’s where a Fractional CMO can make all the difference.

Building and managing an in-house marketing team is a huge headache. You end up wasting time and money on trial-and-error tactics, only to see minimal results. And hiring a full-time CMO? That’s a major investment most growing businesses can’t justify.

I hear this all the time from the founders I work with:

“I don’t need fluff—I need someone who can think like a CMO and move like a founder.”

Take my client, Brian Seery, CEO and Founder of Infoshape Software. Like many visionary CEOs, Brian had bold growth goals, a fast-growing B2B software services company, and a lean internal team. But he needed a strategic partner who could bring clarity, connect the dots between sales and marketing, and accelerate his outbound efforts.

“We just didn’t have the in-house marketing expertise to get the job done,” Brian told me. “We knew we needed a better plan to hit our growth targets.”

For growth-minded leaders like Brian, a Fractional CMO is more than a consultant. It’s a secret weapon—someone embedded in the business, accountable for results, and focused on scaling what’s working.

Sound familiar?

If so, I’ve got good news: you can supercharge your marketing without the overhead of a full-time team. A Fractional CMO gives you strategic leadership, execution horsepower, and measurable ROI—all without the long-term commitment.

The latest Glassdoor places the average base salary for a CMO at $227,000 – $414,000. Of course, a base salary does not include the cost of benefits, taxes or bonuses. Your business should also have an infrastructure in place. See how partnering with Rutkin Marketing compares to building a full in-house team:

Develop a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy

Let’s look at Sarah, CEO of a leading medical device company. When she partnered with Rutkin Marketing for Fractional CMO services, her marketing efforts lacked structure and focus.

“We had all these ideas for marketing campaigns, but no real strategy behind them,” she said. “Our Fractional CMO helped us really define our ideal customer, refine our messaging, and map out a phased plan to reach them.”

Within six months, Sarah’s company saw a 40% increase in qualified leads and a 25% boost in conversion rates. Why? Their marketing finally aligned with the needs and behaviors of their best-fit customers.

Optimize Your Marketing Mix

Strategy is only half the equation. You also need to invest in the right channels and tactics to reach your audience effectively.

This is where a Fractional CMO shines. They evaluate what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be prioritized for maximum return — from acquisition to retention.

They can help you evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of various approaches, from customer acquisition to customer retention, and then put together and implement the optimal plan to drive maximum impact.

One of my clients, Mike, runs a professional services firm that had plateaued with its marketing efforts. After bringing in Rutkin Marketing as their Fractional CMO — with our full-service execution team — we restructured their content strategy, implemented HubSpot automation, and established a steady stream of qualified leads.

“Having you as our Fractional CMO helped us understand where our best customers were spending time online,” Mike said. “Once we focused on thought leadership and strategic partnerships, we started closing more deals.”

Build Sustainable Marketing Operations

Another benefit of partnering with a Fractional CMO?

You don’t just get strategy — you get a system that scales.

Rather than relying solely on outside help, a great Fractional CMO works to upskill your internal team, implement better tools, and create sustainable workflows.

Lisa, a fast-scaling e-commerce founder, brought me on to reduce her over-reliance on external agencies and build stronger internal capabilities.

“Our Fractional CMO worked closely with our team to set up clear workflows, document our playbooks, and implement the right tech stack,” Lisa shared. “Now we’ve got a self-sufficient marketing function that keeps generating new ideas and growth.”

Achieve Your Growth Potential

I get it — as a busy CEO, the last thing you need is more complexity. But a part-time CMO can be the strategic partner who brings clarity, direction, and measurable results.

With Rutkin Marketing, you get senior-level marketing leadership without the cost of a full-time executive — plus the support of an execution team that gets things done.

Just ask one of my past education clients, and now Scaling Up strategic business advisor for mid-sized enterprises, Krista Wade of Wade Growth Advisors:

“Having you as our Fractional CMO was worth the investment. You helped us improve our messaging, reach the right people, and enroll more students with less effort.”

If You’re Facing Any of These… You’re Not Alone

• Concerned about lead flow, growth, or customer acquisition
• Not sure which marketing efforts are actually working
• Messaging isn’t resonating or converting
• Your team lacks the resources or know-how to scale
• You need strategy, execution, and results — fast

Let’s Fix It

Partner with Rutkin Marketing and get access to:

• Fractional CMO leadership without the full-time price tag
• Executional firepower to implement what matters most
• A proven strategic partner that understands B2B, complex sales, and growth

For a comprehensive guide on maximizing the impact of a Fractional CMO, consider the insights shared in this Forbes article, which outlines 19 strategies to set your Fractional CMO up for success.

If you’re ready to gain traction, clarify your message, and turn your marketing into a revenue engine — let’s talk. Whether you need strategic guidance, shared execution, or full oversight, Rutkin Marketing offers the right engagement level for your growth goals:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Fractional CMO, and what do they do?
A Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is an experienced marketing executive who works part-time or on a contract basis to lead and execute a company’s marketing strategy. They help businesses develop go-to-market plans, align sales and marketing efforts, oversee campaigns, manage marketing teams, and drive measurable growth, without the cost of a full-time executive.

When should a company hire a Fractional CMO?
A company should consider hiring a Fractional CMO when it needs strategic marketing leadership but isn’t ready for a full-time hire. This is common during periods of rapid growth, market repositioning, or when internal marketing efforts aren’t producing the desired results.

How is a Fractional CMO different from a marketing consultant?
A consultant typically offers advice or audits without ongoing accountability. A Fractional CMO, on the other hand, becomes embedded in your business, drives execution, and is responsible for results—often acting as part of your executive team.

How much does a Fractional CMO cost?
Costs can vary based on scope and experience, but most Fractional CMOs charge a monthly retainer or project-based fee. Compared to hiring a full-time CMO with salary, bonuses, and overhead, it’s a more cost-effective solution for companies looking to scale efficiently.

Can a Fractional CMO work with my internal team or agency?
Yes. A good Fractional CMO will integrate seamlessly with your existing team, agency partners, or freelancers—bringing leadership, coordination, and strategic clarity to all moving parts.

Want to explore more? Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into whether a Fractional CMO is the right fit for your business:

• Making the Case for the Fractional CMO – Why this model is gaining traction among CEOs

• Opportunity vs. Cost: The True Impact of a Fractional CMO – What you gain (and save) by outsourcing strategic leadership

• Overcoming Business Growth Challenges – How to tackle the 4 hurdles to scalable growth

• 7 Benefits of Hiring a Fractional CMO – Practical reasons CEOs are making the shift