What exactly is a "Fractional CMO"?

A Fractional CMO is an executive marketing leader who joins your leadership team on a part-time or retainer basis. Unlike an external agency that focuses on executing specific tasks (like online ads, SEO, PR, or web design), a Fractional CMO focuses on strategy, leadership, and accountability.

I sit on your leadership team, own the marketing number, mentor your staff, and ensure your marketing strategy aligns directly with your mission and revenue goals—without the cost of a full-time executive salary and benefits.

How is this different from hiring a marketing agency?

Agencies are excellent at execution (doing the work). Still, they often lack the internal context or domain expertise—in this case, in-depth knowledge of working with education-focused technology organizations and nonprofits)—to drive strategy (deciding what work matters).

• Agencies answer the question: "Can you build this campaign?"

• Market Simply answers the question: "Should we build this campaign, and how will it drive our mission impact?"

  Often, part of my role is managing your external agencies to ensure you achieve the best ROI.

Is this a short-term consultant role or a long-term partnership?

It depends on your needs.

• Fractional CMO engagements are typically 6-12 months or longer, as they involve deep integration into your team.

• Go-To-Market & Messaging Strategy engagements can vary but are typically 3-6 months, depending on the complexity of the organization and its program and product offerings.

• Audits & Org Design are typically 30-day diagnostic sprints.

• Messaging Workshops are high-impact, short-term project engagements.

What types of organizations do you work with?

I specialize in mission-driven organizations. This typically includes:

• EdTech & Education Services companies scaling their impact.

• Nonprofits and Associations seeking to modernize their member engagement.

• Workforce Development organizations.

  If your organization has a double bottom line—revenue and impact—we are likely a great fit.

Do I need an existing marketing team to work with you?

Not necessarily.

• If you have a team: I provide the leadership, mentoring, and structure they likely crave to be more effective.

• If you have no team: I help you design the right "Minimum Viable Team" (MVT), draft the job descriptions, and even help hire your first full-time marketers.

We are a small nonprofit/startup. Can we afford executive leadership?

That is exactly why the Fractional model exists. It allows you to access 20+ years of executive experience for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire (typically 25-40% of a full-time CMO salary). This gives you the high-level strategy you need now, preserving capital until you are ready for a full-time executive hire later.

What does the "Audit & Org Design" entail?

This is a diagnostic engagement designed to stop the guessing game. Over ~30 days, I conduct interviews with your stakeholders, audit your existing data and collateral, and review your tech stack. You walk away with a 90-day Roadmap and a clear recommendation on how to structure your team for growth. It is a low-risk way to identify exactly where your bottlenecks are.

Will you be doing the actual writing/posting/designing?

Maybe. My primary role is strategic leadership. I define the messaging, the plan, and the KPIs. While I am "hands-on" regarding messaging frameworks and copy direction, I am not a graphic designer or a social media manager. Ideally, I will help you resource those execution roles—either through your existing team, freelancers, or agency partners—and then I will manage them to ensure quality.

However, there are times when I will need to operate as a player-coach or an individual contributor. That’s the job. When duty calls, I can roll up my sleeves and execute with the best of them. I’m HubSpot and Google Ads certified, and I love to geek out with tools ranging from Google Analytics to Canva, and Meltwater.

How quickly can we expect results?

Marketing is a flywheel, not a light switch. However, most clients feel a difference in clarity and alignment within the first 30 days.

• Messaging Workshop clients see immediate clarity in how they talk about their product.

• Fractional CMO clients typically see measurable improvements in lead quality and team velocity within the first quarter (90 days).

Still have questions?

Every organization is at a different stage of growth. The best way to determine if we are a fit is a brief conversation.