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As your business grows, marketing decisions become more complex. This blog shares practical insights to help small and service-based business owners understand what deserves attention, make informed decisions, and bring greater clarity to their marketing.
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Simply put, you get the expertise of a full marketing department without the extensive overhead.
At Treefrog, we help small businesses build effective marketing strategies and systems that streamline their efforts, use resources wisely, and reach business goals.
Explore these frequently asked questions regarding our fractional marketing agency partnerships.
How does a fractional marketing team fit into my business?
Our fractional marketing team works alongside your existing staff, giving you the support and expertise you need to keep things running smoothly—without the full-time costs.
When you partner with us, you will gain access to strategists, copywriters, graphic and web designers, paid media specialists, and SEO experts. However, our agency does not provide photography, video, or social media posting services.
Why is a fractional marketing team better than hiring in-house?
Whether it’s executive-level leadership, digital marketing, website and SEO, content development, or more—our professional team can provide practical, high-quality solutions.
Unlike a single, in-house hire, we leverage decades of experience in all areas of marketing to ensure that your marketing strategy and projects are strategic, measurable, and drive results.
How is a fractional marketing team more cost-effective?
A fractional marketing team is more cost-effective because you get the expertise you need without the full-time salaries, benefits, or overhead. You gain access to a full team of specialists, but only pay for the support your business needs right now.
It’s a flexible solution that lets you scale up or down as your business evolves, all without the long-term commitment or extra costs of managing in-house staff.
How will I know if our fractional marketing team partnership is working?
Because this is a true partnership and not just an outsourced service, you can expect that our fractional team will strategize, implement, track, analyze, and optimize our efforts every step of the way.
Additionally, we'll have regular meetings and provide easy-to-understand reports that show how your strategy is driving results.
How quickly can a fractional marketing team start delivering results?
We get to work right away. With our experienced team, we dive into your business, create a plan, and start moving things forward—without the long onboarding process you’d have with full-time hires.
How involved will I need to be?
We keep things simple for you. Our team handles the heavy lifting and keeps you updated with regular check-ins and reports, so you’re always in the loop without having to manage the day-to-day.
Can a fractional team really understand my business like an in-house team?
Definitely. We take the time to really get to know your business, industry, and customers. Plus, our proven protocols and outside perspective bring fresh ideas and solutions you might not have considered.
Is a fractional marketing team a long-term solution?
It can be and is for many small businesses. Whether you need us for a short-term project or ongoing support, we’re able to help for as long as you need. We grow with your business and adjust as things change.
As a cost-effective alternative to hiring a full-time CMO, a fractional CMO allows small businesses to access top-notch marketing expertise—but without the hefty price tag.
Here are a few frequently asked questions to help you decide if partnering with a fractional CMO is right for your business. You can also learn more about fractional CMOs by tuning in to “Episode 111” of The Priority Pursuit Podcast.
Is outsourcing a marketing director something new?
No. In fact, many organizations already recognize the value of outsourcing executive functions such as the chief financial officer role.
Typically, for organizations with an annual revenue of $2M+, they need a CFO’s expertise to stabilize and protect their business—but not on a full-time basis. The same philosophy applies to partnering with a chief marketing officer.
What do fractional CMOs do?
A CMO is an outside c-level executive position brought in to understand, refine, develop, and manage your marketing initiatives, spending, resources, and staff in order to improve your overall sales.
Who needs a fractional CMO?
Usually, companies with $2+ million in revenue that may have a marketing manager, but lack strategic marketing leadership required to grow their business to the next level—or are not happy with their current marketing strategies—can benefit from hiring a fractional CMO for small businesses.
What are the benefits of hiring a part-time marketing director?
A fractional chief marketing officer assumes a critical role in shaping a small business’s marketing strategy and execution. With their wealth of experience, they can continuously analyze marketing performance, identify areas of improvement, and fine-tune strategies to maximize ROI.
Fractional CMOs enter a company with a fresh perspective, allowing them to provide insights about your current marketing initiatives and systems. Additionally, they are usually responsible for:
The benefit of partnering with Treefrog is that our professional agency teams have been helping small businesses implement their marketing strategies for more than two decades. Not only can we provide exceptional marketing leadership, but when warranted, our agency can also complete the implementation of projects such as brand development, brand messaging, copywriting, website design, SEO, and more.
When should you partner with a fractional CMO?
The best time to partner with a fractional CMO is when you’ve reached a sustainable revenue in which you can afford one (usually $5+ million) and when you’re not satisfied with your current marketing results.
It is important to note that the partnership is best served when a company has either an internal marketing person or external vendors (or both) in place to execute a comprehensive marketing strategy.
Are there limitations to a fractional CMO?
A fCMO is not a full-time employee or someone who will personally execute specific marketing campaigns or tasks. This partnership is designed to lead the overall marketing strategy for your company, oversee the implementation, and manage your marketing department—even if it's a department of one—and any outside vendors.
If you don’t have a marketing team, our agency team would be happy to partner with you on a contractual basis. At Treefrog, our professional agency teams have been helping small businesses implement their marketing strategies for more than two decades. Not only can we provide exceptional marketing leadership, but when warranted, our agency can also complete the implementation of building your marketing foundation.
How do I find a qualified fractional CMO?
Research indicates that about 36% of those presenting as fCMOs lack the skills and experience needed to perform their duties. But, there’s actually a way to quickly weed out less-than-qualified candidates.
Simply focus on the types of questions your potential fCMO asks. If they ask questions about your overall business, structure, products, current challenges, competition, and market fit, you’re off to a good start.
However, if they ask questions about marketing strategies currently in place and then immediately want to discuss implementation and execution, that’s not a fractional CMO. They’re a marketing manager in disguise.
How much does it cost to partner with a fractional CMO?
The agreed upon duties will play into your overall investment. However, most fractional CMOs charge an hourly rate of $200 to $500 per hour.
Additionally, it’s important to take into account the amount of time needed by a fCMO to learn the relevant aspects of your company. Since this is an executive role, they will need to become very familiar with your company—which won’t happen overnight.
On average, you should budget for at least 20 hours a month, but your specific needs will determine the final rate.
As the founder and chief marketing strategist at Treefrog Marketing, a co-host of the Priority Pursuit Podcast, a StoryBrand Certified Guide, and fractional chief marketing officer, Kelly Rice has spent more than two decades helping small businesses take their companies to the next level.
By providing trustworthy leadership, building strong marketing teams and systems, and implementing effective marketing strategies that drive results, she works along side of dedicated business leaders who want to make a difference for their companies, employees, and communities.
If you're ready to simplify your marekting life and take your company to next level, connect with Kelly by scheduling a discovery call today.
Designed for small businesses that want a StoryBrand Certified Guide to develop your Marketing Guiding Statements.
Begins at $3000
Best suited for small businesses that are looking for guidance and oversight when writing their own Marketing Guiding Statements.
Begins at $2500
Access to resources and 6-months of strategic guidance for those wanting to develop the first two steps of their flywheel marketing strategy.
$450 per month
Designed for small businesses that want to get to the next level, but don't have the time, desire, or in-house talent to build, implement, and manage an effective marketing strategy.
Begins at $6400 per month with a 12-month commitment
Best suited for small businesses that are looking for resources, guidance, and oversight when learning about, building, and implementing their own flywheel marketing strategy.
Begins at $3500 per month with a 12-month commitment
Provides access to resources and 6-months of professional guidance to those wanting to develop the first two steps of their flywheel marketing strategy; messaging and website.
$450 per month with a 6-month commitment
1. What is the Flywheel Marketing Method?
2. How does flywheel marketing differ from traditional marketing?
3. What are the main phases of the Flywheel Marketing Method?
4. Why is flywheel marketing effective for small businesses?
5. How does a flywheel prevent wasted marketing resources?
6. How long does it take to see results from a flywheel?
Because the flywheel method focuses on creating a strong marketing foundation, the results build momentum over time and become more efficient as the system runs.
With flywheel digital marketing services for small businesses, you can expect the following general timeline:
Once the full flywheel is in motion, your marketing will continue generating consistent results with less effort, giving you a system that compounds growth over time.
7. Can a small business implement a flywheel alone?
Yes, but many businesses partner with agencies like Treefrog to save time, leverage expertise, and ensure a professionally designed flywheel that produces measurable results.
You can find more information about the Flywheel Marketing Method in our guide.
It leverages years of experience to develop strategies that successfully align with your specific business goals.
With over 25 years of marketing leadership, we understand that your time is valuable. You need the right people at the table, and a marketing team that works as hard as you do.
That’s why our partnerships allow you to build a dedicated team that operates as a strategic extension of your business—without the burden of full-time hires.
We’re committed to helping you figure out what to do, what resources you need to scale, and how to get the most out of your marketing budgets and efforts.
Schedule your discovery call today to take your company to the next level with strategic marketing leadership and digital marketing services for small businesses.
