A fractional CMO is a part-time Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for leading the marketing strategy and managing the marketing department. Fractional CMOs typically work with businesses who need the role of a CMO, but not in a full-time capacity.
Businesses use fractional CMO services because they do not need a full-time CMO but still require expert strategy and leadership and often enjoy the flexibility a fractional CMO provides. Often, it makes sense to bring in a fractional chief marketing officer as opposed to a full-time CMO. This can be for financial reasons, as a typical full-time CMO salary can cost more than $200,000 per year. Or because the amount of work required by the CMO does not constitute a full-time position. Understanding what a fractional CMO is can help businesses in determining if they need a part-time or full-time position.