10 Best Fractional CMO Agencies in 2024

Sometimes, when your company grows rapidly, its needs don’t change proportionately. It’s normal to want help from the experts to assist you with scaling but also hesitate to commit to paying a six-figure salary. There were only two viable choices in the past: settle to hire a specialist with a less-than-steady marketing budget or decide to tackle marketing complexities on your own, even if you don’t know where to start. 

Luckily for businesses today, hiring a fractional CMO is one more viable, attainable, and economical alternative.

What Is a Fractional CMO?

A fractional chief marketing officer is a part-time worker who does the job of a full-time CMO but at a lower cost. They’re part-time experts who bring skill, experience, and flexibility to your business. They provide strategic guidance and executive leadership to attain your business’s desired results. 

Hiring a fraction CMO is a non-traditional option that promises better customer focus, more accountability for revenue, and lower costs. They work intensely on important goals for three to nine months, bringing fresh ideas and specialized knowledge to existing marketing teams.

With a fraction CMO, you can leverage marketing outsourcing services that offer:

• Performance marketing
• Predictive analytics
• Customer journey mapping
• Product marketing strategy
• Innovative management
• Brand marketing strategy
• Digital transformation

They fill gaps without increasing payroll. Their clear project goals allow direct measurement of marketing ROI against growth targets. Fraction CMOs work within teams, avoiding the limitations of isolated executive roles.

Plenty of businesses have benefitted from fraction CMOs. For companies that have worked with one, their growth rate is 29%. Those who don’t report an average growth rate of only 19%. Hiring one is also cost-effective, costing 50 to 75% of a full-time chief marketing officer’s annual salary.

What Does a Fractional CMO Do?

The idea of mid-sized companies hiring fractional executives has grown significantly, with fractional CMO use rising over 60% in the last five years. A fraction CMO is valuable for companies where a full-time CMO isn’t financially or practically feasible. This shift reflects a demand for specialized marketing expertise on a flexible basis. 

Rather than hiring a permanent executive with a full salary, you can bring in a CMO who acts as a consultant when you outsource marketing from a trustworthy agency. This way, you get the direction you need along with valuable experience. Every outsourced fraction CMO has significant experience with at least two well-known organizations, giving you confidence in their knowledge and expertise.

A fraction CMO focuses on these four phases:

• Defining marketing strategy
• Turning strategy into action and results
• Managing, growing, and mentoring the marketing team
• Driving sales growth

Many businesses struggle with marketing direction, constantly chasing promising new ideas or tactics but fail without a solid plan. If you experience this, a strong fraction CMO can help your business create and execute a realistic and effective marketing strategy that aligns with the company’s strengths and customer needs. These tactics provide short-term wins and long-term benefits.

A fractional CMO offers:

• Flexibility: Adjust marketing leadership based on needs without permanent overhead.
• Fractional marketing expertise: Learn from various specialists with specific skills and industry expertise.
• Cost-efficiency: Benefit from the experience of a seasoned marketing executive without having to pay for a full-time C-suite position.

A fraction CMO works as a critical member of your senior leadership team. These experienced marketing executives are accountable to the C-suite (top executives). They’re also expected to oversee execution and deliver results. They take a hands-on approach with your current marketing resources, focusing on business growth, audience growth, and account-based management strategies.

Working with an experienced fractional CMO agency is the quickest way to hire a fraction CMO who is a senior marketing leader. A fractional CMO company ensures you hire a modern marketing expert with proven results who fits your corporate culture. They’ll guide you through periods of rapid growth and help you gain market traction.

Why You Should Turn to Fractional CMO Agencies

In 2022, around 36% of the US workforce participated in freelancing, which is projected to increase by 14% in the next six years. With more competition, many marketers call themselves fraction CMOs to charge higher rates. 

However, some individuals lack real executive marketing experience, flooding the market with false “fractional CMOs.” These impostors offer basic marketing tactics and strategies that don’t deliver the best results. This can lead to:

• Paying too much for tactical services sold as fractional CMO work
• Using ineffective strategies that cause missed opportunities and lost revenue

To avoid this, choose a trustworthy fractional CMO agency that provides actual CMO services. A reputable company offers authentic fraction CMO services honed by years of experience. A reliable fractional marketing agency:

• Revives Business Growth: Introduces fresh ideas to address stagnation or decline in growth.
• Fills Expertise Gaps: Delivers specialized marketing knowledge that is often lacking in SMBs.
• Guides Major Projects: Oversees complex projects like new product launches or rebranding efforts.
• Saves Money: Offers top-level marketing expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.
• Scales Efforts: Adjust marketing strategies to match rapid growth or seasonal changes.
• Clarifies Strategy: Develops a clear, aligned marketing strategy if current efforts are lacking.
• Brings a Fresh Perspective: Offers an objective view to enhance and challenge existing practices.
• Navigates Changes: Handles rapid technological and market shifts with current expertise.
• Ensures Continuity: Maintains consistent marketing efforts during leadership transitions or restructuring.

Partnering with fractional marketing agencies also means accessing specialized digital marketing tools and technologies. 

List of the Top 10 Fractional CMO Services Agencies

Below is a list of marketing consulting firms and agencies that offer top-notch services:

1. Ninja Promo

Yes, it’s us. Ninja Promo is a full-service marketing agency offering expert fractional CMO services to help your business grow. Our subscription-based approach gives you a complete marketing solution designed for success. You can access a complete marketing department through a single monthly fee. And with over 100 experienced marketing specialists on our team, we provide second-to-none expertise.

As an elite MaaS provider, we offer more than 30 marketing services in one package tailored to your needs and budget. By working with us, you can save around $100K annually on agency fees and reduce the time to hire an in-house marketer by one to three months.

✅Why Choose Us?

• Subscription-Based Model: Our service works on a subscription basis, so you get expert marketing help at a steady, easy-to-manage cost.
• Scalable Solutions: Our fractional CMO services can grow with your business, offering flexible support without long-term contracts.
• Specialized Knowledge: Our team has expertise in various industries, providing marketing strategies that fit your needs.
• Focused Strategy: We offer a results-driven approach that targets your marketing efforts and improves your business performance.

2. Able & Howe

Able & Howe offers in-source marketing services that tackle your most demanding challenges with a clear strategy and timeline. They help businesses take charge of their marketing. They do so by providing leadership through a Fractional CMO or Fractional Marketing Director & Strategist.

Their approach fills gaps in leadership, strategy, and execution, then scales your internal resources. Their In-source Marketing Model helps you justify higher budgets and achieve marketing independence.

✅Why Choose Them?

• Able & Howe’s fractional CMO service offers businesses executive-level marketing leadership, providing the expertise needed to bridge gaps and drive success.
• They apply a proven methodology to help brands stand out and achieve positive returns on marketing investments, ensuring a strategic and practical approach.

3. O8

O8 is a data-driven web design and digital marketing agency. They offer client-focused collaboration and technical expertise. They excel holistically, providing cost-effective, top-tier marketing solutions tailored to drive your business forward.

O8 is also a digital marketing agency for startups and growing companies struggling to manage marketing strategies. Their fraction CMOs create, implement, and measure detailed go-to-market plans and data-driven strategies that align with your business goals.

✅Why Choose Them?

• O8’s fraction CMOs provide expert strategic leadership, manage cross-functional projects, and deliver results that consistently exceed expectations.
• With decades of experience, O8’s fraction CMOs develop strategies that integrate digital marketing and investor relations, driving increased market share.

4. Authentic

Authentic is a national fractional CMO firm serving clients across the US and beyond. They lead in fractional CMO excellence with their Authentic Growth Methodology. This proven system works across different industries and offers a straightforward approach.

Their method combines experienced marketers, a tested system, and shared CMO knowledge to improve marketing efforts. It boosts growth and value by helping businesses avoid random marketing strategies.

✅Why Choose Them?

• Authentic combines Marketers, Methodology, and Mindshare to create strong, strategic marketing teams and programs aligned with sales objectives.
• Their CMO match process ensures access to a roster of thoroughly vetted, experienced executives from diverse industries and business models.

5. CMOx

CMOx’s fraction CMOs are experts in strategic growth. CMOx helps businesses gain the expertise needed to boost sales and profitability. They focus on profitability in campaigns as a key measure of client success. This involves maximizing the efficiency of existing marketing teams.

In the first 90 days, they improve systems and processes in the marketing department. They then provide inclusive weekly KPI reporting via a scorecard.

✅Why Choose Them?

• CMOx’s proprietary Functional Marketing Framework is designed to enhance current marketing programs, improve results, and streamline team operations.
• Their fraction CMOs map sales and marketing funnels, assess team strength, and offer expert strategies for growth and optimization.

6. CMOvate

CMOvate offers Elad Itzkovitch as a part-time marketing advisor. Elad handles all marketing needs and assists with crucial business decisions. CMOvate gives you access to their services, network, and expertise at a lower cost.

Their service covers every aspect of marketing, including 360-degree plans, market research, branding, and paid campaigns. They build marketing funnels, manage social media, optimize CRM systems, and other essential tasks.

✅Why Choose Them?

• CMOvate’s approach covers lead generation, brand awareness, market positioning, and more, ensuring sustainable growth for your business.
• They provide complete CMO services, handling everything from SEO and branding to PR, creative work, and content writing, taking responsibility for all marketing activities.

7. Kalungi

Kalungi combines a proven go-to-market playbook with a full-service digital marketing team. This enables them to create strategies and build marketing engines for early-stage software companies. The agency has a strong record of driving significant growth for SaaS businesses with tailored marketing strategies.

Their fractional CMO services provide an experienced B2B SaaS marketing leader who becomes an extension of your team. Backed by a proven B2B SaaS marketing approach and T2D3 methodology, these CMOs bring expertise and knowledge to your company.

✅Why Choose Them?

• Kalungi’s fraction CMOs provide cost-effective strategic marketing leadership, offering extensive expertise on a part-time, interim, or project basis.
• Depending on your company’s stage, they design and execute a tailored go-to-market strategy to help achieve your growth goals.

8. WSI

WSI Digital Marketing & AI Services recognizes that each business is unique and avoids a cookie-cutter approach. Instead, they focus on understanding the company and its customers to develop a strategy tailored to specific goals.

By choosing WSI, clients gain a partnership with top industry experts, not just a service. Their consultant-led approach ensures alignment with broader strategic visions. WSI’s fraction CMO services offer strategic marketing advisory so businesses can stay ahead and tap into the latest marketing techniques.

✅Why Choose Them?

• WSI’s fraction CMOs offer an objective perspective, helping identify new opportunities and address blind spots in a business’s marketing strategy.
• They provide scalable marketing support, adjusting efforts during busy periods and stepping back when things are quieter.

9. Chief Outsiders

Chief Outsiders is an elite fractional CMO company with over 120 fractional executives. They have worked with over 2,000 clients and 300 private equity firms. Each executive is carefully vetted to ensure they have the skills and insights to boost business growth.

Hiring a CMO from Chief Outsiders means working with a brilliant, part-time executive on your team. They bring a market-based perspective to sharpen your strategy and oversee its implementation. Whether you need extra leadership support or help with a strategic project, Chief Outsiders ensures your CMO will drive the strategy and deliver results on time.

✅Why Choose Them?

• Chief Outsiders offers decades of marketing expertise at a reasonable price, providing a valuable investment supporting immediate and long-term company objectives.
• They handle the selection process, ensuring you hire a fraction CMO with a track record of excellence in marketing leadership and proven results.

10. SIX Marketing

SIX Marketing offers clients expertise and guidance by serving as their fractional or outsourced CMO. Their marketing experts have decades of experience and will analyze marketing, sales, and technology to provide comprehensive strategy recommendations.

SIX Marketing helps clients make informed decisions about budget, brand awareness, and lead generation. They believe effective marketing starts with a data-driven plan and can develop a strategy based on research and data. They also conduct audits and research to identify issues and suggest improvements for your marketing, advertising, technology, and processes.

✅Why Choose Them?

• SIX Marketing bases all actions on data and KPIs, treating business results with the utmost seriousness and dedication.
• They offer flexibility as a full-time partner or a plug-and-play resource, adapting to a business’s needs, budget, and goals.

What to Look for When Choosing a CMO Marketing Company

Finding the right CMO can be tricky because it’s a high-risk role. Choosing a candidate who deeply understands marketing principles and stays current with industry trends in the marketing landscape is imperative. They need to create effective strategies and make smart decisions.

Consider these key factors when hiring a fraction CMO to help drive your business forward and achieve the growth your company needs.

Define Your Needs

Discuss your goals for working with a fraction CMO. Set your budget, timeline, and specific marketing objectives to see if they can meet your needs. Decide if you need a CMO for a one-time project or ongoing support. This will help you choose a CMO who fits your requirements.

It’s also vital to clearly define what tasks you want the fraction CMO to handle. Specify which marketing channels and marketing initiatives you need help with, the KPIs to track, and how involved you want them to be. 

Evaluate Their Track Record and Expertise

The fractional CMO should have solid executive experience in your industry and relevant marketing channels. Look for a leader with a history of working with different companies and enhancing their strategic planning. 

Check out reviews and client testimonials to get a sense of what working with them is like. Look for feedback and comments on their website, LinkedIn, and social media. Ask the CMO for references so you can talk to past clients directly. This will help you assess how they manage challenges.

Check Their Methodology

A structured process is essential for success. A good fractional CMO should have a transparent process for creating marketing strategies and running campaigns. Ask about their methods for developing marketing plans, creating content, managing social media, and tracking results. Also, inquire about their communication and reporting processes to stay aligned during the engagement.

Ask the fractional CMO about their previous successes (case studies) and their methods to achieve them. Look for examples of how they’ve developed go-to-market strategies and met marketing goals for businesses similar to yours.

Choose a Reliable Fractional CMO Firm

The fractional CMO companies above are great examples of those you’d want to partner with to achieve your business goals. Each has robust services that can help you scale and make smart decisions. Before finalizing your choice, ask every question you have in mind. This way, you can select the agency that fits your business needs.

Complete Marketing Department in One Monthly Subscription

Hiring a fractional CMO from a subscription-based service is a smart choice. With Ninja Promo, you get top-tier fractional CMO services and an entire marketing department through a monthly subscription. This includes everything from strategy development to performance tracking.  

Offering elite digital marketing for startups, SMBs, boutique businesses, large companies, and enterprises, Ninja Promo offers consistent, high-quality marketing without needing multiple vendors. This setup helps you streamline your marketing and focus on growth while getting expert support. It’s a cost-effective way to manage and improve a business aspect that many struggle with.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a fractional CMO is one of the wisest decisions you can make if you’re struggling with marketing. You get the expertise and experience of a seasoned marketing specialist without breaking the bank. To learn more about CMO as a Service, contact Ninja Promo now.