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After two decades in marketing, helping companies from scrappy startups to established mid-market players, I have learned one thing for certain: every business needs smart, strategic marketing, no matter its size or budget.
But here’s the reality I see every day: small and mid-sized businesses often struggle to afford full-time senior marketing leadership. And without that leadership, they are stuck throwing money at tactics with no real strategy behind them. This can be moderately successful or it can fail miserably. I have examples of both that I love to share.
That’s where I come in—not as an agency—but as Rudy McCormick your fractional marketing professional. And if you’ve never worked with someone in this kind of role before, let me show you how it can be a game-changer for your business.
What is a Fractional Marketing Professional?
Definition and Role
In plain terms, a fractional marketing professional (or fractional CMO) is someone like me who joins your business on a part-time or project basis to lead your marketing strategy and execution—without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive.
I plug into your leadership team, quickly assess your challenges, and bring clear direction to your marketing efforts. That might include:
- Crafting a strategic marketing plan
- Leading internal or external teams
- Running campaigns, rebrands, or launches
- Overseeing content, social media, email, or paid media
- Creating and publishing content – yes I do that too
And yes—your benefit comes directly from me doing the work.
How It Differs from Traditional Marketing Hiring
Unlike hiring a full-time marketing director or outsourcing everything to an agency, working with a fractional pro gives you flexibility, senior expertise, and cost efficiency.
You don’t pay me for downtime, training, or office politics—you pay for impact. You don’t provide me benefits, or paid vacation time. I invoice you directly vs. being on your payroll. We can scale up or down based on your needs. I become a part of your team, but I bring an outsider’s objectivity and a fresh set of eyes.
The Benefits of Hiring a Fractional Marketing Pro
Cost-Effective Leadership
Hiring a full-time senior marketer (and getting it right) is expensive. Salary, benefits, onboarding, turnover—it adds up fast. A fractional model lets you tap into executive-level thinking for a fraction of the cost.
Depending on your needs, I can step in for a few hours a week, manage a campaign, or guide you through a quarterly strategy—on your terms and your budget.
Proven Expertise and Data Driven Perspective
With 20 plus years in the game, I’ve worked across several industries and seen trends come and go. I bring that battle-tested perspective to every engagement. You won’t have to guess what works—I’ll bring the data, experience, and strategic direction to move you forward.
Plus, I stay on top of the latest tools and platforms, so you don’t have to. Whether it’s SEO, CRM systems, paid media, or content strategy—I’ve been there, done that, and know what drives ROI. I’ll also bring the data that backs up our hypothesis.
Strategy Aligned with Business Goals
One of the biggest gaps I see in SMBs is marketing that operates in a vacuum—disconnected from business goals. For example, throwing social media out there because you feel like you need to. That can be a huge time waster for you when you could be working ON your business. My approach starts with understanding where you want to go, then building marketing systems and campaigns that help get you there.
Because I’m not buried in your day-to-day operations, I can also bring clarity and objectivity—asking the tough questions, challenging assumptions, and helping your team focus on what really matters.
How to Find the Right Fractional Partner (Even If It’s Not Me)
Start by Knowing What You Need
Before hiring a marketer, ask yourself:
- Where are we stuck?
- Do we need strategy, execution, or both?
- Do we have internal support or are we starting from nothing?
- What does success look like?
- How much horsepower do we need?
That clarity helps you—and me—determine if we’re the right fit, and what kind of structure makes sense.
Look for These Qualities
The right fractional marketer should have:
- Proven experience leading marketing teams and growth efforts
- Persuasive communication and leadership chops
- A collaborative mindset—someone who integrates well with your team
- A natural sense of ownership, not just task execution
- Technical accumen and understanding of modern tools and platforms
In short, you want someone who treats your business like their own.
Vet Their Track Record
Ask to see real examples of results. I always share:
- Specific wins from past clients
- Campaign breakdowns
- What worked, what didn’t, and why
- Testimonials and references
And I encourage prospective clients to ask tough questions—I welcome it. The best relationships start with transparency and mutual trust.
How We Would Work Together
Set Expectations from Day One
A successful partnership starts with clarity. Together, we define:
- Your goals and pain points
- The scope of work
- Key deliverables and timelines
- Communication rhythm (Slack, Zoom, Email—whatever works best for your team)
This helps us stay aligned and efficient from day one.
Measure What Matters
We’ll track performance using the right tools—Google Analytics, HubSpot, social dashboards, CRM reports and create visual dashboards, so you always know what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus next.
I’m data-driven and outcome-focused. The goal is always growth.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, underwhelmed by results, or just know your business could be doing more with the right marketing direction—fractional support might be the missing piece.
I’ve helped companies:
- Launch new products
- Build demand generation systems
- Refine brand messaging
- Scale without waste
And I can help you too—whether you’re just getting serious about marketing, or ready to take it to the next level.
Call to Action
Let’s talk. If any part of this resonated with you, I’d be happy to jump on a quick call to discuss where you’re at and whether fractional support makes sense.
👉 Contact Me for a Free 30-Minute Strategy Session
Let’s make your marketing work smarter—without the overhead.
