Questions, answered plainly
What exactly is a fractional CMO?+
A fractional CMO is an experienced marketing leader who works with your business part-time, owning your strategy, plan, budget and agencies, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. You get senior judgement and accountability without the salary, recruitment risk or long-term commitment.
How is this different from hiring an agency?+
An agency executes campaigns. We provide marketing leadership: strategy, prioritisation, accountability and coordination, including managing your agencies and freelancers so their work actually ties to your goals. Where execution is needed, we either do it or coordinate the right people.
Do I need to commit long-term?+
No. Engagements are month-to-month after an initial period (typically three months), so you can scale support up or down as your needs change. We'd rather earn the next month than lock you in.
Is the Marketing Check-Up really free?+
Yes. The online Marketing Check-Up is free and yours to keep, including your maturity score, priorities and a recommended level of support. The Growth Assessment & 90-Day Plan, which Steve reviews before you see it, is the optional paid step.
How do you decide what to recommend?+
Your answers are scored against a framework built by an experienced marketer, using your goals, stage, budget and context, so the free Check-Up is never a generic auto-generated answer. On the paid Growth Assessment, Steve also reviews your answers and your website personally before the report is published.
What does an engagement cost?+
Our ongoing engagements come in three levels: a Fractional Marketing Advisor for senior monthly guidance, a Fractional CMO for active marketing leadership that owns strategy, budget and agencies, and Fractional CMO Plus for leadership plus hands-on execution. Fixed-scope projects and systems are quoted separately. Advisory rates are on our pricing page (AUD, GST included); the two Fractional CMO levels are scoped and quoted after a short consultation.
Can you work with our existing team and agencies?+
Yes, that's often the point. We lead and coordinate your people, freelancers and agencies so everyone is pulling in the same direction, and we hold them accountable to results.
Do you use technology, automation and AI?+
Where it genuinely makes your marketing faster or more effective (reporting, CRM, follow-up and reducing manual admin), yes, with human oversight. But tools never replace strategy, commercial judgement or accountability. They support the work; they aren't the service.
How quickly will we see results?+
Clarity and momentum come quickly, usually within the first few weeks as priorities sharpen and follow-up tightens. Compounding results from strategy, lead generation and retention typically build over a quarter or two. We set realistic expectations up front.
Are prices in AUD and do they include GST?+
Prices are shown in AUD with GST included, so the number you see is the number you pay. You will receive a GST-compliant tax invoice for every payment.
See where your next growth will come from
Take the free Marketing Check-Up: your marketing scored across ten areas, one opportunity identified, and one recommended next step. About ten minutes, no obligation.