Fractional Q+A

Why should our company hire a fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is the ideal choice for a company that will benefit from senior marketing leadership but is not yet ready to make a full-time hire. You get the advantages that come from adding an experienced, strategic marketer to your leadership team – but at lower cost and with greater flexibility.

What does a fractional CMO do?

In a start-up, a fractional CMO operates as a member of your senior team and is responsible for setting direction and then driving execution. He will:

• Develop your marketing plans – both strategic and tactical -- as well as your marketing budget
• Drive the implementation of those plans, operating both as an inspirational leader and as an individual contributor
• Effectively manage both internal and external team members / agencies
• Define KPIs, measure and report on results vs. plan, and tune programs accordingly
• Work closely with sales, product, and customer success teams to ensure close coordination between these different functional groups
• Help you to raise capital to fund your continued growth
• Represent both the company and the marketing function well in interactions with board members, prospective investors, and other external audiences

How does this engagement work?

We begin by working together to define the scope of work. Once we’ve set this, we can translate it into an ongoing weekly time commitment.

From here, you bring Ronin “under the tent.” You add us to email and Slack. You integrate us into essential leadership meetings and connect us with current internal/external team members.  And we work with you to develop your marketing plans (strategies, tactics, KPIs and budgets). We become part of your crew. And we act with the same level of commitment, energy and accountability that we would as full-time hires.

If you need more of our time as your business grows, we can expand your scope. Ronin is flexible and scalable.

We’ll work together for as long as you like. And if in the future you decide to bring in a full-time CMO, we’ll partner with you to make that transition a smooth one.

How much does it cost?

Your cost will vary based on scope. What you’ll find, however, is that this is an efficient arrangement. Our fees are reasonable. And you don’t pay for healthcare, insurance, or any of the many other benefits associated with a full-time hire.

Why Ronin?

With Ronin, you get the expertise of Phil Carpenter, an experienced and energetic CMO. You also get access to Phil’s network. From SEO agencies to PR firms, from VCs and angel investors to graphic designers, Phil has a professional network that is robust and global. He brings his team of marketing mercenaries to work on your behalf to help your business succeed.

In addition to smarts and experience, energy and connections, you also get commitment. Ronin works with a maximum of three companies at a time. This ensures that you get plenty of mindshare from us as we work with you to drive your success.