The rise of the Fractional CMO — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
Emma Westley
immerj

- Part 1 The rise of the Fractional CMO — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
- Part 2Why startups shouldn’t hire full-time — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
Show Notes
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04:24The rise of fractional CMOsA fractional CMO is a part-time CMO who works for multiple companies. While this concept is more popular in the US, it is becoming more popular in the UK, Europe, and Asia.
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06:20Why fractional CMOs are a better option for some brandsThe decision to have a fractional CMO depends on several factors, including the stage of the company. For startups and scale-ups with limited resources, a fractional CMO can provide leadership and strategic vision without the cost of a full-time hire.
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08:33How the role and work of a fractional CMO differs from a full time CMOThe work and role of a fractional CMO are similar to a full-time CMO in terms of setting strategy, managing resources, and helping the team execute. However, fractional CMOs often bring in resources through their networks to assist with various project aspects.
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09:44Managing multiple projects and teams as a fractional CMOFractional CMOs have to switch between different clients and projects constantly, much like working at an agency. Emma finds it challenging to manage more than two clients at a time, so she blends her fractional CMO work with consulting work to avoid cognitive overload.
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12:00Effectively managing multiple marketing partners as a fractional CMOEmma has copious lists in different places like Asana and Notion, to manage her tasks for different companies. Each list is associated with a different brand to help her switch cognitively between the two.
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13:36Differences between being a consultant and a fractional CMOConsultancy work is usually project-based and involves more independent work and control of the project. Being a fractional CMO requires more investment in the company, adjusting to its processes and meeting cadences, and being more accommodating to the company's needs.
Quotes
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"Startups can be a good place to have a fractional CMO, because you don't need someone full time, you can't afford someone full time, and startups could be changing direction." -Emma Westley, Fractional CMO, immerj
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"Fractional CMOs are a cost-effective way for companies to leverage leadership, strategic vision, and management, but not at a full-time cost." -Emma Westley, Fractional CMO, immerj
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"One of the things about fractional CMOs is they usually have good networks. So they can bring in certain resources at different times to help with different parts of the project." -Emma Westley, Fractional CMO, immerj
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"I would equate being a fractional CMO to working at an agency in that you're constantly switching between different clients and projects. The difference is that you feel more invested." -Emma Westley, Fractional CMO, immerj
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"I find it difficult to do any more than two clients or companies. What I tend to do is blend the fractional CMO work with the consulting work so I dont have to cognitively stretch myself too much." -Emma Westley, Fractional CMO, immerj
- Part 1 The rise of the Fractional CMO — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
- Part 2Why startups shouldn’t hire full-time — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
Up Next:
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Part 1The rise of the Fractional CMO — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
Emma Westley, Fractional CMO and Content Strategy Consultant at immerj, talks about why fractional CMO positions seem to be catching on. Startups are often operating on limited resources and can’t usually afford a full-time CMO. This has given rise to the role of fractional CMO where a company can get the expertise of a CMO for a fraction of the cost and adjust the level of support based on their changing needs. Today, Emma discusses the rise of the fractional CMO.
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Part 2Why startups shouldn’t hire full-time — Emma Westley // Fractional CMO & Content Strategy Consultant
Emma Westley, Fractional CMO and Content Strategy Consultant at immerj, talks about why fractional CMO positions seem to be catching on. Startups require a diverse range of skill sets to support changing business needs and to test growth channels when scaling. Hence, it is more beneficial for them to hire consultants and fractionals rather than relying on full-time employees with limited expertise. Today, Emma discusses why startups shouldn't hire full-time.
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