Audit & plan
I get under the skin of your business, customers and current marketing, then build a plan for the next quarter with clear priorities and targets.
Fractional CMO · Fractional marketing director
Fractional CMO & marketing director
You need someone senior to own your marketing, but a full-time CMO doesn’t make sense yet. That’s where I come in: an embedded marketing lead who sets the strategy and does the work, for a set number of days each month.
What it is
What a fractional CMO does
A fractional CMO (or fractional marketing director: same job, different title) is a senior marketer who runs your marketing part-time. You get the thinking of a marketing director and the hands of someone who’ll actually write the copy and ship the campaigns.
In practice, that means:
- Marketing strategy and a go-to-market plan you can actually follow
- Positioning and messaging that makes you easy to choose
- Channel planning across content, email, social, SEO and paid
- Lead magnets, campaigns and launches, planned and delivered
- Managing freelancers, agencies or junior marketers
- Monthly reporting against the numbers that matter
I own your content marketing end-to-end, from developing your go-to-market plan and building lead magnets to writing copy, designing creative and running campaigns. Think of me as your marketing department.
Who it’s for
Is a fractional CMO right for you?
It’s a good fit if:
- You’re a startup or scale-up that needs senior marketing expertise but isn’t ready for a full-time CMO
- The founder is still doing the marketing, and it’s eating into everything else
- You’ve tried agencies, but nobody owns the bigger picture
- You’ve got a marketing junior who needs direction, not just tasks
It’s probably not right if you need someone in the office five days a week, or you only need a one-off piece of work. For that, see copywriting & content.
How it works
How we’ll work together
Build & run
I deliver against the plan each week (strategy, copy, campaigns, content) and manage anyone else involved.
Review & scale
Monthly reporting on what’s working, and we double down on it. Quarterly, we reset the plan.
Driven £27m+ in attributed salesThrough full funnel marketing
Increased inbound leads by 700%In one year through conversion-led web copy
Made £100k in webinar revenueThrough end-to-end event marketing
10 years of full-stack brand expertiseWorking across B2B, B2C, and DTC
Pricing
What does a fractional CMO cost?
Most clients work with me on a monthly retainer, priced by how many days a month you need. It costs a fraction (sorry) of a full-time marketing director, with no recruitment fees, notice periods or pension contributions.
My day rate is £450. After a free 30-minute call, I’ll give you a fixed monthly price so you know exactly what you’re paying.
| Feature | Fractional CMO | Marketing agency | Full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior strategy | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Hands-on delivery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Owns the whole funnel | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| Flexible commitment | Monthly | Usually long contracts | No |
| Recruitment costs | None | None | Yes |
In their words
What clients say
Sam has supported us long-term with email campaigns and general marketing strategy. His email sequences consistently outperform the controls we used before him. Anyone would be lucky to have Sam on their team!
Caroline Ruane
CEO, Naturewatch and World Animal Day
High-quality content! Animal testing and cruelty-free shopping are not easy subjects to write about. Sam somehow manages to convey our messages in a very effective way with a quick turn-around. He’s a joy to work with and I would recommend Sam to anyone needing an outstanding copywriter.
Cristina Popa
Marketing Manager, Compassionate Shopping Guide
More than anything else, Sam’s a good person and someone you can rely on. His biggest current project with me is the SEO development of our website, and it has led to three solid leads within the first two months. That speaks for itself. He’d be a huge asset for your business.
Ryan Percival
Founder, Social with Ryan
What consistently stands out is the exceptional quality of his copywriting and content. His attention to detail is second to none, and he genuinely cares about the quality of his work. I’d highly recommend him to anyone.
Albena Dimitrova
Head of Digital, ADI Network
Sam was an absolute pleasure to work beside. His support in creating a social media strategy was hugely appreciated, and his work on the overall content strategy shaped the success of our social media efforts. Sam's copywriting skills are second to none, and his SEO work was great in increasing traffic and improving conversions. On top of that, he's honest, reliable, hard working and a great laugh. Anyone considering working with Sam certainly won't regret their decision!
Mikki Wright
Social Media Manager, Newmedica
FAQ
Fractional CMO questions
What’s the difference between a fractional CMO and a fractional marketing director?
Mostly the title. Both are senior marketers who lead your marketing part-time. “CMO” tends to be used by startups and tech companies, “marketing director” by more established businesses. Either way, you get the same thing: someone who owns the strategy and delivers it.
What’s the difference between a fractional CMO and a marketing consultant?
A consultant plans and advises, then your team does the work. As your fractional CMO, I own the marketing and deliver it alongside your team. If you want the plan without the delivery, see marketing consulting.
Do you only work with Manchester businesses?
No. I’m based in Manchester and work with businesses across the UK (and further afield) remotely.
How do we get started?
Send me a message using the form below. We’ll have a free 30-minute call, and if it’s a fit, I’ll send over a plan and a fixed monthly price.
Let’s talk.
If your marketing needs a brain and a pair of hands, send me a line. I reply to every genuine message myself - usually within a working day.