What Is A Virtual CMO? 8 Benefits Of Hiring A VCMO

What Is A Virtual CMO? 8 Benefits Of Hiring A VCMO

Hiring a virtual CMO allows you to expand your search for the perfect candidate beyond your direct area and transform your business’s marketing team without the commitment of a full-time executive. In today’s competitive marketing world, virtual CMO services are becoming increasingly imperative for substantial business growth. If you are looking for additional marketing leadership that does not need to be in the office, a VCMO can be a great solution. VCMOs can seamlessly integrate themselves into your existing team on a flexible basis.  Find a vetted, experienced virtual fractional CMO when you partner with Authentic®.  What Is A Virtual…
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The Importance of Employer Branding: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent

The Importance of Employer Branding: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent

In an era where the quest for top talent has become more challenging than ever, businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of employer branding as a strategic tool for attracting and retaining the best employees. With insights from a webinar featuring experts in the field, we’ll delve into the core aspects of employer branding and how organizations can leverage it to stand out in a competitive job market. Understanding Employer Branding Crafting Your Competitive Edge: The Power of Employer Branding The post-pandemic world has seen a significant shift in the job market, with industries grappling with recruitment and staffing challenges.…
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What Is An Outsourced CMO? What Does An Outsourced CMO Do?

What Is An Outsourced CMO? What Does An Outsourced CMO Do?

Sometimes hiring a full-time marketing executive isn’t the right move for your business, and an outsourced CMO may be a better option. Keep reading to find answers to questions such as “What does an outsourced CMO do?” and “How can you hire one?” A chief marketing officer (CMO) leads a company’s marketing department. Large businesses usually have an in-house CMO, but smaller businesses may not need a full-time CMO or have a budget that supports a full-time hire. An outsourced chief marketing officer may be a better fit for these companies. Learn more about CMO outsourcing to determine if it’s…
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5 Lessons in Building Community, a Brand, and Entrepreneurship

5 Lessons in Building Community, a Brand, and Entrepreneurship

One of the core tenets of Authentic’s company vision is that we believe when executive marketers are supported by a diverse community of like-minded peers, who share common values, experiences, and resources, they become more impactful leaders. Building this type of community requires a lot of collaboration and support along the way.  Finding those who share in the vision of community, conversation, and connection is so incredibly special and important in living a purpose-driven life. Authentic’s founder & CEO, Jennifer Zick, was recently invited to speak at Purpose Driven Coffee, an event for these like-minded people who seek significance, meaning,…
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4 fractional CMO models: Which is best for you?

4 fractional CMO models: Which is best for you?

A fractional CMO is a contract Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), retained on a part-time basis to provide executive marketing leadership for a growing business. A fractional CMO is a great solution for organizations that need experienced, strategic marketing guidance, but aren’t yet ready to fund a full-time CMO hire.  Demand for fractional CMO leadership is growing quickly, and several models of fractional CMO services are emerging: some offering short-term or interim leadership, and others — like Authentic — providing longer-term leadership and integration of every aspect of an organization’s marketing team and program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfdcUbmiliI The concept of fractional leadership isn’t new.…
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AI Readiness Part 3: Is AI Technology Ready for Your Commercial Use?

AI Readiness Part 3: Is AI Technology Ready for Your Commercial Use?

Assessing your business' readiness to use AI If you have been following this series, you may recall from the first blog that there are two critical principles to understand as you consider AI applications in your business: AI technology is NOT a business strategy nor is it a technology strategy. It’s a tool. Commercial AI technology readiness is different from your business’ readiness to deploy AI.  You may think you are already late to the AI adoption game or that 71% of businesses are using AI today. However, it’s important to assess your business’ readiness to use AI instead of…
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How Authentic® matches our fractional CMOs to our clients

How Authentic® matches our fractional CMOs to our clients

Overcoming the marketing leadership conundrum Filling marketing leadership roles is tough. With marketing encompassing so many micro disciplines, like digital, product, and communications, it’s difficult for entrepreneurial companies to know which type of marketer they need to drive growth in their business.  For companies not ready to commit to a full-time hire, the landscape of fractional CMOs and independent consultants adds another layer of complexity. Many solo practitioners and agencies coin themselves “fractional CMOs” without the executive experience to back it up. This makes identifying the right marketer even more challenging for business leaders and risks undermining a fractional CMO’s…
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Retaining Your Right-Fit Fractional CMO

Retaining Your Right-Fit Fractional CMO

Understanding Our Retainer Structure: Tailored Solutions for Your Marketing Needs At Authentic®, we specialize in providing Fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with annual revenues ranging from $5 million to $100 million. Our CMOs are seasoned marketing executives who serve as the contract, part-time heads of marketing for our clients across diverse industries and business models. To help you understand how our retainer structure works and how we determine the best fit for your organization, let's delve into the details. Proactive and Structured Retainers Our engagement with clients is based on a monthly flat-rate retainer.…
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AI Readiness Part 2: Is Your Business Ready?

AI Readiness Part 2: Is Your Business Ready?

Assessing your business' readiness to embrace AI If you have been following this series, you may recall from the introductory article that there are two critical rules to understand as you consider AI applications in your business: AI technology is NOT a business strategy nor is it a technology strategy. It’s a tool. Commercial AI technology readiness is different from your business’ readiness to deploy AI.  Let’s talk about the initial gates you’ll need to move through for a successful AI deployment. There are three major challenges relating to readying your business for a successful AI tool adoption. (more…)
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AI Readiness Part 1: Yellow Blinking Lights Ahead

AI Readiness Part 1: Yellow Blinking Lights Ahead

Prepare for a speed check Where is your business with AI readiness today? If you believe every AI headline you read, you may be tempted to believe that your business is already way behind in the race for innovation. But before you hit the gas and start green-lighting AI across your organization, I suggest you yield to some common sense and long-standing business best practices.  (more…)
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