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Tested, trusted, true executive marketing leadership for growing businesses.
Authentic® is a national fractional CMO firm, serving clients across the United States and beyond.
Our unique approach combines Marketers + Methodology + Mindshare to help growing businesses Overcome Random Acts of Marketing® and increase maturity, growth, and transferrable value.
Our fractional CMO services focus on bringing experienced marketing leadership to growing businesses to build strong, strategic, sales-aligned marketing teams and programs.
A fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is a professional who offers extensive marketing expertise to companies on a part-time, interim, or project basis. This model allows businesses, especially small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, to leverage the strategic insights and leadership of a seasoned marketing executive without the full-time expense or commitment associated with a traditional CMO role.
A seasoned fractional CMO will be adept at crafting marketing strategies, building marketing teams, and implementing processes to drive growth and increase brand visibility. They offer a cost-effective solution for organizations seeking executive-level marketing guidance to achieve their business objectives while managing budget constraints effectively.
When business leaders contact Authentic, they are often trying to decide between making a full-time hire or bringing on a fractional CMO on a contract basis. They also want to know the differences between independent consultants, agencies, interim CMOs and fractional CMOs. Finally, they want to understand the value of a fractional CMO compared to other options.
The video below explains more about the role of an Authentic Fractional CMO™ and how we help our clients build strong, sales-aligned, sustainable marketing teams and programs.
Our CMO match process can get you up and running with a marketing leader in days – not months.
Our first priority is to understand your business model, goals, and culture - and assess your marketing needs.
A simple intake survey and a meeting with our team helps to ensure alignment for the right-fit CMO match.
Ready to meet? Contact us.
We curate your right-fit CMO match based on business model fit, relevant industry experience, culture alignment, and capacity to support your goals.
Your key stakeholders will meet with your matched CMO to ensure you feel confident in the fit.
Time: 2-5 business days after you give us the green light!
Your right-fit CMO was matched based on real-time availability, so in most cases, we are able to begin work within days of a signed contract.
We leverage our proven process to efficiently onboard and quickly deliver value.
Time: 3-10 business days from receipt of contractThere are a lot of ways for your businesses to access marketing talent. You could hire a full-time leader. You could contract with an independent consultant. You could engage a recruiter or staff augmentation firm, or hire an interim CMO to fill the role during a period of transition. Or you could work with a partner that specializes in Fractional CMO services – like Authentic.
No matter which path you choose, it’s important to understand the differences so you can determine which path aligns best to your goals.
At Authentic, we help our clients build strong marketing teams and programs through our unique model which is powered by three key elements: Marketers + Methodology + Mindshare.
Marketers + Methodology + Mindshare
There’s a point in a company growth cycle when businesses recognize that they need to invest in marketing for continued growth. Often these companies have been sales-driven until they realize they need a marketing leader dedicated to building brand awareness and driving meaningful engagement to support business objectives. They often choose between hiring a full-time leader, a fractional CMO, or a marketing agency.
Clients have learned that they get more than a solo independent consultant when they hire an Authentic Fractional CMO. They get the collective expertise of senior-level marketers with diverse experience across a variety of business models and industries. We call the power of this community our mindshare, and it’s part of everything we do.
Authentic Growth™ Methodology is Authentic’s proven and proprietary marketing operating system that helps small and mid-sized, growth-focused businesses build strategic marketing departments and create alignment between sales and marketing. It’s a habit-forming system that teaches a simple, but powerful, set of components that drive alignment, accountability, and activation.
When determining whether to hire a fractional CMO to help lead your marketing team, a key inquiry often revolves around the cost involved. The investment required for fractional CMO services varies, influenced by differing models of engagement, levels of expertise, and pricing frameworks.
Understanding the cost of fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services is crucial for businesses considering this option. Here’s a consolidated overview, including key points to consider:
Diverse Models and Value Assessments
Fractional CMO services vary in model and focus, impacting their cost and the value they provide.
Speed of Impact and Reduced Risk
Cost of Inexperience
The cost of a fractional CMO can vary widely based on the engagement model, with options ranging from strategic, high-level guidance to deeply involved, strategic leadership.
While costs may be higher for more dedicated services, the value in terms of quick impact, reduced risk, and strategic alignment can justify the investment. Moreover, the potential cost of not having experienced marketing leadership can far outweigh the expense of hiring a fractional CMO.
As more companies look to include fractional CMOs into their comprehensive marketing strategy, it is important to understand the different service models that have developed in the industry. A good fractional CMO will have a proven track record and possess specific industry knowledge to work with your leadership team and marketing department to successfully achieve your marketing goals. Here is a brief overview of the different types of fractional CMO services:
Authentic is a specialized fractional CMO company focused on assisting growing businesses in navigating marketing challenges.
Our team, composed of W-2 employees across the U.S., is dedicated to preventing random acts of marketing through a blend of experienced marketers, effective methodology, and collaborative mindshare.
Our fractional CMOs, seasoned in various industries, work closely with client leadership teams to ensure marketing strategies are closely aligned with business goals, overseeing resources, budgets, and hiring. Our Authentic™ Growth Methodology instills business discipline through a proven marketing process that emphasizes alignment, accountability, and activation. Our Authentic Mindshare™ fosters a community where CMOs share insights and solve client problems, supported by a network of experts. This comprehensive approach is designed to accelerate client progress by building strategic, sales-aligned marketing teams and programs.
Considering the vast landscape of opportunities, we invite businesses contemplating the integration of a fractional CMO into their executive team to explore if an Authentic Fractional CMO could be the solution they need.
Authentic has consulted with numerous businesses to help them determine their best path forward for marketing. In today’s complex marketing landscape, the options feel endless:
Understanding the different models available, and how fractional CMOs work, is a good starting point to determine the attributes and experience your business needs to ensure the proper execution of your marketing strategy.
Fractional CMO services are highly effective for creating a quick impact with low risk for many businesses. However, not all companies have reached the point when it makes sense to hire a fractional CMO. Please reach out if you’d like to discuss your marketing options and learn whether an Authentic Fractional CMO might be what you need to scale your business to its next level.
When considering hiring a fractional CMO, it’s crucial to be wary of the widespread issue of professionals labeling themselves as such without genuine executive experience. The rise of the fractional CMO has led to a “Wild West” situation, with individuals from various marketing backgrounds (designers, SEO specialists, agency marketers) claiming the title without having been part of a leadership team or having responsibility for profit and loss. These are not the types of professionals who can guide your marketing strategy and perform to the level of a true chief marketing officer.
Authentic highlights the importance of discerning true executive talent amidst a market filled with those who may have only superficial qualifications, such as costly certification courses from organizations lacking in executive marketing experience themselves.
For small businesses and founders looking to invest in strategic marketing for growth, selecting a fractional CMO without the necessary skills for holistic business support can result in stalled growth, wasted resources, and potential damage to the brand’s reputation.
Authentic emphasizes the need for careful consideration of a candidate’s background. Our Fractional CMOs are selected because they are proven, holistic marketing executives with a track record of building, mentoring, managing teams, and executing a go-to-market strategy to foster sustainable growth.
We’re here to help you take the next right step. Fill out this simple form, and an Authentic representative will be in touch soon.
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