Marketing budgets for growing businesses: How to think about investing in leadership and execution

Marketing budgets for growing businesses: How to think about investing in leadership and execution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZOfHUzAeGk Video Transcription Great question about how you should think about the activation budget to do the things that marketing will require? In our scopes of work, we can only propose and price the services we directly provide, which are for fractional CMO services. As a management consulting firm, however, all of our clients do need activation and their budgets are as diverse as the clients that we serve.  A good rule of thumb for the businesses we work with, who of course, as I explained, are generally between five and 100 million in annual revenue. For those organizations. The…
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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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Augurian: Client Story

Augurian: Client Story

Digital marketing agency Augurian engaged Authentic to develop a targeted marketing strategy for the upcoming year.  “[Our Authentic Fractional CMO] helped us get what we intuitively might have understood or had in the back of our minds onto paper in a more organized way.” Josh Becerra, co-Founder & CEO, Augurian https://youtu.be/4uahV_2PlZA Augurian at a glance Company size: 28 employeesBusiness type: Digital marketing agencyCategory: B2BHeadquarters: Minneapolis, MNKey initiatives: Marketing strategy, marketing roadmap, ideal customer profile, content marketing, messaging & differentiation The challenge Augurian, a digital marketing agency based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was faced with a common challenge that many other marketing…
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AI Readiness: How to Assess If Your Business Is AI Ready

AI Readiness: How to Assess If Your Business Is AI Ready

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, and is already changing the business landscape. Leaders must be prepared to address how and where AI and machine learning can - and more importantly, should - transform essential business processes, roles, and experiences.  This guide aims to equip business leaders with practical steps they can take to become AI-ready and how to implement this technology into their organizations effectively and strategically.  Chapter One: 6 steps your business should take toward AI readiness Prepare for a speed check Where is your business with artificial intelligence (AI) readiness today? If you believe every AI…
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Growing Through a Hold Period with M&A with Renee Ernste

Growing Through a Hold Period with M&A with Renee Ernste

As the CEO of Orange Tree Employment Screening, Renee Ernste brings a passion for client care and teamwork to the business, values that have been the foundation of every decision in her 16-year tenure with Orange Tree. Renee joined Orange Tree as their VP of Customer Care and earned the role of President before becoming CEO in 2018. Orange Tree was sold to Tonka Bay Equity Partners in January 2021. After doubling the company's revenue through organic growth initiatives, technology innovation, and acquiring three businesses, the company sold to a strategic buyer in May 2024. Renee and Mark sat down…
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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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Part Time CMO, Full Marketing Accountability

Part Time CMO, Full Marketing Accountability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BftIq1uQtk Video Transcription Your growing business needs experienced marketing leadership but the last thing you need is an outside strategist providing you with more ideas and leaving you and your team to figure out how to execute those and achieve results.  I'm Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic®. Our community of fractional CMOs helps growing businesses to Overcome Random Acts of Marketing® and confidently take the next right step to build revenue. We do this as dedicated, retained CMOs and as a member of your executive team while our CMOs work on a part-time flexible basis. They assume full…
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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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Marketing ROI: The Six Stages of Data

Marketing ROI: The Six Stages of Data

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD592A4lzSI Video Transcription There's not a CEO, Founder, Owner, Investor, or CFO that does not want to understand the return on investment for marketing. But getting to marketing ROI is not just a light switch exercise. I can't tell you how many times executives have said to me  “Listen, I have an unlimited marketing budget so long as you can tell me for every dollar we put into the marketing plan, how many dollars come out the other side of that engine and how fast.”  Wouldn't that be nice to know? What these executives are really asking for is predictive…
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How much does a fractional CMO cost? 

How much does a fractional CMO cost? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv2rVT0pO0Q Video Transcription How much does a fractional CMO cost? It's a question being asked by more growing businesses than ever as organizations explore ways to bring senior level leadership to the helm sooner and more cost effectively.  Hi, I'm Jennifer Zick, founder and CEO of Authentic®. We are a community of fractional CMOs that work with growing businesses to help them Overcome Random Acts of Marketing® and confidently take the next right step toward healthy growth.  There's an obvious value proposition in working with a fractional leader. You get the wisdom of an experienced executive at a fraction of…
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