FAQs
Fractional Marketing Director
What is a fractional marketing director?
A fractional marketing director is a part-time head of marketing who owns the plan and drives results. They lead your team and vendors so marketing stops being “everyone’s job” and becomes someone’s job.
What does a fractional marketing director do day-to-day?
They set weekly priorities, run campaigns, review performance, and unblock the team. They also tighten messaging, clean up the funnel, and keep sales and marketing rowing the same direction.
What problems does a fractional marketing director solve?
They fix weak demand, unclear ROI, sales misalignment, and wasted budget. In plain terms, they stop random marketing and start repeatable pipeline.
When should a company hire a fractional marketing director?
Hire one when you’re spending on marketing but pipeline isn’t moving and no one truly owns it. It’s especially useful when you need leadership now, but a full-time hire is too expensive.
How much does a fractional marketing director cost per month?
Most engagements land around $6k–$12k per month, depending on scope and hours. Pricing usually moves with complexity: number of channels, team size, and how messy the funnel is.
Do fractional marketing directors charge hourly or retainer?
Retainers are most common because you’re buying ownership, not a timer. Hourly is usually for audits, short sprints, or one-off projects.
How many hours per week is typical for a fractional marketing director?
Typical range is 5–20 hours per week, depending on what needs fixing. If you want real momentum, 8–10 hours/week is a solid starting point.
Will a fractional marketing director own strategy, execution, or both?
Mostly strategy and the plan: they set direction, priorities, and what “good” looks like. They can jump in to execute or help close deals when needed, especially early on.
Do they manage my in-house marketer(s) or agencies?
Yes, they can lead your team and manage agencies or freelancers. They set expectations, run cadence, and make sure output ties to business goals.
How do you measure the success of a fractional marketing director?
Success looks like better pipeline quality, shorter sales cycles, and lower customer acquisition cost (CAC). Bonus points if reporting becomes clear enough that you stop arguing about what “worked.”
What results should we expect in 90 days?
Expect clear positioning, a focused plan, and early pipeline traction. You should also see fewer “busy” projects and more work that actually moves deals.
What’s the ROI of hiring a fractional marketing director vs full-time?
You get senior leadership at a lower cost, with less hiring risk and faster start. You can also scale hours up or down instead of betting everything on one full-time hire.
Fractional marketing director vs fractional CMO: which one do I need?
A fractional director runs marketing day-to-day and drives the plan into execution. A fractional CMO owns higher-level GTM strategy and exec alignment, and may be less hands-on.
Fractional marketing director vs marketing agency: what should we hire first?
Hire the leader first because someone needs to choose the plan and set priorities. Agencies run tactics; a director decides what matters and makes sure it pays off.
Fractional marketing director vs marketing consultant: what’s the difference?
A consultant gives advice; a fractional marketing director owns the outcome. They make the calls, run the time, and get the work delivered.