Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by marketing’s ever-growing demands? You’re not alone. Many small business owners struggle to justify the high cost of a full-time marketing team yet recognize the critical role marketing plays in achieving their growth goals.

This is where the concept of a fractional marketing team comes in. Let’s dive deep and explore how a fractional marketing team can be the missing piece in your growth puzzle.

Are you ready to fulfill the same objective of hiring a high-performing, results-driven fractional marketing team to supercharge your business growth? If so, Pipeline Velocity can help!

What Is Fractional Marketing?

Fractional marketing refers to the strategic engagement of marketing professionals on a part-time, project-based, or retainer basis. Think of it as having access to a team of highly skilled marketing experts without the hefty price tag of a full-time in-house department.

What Is A Fractional Marketing Team?

A fractional marketing department is a virtual team of experienced marketing professionals who work with you to develop and execute your marketing strategy. Depending on your specific needs, this team can include fractional CMOs, marketing directors, content creators, social media specialists, campaign managers, SEO specialists, and other marketing experts.

Imagine having access to seasoned marketing expertise without the hefty price tag of a full-time CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) and marketing headcounts. A fractional marketing team provides precisely that. It’s a team of experienced marketing professionals who work with you part-time, on a retainer basis, or for a specific project.

How does Pipeline Velocity help you scale economically?

Pipeline Velocity is a leading provider of fractional marketing solutions specifically designed for small and mid-sized businesses, start-ups, and bootstrapped businesses. We understand your unique challenges and budget constraints.  Our team of seasoned marketing professionals works closely with you to:

• Develop a customized marketing strategy: We take the time to understand your business goals, target audience, and competitive landscape. Based on this information, we develop a data-driven marketing strategy aligning with your business objectives.

• Implement and execute your marketing plan: Our team has the expertise to implement various marketing tactics, including content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, SEO, and paid advertising.

• Track and measure results: We believe in data-driven decision-making. We track the performance of your marketing campaigns and provide you with regular reports so you can see what’s working and what’s not.

• Provide ongoing support and guidance: We are here to be your trusted marketing partner. We are always available to answer your questions and guide you throughout the marketing process.

By partnering with Pipeline Velocity, you gain access to the expertise you need to achieve your marketing goals without the high cost of hiring a full-time marketing team.

Book a free founder’s call with Pipeline Velocity to build and execute your Go-to-Market Strategy.

How Marketing Has Changed Over the Years and Decades?

Marketing has undergone a fascinating journey, evolving from its humble beginnings to the complex, data-driven field it is today. For centuries, the focus was on shouting your message from the rooftops, literally in some cases! Town criers and printed flyers dominated the marketing landscape. The invention of mass media like radio and television revolutionized how businesses reached customers, allowing for broader reach and more creative storytelling. However, the one-way communication style limited interaction and engagement.

The arrival of the digital age ushered in a new era of marketing. The rise of the internet and social media fundamentally changed the game. Marketers gained the ability to target specific audiences with laser precision, fostering a two-way conversation with customers. But with great power comes great complexity. The digital landscape constantly evolves, demanding constant adaptation and a deep understanding of new technologies and consumer behaviors.

Small businesses must adapt and embrace new strategies to thrive in today’s environment. This often means assembling a team with the expertise to navigate the ever-shifting digital landscape, craft effective marketing campaigns that resonate with their target audience, and deliver measurable results.

Why Do Specialized Fractional Teams Have a Higher Probability of Winning?

Traditionally, small businesses build their marketing departments in-house, often starting with a marketing manager or generalist. While this approach can work, it comes with limitations. Building an in-house team requires significant time and financial investment, including:

• Recruitment and Training Costs: Finding and onboarding qualified marketing talent can be expensive and time-consuming. You must invest in recruitment fees, training programs, and benefits.
• Lack of Specialized Expertise: In-house teams often lack the specialized skillsets required for a comprehensive marketing strategy. You might have a social media expert but struggle with content marketing or SEO.
• Limited Bandwidth: In-house teams can become siloed, focusing on their tasks instead of a cohesive strategy. Managers might be overloaded, leading to missed opportunities.

Fractional marketing teams address these limitations by offering:

• Access to a Network of Experts: Fractional marketing firms have a pool of experienced professionals with diverse skill sets. You can tap into specialists in content marketing, SEO, social media, email marketing, and more.
• Scalability and Flexibility: You can scale your marketing efforts up or down as needed. Hire a fractional CMO for strategic guidance or a fractional marketing manager for day-to-day execution.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for the expertise you need, eliminating the overhead costs of a full-time team.

Here’s an example: Imagine you need to revamp your content marketing strategy. With a fractional marketing team, you can hire a fractional content marketing director to audit your existing content, develop a new strategy, and manage freelance writer resources. This targeted approach delivers results without breaking the bank.

Grow Faster, Spend Smarter: How Fractional Marketing Teams Supercharge Results

So, how exactly can a fractional marketing team help your business achieve explosive growth? Here are some key benefits:

• Faster Time to Market: Fractional teams hit the ground running with their existing expertise. They can quickly assess your needs, develop plans, and execute strategies.
• Data-Driven Marketing: Fractional teams leverage data analytics to measure campaign performance and optimize strategies for better results.
• Strategic Alignment: Fractional marketing leaders bring a strategic perspective, ensuring your marketing efforts are aligned with your overall business goals.
• Improved Marketing ROI: The targeted expertise and cost-effectiveness of fractional teams lead to a better return on your marketing investment (ROI).

When do you Need a Fractional Marketing Team?

Running a business is a juggling act. You wear many hats, from product development or providing services to sales and customer service. But as your business grows, marketing becomes increasingly crucial. Here are some signs you might need a fractional marketing team:

• Limited marketing expertise: You understand the importance of marketing but lack the in-house expertise to execute a successful strategy.
• Strapped budget: Hiring a full-time marketing director or CMO might be out of reach financially.
• Need for specific marketing skills: You require specialized skills like content marketing, SEO, or social media management but don’t need them full-time.
• Scaling your marketing efforts: Your business is experiencing growth, and your existing marketing tactics must be scaled up strategically.
• Lack of time: You simply don’t have the time to manage a full marketing team or oversee complex marketing campaigns.

How do you hire the right fractional marketing team?

Hiring the right fractional marketing team can significantly boost your business growth. Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigate the process:

1. Define Your Marketing Needs:

• Identify your marketing goals: What do you want to achieve? Brand awareness, lead generation, increased sales, or website traffic?
• Target audience: Who are you trying to reach? Understanding your ideal customer profile is key.
• Marketing budget: Determine how much you’re comfortable investing in fractional marketing services.

2. Research Fractional Marketing Providers:

• Industry expertise: Look for teams with experience in your specific industry.
• Services offered: Ensure they offer end-to-end marketing services you need (e.g., website management, PPC, email marketing, content creation, social media management, SEO).
• Client testimonials: Read reviews and case studies to understand their past successes.
• Pricing structure: Transparent pricing models are essential. Avoid hourly rates and switch to project-based fees or monthly retainers.

3. Conduct Interviews and Ask the Right Questions:

• Experience: Inquire about their experience with similar businesses and their track record of success.
• Process: Understand their approach to developing and implementing marketing strategies.
• Communication style: Ensure alignment on communication frequency and preferred methods.
• Reporting: Discuss how they will track progress and report on campaign performance.

4.  Select the Best Fractional Marketing Team for You:

• Go with your gut: Choose a team you feel comfortable collaborating with beyond qualifications.

Acting as an Extension of Your Marketing Team

A good fractional marketing team functions as an extension of your internal team. They bring expertise, strategic thinking, and a fresh perspective to your marketing efforts. Here’s what you can expect:

• Customized go-to-market strategy: A plan tailored to your unique business goals and target audience.
• Execution and management: They handle the day-to-day execution of your marketing campaigns.
• Performance tracking and reporting: Regular updates on campaign performance and ROI.
• Scalability: They can scale your marketing efforts up or down as your business needs evolve.
• Cost-effectiveness: Fractional teams offer a more cost-effective solution than hiring full-time employees.

Build vs. Buy: Why Fractional Teams Outperform Internal Marketing Departments

Building an in-house marketing team can be expensive and time-consuming. Here’s why fractional teams often outperform internal departments:

• Cost-efficiency: You only pay for the expertise you need, eliminating overhead costs associated with full-time employees.
• Access to a broader skillset: Fractional marketing teams typically consist of experienced professionals with diverse skill sets.
• Scalability: Easily adjust your marketing team size and expertise based on your business needs.
• Faster ROI: Get up and running quickly with a team with the necessary knowledge and experience.
• Objectivity: You gain an outside perspective on your marketing efforts, leading to more effective strategies.

The True Cost of Hiring a Modern-Day Marketing Team

Building a high-performing marketing team is no easy feat. It requires a significant investment in time, resources, and talent acquisition. Here’s a breakdown of some key costs to consider:

1. Recruitment Fees: Finding qualified marketing professionals can be expensive, with agencies often charging fees exceeding 20% of a candidate’s annual salary.
2. Salaries and Benefits: According to Indeed, the average annual salary for a marketing director in the US is $128,500. Add benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off; you’re looking at a significant investment per team member. Competitive salaries, bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package are essential to attract and retain top talent.
3. Office Space and Equipment: Providing a dedicated workspace with the necessary tools and technology adds to the overhead cost.
4. Training and Development: Ongoing training is crucial for keeping your team’s skillsets sharp and adapting to evolving marketing trends.
5. Management Overhead: Effective team management requires time and resources, potentially requiring a dedicated marketing manager.
6. Hidden Costs: These are less obvious but equally impactful:
7. Time to Productivity: New hires have a learning curve that can take months to reach full productivity.
8. Cultural Fit: A bad hiring decision can disrupt team dynamics and significantly impact morale.

Example: Calculating the Cost of a Full-Time Marketing Team

Consider a basic marketing team with a Marketing Director, PPC Specialist, SEO manager, email marketing, and Social Media Specialist. Building a well-rounded marketing team requires a diverse skill set. Here’s a breakdown of the average annual costs (including salary and benefits)  associated with a basic marketing team:

• Marketing Director: $120,000 – $180,000
• PPC Specialist: $70,000 – $100,000
• SEO Manager: $75,000 – $120,000
• Email Marketing Specialist: $50,000 – $80,000
• Social Media Specialist: $45,000 – $70,000
• Website & Landing Page Building and Optimizing: $50,000 – $90,000

Total Estimated Cost:  $410,000+ – $640,000+

Consider Hidden Costs:

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Additional costs include:

• Benefits: Healthcare, retirement plans, etc. (add 20-30% to base salary)
• Office Space: Rent, utilities, furniture, etc.
• Software and Tools: Subscriptions to marketing automation platforms, project management tools, etc.

The True Cost of the Wrong Marketing Hire

Making a mistake in your marketing team can be incredibly costly. Not only will you have wasted time and resources, but you may also miss crucial marketing opportunities. Hiring the wrong person for a marketing role can be even more detrimental. Here’s what you risk:

• Wasted Time and Money: Training an underqualified candidate or dealing with a bad fit leads to wasted resources and delays in achieving your marketing goals.
• Low ROI: Ineffective marketing campaigns can damage your brand reputation and fail to generate leads or sales.
• Employee Turnover: A negative hiring experience can affect company morale and lead to high turnover within your marketing team.

Drawbacks of a Traditional In-House Marketing Team

While an in-house team offers direct control, consider these downsides for small businesses:

• High Cost: As discussed earlier, the financial burden can be significant.
• Limited Expertise: Finding a single team member with expertise in all marketing disciplines is challenging.
• Scalability Issues: Scaling a team up or down can be difficult based on project needs.
• Underutilized Talent: Smaller businesses might not have enough ongoing marketing work to keep a full-time team fully engaged.
• Budgetary Constraints: Small businesses often lack the budget to hire all the marketing specialists they need for a well-rounded team.

Drawbacks of Fractional Marketing

While fractional marketing offers significant cost savings, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:

• Finding the Right Fit: It can take time to identify a fractional marketing team or individual with the right skillset and experience for your specific needs.
• Integration and Communication: Ensuring seamless integration with your existing team and maintaining clear communication with fractional team members requires effort.
• Long-Term Vision: Fractional marketing is typically project-based or based on a set timeframe. Long-term strategic planning might require additional effort.

True Benefits of Hiring a Fractional Marketing Team

There are numerous benefits to hiring a fractional marketing team for your SMB. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Cost-Effectiveness: This is perhaps the biggest advantage. Fractional marketing allows you to access high-level marketing expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time marketing leader. You only pay for the time and services you need, making it a highly scalable solution.
• Strategic Expertise: Fractional marketing teams comprise seasoned professionals with experience developing and executing successful marketing campaigns. They can bring a wealth of knowledge and strategic thinking to your business, helping you achieve your marketing goals faster.
• Flexibility and Scalability: Your marketing needs can evolve. A fractional marketing team allows you to adjust your marketing efforts based on your needs and budget. You can increase or decrease the level of service you receive as your business grows.
• Faster Time to Market: Fractional marketing teams can quickly assess your situation and develop a marketing plan tailored to your industry and target audience. This lets you get your marketing campaigns up and running faster, leading to quicker results.
• Focus on Your Core Business: By outsourcing your marketing to a fractional team, you can free up your time and resources to focus on what you do best—running your core business.
• Access to Diverse Expertise: Fractional marketing teams often have specialists in various marketing disciplines. This allows you to access a broader range of expertise than you might be able to afford with a full-time in-house team.

Execute your Go-to-market strategy in 60 days with Pipeline Velocity

Pipeline Velocity is a leading provider of fractional marketing services specifically designed for SMBs. We understand small businesses’ unique challenges and are committed to helping you achieve your growth objectives without breaking the bank.

Our team of experienced marketing professionals has a proven track record of success in various industries. We offer a comprehensive suite of fractional marketing services, including:

• Marketing Strategy Development: We’ll help you develop a data-driven marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals and target audience.
• PPC Campaign Management: We build economically scalable campaigns that result in lower leads and customer acquisition costs and a higher ROI
• Content Marketing: We can create high-quality, engaging content that attracts, educates, and converts leads.
• Social Media Marketing: We’ll help you develop and execute a social media strategy that reaches your target audience and builds brand awareness.
• Marketing Automation: We can help you leverage marketing automation tools to streamline your marketing efforts and improve ROI.
• Email Marketing: We’ll create and execute targeted email campaigns that nurture leads and drive sales.
• Marketing Analytics and Reporting: We’ll provide the data and insights you need to track your marketing performance and make informed decisions.

By partnering with Pipeline Velocity, you can:

• Free Up Your Time: Focus on what you do best – running your business – and leave the marketing to us.
• Reduce Costs: Eliminate the overhead costs associated with a full-time marketing team.
• Improve Your Marketing ROI: Get better results from your marketing efforts without spending more money.
• Gain a Competitive Advantage: Stay ahead of the curve with the latest marketing trends and strategies.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Contact Pipeline Velocity today.

People also Ask

What is the difference between fractional marketing and a marketing agency?

Think of it like this:

Fractional marketing is like hiring a part-time marketing consultant. You get expertise on a specific area or leadership from a seasoned professional but for a set amount of time per week or month.

A marketing agency is like hiring a whole marketing team. They offer a wider range of services, but it can be a full-time commitment with a bigger price tag.

How much does fractional marketing typically cost?

Fractional marketing is generally cheaper than a full-service agency. Costs can vary depending on the professional’s experience and the hours you need. Typically, it can range from three thousand to twenty thousand dollars monthly.

What is included in fractional marketing services?

This can vary depending on the professional or firm you hire, but some common services include:

• Strategic planning: Developing a marketing roadmap aligned with your business goals.
• Campaign execution: Overseeing or managing specific marketing campaigns (e.g., social media, content marketing).
• Marketing leadership: Providing guidance and direction to your internal marketing team.
• Analysis and reporting: Tracking results and making recommendations for improvement.

Which is the best fractional marketing agency?

There isn’t a single “best” fractional marketing agency since it depends on your specific needs. Look for someone with experience in your industry and a good understanding of your target audience. Pipeline Velocity is industry-agnostic and an ROI-driven, highly-accountable agency.