The benefits of a fractional approach
I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard the term ‘fractional’ until I was on a call with someone trying to explain what my offering was as a freelance consultant. “Oh, so you’re a Fractional Marketing Director then?” Er… yes (she says while googling the term!).
My research then led me to realise that it perfectly sums up what I offer. The main difference between a Fractional CMO/Marketing Director and a traditional consultant is that I not only consult and create strategy and plans, but I implement them too. Rather than working on full-time fixed-term contracts, I serve a few clients simultaneously, billing by the hour for the time dedicated to your business – typically a fraction of a full workweek.
Fractional roles appear to be growing too and not just within Marketing, you can now find Fractional CEOs, CFOs and HR Directors. So why the rise in popularity? Here’s some of the key reasons more companies are turning to Fractional consultants.
Flexibility: Scale up and down the time used to suit you. As you aren’t committed to a full-time contract you can increase/decrease the number of hours your fractional consultant works for you to suit your peaks and troughs.
Cost-effectiveness: You can incorporate senior-level expertise into your business without a full-time commitment. Let’s face it, heads are expensive and at senior level there’s usually an associated benefits package. By using a fractional consultant you pay a simple day rate. No extras.
Access to expertise: As ex-board members and experienced in our field, we know what we are doing. We can integrate into your existing leadership and marketing team and hit the ground running. I collaborate with trusted agency partners who excel in various marketing functions such as web design, google ads, social media management and events to deliver all aspects of a marketing function
A fresh perspective: Exposure to various industries, challenges, and teams provides us with diverse insights that can be applied to other businesses. As we are external to the organisation, we can view things differently and assess situations objectively.
You stay in control: Got a project that you need help with? Increase the hours. Going through a tough time? Wind it down. Not happy with the service? End the contract. With no long-term commitment you are fully in control.
Strategic thinking: You may need high-level strategic expertise but not on a daily basis. Start-ups and small businesses also need support but may not be able to fund a high monthly salary. Fractional roles allow access to strategic thinking without the price tag.
Hands-on talent: We don’t just talk the talk, we are experienced do-ers who know how to deliver. I have broad experience across all aspects of Marketing and can support all aspects from social media, PR, graphic design and managing a team.
Obtain faster results: We prioritise immediate challenges and generating results
Try before you buy: Have you reached a point where you feel you may need a Marketing Director or CMO but aren’t sure what your specific requirements are? Hiring someone in a fractional role can help you decide whether to take the plunge and we can even help you define the job description and review candidates.
Flexible cover: I know from personal experience that it’s hard to find sickness or maternity cover at board level. Bringing in a fractional consultant can plug this gap and hold the fort until the full-time staff member returns.
Fractional Executives have tapped into the gig culture with great success and I truly believe Fractional roles are the future. Businesses can remain lean while having senior expertise to help them grow and thrive.
If you’d like to know more about how a Fractional Marketing Director could be of benefit to your business please do get in touch
