Choosing: Agency or Fractional CMO

When it comes to outsourcing help for your digital marketing, you have a few, basic options. In order to take your marketing to the next level, you’ll want to either hire an agency or a Fractional CMO. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately it will all depend on your internal resources and what your business’s unique needs are. Here’s a look at how to tell which one you need.

How to Know If You Need an Agency

In general, agencies are great at implementing the work that needs to be done. Some may also have strategic experience and can help come up with a winning marketing strategy for your company.

However, there are certain things that are a given when it comes to involving an agency to help with your marketing. The main one is that someone in-house is responsible for budgeting concerns and resource allocation. Not only that, but the client will have the final say about the strategy and since the agency is work-for-hire, they usually do what the business wants (even if the agency knows better).

If you have plenty of resources in-house for marking and just need help implementing the work and keep things on track, an agency is the right choice for you. If your in-house resources aren’t where they need to be, you should consider a Fractional CMO.

How to Know If You Need a Fractional CMO

Every marketing department needs a CMO. They need someone who will oversee the marketing department as an entity. They handle everything in marketing, from budgeting, personnel, developing the strategy, allocating resources, aligning marketing with business goals, and more. They are an important part of the company’s growth.

Many businesses have small marketing departments, so they cut corners and don’t hire a CMO. They might not have enough resources to justify it, but that leaves the marketing department stripped of its power. You may have bodies in seats, ready to do the marketing work, but without someone to oversee it, your marketing won’t be nearly as effective. This is why you’d need a Fractional CMO – so that you can benefit from having a CMO for a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost.

Most Fractional CMOs don’t implement the work itself, but some do. This is something to note as you decide which you need. If anything, they encourage you to hire more help for getting the work done, or help you find an agency. They are involved in every process that involves marketing.

How to Decide Between the Two

Before you decide which one you will use for your marketing, you will need to determine what you really need. Do you already have a good situation in marketing, but need help with all the-high level details, including budgeting and strategy?

Then, you’ll need a Fractional CMO. If you have many of the high-level details covered, but could use some help implementing the work or maybe having someone weigh in on strategy, as well, you’ll want to work with an agency.

Both are great options; you just need to determine which is the best fit for your needs.