Should you hire a Strategic Growth Operator or a fractional CMO? Both add senior marketing expertise, but they solve different problems. Here’s how they differ and when to use each.
Strategic Growth Operator vs fractional CMO: quick comparison
| Strategic Growth Operator | Fractional CMO | |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement | 90-day sprint, fixed price | Ongoing retainer, 6–12+ months |
| What you get | Working systems, implementation, handoff | Strategy + execution + team leadership |
| Ongoing role | Exits after handoff | Stays as part-time marketing lead |
| Best for | Broken funnel, no attribution, need systems built | Marketing leadership gap, need full function owned |
| Typical cost | Fixed (e.g. $15K for 90 days) | $3K–$15K/month |
When to hire a fractional CMO
Hire a fractional CMO when:
- You lack marketing leadership and need someone to own the function
- You want ongoing strategy and execution, not a one-off project
- You have a team (or plan to build one) that needs direction
- You can commit to 6–12+ months of part-time leadership
A fractional CMO acts like a part-time CMO: they lead, advise, and execute across marketing.
When to hire a Strategic Growth Operator
Hire a Strategic Growth Operator when:
- Your growth engine is broken (funnel leaking, no attribution, random marketing)
- You need systems built and handed off, not ongoing leadership
- You want a fixed scope, price, and timeline (e.g. 90 days)
- You’ve tried consultants and got decks instead of working systems
A Strategic Growth Operator fixes and builds. When they’re done, you run the systems yourself.
Can you use both?
Yes. Some companies bring in a Strategic Growth Operator to fix a specific problem (e.g. funnel, attribution), then hire a fractional CMO for ongoing leadership. Or you do a 90-day intensive, run it for a while, and later add fractional leadership when you scale.
Bottom line
- Fractional CMO: Ongoing leadership, owns the full marketing function.
- Strategic Growth Operator: One-time rebuild, systems in 90 days, then handoff.
If your main issue is a broken funnel or missing systems, start with a Strategic Growth Operator. If it’s a leadership gap and you need someone to run marketing long-term, a fractional CMO is the better fit.
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