Blog Insights
Marketing Blogs for Small Business
What I share with SMB CEOs about marketing
I write my blogs for the CEOs who want straight talk marketing guidance—what’s worth their time, what to ignore, and how to avoid common missteps. These are the questions I get on calls: when to hire, what to spend, how to read the numbers, and what to expect for results at your size.
What to know before hiring your first fractional marketing leader
New to hiring fractional marketing leadership for your organization? Learn what to expect, what to avoid, how to set expectations for your team and your CMO, and how to build a strong first-time partnership for your growing business. (and have fun!)
Do you need a part-time CMO?
Small businesses know the importance of marketing. But many don’t have the resources to bring in a full-time Chief Marketing Officer. Consider a fractional CMO, which is expert, flexible marketing leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. They handle your marketing strategy and execution, freeing you to focus on growing your business.
Fractional CMO explained
Hiring a full-time CMO isn’t always realistic for small businesses, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without strategic marketing leadership. A fractional CMO is a part-time executive who brings structure, strategy, and execution to your marketing. This flexible model gives CEOs expert guidance and hands-on leadership to create measurable business results.
The most important marketing metrics to track
The five marketing metrics that matter most for small businesses focus on attracting and retaining customers. Instead of guesswork, it’s a data-driven approach centered on the customer journey stages. By tracking these key metrics, businesses can make informed decisions to optimize marketing results and improve growth.
Customer-based budgeting
Imagine a budgeting process your CFO will actually love. Never dread another marketing budget season again. Learn a practical, customer-driven 4-step process that helps marketers map investment to customer needs, team effort, and measurable business goals and outcomes, making your budget conversations more strategic, aligned, and effective.
A to Z marketing guide
Creating effective marketing that delivers results can feel challenging, especially when you’re not sure where to start. I’ve compiled an detailed A-to-Z infographic guide packed with proven strategies and practical tactics to help you take clear, confident steps toward better marketing, so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.
Essential marketing strategies for small business
These are the three marketing strategies I tell small business CEOs to use: prioritize customer satisfaction, work on getting AI platforms to recommend your business, and make your website accessible. Two fundamentals round it out: a yearly digital audit and consistently use your free Google tools.
Produce profitable marketing results
Marketing success takes more than creativity, it demands measurable ROI. Turn marketing from a cost center into a revenue generator. Learn to optimize marketing investments using customer journey metrics, practical budgeting, and AI adoption to improve results. When every dollar has a job, your marketing works harder and smarter for your business.
Hiring a fractional CMO? Assess their AI fluency first
Every candidate says they know AI. Four questions reveal who uses it daily, who rebuilds marketing with it, and who ties it to revenue. Zapier uses this scale to make hiring decisions. It works just as well on a fractional CMO, and across your whole org chart. Put the fluency levels in job descriptions and performance reviews.