Expertise
If you’re going to choose a leader at the head of your marketing department at a time of great growth, that person needs to know what they are doing. DAP’s team of Interim CMOs are rockstars with significant track records of success in high marketing positions at multiple companies, including brands that are household names. They know their stuff, and they can show receipts.
Continuity
Losing marketing traction at the wrong moment can devastate an organization. Catching a wave of growth can be like “catching lightning in a bottle.” If you miss your moment, who knows when it will come again? DAP Interim CMOs keep your marketing plan afloat, ensuring your company doesn’t suffer heavy consequences from losing a key executive at a critical juncture.
Flexibility
DAP Interim CMOs have a vast breadth of knowledge of multi-channel marketing best practices in dozens of industries. Whatever your current marketing strategy may be, a DAP Interim CMO can step into that strategy and keep it moving without missing a beat.
Objectivity
Sometimes, the full-time executives of an organization are actually too close to the company to be objective about it. A DAP Interim CMO brings a much-needed neutral opinion about the business and its marketing plan, providing a breath of fresh air and a shot of new energy that the company never even knew it had been missing.
Efficiency
DAP Interim CMOs are sticklers for efficiency. They don’t just pick up your marketing strategy as business as usual — they immediately look for ways to automate, consolidate, and streamline to make your marketing campaign more nimble and cost-effective than ever.
Innovation
DAP Interim CMOs aren’t just lackeys or yes-men — they’re thought leaders and innovators in the marketing field in their own right. They don’t just follow the current plan — they add to it and improve it, based on a wealth of knowledge and insights of the most cutting-edge marketing best practices.
What Does an Interim/Outsourced CMO Do?
An interim CMO steps in temporarily to lead a company’s marketing efforts (usually during a transition, leadership gap, or restructuring). Interim CMOs take on the full responsibilities of a chief marketing officer, including developing and executing marketing strategies, brand management, and customer acquisition.
Their role may also involve mentoring internal teams and ensuring continuity in marketing operations. Interim chief marketing officer services generally include other vital tasks like establishing metrics like KPIs and ROI and the path to get there.
Unlike a permanent hire, an interim CMO works for a defined period, helping stabilize and guide the organization through change. Their expert, flexible, short-term leadership helps companies maintain marketing momentum while they search for a long-term solution or work through organizational shifts.
What Is the Difference Between an Acting and Interim Chief?
An acting chief is a temporary role. They are appointed on a short term basis to cover for a full-time CMO who could be out for any number of reasons, including maternity leave, personal matters, medical issues, or vacation. Acting chiefs may have full authority and responsibilities of the chief position but usually only for a limited period (often until a permanent or interim replacement is appointed).
An interim chief is a transitional role typically appointed to fill the chief position when there is a permanent vacancy and the organization is searching for a permanent replacement. An organization may bring on an interim chief marketing officer to see how they function inside the company and mesh with company culture before hiring them full time. You can usually expect the interim role to last longer than an acting position, often for months or even up to a year.
We Need Leadership: Is Interim or Acting Better?
Whether an interim or acting role is “better” depends on the context and specific needs of the company in question.
- An acting chief is better-suited for short-term situations, such as when the regular leader is temporarily unavailable. They bring in quick leadership without the need for a long-term commitment.
- An interim chief is often better suited for longer vacancies. They provide stability, continuity, and the opportunity to manage change while the organization searches for a permanent leader.
The choice between the two executive team members depends on the length of the leadership gap and the organization’s need for either immediate, temporary relief or more sustained, transitional leadership.
What Is the Difference Between Fractional and Interim CMO?
Both of these positions are meant to be temporary but the job descriptions aren’t the same.
For a brief summary: The difference between a fractional and an interim chief marketing officer primarily lies in the scope and duration of their roles.
When you need marketing talent on demand, CMO outsourcing is going to be your best bet and your best friend. A fractional CMO typically works on a part-time or contract basis. They don’t fully join the leadership team, but come in on an hourly basis, offering critical high-level guidance (including marketing strategy, hiring/training/onboarding, data analytics, and more).
Thanks to fractional CMOs, growing companies without the budget for full-time senior marketing leadership can still access the strategy they need on a flexible, cost-effective basis.
You can think of an interim CMO as a pitch hitter in baseball. They temporarily fill a leadership gap, usually for a specific, defined period, such as when a permanent CMO position is empty for personal or professional reasons.
The interim CMO typically assumes a more hands-on, full-time role in the organization, managing marketing operations and strategy with the expectation that they will eventually be replaced by a permanent CMO. You’ll likely see more of your interim CMO than your fractional marketing executive.
What Does a Fractional CMO Do?
contract basis (aka freelance, hourly). Fractional CMOs typically work for businesses that need senior marketing leadership but can’t justify the cost of a full-time executive. That’s a six-figure salary, after all. Instead of working with one client, FCMOs generally work with multiple clients simultaneously to spread the cost around.
Fractional marketing leaders oversee:
- Marketing strategy
- Brand development
- Customer acquisition and retention
- Revenue growth
- And more.
At Digital Authority Partners, our fractional marketing officers and interim CMOs have extensive experience in very niche fields. So, if you need a fractional CMO for medical device companies or a B2B interim with SaaS marketing genius, we have the person for you.
Rely on both interim and fractional executive services to excel in:
- Providing guidance and mentorship to internal teams
- Scaling businesses
- Identifying growth opportunities
- And more.
Where Do I Find the Best Interim and Fractional CMO Companies?
To find the best interim and fractional CMO companies, look for reputable agencies that show off cold hard numbers — not razzle-dazzle.
Before setting up a time to talk, take a minute to evaluate the firm. Review case studies, client testimonials, industry awards, and examples of their previous work (including their own website). This investigation provides critical insights into how they actually deliver.
Many firms offer free audits or consultations, which can provide a clear sense of their approach and how they could add value to your organization. In fact, we do! And we’d love to get one rolling for you.
Digital Authority Partners is not here to meet your expectations — we’re here to exceed them. For all things digital marketing, including our roster of acclaimed interment CMOs, connect with us today about how to improve your tomorrow.
How To Hire an Interim CMO
To hire an interim CMO, start by scheduling a consultation with Digital Authority Partners, to meet one of our incredible interim CMOs. During your free consult, we want to hear about your company’s specific needs and goals. Our interim CMOs take a collaborative approach, working with and advising their clients.
We’re not there to simply keep the ship on course; DAP’s interim CMOs are there to make the ship run faster, smoother, and overall better. We know that transitioning between leadership or the time when regular leadership is out of office can be stressful. We’re there to decrease worry, increase productivity, and smoothly guide your company onwards and upwards.
