FRACTIONAL MARKETING
Marketing leadership without a full-time hire.
Senior strategy and hands-on execution, without the cost of a full-time marketing hire.
WHO THIS IS FOR
We work best with businesses that have outgrown doing marketing on the fly.
You started your business because you’re good at what you do, not because you wanted to spend your days figuring out marketing. Maybe you’ve tried a few things. Some worked, most didn’t, and you’re not sure where to focus next.
That’s where we come in. With 20 years of marketing experience, the last ten inside start-ups and scale-ups, we understand that budgets aren’t always big and every dollar needs to work hard. We’re creative about channels, rigorous about strategy, and focused on the things most likely to move the needle for your specific business.
WHEN TO BRING US IN
A fractional marketing lead makes sense when…
- You've outgrown ad-hoc marketing but can't justify a full-time hire
- Your team needs senior leadership, not just more hands
- You want strategy and execution from the same person, fast
- You need real momentum built quickly, not an open-ended retainer
TRACK RECORD
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8 weeks
Average time to first results
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3.2x
Pipeline lift (avg)
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100%
Senior-led, no juniors on your account
WHAT TO EXPECT
From day one, you know exactly what is happening and why.
One of the most common concerns we hear is "I don't really know what I'm signing up for." So here's what the first month typically looks like.
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Week 1–2 · Discovery
We get under the skin of your business. Who your customers are, what's working, what isn't, and where the real opportunity sits. This isn't a long drawn-out process, it's a focused conversation and a clear output.
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Week 2–3 · Strategy
You receive a plain-English marketing strategy. Not a 60-page deck. A clear view of where to focus, which channels make sense for your business, what the messaging should be, and what success looks like.
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Week 4 · First work live
We don't wait until everything is perfect. Within the first month, something is out in the world, whether that's a campaign, a piece of content, an email sequence, or an updated pitch. Momentum matters.
WHO YOU'RE WORKING WITH
You work directly with Sam, not an account manager, not a junior.
I’ve spent 20 years in marketing, with the past 10 working inside start-ups and scale-ups where the pressure to grow is real and the budget to do it is rarely enough. That background means I know how to find the channels that work, cut the ones that don’t, and build marketing that actually brings in business, not just looks good on a slide.
When you work with Signal, you work with me. I do the thinking and the doing. There’s no team between us, no briefing chain, no one translating your brief to someone who’s never met you.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Things people ask before getting in touch.
What does a fractional marketing lead actually do?
Day-to-day: they set the strategy, manage or direct any existing team or suppliers, own the marketing calendar, and do a significant portion of the execution themselves. Unlike a consultant who advises and leaves, a fractional marketing lead is embedded in the business and accountable for results.
How is this different from hiring a marketing agency?
An agency typically focuses on one channel, social, SEO, paid ads. A fractional marketing lead looks across the whole business and works out where to focus first. They’re also a single point of accountability, not a team of people you have to manage. They can also manage any agencies you currently use.
How long does a typical engagement last?
Most engagements run 6–12 months. The first few months focus on getting the foundations right, strategy, messaging, channels. After that, many clients choose to continue with reduced hours, or hire an in-house marketer, who your fractional marketing lead can train to take over.
Do I need a marketing team already?
No. Many clients come to us without any marketing resource. We can work with what you have, help you hire the right people, or manage external suppliers on your behalf.
What size business is this right for?
This works best for businesses with 5–50 people who have found product-market fit but don’t yet have the marketing infrastructure to grow consistently.
How quickly will I see results?
That depends on what you need most. Brand and messaging work can shift how you’re perceived almost immediately. Lead generation typically takes 8–12 weeks to build momentum. We’re upfront about timelines from the start.
GET IN TOUCH