Fractional Marketing Leadership for Growing Brands

Providing you C-Suite executive marketing strategy, leadership, and programs –  for a fraction of the cost and time

The power of adding fractional marketing expertise to your team

You're scaling fast but your marketing infrastructure can't keep up – if this sounds like you, chances are you’re ready for some help:

Your team is executing tactics—social posts, email campaigns, paid ads—but without a cohesive strategy tying it all together. Revenue attribution is murky, and you're not sure which efforts actually drive results.

A fractional CMO brings the strategic oversight to align all marketing activities with clear business objectives and measurable outcomes – in a fraction of the standard time and for a fraction of the price.

Who I’ve worked with, past and present

15+ clients in both Fractional CMO + strategic communications capacities

What is a Fractional CMO?

And what are the benefits of one versus hiring a full-time marketing leader?

Strategic marketing leadership at executive level without the full-time salary commitment or overhead costs

Immediate access to seasoned expertise that elevates your marketing function and drives measurable business growth

Objective perspective that identifies blind spots and introduces innovative approaches to your marketing challenges

Hands-on implementation of proven marketing frameworks tailored specifically to your organization's goals

Flexible engagement model that scales with your business needs, providing exactly the right level of support when you need it – for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire

The Approach

Strategic Marketing Leadership Without the Full-Time Commitment

Strategic Assessment

Audit what's working, kill what isn't, identify immediate opportunities

Process Implementation

Install systems and workflows that work without constant oversight

Executive-Level Strategy

Build scalable marketing frameworks that align with business objectives

Network Access

Tap into proven franchise marketing specialists and industry connections

Team Optimization

Whether hiring, training, or restructuring, get the right people in the right roles

Ongoing Partnership

Regular strategic guidance, not just project-based consulting

The Result

Marketing that drives measurable growth while freeing you to focus on running your business

Winning Metrics From Clients Across Industries

140%

Increase in ROAS over 60 day period after CRM pilot implementation with new digital ads & new nurture messaging

17%

Increase in YoY system-wide sales after leading a renewed campaign across digital, social, and email

90%

Increase in social media engagement within 90 days on both franchisee and corporate Instagram pages

8x

Average sustained system-wide ROAS during my fractional tenure with the brand

  • "Fractional CMOs are basically espresso shots for your marketing – you might not need a full cup, but a quick boost at the right time changes everything."

    - Ingrid Schneider, CEO & Founder, Stay in Your Lane; Train in Your Lane

Meet Alex the CMO

Now accepting new clients for fall of 2025

Alexandra Russo has 12+ years of strategic communications experience, more than half of which has been spent in the franchise leadership space building brands, marketing teams, and system-wide programs from scratch.

A Virginia Tech grad, she’s based in Pittsburgh, PA and works with clients across the globe.

Image of Alex Russo, Owner of Alex the CMO

Recent Results Include

Brand Consumer Messaging

  • Facilitating website redesigns and brand refreshes

  • Redefining overall brand messaging and positioning across all consumer touchpoints

  • Building Community Marketing Playbooks, reference guides, and sales trackers for internal teams, franchise networks and stakeholders

Digital Ads & Social Media

  • Creating digital campaigns for evergreen brand awareness, seasonal promotions, new client offers, e-comm products, memberships, new service and product launches, & more

  • Working closely with agencies to implement new digital ad annual calendars, regularly reporting on success metrics

  • Growing social media pages of both HQ and individual franchisee locations by using my social media growth framework – guaranteeing long-term direction & growth, regardless of industry or offering

Team + Vendor Management

  • Leading and managing internal marketing teams – creative, success managers, digital, marketing ops, etc.

  • Onboarding and training of new marketing employees

  • Leading digital marketing vendor partnerships, working closely with advertising partners to create and launch campaigns

  • Facilitating new vendor searches when necessary

Lead Nurture + Lifecycle Marketing

  • Building full funnel marketing communication systems for multiple industry types – from awareness ads to customer retention pieces 12 months post-first purchase

  • Full creation of lifecycle retention strategy and communication pieces across SMS and email, including specialty offers, specific to service-type

  • Implementing both referral and loyalty marketing programs into existing client communications

  • Responsible for the design and delivery of above lifecycle marketing pieces

CRM Implementation

  • Working closely with developers to fully stand up GoHighLevel as a system-wide CRM

  • Transforming GoHighLevel into a system-wide communications hub for all social media channels & email

  • Creating the workflow strategy to align with our lifecycle goals for the platform & creating the necessary automations

  • Launching GoHighLevel as a CRM system-wide

Annual Planning & Budgeting

  • Creating and/or overseeing annual $1M+ marketing budgets, including franchise Brand Funds

  • Building and leading Grand Opening plans, Community Marketing Playbooks, promotional and evergreen campaigns

  • Creating and implementing annual, 12-month marketing plan for corporate and franchisee teams, across digital and local grassroots efforts

  • Client Testimonials

    “Working with Alex during my onboarding at Taste Buds Kitchen was an absolute gift. From day one, she went above and beyond to make sure I felt supported, informed, and empowered to hit the ground running. Her dedication, attention to detail, and thoughtful communication made a huge difference in my transition and helped set me up for success in my new role.

    Alex is one of those rare leaders who combines deep marketing expertise with a genuine passion for mentoring others. She puts in extra effort without ever being asked and has a way of making even the most complex systems feel approachable and clear. Any company would be lucky to have Alex leading their marketing efforts—and anyone would be incredibly fortunate to be managed by her. She's not just a talented marketer, she's an exceptional person.”

    - Bre Pearl, Marketing Manager, Taste Buds Kitchen

  • Client Testimonials

    “Alex is a thoughtful and positive presence with strengths in communications, messaging strategy, branding and positioning. Alex is an asset to any team she becomes a part of. She doesn’t hesitate to jump into the hard things, while keeping an eye on the big picture outcomes her clients need, want and deserve … I highly recommend Alex as a Fractional CMO, a marketing expert and an executive leader!”

    - Katherine LeBlanc, Senior VP of Marketing, 4Ever Young Anti Aging

  • Client Testimonials

    “Alex was a pleasure to work with and was quick to understand our brand. Her positive attitude and collaborative spirit allowed her to seamlessly join our team. Alex was instrumental in helping us launch several key initiatives. We truly appreciate her support!”

    - Jessi Brelsford, Founder & CEO, Taste Buds Kitchen

  • Client Testimonials

    “I had the pleasure of working with Alexandra during her time with Spray-Net. Her ability to distill complex ideas into clear, engaging messaging helped us better connect with our target audience, leading to stronger engagement. She brought a strategic and innovative approach to messaging, ensuring that every piece of content—whether for digital campaigns, lead nurture, website copy, or social media—was not only compelling but also aligned with our brand voice and business objectives.

    It was also very appreciated that Alexandra was a true collaborator, integrating with our whole team and bringing fresh insights that elevated our marketing efforts."

    - Haley Hughes, Director of Marketing (US), Spray-Net

  • Client Testimonials

    "I had the privilege of working under Alex's leadership for nearly 1.5 years, which was marked by encouragement and unwavering support. She cultivated a collaborative work environment, and took it upon herself to mentor and guide her team, always providing clear instructions and valuable feedback.

    Her remarkable ability to manage three diverse teams (creative/branding, digital marketing, and regional marketing) was essential in driving our efforts to support both HQ and local marketing initiatives, with the ultimate aim of boosting new client acquisition and revenue generation.

    For me, Alex has been an inspiration, and I take immense pride in the work I accomplished under her guidance. Any company would be extremely fortunate to have her on board!"

    - Celeste Josse, Digital Marketing Specialist, Deka Lash

The Process

Define your goals

1

Conduct discovery meetings, audits & analyze current data

2

Align on top priorities & challenges

3

Create the strategy and game plan, defining priorities and resources

4

Lead implementation with your team, establishing clear accountability and workflows

5

Measure results and refine strategies to ensure continuous improvement and long-term success

6

As your fractional CMO, I integrate with your team as a true business partner with a unique mission: to build self-sustaining marketing excellence that eventually renders my role unnecessary.

I work deliberately to transfer knowledge, develop internal capabilities, and establish robust systems that empower your organization to thrive independently.

My success isn't measured by creating dependency, but by leaving you with a high-performing marketing function that continues to drive growth long after our engagement concludes.

This approach ensures you gain lasting value while maintaining complete ownership of your marketing future.

FAQs

For Fractional CMO and Marketing Consulting Services

  • A Fractional CMO is a senior marketing executive who works with your company part-time, providing the same strategic leadership and expertise as a full-time CMO but at a fraction of the cost. You get C-suite marketing guidance without the commitment, overhead, or lengthy hiring process of a permanent executive.

  • I offer strategic marketing consulting for specific projects or challenges—think brand positioning, campaign strategy, marketing audits, or growth planning. Unlike fractional CMO partnerships where I'm integrated into your team ongoing, consulting engagements are typically project-based with defined deliverables and timelines.

  • I do! I’ll happily step in to cover leadership gaps during maternity leave, medical leave, or other temporary absences. I can maintain marketing momentum and team leadership while your permanent team member is away, ensuring continuity without missing a beat.

  • Nope! I work across different industry types, it just so happens that franchising has become a particular niche. The marketing expertise you’re hiring me for is applicable to any type of brand.

  • Most fractional CMO partnerships run 6-18 months, with 9-12 months being the sweet spot. This gives us enough time to implement meaningful strategic changes, optimize processes, and see measurable results. The timeline depends on your specific goals and how quickly you want to scale.

  • I jump in like any new team member would—immediately. We start with kickoff calls to understand your business, team dynamics, current challenges, and priorities. From there, I'm integrated into all necessary meetings, communication channels, and decision-making processes as your marketing leader.

  • For fractional CMO partnerships, my base rate is $8,000/month for 25% of my dedicated time. This can vary based on your specific needs and, for franchisors, how much franchisee interface is required. Once we align on your priorities and scope, we'll determine the exact rate.

    For hourly consulting rates, please reach out directly as they vary by project type.

  • Absolutely. My goal is ultimately to work myself out of a job, and helping you find the right permanent marketing leader is part of that transition. I'll help define the role, screen candidates, and ensure a smooth handoff so your marketing momentum continues seamlessly.

Let’s chat

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I’ll be in touch shortly. Thank you!