FRACTIONAL CMO

A fractional CMO for Arizona businesses ready to grow.

A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader who works with your company part time, for a monthly fee instead of a full time salary. John Graham Seeliger brings 40 years of agency strategy to the role, sets the direction, and our team carries out the work with you.

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By John Graham Seeliger, Principal and CSO Updated October 22, 2026

$John Graham Seeliger, fractional CMO in Phoenix, Arizona$

What does a fractional CMO do?

The same job as a full time chief marketing officer, sized to what your business needs right now. We own the strategy, set priorities, manage the budget, direct the people doing the work and report results to you, a set number of days each month.

Most growing businesses reach a point where the owner is still the head of marketing, and it shows. Decisions get made in a hurry. Vendors pitch whatever they sell. Nobody is connecting the money spent to the money made.

A fractional CMO fixes that without adding a six figure salary, benefits and a long hiring search. You get a seasoned decision maker on day one, and you can scale the time up or down as the business changes.

What a typical month includes

A working session to review results and decide next moves
Marketing strategy and annual plan, kept current
Budget decisions: what to fund, what to cut
Direction for your team, agencies and freelancers
Message and creative review before anything goes out
Plain English reporting tied to sales, not vanity numbers
Hands on execution by our specialists when you need it

COMPARE

Fractional CMO or full time hire?

	Fractional CMO	Full time CMO	Marketing agency
Cost	A monthly fee for the time you need	Full salary, benefits and recruiting	Retainer, often tied to the channels they sell
Start time	Days	Months to hire and ramp up	Weeks
Point of view	Your whole business, every channel	Your whole business	Usually their specialty
Experience level	Senior (40 years, global agencies)	Depends on who you can afford	Varies by who is assigned
Flexibility	Scale time up or down	Fixed	Contract terms

When does a business need a fractional CMO?

When marketing has become too important to run on the side, but the business isn't ready for a full time executive. That usually happens between the startup stage and the point where you can carry a whole marketing department.

The owner is still making every marketing call
You have people or agencies doing the work, but no one directing it
Sales have stalled and nobody can say why
You're entering a new market, launching a product or relaunching the brand
You're preparing to grow fast, raise money or sell, and need the story straight

Need a one time plan instead of ongoing leadership? Start with marketing strategy or a marketing audit.

"John Graham Seeliger is an absolute creative dynamo. His ideas are fresh, his execution is sharp, and his results speak for themselves."

Scott Hansbury, CEO, Anthem One LLC (Scottsdale, AZ)

QUESTIONS

Straight answers.

How much does a fractional CMO cost?

A monthly fee based on the time and work involved, typically a fraction of a full time executive salary and benefits. The first conversation is free, and you get a written quote before anything starts.

How many hours does a fractional CMO work?

It depends on what the business needs. Some companies need a few days a month for strategy and direction; others need more during a launch. The time can go up or down as you grow.

Is a fractional CMO the same as a marketing consultant?

Close, but not quite. A consultant often delivers a plan and steps back. A fractional CMO stays on, owns the results and directs the work month after month.

Will you manage our existing team or agency?

Yes. We direct your people, agencies and freelancers so everyone works from the same strategy. Where you have gaps, our own specialists can fill them.

How long is the commitment?

The length and terms are agreed with you up front, in writing, before anything starts. Real results take a few months to show, so the plan is built with enough time to measure them.

Do you work as a fractional CMO outside Phoenix?

Yes. We work with companies across Arizona, including Chandler, Tempe and Scottsdale, in person or on video calls.

KEEP EXPLORING

LET'S TALK

Ready when you are.

Not sure if you need help? No worries. A quick conversation costs nothing, and you'll know exactly where you stand. Plus, what your next step should be. If any. No sugar coating, no pressure, no BS. Call now. And if you're on the right track, we'll tell you that too.

Start the conversation.

Phone:
602.558.7540

Email:
johngseeliger@cox.net
jgs@creativestrategiesmktg.com

Location:
Phoenix, AZ, serving the Phoenix metro and all of Arizona