CMO School

I talk to so many Fractional CMOs who are exhausted, underpaid, and questioning if they made the right move stepping into this role. That’s exactly why I made this episode.

It’s not you - and it’s not the model. Most people are just running their business in a way that isn’t sustainable. If you’ve been feeling burnt out, like you’re trying to squeeze a full-time job into part-time hours, this one’s for you.

What we cover:

• The biggest mistakes Fractional CMOs make that lead to burnout
• What the role is actually meant to look like
• How the wrong clients can derail your business (even if you’re doing everything else right)
• How to reset if you’re already burnt the f out

Think of this as a permission slip to stop doing it the hard way. You don’t have to overwork to prove your value. You don’t have to keep saying yes to clients who drain you. And you definitely don’t have to settle for building a business that feels heavier than the one you left. There’s a better way—and I want this episode to show you how to find it.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Learn More → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why So Many Fractional CMOs Burn Out

01:45 You're a Strategic Leader, Not a Marketing Manager

03:40 What a Sustainable Fractional CMO Model Looks Like

05:30 Stop Customizing Every Client Package

07:15 The Meeting Mistake That Fills Your Calendar

09:00 The Wrong Clients Will Drain You

10:30 Red Flag #1: They Don't Have a Team

12:00 Red Flag #2: They Haven't Proven Their Offer

14:15 Don't Become the "Fix It" CMO

15:45 Red Flag #3: The CEO Won't Hand Over the Reins

17:15 The Discovery Questions That Reveal Bad-Fit Clients

19:30 Ask This Before You Take On Any Client

21:15 Already Burnt Out? Here's How to Reset

22:15 Repackage, Raise Your Rates & Reset Expectations

23:15 Make Room for Better Clients

LinkedIn isn’t just a place to park your work history — it’s where your next high-ticket client is scrolling right now. The question is: will they see you as another marketer, or as the strategic leader they’ve been looking for?

In this episode, I’m joined by Mandy McEwen, LinkedIn pro, founder of Mod Girl Marketing and Lumin, and someone who’s been ahead of the curve on LinkedIn since before it was cool. Mandy shares exactly how Fractional CMOs can:

• Turn their profile into a landing page that actually sells
• Ditch the “pitch slap” and start conversations that feel real
• Post content that builds authority and trust (without getting lost in the noise)
• Use LinkedIn as a true sales channel to consistently fill their pipeline

If you’ve been treating LinkedIn like a resume, or posting and hoping someone notices, this episode will show you a better way.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want

🎓 Learn More → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How to Turn LinkedIn Into a Lead Generation Engine

01:20 Meet Mandy McEwen & Her Journey to LinkedIn

06:44 Why LinkedIn Is a Huge Opportunity for Fractional CMOs

07:50 Stop Just Posting—Start Building the Right Network

08:40 How to Do LinkedIn Outreach Without Feeling Spammy

10:17 The Warm Introduction Strategy Most People Overlook

12:43 Should You Automate LinkedIn Outreach?

13:37 How Many Connection Requests Should You Send?

15:17 When & How to Hand Off LinkedIn Outreach

16:12 Optimize Your Profile to Attract Premium Clients

19:13 What Content Actually Works on LinkedIn

21:13 The Best LinkedIn Content Formats Right Now

22:55 Turn LinkedIn Polls Into Sales Conversations

26:08 Repurpose Your Instagram, TikTok & YouTube Content

27:25 Mandy’s LinkedIn Lead Generation System

29:50 Why You Need to Follow Up More Than Once

32:15 Find the Hidden Leads Already in Your Network

33:11 How to Turn a DM Conversation Into a Sales Call

36:10 The LinkedIn Strategy Most People Are Ignoring

37:30 Where to Learn More From Mandy

Struggling to land your first clients as a Fractional CMO? You’re not alone - and this episode will show you exactly how to fix it.

I’m coaching listener Deanna Keffer live on the podcast. After 20 years in corporate marketing, she made the leap into the Fractional CMO world and immediately ran into the same roadblock so many new Fractionals face: how do I actually get clients?

Inside this episode you’ll learn:

• Why applying for jobs won’t get you Fractional CMO clients (and what to do instead)
• How to position yourself so people take you seriously and your online presence actually sells your expertise
• The exact outreach strategy I used to land my first clients — and how you can copy it
• What boundaries to set early so you don’t slide back into execution or burn out in your new role

If you’re looking to land your first (or next) Fractional CMO clients, this episode will give you the exact steps you need to take.

And if you don’t want to figure it out on your own?

That’s exactly why I created Fractional CMO School. It’s my 6-month coaching program + community where you’ll get the playbook, the support, and the push you need to confidently step into the Fractional CMO role and start signing high-ticket clients.

🎓 Learn More → Fractional CMO School

Email templates: Fractional CMO Sales Email Templates — The CMO Office

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Live Coaching: How to Get Your First Fractional CMO Clients

01:45 Meet Deanna & Her Marketing Background

03:00 The Problem With One Full-Time Fractional Client

04:10 What She’s Tried to Find New Clients

05:15 Strategy vs. Execution: What Should a Fractional CMO Do?

08:05 Set Boundaries Before Taking on More Clients

10:10 Why Applying to Fractional CMO Jobs Isn’t the Best Strategy

11:35 Step #1: Fix Your LinkedIn Positioning

13:00 Stop Trying to Be Everything to Everyone

15:50 How to Position Multiple Roles on LinkedIn

18:00 Should You Use Your Name or a Company Name?

19:00 Step #2: Build a Simple Website

20:00 Step #3: Start With Your Existing Network

21:50 Find the “Super Connectors” in Your Network

23:00 The Follow-Up Strategy That Landed My First Clients

24:00 Step #4: Narrow Down Your Niche

27:00 How to Test a Niche Without Committing Forever

28:20 Step #5: Build a List of 100 Ideal Clients

29:20 How Cold Outreach Landed Me a Dream Client

30:30 Should You Target Startups & Small Businesses?

33:10 Step #6: Build Authority on LinkedIn

34:00 Your 30-Day Fractional CMO Client Plan

34:50 Why You Need to Keep Following Up

35:40 The Mindset You Need to Land Clients

Meet Andy Kriebel. He’s a Tableau Visionary (aka one of the world’s top data visualization experts), a global trainer, and the kind of teacher who’s helped thousands of people grow their careers. But when it came to marketing his own business? He was doing it all himself… and feeling stretched way too thin.

That’s where my team and I came in. Andy joined our Fractional CMO program about six months ago, and since then we’ve been refining his strategy, tightening his focus, and freeing him up to spend more time doing what he does best: teaching.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear Andy’s perspective on what it’s really like to hand off your marketing — the wins, the mindset shifts, and even the surprises. From hitting his biggest launch ever (while raising his average order value by $450 per member!) to nearly doubling last year’s revenue in half the time, Andy shares the behind-the-scenes of what changed once he stopped trying to do it all himself.

If you’ve ever wondered what it could look like to have a marketing partner in your corner, this conversation will show you the before-and-after in real time.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready for a Fractional CMO to step in and lead your marketing, this is what we do. My team and I build the strategy, manage the execution, and make sure your marketing is moving the needle so you can focus on running the business.

🚀 Learn More → Fractional CMO Services

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Meet Andy & Inside Our Fractional CMO Partnership

01:44 What Is Tableau?

02:39 From Corporate Career to Building Next Level Tableau

06:26 Building a Business Without Employees

07:17 How Andy Became a Fractional CMO Client

09:34 The Free Marketing Audit That Changed Everything

10:03 Why I Took On a Smaller Client

13:33 What It's Really Like Working With a Marketing Integrator

15:42 Why I Don't Force Clients Into Weekly Meetings

17:09 Inside Andy's Marketing Strategy & First 90 Days

19:13 How a Fractional CMO Decides What to Prioritize

21:51 The Mindset Shift: You Don't Have to Do Everything

22:51 The Results From Our First 90 Days

24:42 Andy's Biggest Launch Yet

26:51 Using KPIs to Make Better Marketing Decisions

28:17 How We Spotted a LinkedIn Problem Early

30:05 Sometimes the Best Strategy Is to Stop Doing Things

31:50 Building a Business That Doesn't Depend on the Founder

32:30 The Biggest Value of Fractional CMO Support

33:44 Should You Hire a Fractional CMO?

Being a Fractional CMO isn’t just about building campaigns or hitting KPIs - it’s about leadership.

And leadership means you own it all: the wins, the flops, and even the moments that technically weren’t your fault.

In this episode we’re digging into:

• What radical responsibility actually looks like in a leadership role
• How to handle the pressure of total accountability (without burning out)
• Why it’s just as important to own the wins as it is the losses
• Practical strategies for leading through mistakes, pivots, and high-pressure moments

If you’re ready to move from “marketer who executes” to the kind of CMO clients fully trust, this episode is for you.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Learn More → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Mindset Every Great Fractional CMO Needs

01:30 What Radical Responsibility Actually Means

03:15 When Something Goes Wrong: Own It, Don’t Blame

04:20 How to Handle the Pressure of Leadership

05:30 Stay Calm When Sh*t Hits the Fan

07:15 Stop Seeing Pressure as a Bad Thing

08:15 You Need to Own Your Wins, Too

09:45 Taking Credit Isn’t Arrogance

10:20 What Radical Responsibility Looks Like in Practice

11:15 How Great CMOs Handle Last-Minute Changes

12:20 Be the Calm in the Storm

13:05 You Don’t Need to Be Perfect—You Need to Be Accountable

Many marketers are still sending traffic to landing pages and wondering why conversions are low - when tools like ManyChat are delivering opt-in rates as high as 90%.

In this episode, I’m joined by Madi Beumee, a social media strategist and growth expert who helps online business owners grow with confidence using viral content, community engagement, and automation that actually converts.

We’re breaking down how and where to use ManyChat in your 2025 strategy - whether for your own business or your clients’ - and why ignoring this tool might be costing you more than you think.

We cover:

• Where ManyChat fits in a smart marketing strategy this year
• Why it's often outperforming landing pages and email
• How to use it without sounding spammy or robotic
• The biggest mistakes marketers make - and how to avoid them
• Tips for making ManyChat work in 2025

If you’re looking to generate more leads, increase conversions, and create a better experience for your audience - this one’s for you.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Learn More → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How to Use ManyChat in 2025

00:55 Meet Maddie & Her Unconventional Marketing Career

04:06 Why Being a “Try Hard” Is Actually a Superpower

05:42 What Is ManyChat & How Does It Work?

06:41 Why ManyChat Converts So Well

08:00 Is ManyChat Spammy?

08:49 How to Make Automations Feel Human

12:53 When Should You Use ManyChat for a Client?

14:34 The Best ManyChat Use Cases

16:49 The ManyChat Metrics You Should Be Tracking

19:17 Why You Can’t “Set It and Forget It”

20:23 Creative Ways to Use ManyChat

22:03 Start Simple—Then Build Smarter Automations

23:21 The ManyChat Tagging Strategy You Should Start Now

25:03 Is “ManyChat Burnout” Becoming a Problem?

27:49 Creative ManyChat Ideas You Probably Haven’t Tried

30:02 Treat ManyChat Like Any Other Marketing Channel

30:54 When to DIY vs. Hire a ManyChat Expert

31:13 The Biggest ManyChat Mistakes

34:15 The Low-Hanging Fruit That Can Double Your Results

36:06 Test Your Lead Magnet Before Building the Funnel

38:24 How Often Should You Optimize Your Automations?

40:38 Why DIY ManyChat Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

42:10 Where to Connect With Maddie

This week’s episode is a behind-the-scenes case study with my client, Erin Stetzer — founder of Erin Stetzer Homes, a Houston-based luxury custom home building company. Erin has been in the industry for over 25 years and is known for her high-end builds, flawless client experience, and legacy projects.

Over the past year, she’s expanded beyond building into homeowner representation, digital products, and coaching other industry professionals. In this episode, Erin shares why she decided to bring on a Fractional CMO, what it’s been like working with our full marketing team, and the results she’s seen in her first six months — from cutting $15K in tech costs to generating over $620K in revenue, including a $130K launch in just five days.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to step into this kind of partnership, you’ll get an honest client perspective on the wins, lessons, and real impact of having a marketing team fully in your corner.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready for a Fractional CMO to step in and lead your marketing, this is what we do. My team and I build the strategy, manage the execution, and make sure your marketing is moving the needle so you can focus on running the business.

🚀 Learn More → Fractional CMO Services

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Inside a Fractional CMO Client Partnership

02:10 Meet Erin: From Luxury Home Builder to Digital Educator

04:21 Why Erin Knew She Needed Marketing Leadership

06:13 What Great Fractional CMO Support Actually Looks Like

08:07 Trusting Your CMO With the Bigger Business Picture

09:08 Stop Wasting Money on the Wrong Marketing

11:01 Turning a Founder’s Big Ideas Into a Strategy

12:23 Build a Business That Actually Fits Your Life

14:33 The Hidden Value of a Fractional CMO’s Network

16:59 What Happens When Marketing Is Finally Off Your Plate

18:17 The First 90 Days: $620K+ in Revenue

20:47 Building for Sustainable Growth, Not Just Revenue

22:20 Focus on the Highest-Leverage Marketing

24:23 How I Decide Which Clients to Work With

28:21 What I Do When a Client’s Marketing Is Off Track

30:28 Stop Guessing—Let the Data Tell You What’s Wrong

31:22 How to Prioritize What Actually Moves the Needle

32:45 What’s the Difference Between Sales & Marketing?

34:31 Make Your Offer Easier to Understand—and Buy

36:25 Erin’s Experience Working With Our Marketing Team

37:19 Should You Hire a Fractional CMO?

38:00 What’s Next for Erin

When Abby left her agency leadership role, she was excited but nervous about stepping into the Fractional CMO world. “I’d done all the things in marketing,” she says, “but I’d never combined them with going out and selling myself.”

Fractional CMO School gave her the framework, tools, and confidence to launch fast, and within her first year, she was fully booked, landing every client through referrals or her website without a single cold pitch or social post.

“I truly mean it when I say I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you and this course,” said Abby.

This is the story of how she did it, and what she learned along the way.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Learn more → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 From Nervous to Fully Booked in One Year

01:00 Meet Abby & Her Marketing Background

02:00 Why She Joined Fractional CMO School

04:05 What She Needed Before Starting Her Business

05:00 Avoiding the Mistakes New Fractional CMOs Make

06:10 The Fractional CMO Framework She Made Her Own

08:00 What Changed After Fractional CMO School

08:20 How She Got Every Client Without Cold Pitching

09:20 Finding the Clients & Work She Actually Loves

10:00 Why Your First Year Should Be an Experiment

10:35 What It’s Like Inside Fractional CMO School

12:00 How Coaching Accelerates Your Progress

13:35 Who Should Become a Fractional CMO?

14:15 From Execution to Higher-Paid Strategy Work

14:45 Is Fractional CMO School Worth the Investment?

15:25 The Support That Helped Abby Build Her Business

16:15 Build Your Fractional CMO Business Faster

Email is still one of the most powerful revenue drivers in a smart marketing strategy - but most marketers aren’t using it to its full potential.

In this episode, I’m joined by Emily Claire, founder of The 10K Email Club and copywriter behind top-performing email campaigns for brands like Clue. She’s on a mission to help business owners write emails that convert without sounding like a sales robot.

We’re digging into what marketers and Fractional CMOs need to know about leading strong email strategy in 2025, including:

• How to write emails people actually want to open and read
• What to prioritize when building or optimizing a client’s email program
• Why most newsletters fall flat and how to fix them
• What metrics matter now (and what to ignore)
• How to collaborate effectively with copywriters as the strategic lead

If you're ready to take email seriously this year, either for yourself or for your clients, his episode will help you do it smarter, faster, and with way more confidence.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Join the waitlist → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How to Build an Email Strategy That Actually Converts

00:46 From Musical Theatre to Email Marketing Expert

04:52 How Emily Built the 10K Email Club

08:04 What’s Actually Working in Email Right Now

09:35 Is Your Email List Too Small to Segment?

11:33 How to Segment When You Don’t Know Your Audience

12:54 Short vs. Long Emails: What’s Working?

15:17 Why Human-Written Emails Are Winning

15:55 The Biggest Email Marketing Mistakes

17:46 Is Substack Actually Good for Email Marketing?

20:54 Where Fractional CMOs Should Start With Email

23:05 The 3-Email Welcome Flow Every Business Needs

26:28 What Should Happen After Someone Downloads Your Freebie?

27:47 Stop Being Afraid to Sell to Your Email List

29:12 How to Repurpose Email Content Without Repeating Yourself

31:19 How to Turn Podcast Content Into Emails

32:44 The Email KPIs That Actually Matter

35:12 What’s a Good Email Open & Click Rate?

36:51 Should You Use a “Super Signature”?

38:21 The Best Ways to Grow Your Email List

40:15 The #1 Rule for Better Email Marketing

41:24 Don’t Be Afraid to Get Weird With Your Emails

Struggling to generate consistent leads as a Fractional CMO? You’re not alone, and this episode is packed with practical strategies that actually work.

Susie Crawford, former Google marketing exec and founder of a multi seven-figure paid ads agency, shares how she built a scalable lead gen system that brings in high-ticket clients without burning out.

We cover:

• How to combine paid traffic and organic content in a way that feels doable
• What to prioritize when you don’t have a full-time marketing team
• The role of personal brand in attracting the right clients
• How to manage imposter syndrome while growing a high-level business
• What it really looks like to build marketing systems that last

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to tighten up your current strategy, this episode will help you approach lead generation with more clarity, confidence, and consistency.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently lead, land high-ticket clients, and build the business you want.

🎓 Join the waitlist → Fractional CMO School

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How to Build a Lead Gen Machine as a Fractional CMO

01:15 Meet Suzy: From Google to Entrepreneurship

03:00 How She Landed Her Dream Job at Google

06:40 Why She Finally Bet on Herself

08:10 From Fractional CMO to Multi-7-Figure Agency Owner

10:45 Why “Boring” Businesses Are a Huge Opportunity

11:25 Inbound vs. Outbound Lead Generation

12:15 Why Cold Outreach Is the Fastest Way to Get Clients

13:10 Find Clients Who Are Already Looking for Marketing Help

14:15 The Cold Email Strategy With a 90%+ Response Rate

15:35 How to Write a Cold Email That Actually Gets Replies

17:00 The Goal of Your Outreach Isn’t to Sell

18:00 The Lead Gen Channels Fractional CMOs Are Sleeping On

19:15 Why LinkedIn Is a Gold Mine for Fractional CMOs

20:20 Why Niching Makes Lead Generation Easier

22:20 You Don’t Have to Turn Away Clients Outside Your Niche

24:00 Personal Brand vs. Expert Content

25:25 The 80/20 Content Strategy

28:00 Why Personal Brands Are Winning Right Now

31:20 How Personal Branding Can Transform “Boring” Businesses

32:00 Stop Playing Small in Your Fractional CMO Business

33:00 Show Up Like the Business Owner You Want to Become

35:15 Do It Before You Feel Ready

36:10 Persistence Is What Separates Successful Entrepreneurs

37:15 Being Bad at Something Is Part of Growth

38:30 Why You Should Embrace Imposter Syndrome

39:35 Imposter Syndrome Means You’re Leveling Up

40:00 Build Your Fractional CMO Business Faster