Marketing Consulting
Sometimes you do not need an ongoing Fractional CMO. You need experienced marketing judgment on a specific decision.
I provide focused strategic advice when the question is defined but the answer is not clear. We look at the numbers and the history, question what everyone has been assuming, and land on a decision your leadership team can act on.
Problem
Evidence
Options
Decision
Questions worth working through
Consulting makes sense when leadership needs to test the reasoning behind a difficult decision, not simply produce another plan.
Growth + Economics
- Where is revenue actually coming from?
- What do CAC, conversion, margin and payback suggest?
Sales + Market
- Is the issue lead quality, sales follow-up, positioning, qualification or something else?
- Does the current positioning still match the market?
Investment + Resources
- Which channels deserve more investment, and which should be reduced?
- What should the internal team own?
- What should be outsourced, stopped or delayed?
Search + AI
- How should search and AI change the plan?
The question shapes the engagement
Executive working session
Focused discussion around a defined decision.
Focused assessment
Review the evidence, assumptions and gaps.
Strategy review
Pressure-test an existing plan before more resources are committed.
Decision framework
Agree on how the options will be judged, then choose.
The scope follows the problem rather than a preset package. Some work wraps up in a few sessions. Some turns into a regular check-in.
Advice or ongoing leadership?
Marketing Consulting
- Defined question or decision
- Focused period of work
- Outside perspective
- Leadership team retains ongoing ownership
Fractional CMO
- Ongoing marketing leadership
- Prioritization across the function
- Team and vendor alignment
- Accountability for marketing direction
It is the right conversation when someone needs to take responsibility for marketing direction, not just advise on a decision.
Execution is a separate decision
I provide the advice. Darby Digital, the operating company I founded in 2008, can provide execution when needed. Consulting does not require you to use Darby. Your internal team and existing partners can carry out the work.
Start with the problem
Tell me what is happening, where the uncertainty sits and what decision you need to make. We can decide whether focused advice or ongoing leadership is the more useful next step.
Start with the problem →