FRACTIONAL CMO
Fractional CMO for startups and founder-led companies
A fractional CMO gives a company with no marketing department senior marketing leadership without a full-time hire: a plan, clear priorities, the hiring and agency calls, and one person accountable for the numbers. With SemiMarketing, that person is David Gonzales.
Scoped on a 20-min call, with a written proposal within 24 hours. See all six services.
WHO IT'S FOR
For founders who are still the marketing department.
No marketing team yet
You know marketing matters. You don't have the time or the hire to lead it.
A first hire who needs a lead
A capable marketer with nobody senior to plan with, review the work or push back.
Between agencies
You've paid for activity. You want someone on your side deciding what's worth paying for.
WHAT A FRACTIONAL CMO DOES
Leadership, plus the work that matters most.
A 90-day plan
One goal, the few channels that serve it and what to stop doing.
Priorities and budget
Where the money and hours go, and what each should return.
Hiring and agency calls
Briefs, shortlists and a straight view on who to hire or keep.
Reporting you can use
Plain-language numbers for you or your board: what moved, why and what's next.
Hands-on where it counts
Senior SEO, content and conversion work, done rather than delegated.
One accountable person
Every engagement runs through David. No juniors. No account managers.
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
Fractional CMO, agency or first hire?
| Fractional CMO | Agency | First full-time hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Senior strategy plus hands-on work | Execution in its specialties | One person, full time |
| Who sets the plan | The fractional CMO, with you | Usually you | The hire, once they’re up to speed |
| Commitment | A monthly retainer | A retainer or project fee | Salary, recruitment and onboarding |
| Best when | You need leadership before you need a team | You know exactly what you want done | The plan is proven and the work is full time |
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps to a plan.
01
20-min call
Where the business is, where you want it and what's in the way.
02
Written proposal
Scope and price in writing, within 24 hours of the call.
03
The first 90 days
A plan, a monthly rhythm and the first results reported against a baseline.
RESULTS
What the work looks like.
+32%
Piloto Asia · Singapore
Year-on-year lead growth. Marketing spend tied to performance goals.
Read the case study →Figures from Google Search Console and client CRM data, 2026.
FAQ
Fractional CMO questions.
What does a fractional CMO actually do?
Sets the marketing plan, decides where the budget and hours go, makes the hiring and agency calls, reports on results and does the highest-value work hands-on.
How is this different from an agency?
An agency executes what you ask for. A fractional CMO decides what's worth doing, with you, and is accountable for the result.
What does it cost?
It depends on scope. After a 20-min call you get a written proposal with the price within 24 hours.
Who will we work with?
David Gonzales, on every engagement. Ex-Google content manager, ex-Binance news editor, 15+ years in tech media and marketing. More about David.
Can it start smaller?
Yes. Many founders start with the 3-month SEO Growth Pilot, from US$2,000/month, or a free Snapshot.
Talk it through in 20 minutes.
Tell us where the business is and where you want it. You'll get a straight answer on whether a fractional CMO is the right call.