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I was leaving a marketing job when I started Renew and Heart Hackers. Once I’d made the decision that I was going to build the tools that I wished I had when I went through a life-changing breakup, I decided to focus on that… and only that… building and teaching.
But I also need to make sure that if I was going to throw myself into this full-time, I’d need to make sure I could support myself. It’s not just about scaling; it’s about doing so sustainably and smartly, ensuring that our core values and mission remain intact. To reach as many people as possible, I needed to offload the business operations and the marketing work. From the operations side, I started with an assistant and then began filling in more senior operational roles. Professionals to help me build the logistics for the first Breakup Bootcamp and I hired more junior freelancers to help me do the nuts and bolts of marketing, but it wasn’t until I hired a fractional CMO (he was in Vancouver at the time) to build the strategy, that I learned what scale looked like.
The nature of my business demands that I have a lot of free time for reading and research. Hiring a full-time CMO, while beneficial, didn’t seem like the most efficient move early on due to the fluctuating levels of commitment at different growth stages. The freelancers and fractional marketers offered a perfect solution by providing high-level marketing expertise on a part-time or project basis. This flexibility has allowed us to draw on diverse skill sets tailored to specific challenges or goals without the commitment of a full-time executive salary.
As a company mindful of our burn rate and keen on optimizing our resources, the cost-effectiveness of fractional CMOs has been a game-changer. We could invest in top-tier marketing leadership without the hefty price tag, directing saved funds towards product development, customer experience improvements, and scaling our operations. This approach has not only been economical but also efficient in driving our growth metrics upward.
Strategic Focus with Tactical Support
Initially, my concern with hiring a fractional was whether they could be as committed and integrated into our team as a full-time executive. However, this model has offered us strategic focus at the leadership level, coupled with the ability to scale up tactical support as needed. Fractional CMOs have worked closely with our other freelancers, transferring knowledge and strategies that build our internal capabilities while steering us toward our long-term vision.
My Path to Sustained Growth
The decision to incorporate fractional CMOs into our growth strategy has been pivotal. Not only have we benefited from high-level marketing expertise, flexibility, and cost savings, but we’ve also enriched our team with diverse perspectives and strategic guidance. As Hearthackers.com continues to evolve, the insights and agility provided by the team we’ve been cultivating will undoubtedly play a critical role in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Embracing freelance and fractional help has been more than a strategic decision; it’s been a growth catalyst, allowing us to stay nimble, innovative, and always aligned with our mission. To fellow entrepreneurs considering this path, my advice is to view it not just as a temporary solution but as a strategic approach to building a resilient, adaptable, and growth-oriented business.