Craving a marketing strategy that actually works?
Our Virtual CMOs will build a strategy that takes your company from where you are to where you want to go - from base camp to the summit.
What is a Virtual CMO?
A Virtual CMO is an experienced marketer leader who works remotely to build and manage your marketing strategy. When your growth targets demand more from your marketing but you can’t afford a full-time senior marketer in-house, our Virtual CMOs are the perfect option. We deliver enterprise-level marketing expertise without the price tag, all delivered through seamless digital collaboration.
When to consider a Virtual CMO
Virtual CMOs operate entirely online and, in return, offer you greater flexibility and competitive pricing compared to hiring in-house. Plus, having a master marketer in charge of your strategy accelerates your growth trajectory while saving you time and money.
In-House vs Virtual
Hiring one of our Virtual CMOs will save you half a year of lost time, lost focus and lost revenue compared to trying to hire a marketing leader in-house. We can start tomorrow, deliver your new marketing strategy in 30 days and start implementation right afterwards. Alternatively, here are some considerations before hiring a full-time CMO in-house:
Financial Risks
Beyond the big salary a senior marketer will command, there’s also bonuses, performance incentives, company perks, annual leave, sick leave, training and development costs, annual pay increases, and possibly even a hefty recruiter fee. That’s a lot of financial burden to take on.
Lost Time
Between the time needed for recruitment and a lengthy notice period for experienced marketers, it could be five months before your chosen candidate steps foot in your office - plus another month for onboarding and training. And just like that, you’ve lost half a year of productivity and potential growth.
Performance Risks
What if your chosen candidate's performance ends up being poor and they don’t deliver what they said they would? What if they’re a poor culture fit and create challenges within your team? More time wasted, more costs incurred, more revenue lost.
Why choose VCMO?
Finding top-notch marketing talent is difficult. It might be six months before the successful candidate’s first day at your company - and another six months before they reach full productivity. That’s a full year wasted.
Many interviewers don’t know what questions to ask to properly assess candidate qualifications, skills and track record - because they’re not marketers themselves. And the wrong hire can set your strategy back years and cost hundreds of thousands in lost opportunity.
Whether you’re looking for a CMO, Head of Marketing, Marketing Director or Senior Marketing Manager - talented marketers aren’t cheap. Then add superannuation, bonuses, company perks, annual and sick leave, and yearly pay rises. And don’t get us started on the 15-20% recruitment fees…
There are so many agencies, freelancers and consultants out there. Wading through them to figure out who’s the real deal is overwhelming and pushes out the timeline for hitting growth targets.
Finding and onboarding the right in-house talent takes time. Finding and onboarding the right agencies takes time. Building a strategy and starting to roll it out takes time.
Some people interview really well yet don’t deliver what they promised. But once they’ve started they can be hard to remove, which can create culture issues, performance issues and morale issues.
Even successful hires may lack the diverse skill sets needed for comprehensive marketing leadership. One person simply can’t know all the facets of marketing in detail.
Our CMOs are the best of the best and can start right away, saving you from countless months of lost time. In turn, we’re offering immediate productivity and an accelerated revenue growth trajectory.
All of our CMOs have over 15 years of diverse experience, from start-ups, to publicly listed companies, to working at some of the biggest brands in the world. Normally it would be a track record that money couldn’t buy. But with VCMO, you can.
We’re 50-60% cheaper than a normal CMOs salary (and even more cost effective if you include all the other bells and whistles). We’re closer to the price of a junior marketer, but without sacrificing the experience and knowledge your company needs.
Skip the frustrating and confusing process of having to find, sort through and choose delivery partners. We bring a tried-and-tested network of trusted agencies and freelancers to deliver your project on time, on budget and to the highest possible standards.
We’ll complete a full audit of your marketing ecosystem and deliver a brand new marketing strategy in 30 days, giving you clarity and confidence that we’ll help you hit your ambitious growth targets.
We can start right away and, if you don’t feel like you’re getting value out of the arrangement, then there’s no need for it to continue. You get total flexibility to scale up or down as required.
We have a community of CMOs with diverse skills and specialties that we can tag in and out of any project. So no matter what expertise might be required, we’ve got it covered.
Hire our Virtual CMOs and reduce your costs, minimise your risks and maximise your growth.
We solve your most consequential marketing challenges
When your business ambition outpaces your marketing capabilities, that's where we step in. We carefully craft and meticulously manage your marketing strategy, removing any roadblocks to unlocking your next level of growth.
Build an effective strategy
Access the same marketing firepower that drives industry leaders, without the six-figure price tag.
Move at lightning speed
Skip expensive trial and error by implementing proven, battle-tested marketing strategies from day one.
Scale your team
Adjust your marketing resources up and down as needed, without the commitment of hiring a full-time senior marketer.
Start innovating
Innovation often comes from outside your industry. We bring winning strategies from other markets to your business.
Our team is your team
VCMO’s team is spread out all over Australia, so no matter what your project requires we’ve got the CMO to bring your vision to life. We also deliberately keep our team small and curated. Our standards are high - both for ourselves and for others. That’s why:
How VCMO works
Our process transforms your marketing challenges into growth opportunities. We analyse your current landscape and pinpoint key improvement areas before crafting a tailored strategy. With precise execution and ongoing optimisation, we guide your team toward measurable success.
phase 1
Business intelligence
Week 1-2
Comprehensive Audit
Analyse your current marketing infrastructure, including the strategy, the team and processes
Competitor Deep-Dive
Examine your competitive landscape, market position and competitor strategies
Goal Alignment
Define success based on the company’s objectives, needs and budgets
Performance Gap Analysis
Identify the key blockers to marketing effectiveness and revenue growth
phase 2
Building your marketing engine
Week 3-4
Strategy Blueprint
Craft a custom-built marketing game plan based on the learnings from phase one
Channel Strategy
Determine the most effective platforms, audiences and messaging
Resource Planning
Map the tools, tactics, team and external partners required for success
Investment Planning
Ensure every marketing dollar drives maximum return
phase 3
Strategy go-live
Week 5-7
Organisational & Team Alignment
Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, are on the same page, and ready to execute
Capability Building
Onboarding any external agencies or freelancers required roll out and manage parts of the strategy
Systems Integration
Implementing any processes and tools needed for sustainable results.
Campaign Launch
Rolling out your new marketing initiatives.
phase 4
Optimisation & Scale
Week 8 onwards
Performance Analysis
Regular analysis of performance metrics to identify improvements
Strategy Refinement
Continuous optimisation of each channel based on data and insights.
Growth Acceleration
Identifying opportunities to scale winning initiatives.
Team Development
Building your internal marketing expertise for long-term success
Tangible impact all day, every day
FAQs
Why can't we just hire a full-time CMO?
The average CMO salary in Australia is $225,000 - and that’s before you add superannuation, bonuses, benefits, annual and sick leave, and a potential recruiter fee (which could be 15-20% on its own). It’s a lot of cost - and a lot of risk.
Then there’s the opportunity cost of the time you’ll lose. Recruiting a CMO can take months, and they’re likely to have a lengthy notice period given their seniority. It could be six months before they’re onboarded and start making changes. That’s a lot of lost time where you could’ve been generating momentum and revenue.
So could you hire a full-time CMO? Of course. Does it make sense? As long as you’re comfortable with the financial outlay, the lost time and the risks.
Our Virtual CMO service gives you access to the same level of expertise (if not better) at a fraction of the cost - and we could start tomorrow. We’ll produce a powerful marketing engine that any future full-time CMO can easily build on.
How much does a Virtual CMO cost?
The investment varies based on your needs, but you should be prepared for a minimum of $6,400 per month (or $76,800 per year). So by the time you add in a full-time CMO’s superannuation, bonuses, benefits, annual and sick leave, plus a recruiter fee, it’s almost 75% cheaper to hire a Virtual CMO. That’s a significant saving for your company, without needing to compromise on quality or output.
How much time will our Virtual CMO dedicate to our business every month?
Most engagements involve 15 - 20 hours per month of high-impact strategic work, but the final number will be agreed on based on your needs, your goals and your budget.
How long does a typical Virtual CMO engagement last?
Most clients work with us for at least 6-12 months to allow time for the strategy to really build its roots and start generating wins, though many continue working with us for the long-term because they see enormous value in this arrangement.
Do we need to have an internal marketing team already?
Having an internal team isn’t necessary. Our Virtual CMOs can work with your existing team or we can help you build one, including recommending and managing external resources like agencies and freelancers.
What if we eventually want to hire a full-time CMO?
Many clients use our service as a bridge to building an internal marketing function. We can help prepare your organisation and even assist with recruiting when you're ready.
How do you ensure effective communication in a virtual environment?
We've mastered the art of digital collaboration, which has been normalised and made easier in a post-pandemic world. Through video conferences, group chats, project management tools, AI notetakers and clear communication protocols, distance becomes irrelevant. In fact, many clients find our virtual setup more efficient than traditional in-person meetings because they’re built to be as focused, productive and effective as possible.
What if we need someone to physically implement our day-to-day marketing?
That's not our game. We’re not going to run your Google Ads campaign, write code for your new website or design logo concepts for your new branding.
Our role is the same as any other senior marketer or CMO - we’re accountable for the performance of your marketing strategy, and by extension the growth of your business.
We're here to provide strategic direction and leadership - the "what" and "why" of your marketing. We'll help you identify, build, and manage the team that handles operational execution, while we focus on the big moves that drive real growth.
How do you measure success?
We establish and clearly define performance indicators at the outset based on your business objectives. Whether it's growing revenue, market share or brand awareness, we tie our success directly to your bottom line.
What happens if we’re not seeing the results we expected?
Unlike a full-time hire, you don’t have an employment agreement complicating the decision to remove us. We operate on quarterly agreements because we believe in earning our keep. If we're not delivering value, you're free to walk away. It’s that simple.
Do you sign non-disclosure agreements?
Absolutely. We maintain strict confidentiality for all client information and will sign standard NDAs before beginning work.
Will our Virtual CMO work with other companies in our industry?
We maintain strict conflict of interest policies and will not work with direct competitors during your engagement.
Are there specific industries you specialise in?
While we don’t have a specific industry we specialise in, VCMO’s team has a broad range of experience covering almost every vertical. So we’ll do our best to match you with a Virtual CMO who has experience that matches your needs.
Our company is still pretty small. Would you work with us?
This is what our ideal client looks like:
- At least $5 million per year in revenue (or if you’re a startup, at least $2 million in funding)
- Ambitious and wanting to rapidly grow revenue by 2-3x
- Either B2B or service-based
- No CMO or senior marketing leader at the organisation
Having said that, if you’re a B2C or ecommerce business with less than $5 million in revenue, then it’s still definitely worth reaching out. At the end of the day, we love working with kind, collaborative, ambitious people. And if we can find a way to help, then we will.
Let our team take you from challenger to champion
