Here’s a little secret every fractional CMO or marketing strategist should know: nobody knows everything.
Nobody is an expert at all the channels. Nobody is perfectly creative AND technical. Nobody is a one-stop-shop— although many can do a little bit of everything.
To be successful in this role, you need to at minimum have these four traits:
- You need to be very strong in at least one or two core areas
- You need to know how to hire for your weaknesses
- You need to understand how business works
- You need to know how to manage all the pieces
Just like entrepreneurs can’t do everything needed to run their business effectively, you can’t and shouldn’t be expected to know how to do everything yourself.
In-house CMO’s can’t do everything, either, by the way.
That said, you should know how to do this one thing really well: get results for a specific kind of client.
As long as you get real results, compensate for your weaknesses with good hires, and have a system for managing the entire process, you’re well-equipped to lead your clients’ marketing strategy.
Easier said than done, yes. But you have permission to not know everything.
Nobody knows everything.