🚀 What Is Fractional Marketing?
Fractional marketing is the modern answer to an old problem: how do you scale marketing without hiring a full team?
Instead of committing to full-time hires or expensive agencies, fractional marketing lets you access experienced marketing talent — on demand.
You can bring in a Fractional Marketing Director, Fractional CMO, or specialist freelancers for just a few days a month, or for key growth projects.
At Unhidden, we help companies do exactly that.
We connect brands with vetted freelance and fractional marketing talent — people who’ve worked with fast-growing startups, agencies, and in-house teams — ready to make an impact immediately.
👉 Learn more: What Is Fractional Marketing?
📈 The Rise of Fractional Marketing in 2025
The way businesses build teams is changing fast.
Over the last few years, searches for fractional CMO and fractional marketing director have grown dramatically — reflecting how companies are rethinking how they hire.
Post-2020, many startups and scaleups discovered that they don’t always need a full-time marketing department — they need results delivered by senior marketers who can plug in quickly.
According to LinkedIn data, demand for fractional talent has more than doubled since 2022, and marketing roles are among the fastest-growing categories.
Fractional models are now used by:
- SaaS founders launching new products
- E-commerce and D2C brands scaling their campaigns
- Agencies needing extra capacity
- Corporate marketing teams during transitions or new initiatives
Fractional hiring isn’t a stopgap — it’s a strategic advantage.
💼 Why Companies Are Moving Toward Fractional Talent
The world of work has changed.
Hiring cycles are long. Marketing demands move fast. And budgets are tight.
That’s why forward-thinking founders and CMOs are increasingly turning to fractional and freelance marketers.
Here’s what’s driving the shift:
- Speed: Access experienced marketers in days, not months.
- Flexibility: Scale up or down as projects change.
- Cost efficiency: Pay only for the expertise you need.
- Proven results: Work with specialists who’ve delivered across multiple brands and sectors.
👉 See how to Hire a Fractional Marketing Director →
🧩 Fractional vs Agency vs In-House
Businesses now have more options than ever — but not all give the same level of agility, cost efficiency, or impact.
Here’s how fractional marketing compares:
| Option | Speed | Cost | Control | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional Marketing | ✅ Fast | 💰 Cost-effective | ✅ High | Growth-stage businesses needing expertise quickly |
| Agency | ⚙️ Medium | 💸 High | ❌ Less | Campaign delivery and execution |
| In-House Hire | 🕒 Slow | 💸💸 High | ✅ High | Large or established teams with long-term needs |
Fractional marketing gives you the best of both worlds — high-level expertise with flexibility and control. You get leadership-level strategy or hands-on execution without long-term contracts.
🎯 Roles We Support
Whether you need someone to set direction or execute fast, fractional marketing gives you the flexibility to build the right team at the right time.
At Unhidden, we place:
- Fractional CMOs
- Fractional Marketing Directors
- Content & Brand Strategists
- Paid Media and Growth Experts
- Freelance Copywriters, Designers, and Digital Marketers
👉 Meet Our Fractional Marketing Directors →
⚙️ How It Works
1️⃣ Tell us what you need — growth, brand, content, or performance.
2️⃣ We shortlist talent — vetted marketers matched by experience and fit.
3️⃣ You meet your match — we handle intros, contracts, and onboarding.
4️⃣ Start fast — most clients meet candidates within 48 hours.
We combine the flexibility of freelancing with the reliability of recruitment, giving you a smarter, faster way to hire.
👉 Explore The Unhidden Fractional Marketing Collective →
💡 Real-World Examples
Example 1: A SaaS startup hired a Fractional CMO two days a week to launch their product — increasing inbound leads by 40% in three months.
Example 2: A D2C brand brought in a freelance paid media lead for a six-week campaign, reducing cost-per-acquisition by 25%.
Example 3: A B2B agency used fractional content support to deliver client campaigns without hiring full-time staff.
Fractional models deliver speed, cost control, and immediate results — without the commitment of traditional hiring.
💬 Why Founders and CMOs Love Fractional Marketing
“We hired a fractional marketing lead through Unhidden — within a week, we had a campaign live. The flexibility and speed were a game changer.”
— Founder, SaaS company, London
Fractional marketing gives growing businesses the ability to:
- Access top-tier expertise usually reserved for large teams.
- Fill marketing gaps during transitions or product launches.
- Build an elastic, efficient marketing function.
- Focus on growth — not recruitment.
❓ Fractional Marketing FAQs
What does a fractional marketer do?
A fractional marketer provides high-level or specialist marketing expertise on a part-time or project basis — helping companies grow without full-time overheads.
How much does fractional marketing cost?
Rates vary by seniority and scope, typically between £100–£600 per day for experienced specialists.
Is fractional marketing just freelancing?
Not exactly. Fractional marketers often take leadership or strategic roles — like CMOs or Marketing Directors — while freelancers typically focus on execution.
How quickly can I hire a fractional marketer?
With Unhidden, you can meet pre-vetted candidates within 48 hours and start work within a week.
What types of companies use fractional marketing?
Fast-growing SaaS, eCommerce, agencies, and professional services firms are the most common — but any business needing senior marketing support without full-time cost can benefit.