Fractional marketing director for UK SMEs
Senior marketing thinking. Hands-on delivery.
I decipher what your marketing needs to say and do, then deliver it. Strategy, branding, websites, content and tender writing, without the cost of a £100k full-time hire.
I work differently. I stay close to the work. I develop the strategy, then carry that thinking through your positioning, brand, website, content and campaigns myself.
When something genuinely needs a specialist, I bring in the right person, rather than pretending I can do absolutely everything.
Fewer handovers, less lost in translation. One person keeping hold of the thread. Quite often, that means doing fewer things, better.
Strategy without the hand-off
There's a familiar problem with marketing consultancy. Someone develops the strategy. Then you need an agency, a designer, a copywriter, a web developer or your already-busy team to turn it into something useful.
For an SME, that gets expensive and complicated surprisingly quickly.
Not sure which you need?
What does your marketing really need?
Probably not more stuff. The challenge for most SMEs isn't finding more marketing to do. It's deciding which of it matters.
Defined projects
Fixed-price strategy, brand, website, content and tender projects, typically 6 to 12 weeks.
Ongoing fractional support
Regular senior involvement, from one day per month: setting priorities, making decisions, managing activity and keeping your marketing moving in the right direction.
Fractional when you need it. Project-based when you don't.
Not every SME needs a full-time marketing director. Fractional support works best for businesses that need senior input but aren't ready to make that hire.
Usually that means one of two kinds of businesses:
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Established SMEs where marketing is happening, but it isn't connected to positioning, growth or the right audiences.
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New and emerging businesses that need brand identity, website and content built from scratch, and done the first time properly.
No enormous retained agency team. No predetermined programme of activity. We start by figuring out what you need.
Marc is excellent to work with, providing us with a very well-designed website, delivered on time. He also offered a lot of additional technical advice and insights to improve the performance of the website. We certainly will work with Marc on future projects."
DAN JOHNSON,
Founder, Placemaking London (Saluura)
One of the very best marketing leaders in his field, combining that rare blend of strategy and commercial nous with proper execution… If you're a PE/VC-backed business leader or owner-manager who needs a proven, ROI-focused hand without the full-time overhead, I highly recommend a talk with Marc."
ROB GILBERT
Managing Director, Commercial & Infrastructure, TotalMobile
Marc Bates, fractional marketing director
I've spent more than 20 years in marketing, advertising, publishing, design, digital and content.
Today I bring that experience to UK SMEs that need senior marketing thinking without building a large marketing function around it. I'm based in Docklands, East London, and work with businesses across the UK.
Working with Marc on a new brand identity for Rubikon Consulting Ltd was an absolute pleasure. The process was thoughtful, collaborative and efficient, and the end result feels perfectly aligned with who I am and how I work as a consultant."
ROB KIDD
Founder, Rubikon Consulting
Saluura (Placemaking London) →
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You probably don't need more marketing. You need the right marketing.
If your marketing feels fragmented, your website or brand has fallen behind the business, or you simply need an experienced pair of eyes on what happens next, let's talk.
No pitch. No pressure. Just a conversation about whether I can help.