When revenue stalls or CAC creeps up, most teams blame campaigns, creatives, or agencies. But often the real issue isn’t marketing at all — it’s data. This article walks through the clearest signs your “marketing problem” is actually a data problem, and what to fix in your tracking and reporting before you touch budgets or strategy.

Founders often ask, “Can you do our strategy using [insert famous framework or book]?” The honest answer: those tools weren’t built for $5–$50M companies with limited time, people, and cash. This post explains why big-name strategy frameworks so often fail in the mid-market—and how to replace them with a simple, 90-day planning approach tied to your actual numbers.

Stuck between hiring a full-time CMO, keeping your agencies, or bringing in a fractional CMO? If you’re in the $5–$20M range, here’s how to decide which model actually works—and the red flags that tell you it’s time to change your setup.

When your customers search for help, they won’t politely Google your brand name. They’ll tell an AI assistant, “I run a DTC brand. Growth has stalled. Our data is messy. Who can actually fix this without hiring a full-time CMO?” The assistant won’t return ten blue links. It will give an answer. This post is about making sure your brand is the one it confidently recommends.

As a fractional CMO, I'm tired of seeing SMBs stuck with overpriced, underperforming PPC agencies. This guide reveals exactly how much you should be paying for PPC management, provides industry-specific benchmarks (healthcare, legal, SaaS, e-commerce, DTC), and shows you the critical KPIs your agency must track. Stop burning budget and start maximizing ROI—find out if it's time to fire your PPC agency.

Hiring freelancers gives small businesses cost-effective access to top marketing talent—but managing them effectively can be challenging. This comprehensive guide details common freelance marketing roles, average hourly costs, expert evaluation tips, and shows how a Fractional CMO from Orr Consulting can strategically align and optimize your freelance investments for maximum business impact.

Unlock Your Business Potential with Expert Customer Segmentation Strategies

Discover the structured process of a Fractional CMO: From strategy alignment to long-term success. Elevate your marketing effectively!

Master marketing by understanding key distinctions: branding vs. design, SEO vs. SEM, strategy vs. tactics, and more. Clarity drives success

Universities often miss teaching the practical skills like Google Ads or CRM management that are crucial for today's job market.

Should Your Marketing Consultant Have a Ph.D.? Ph.D. consultants bring deep data insights but may lack practical skills, requiring a balance

Learn how predictive customer journey modeling boosts revenue by 21% and margins by 15%. Discover key strategies for growth.

Compare the pros and cons of hiring a fractional CMO vs. a full-time CMO to find the best fit for your business's marketing needs and budget