Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey shares how you can start solving bigger problems by thinking bigger and eliminating the smaller things that keep you from thinking big. 

Takeaways:

• Thinking about your future requires you to break out of the mindset of linear growth. Strive to envision your future in more significant terms. Where do you want to be 25 years from now?

• Identify and solve big problems. Focusing on solving significant problems can lead to substantial progress. This includes not just identifying these issues but also determining the best ways to solve them.

• Find solutions for smaller problems that will either take care of them once and for all or can be outsourced so you keep your time and energy focused on solving bigger problems both in your life and as a Fractional CMO.

• To free up time for strategic thinking, delegate operational and routine tasks. It's essential to delegate tasks and not just responsibility, enabling you to focus on more high-impact work.

• By simplifying the ways that team members report to you, you can be more effective. Simplified reporting structures can also reduce the burden on leaders.

• A crucial role for Fractional CMOs is to predict the future using data. This involves staying ahead of trends, technology, and market shifts and being proactive in responding to them.

• Continuously monitor your market and industry. Be aware of changes and developments in your niche to stay ahead of competitors and adapt your marketing strategies.

Quote of the Show:

• “Solving the problem isn't becoming an expert in every single piece of marketing technology; Solving the problem is identifying the problem and figuring out who can solve it.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Shoutouts: 

• 10X IS EASIER THAN 2X by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

• Personality Isn't Permanent by Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/xPxMCFSCmA8 

Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey shares what he learned while at Copy Chief Live about the value that Fractional Chief Marketing Officers provide to their clients. Casey also dives into why your fractional clients need to be the leader of their marketing team rather than just another person who can complete small marketing tasks.

Takeaways:

• Great copywriters understand the buyer's pain points and they can craft copy that highlights those pain points in such an emotionally impactful way that the buyer then wants to buy that solution to their pain points.

• Two things that aren’t required for great copy are an amazing funnel and every copywriting trick in the book. Great copy should be able to stand on its own. For example, it could be part of a direct mailer, a long-form webpage, or a YouTube video. 

• Fractional clients that are personally involved in delivering value for their customer needs their Factional CMO to come into their organization and be the leader of the marketing team. They need to lead the rest of the business, they don’t have time to lead the marketing team.

• While you might be able to do X marketing task, it’s likely a better use of time to have someone on your team address X task, so you can give the rest of the marketing team their assignments so you can solve bigger problems. 

• For example, a military general should spend most of their time at the frontline of the battle with a rifle in their hand, their job is to devise the best plan to accomplish their goal. Likewise, a marketing leader's primary responsibility is making smart decisions, and they should avoid getting involved in every detail of marketing.

• Once you stop being the do-er of every marketing task and become the marketing leader that your fractional client needs you to be, you will become more valuable to them which will result in higher paychecks for you. 

Quote of the Show:

• “Copywriters matched with a good product team can make beautiful things happen.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Shoutouts: 

• Copy Chief Live - Event in Nashville, TN

• Kevin Rogers - Founder of Copy Chief Live

• Example of Video Sales Letter from Gundry MD: https://www2.enrichyourfood.com/video220413a_ap/?sessionid=1561352762079 

• Jeff Walker - Creator of the Product Launch Formula

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/xPxMCFSCmA8

Yes, going down rabbit holes can be fun, but it’s usually not efficient. Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey delves into why the simplest solution is better than the complex, fun solution and how this applies to solving bigger problems for your client businesses.

Takeaways:

• While you may enjoy complex solutions or processes if there is a simpler process that produces the same results, just with less fun, you should choose the simpler solution. If you are only being measured on delivering X result, then you should focus on delivering that result, rather than how creative you can make the process to get to that result.

• Uncover which specific outcome is the most important and concentrate on achieving that fundamental goal.

• For Fractional CMOs in particular, the outcomes that your clients want most are likely to be sales outcomes, not marketing outcomes. Don’t get dragged down into the details of tactics used to achieve those outcomes, stay elevated so you can solve bigger problems.

• In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." There is elegance in simple, effective solutions. For example, if you struggle to explain your client’s core business, you should boil the concepts down further. 

• Prioritize actions and strategies that directly impact customer acquisition and retention. These are fundamental to any business.

• Focus on mastering a few things well. It’s better to do a few things in marketing exceptionally well rather than attempting to become an expert in everything all at once.

Quote of the Show:

• “Don't do everything all at once, keep it really simple so you can maximize the results wherever you are.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/7I5oIKLuOaA

What is the number one campaign to run when joining a new client as a Fractional CMO? Track EVERYTHING. Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey breaks down why you need to track every aspect of your marketing efforts, from traffic sources to conversions, and how to do it.

Takeaways:

• Use UTMs: Utilize UTM (Urchine Tracking Metric) parameters to track the sources, mediums, and campaigns that drive traffic to your website.

• Consider using vanity URLs to easily redirect and track the effectiveness of specific campaigns or traffic sources. For example, fractionalcmoshow.com redirects to cmox.co/podcast.

• Implement a data warehouse to centralize and organize all collected data for better reporting and analysis.

• Attribute customer actions to specific marketing efforts to understand which channels are most effective. Don’t rely on customers to tell you where they came from, use UTMs to know where they came from.

• Continuously monitor and review your tracking efforts to identify gaps and areas for improvement. While UTMs and site traffic don’t need to be checked weekly, you should definitely be checking it at least every quarter.

• As a CMO, it’s up to you to ensure that tracking and data collection are prioritized throughout the organization. Educate your team and clients about the importance of tracking, and make it a fundamental part of your marketing strategy.

• Tracking provides reliable data that will reveal valuable insights in the long term, helping to make informed decisions about marketing strategies.

Quote of the Show:

• “Track literally everything you can.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

• Data Warehouse: https://cmox.co/podcast/fractionalcmoshow-ep67/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/xPxMCFSCmA8

Next quarter is getting closer by the second, so what should you be thinking about now to set up your future success? Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey looks ahead to next quarter and shares the questions you should be asking as a marketing leader today to ensure your success in the future.

Takeaways:

• Do your clients sell a product? A savvy CMO should be aware of supply chain issues, especially those related to manufacturing and shipping, as these can impact your clients’ businesses.

• With Q4 looming, Fractional CMOs should proactively ask clients about their Q4 targets and what success looks like for them. This helps in preparing marketing strategies accordingly.

• If your Fractional client’s business regularly experiences seasonal fluctuations, make sure that you are well-prepared to face them. What can you do now to make the most of the seasonal high when it hits to also help cover the impact of seasonal lows?

• If you know that a seasonal boom will require everyone on your team to go above and beyond and work late consistently, what can you do now to foster your relationship with them? For example, you could give them time off before or after the rush.

• Develop a “Die-on-the-Hill” marketing strategy that you can have full confidence in. This should be based on extensive research, planning, and conviction. Consider the growth goals of the CEO and determine the best path to accomplish them. If new information surfaces, you should examine it and then reassess your position.

• Build a future for your employees that can accommodate the achievement of their dreams and aspirations. If the future you paint for employees is too small, they will begin to feel stuck and boxed in by the ceiling of this future which will prompt them to look for other work. Your vision should be grand enough that employees can attain their goals within it.

• As a Fractional CMO, your job is to keep creating bigger outcomes. This means identifying what the executives want, distilling that into the marketing outcomes required, and then driving towards that. In essence, your job is to be challenged by the executive team to do X, figure out how to do X, and then execute your plan to achieve X.

Quote of the Show:

• “How do you get to be a strong leader? Ask big questions from the executive team.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/xis-nfwzkD0 

Success as a Fractional CMO is rooted in having a healthy and balanced mindset throughout the ups and downs of life and business. Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey discusses how to cultivate a balanced and mindful approach in your Fractional CMO practice, why you celebrate your success in moderation, and the importance of practicing empathetic joy.

Takeaways:

• Embrace the Buddhist concept of equanimity – maintaining emotional balance in the face of highs and lows. This mindset can help you navigate the uncertainties of the marketing world.

• Cultivate a sense of calm and levelheadedness during both successful and challenging times. This will enable you to make more rational decisions and manage stress effectively.

• Prepare for the highs and lows inherent in business. Recognize that being a Fractional CMO for multiple clients comes with highs and lows. Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally to handle both success and setbacks.

• Shift your focus from outcome-based success to the intention and effort you put into your work. This can help you stay motivated and resilient regardless of the immediate results.

• Celebrate your wins, both small and large, but don’t rest on your laurels. Celebrating your efforts will boost your confidence and motivation to continue pushing forward.

• Embrace the learning process by remaining open to feedback and refining your strategies. This willingness to adapt and learn will set you apart as a dynamic marketing leader.

• Practice empathetic joy by genuinely celebrating the successes of your team members and colleagues. This fosters a positive environment and strengthens team relationships.

• Aim to find a balance between your professional and personal life. Prioritize self-care, family time, and hobbies, which will enhance your overall well-being and effectiveness as a leader.

Quote of the Show:

• “Keep going and don't think that you will arrive. You're never going to be there. The moment doesn't last for long.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/xPxMCFSCmA8

How do you innovate as the Chief Marketing Officer of a company that you are just stepping into? Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey discusses when CMOs should start to innovate, how not to innovate, and two approaches to finding novel solutions that enable your to solve bigger problems.

Takeaways:

• There are few opportunities for a new CMO to innovate within the first quarter of their tenure. The focus of this period should be on aligning their team and ensuring person and role fit. A certain amount of triaging is also a necessary part of this stage.

• You don’t innovate by copying others. It’s impossible to copy what another company is doing and expect to be seen as the leader. By relying on copying them, you are always behind them.

• Rather than copying another company’s actions, instead try to emulate how they think and approach problems. What do they hold to be true? What constraints have they put in place? By recreating their process of thinking, you can produce much greater results.

• A few ways to understand someone else’s thought process include listening to their podcast appearance, watching their TED Talks, reading their blogs, or even examining their career.

• An important way to drive innovation is to have a process to follow. The first step of the process is to identify the problem. Next, define what success looks like. Then figure out how to innovate a solution to solve the problem and meet the success criteria.

• When innovating, try to look at the problem from every considerable angle to find multiple possible solutions. Also, consider the Kaizen approach that focuses on constantly making minor improvements, these will build to a great impact over time.

Quote of the Show:

• “How do you innovate? It's not by copying what they've done, but trying to emulate how they think.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

• Internet Archive website: https://archive.org/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/ThocrAzXcMg 

You’ll almost never force yourself to really take a risk and act boldly if you know you can just turn around and go home. Casey Stanton is the Founder of CMOx, a Fractional CMO, and author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, The Fractional CMO Method. This week, Casey discusses the importance of fully committing to your choices, why you should start making changes now rather than later, and which mistakes you can learn from others so as not to follow in their poorly trod footsteps.

Takeaways:

• Embrace the idea of committing fully to your goals. Burn the bridges behind you and remove any safety nets to ensure you're fully invested in your success as a senior marketing leader.

• Challenges and tough moments are valuable opportunities for growth. Although you might feel like you are hitting your lowest point, the adversity you face can lead to a reinvigorated belief in yourself and your capabilities.

• Don't wait for a critical moment of failure to spur action. Instead, proactively work towards your goals to avoid unnecessary stress and setbacks. Start making the changes you want to implement today, this will get you closer to your goal even faster.

• Look to successful fractional CMOs who have paved the way before you. Learn from their experiences to fast-track your own growth and success.

• Shift your focus from tasks to results. Prioritize projects and strategies that lead to tangible outcomes and impact for your clients.

• Develop a consistent and reliable pipeline of potential clients. Cultivate relationships and a strong reputation to attract new business opportunities.

• Stand out by offering something distinctive. Highlight your expertise, strengths, and specialized skills that make you a sought-after senior marketing leader.

Quote of the Show:

• “The only path is forward and you have to build to get the outcome that you want. If you're willing to do that, you will be successful. It is inevitable that you'll be successful. It is inevitable that you'll work every day on it because you are excited about it.” - Casey Stanton

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyStanton

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseystanton/

• CMOx Website: https://cmox.co/call 

• The Fractional CMO Method: https://cmox.co/book/

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/039bc2d6-c1b5-4ced-ac2a-437e69546e7c/fractional-cmo-show

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractional-cmo-show/id1592740671

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1HGwnjsXA4c4gYQvj4w53E?si=bd6e0908e25749ec

• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmFjdGlvbmFsY21vLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlpNDTveb0AhUXEFkFHaZcDtYQ9sEGegQIARAC

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/cN8Q0bSegpk