Recent reports state that the average tenure of a chief marketing officer (CMO) is now down to 18 - 24 months.

Given the risky investment this represents in terms of cost, commitment, resources and lost opportunity, the Virtual VP of Marketing model is becoming much more attractive.

What does Virtual VP of Marketing do?

• Help CEOs and other senior executives assess and define and rank their market opportunities.
• Develop go-to-market strategy and action plan with prioritized marketing initiatives.
• Manage or lead the execution of key marketing programs, from awareness to lead generation to drive customer acquisition and retention.
• Develop all creative materials (design, copywriting, Web sites) in direct support of marketing objectives.

Companies need Virtual VP of Marketing when:

• Their industry is getting more competitive.
• Their business is becoming more marketing-dependent.
• They need a fresh perspective that incorporates a healthy dose of customer feedback.
• The company hasn’t kept pace with its marketplace.
• The company can’t justify a full-time marketing executive to address its needs.

Click on the image below to view a common marketing leadership challenge faced by growth-stage firms:

(click image to enlarge)