You don’t need another agency promising ROAS.
You need leadership.
I say that not to be flippant — but because I’ve seen behind the curtain.
I’ve worked with founders doing $3M to $30M+ in annual revenue across DTC health, MedTech, and regulated wellness categories. And the same pattern repeats:
They hire an agency.
The agency runs ads.
Maybe they build a funnel.
But the results are flat. The strategy’s vague. And no one’s really accountable.
So they switch agencies. Again. And again.
Until finally they realize what they’re missing isn’t execution — it’s orchestration.
What Most Agencies Actually Do
Let’s be honest about the agency model.
Most agencies are built for deliverables, not decisions.
They offer:
- Media buying or creative packages
- Monthly reporting
- Maybe a Slack channel and a few Looms
What they rarely offer is ownership of outcome.
Agencies will ask things like:
“What’s your CPA target?”
“What’s your ideal funnel flow?”
“Can you send over the offer brief?”
But what if you’re not sure?
What if your margins, offer, and funnel have evolved… but no one’s stepped back to reassess the whole system?
That’s not their job — and it’s not their fault.
They’re a vendor, not a growth architect.
What a Fractional CMO Actually Does
When you bring me in as a Fractional CMO, the dynamic flips.
You’re not buying tasks. You’re gaining a partner who:
- Thinks like a founder
- Operates like a strategist
- Acts like an owner
Here’s what that actually looks like:
1. Diagnose the Real Bottlenecks
Most founders think they have a traffic or conversion problem.
What they actually have is a positioning or economics problem.
I run a full Growth Clarity Diagnostic™ to assess:
- Where you’re leaking revenue
- Where your funnel’s friction lives
- Where your LTV isn’t compounding
- Whether you’re even marketing the right product for the right phase of the market
2. Architect a Scale-Ready Plan
Once we’ve identified the blockages, we don’t “try stuff” — we build a sequence that makes financial, operational, and compliance sense.
You get a roadmap that factors in:
- CAC vs. contribution margin
- Compliance and FDA language guardrails
- Organic and paid synergy
- Retention and post-purchase monetization
3. Lead Execution with Accountability
I don’t give your team “recommendations” — I lead execution.
That may include working alongside your internal team, external vendors, or hiring new players.
- Set the KPIs
- Lead the strategy
- Optimize campaigns
- Push back when things are misaligned
- Drive revenue outcomes
That’s what makes it different.
When to Work With an Agency (and When Not To)
Agencies are fine when the strategy is locked, the funnel is proven, and you just need someone to press the gas on ads or creative.
But they struggle when:
- You don’t have product-channel-message fit
- You’re entering a regulated space
- You’re pivoting offers, messaging, or pricing
- Your results are stuck, but you can’t see why
If your revenue feels capped and you're testing tactics instead of pulling levers — you don’t need more help doing.
You need better thinking at the top.
The CMO Advantage in Regulated and Complex Markets
Let’s get specific.
I don’t just run strategy. I’ve built and scaled:
- FDA-registered microneedling devices → scaled → acquired
- National telehealth platforms → GLP-1s, TRT, men’s health
- Supplement brands → $82M+ revenue, ClickBank bestseller
- DTC health offers → scaled from scratch to $47M+ in 12 months
- Worked with FDA attorneys, compliance reviewers, and regulatory consultants
If your agency doesn’t understand:
- 501(k) vs. FDA registered
- How to market without triggering red flags
- How compliance intersects with CRO and retention…
They’ll stall. Or worse, create legal risk while burning your ad budget.
So… Which One Actually Moves the Needle?
If you’re looking for volume — hire an agency.
If you’re ready for velocity — hire a CMO.
You don’t need more ad copy.
You need strategic pressure on the right levers:
- Your offer structure
- Your funnel design
- Your margin profile
- Your media mix
- Your execution rhythm
- Your customer’s belief journey
That’s what a great Fractional CMO gives you — clarity, control, and compounding growth.
Bottom Line
If you’re still asking:
“Should we try TikTok ads?”
“Maybe we just need a new funnel…”
You’re not ready.
But if you’re asking:
“Why haven’t we hit $30M yet?”
“Where is growth stuck — and how do we fix it without wasting another 6 months?”
Then it’s time to talk.
Want to see what’s actually stalling your growth?
Book a Growth Clarity Diagnostic™ and get a roadmap to profitable scale.
→ Book the Diagnostic
