I am (still) Important!

In partnership with

The role of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is evolving fast in 2025. No longer just brand builders, today’s CMOs are expected to drive revenue, shape customer experience, and even influence product development.

For small business owners, this shift presents a huge opportunity. With the right CMO—whether full-time or fractional—you can leverage high-level marketing expertise to accelerate growth without the overhead of a full-time executive.

Let’s break it down.

What’s Changing for CMOs in 2025?

1. A Bigger Role in Business Strategy
Marketing is no longer just about ads and social media—it’s about growth. CMOs are now expected to:

• Understand financial metrics and prove marketing’s impact on revenue.

• Use AI and analytics to drive personalization and improve customer experience.

• Influence product innovation based on market insights.

2. The Data and Privacy Challenge
With stricter data privacy laws and the decline of third-party cookies, CMOs must pivot:

• First-party data strategies are becoming essential.

• AI-driven personalization must be balanced with strong data governance.

• Marketing teams need to be proactive about compliance to avoid legal risks.

3. The Rise of AI in Marketing
AI is changing the way businesses connect with customers. The best CMOs are:

• Using AI to enhance personalization, automate tasks, and predict customer behavior.

• Adapting to new search and social algorithms that prioritize AI-powered discovery.

• Building tech-savvy teams that can leverage data for smarter decision-making.

4. Pressure to Prove ROI
With economic uncertainty, CMOs face increasing pressure to justify marketing spend. Expect to see:

• A stronger focus on measurable results and marketing attribution.

• Tighter collaboration between marketing and sales to drive revenue.

• Greater reliance on AI-driven analytics to optimize budgets and performance.

5. The CMO as Sales Leader
The line between marketing and sales is blurring, and CMOs are taking a more active role in revenue generation. Here’s how they’re driving sales success:

• CMOs use data-driven insights to optimize the sales process.

• Leverage brand consistency, demand generation, and customer retention to create growth engines.

• Sales Distractions allowing sales teams to focus on closing deals instead of chasing unqualified leads.

  What This Means for Small Business Owners

If you’re running a small business, you might not have the budget for a full-time CMO. But that doesn’t mean you can’t tap into their expertise.

Fractional CMOs—experienced marketing leaders who work with multiple companies—are an ideal solution.

Here’s why:

✅ Strategic Guidance Without the Full-Time Cost
A fractional CMO can help you develop a clear marketing strategy, navigate industry trends, and build a strong brand—all without the expense of a full-time hire.

✅ Scalability and Flexibility
Need senior-level marketing leadership but not 40 hours a week? Fractional CMOs offer a cost-effective way to get expert insights while keeping expenses in check.

✅ Tech and Data-Driven Marketing
The best marketing decisions today are backed by data. A CMO can help you:

• Leverage AI and automation tools.

• Optimize your digital presence for AI-powered search and social discovery.

• Build data-driven campaigns that maximize ROI.

The Bottom Line

The CMO role is shifting in ways that directly benefit small businesses. Whether you bring in a full-time CMO or hire a fractional one, having strategic marketing leadership in 2025 isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity.

Thinking about bringing in a CMO to accelerate your growth? Let’s talk.

I have options for advisory and the Rising Tides team assists in creating focused growth engines around each marketing and sales division, creating unified growth systems for your business.

-Grady

Thanks for reading every week, I appreciate it.

Insider Marketing Newsletter Delivered to Your Inbox

Unlock expert marketing insights with Masters in Marketing by HubSpot!

This weekly newsletter brings you:

• Strategies straight from industry leaders like the NBA, Liquid Death & Oatly.

• Behind-the-scenes stories of campaigns that crushed it.

• Actionable tips to boost your results today.

Stay ahead in the ever-changing marketing world. Don’t miss out—subscribe now and level up your skills!

Subscribe Today