Fractional Search Leadership
Fractional SEO leadership, without the full-time hire
A fractional SEO consultant who sets strategy, runs priorities and guides your team, part time. Leadership sized to what you actually need.
- One owner for search from week one
- Clear priorities your team and agency follow
- Leadership updates in plain language
- Average client tenure
- 3+ yearsAverage client tenure
- Brands served
- 20+Brands served
- Agencies served
- 5+Agencies served
- Of SEO experience
- 13 yearsOf SEO experience
Why it matters
You need a head of SEO, maybe not a full-time one
Hiring a full-time head of SEO takes months and a senior salary. Plenty of teams don't need 40 hours a week of strategy. They need someone to set direction, make the calls and keep the work moving.
Fractional SEO gives you that. We join your team on a part-time basis, own the strategy, run priorities with your writers, developers and agency, and report to leadership. When you're ready to hire full time, we help you find and onboard the right person.
Best when
When fractional fits
- A full-time head of SEO isn't in the budget. You still need someone setting direction, or the budget gets spread thin.
- You have doers but no direction. Writers, developers or an agency are ready, but nobody is setting priorities.
- You're between hires. You want leadership in place while you search, without rushing the hire.
- Your agency needs a counterpart. Someone on your side has to direct the work and hold it to a standard.
What you get
What a fractional head of SEO covers
- Strategy ownershipOne person accountable for your SEO and GEO strategy.
- Monthly prioritiesA rolling roadmap that says what gets done this month and why.
- Team and agency directionBriefs, reviews and working sessions that keep everyone pointed the same way.
- Leadership reportingA monthly summary of what moved, what didn't and what's next.
- Hiring supportHelp scoping roles, interviewing candidates and onboarding your next SEO hire.
- Counsel on callQuick answers by email or Slack when a launch, a ranking drop or a vendor pitch comes up.
How it works
How it works
- Month 1Evaluate and plan
A fast review of where things stand, then a 90-day plan.
- Every monthRun the program
Set priorities, review work, unblock your team and report to leadership.
- Every quarterReview and reset
Check results against the plan and adjust the roadmap.
- When you hireHand off
Help you hire, then transition the program to your new lead.
At a glance
What working together looks like
- Length
- Three-month minimum, then month to month
- Time
- Scoped to your goals and team
- Cadence
- Weekly team check-in, monthly leadership report
- Who you work with
- Max Cowan
- Works alongside
- Your in-house team, agency and developers
- Investment
- Monthly retainer, starting at $5,000
Proof
Leadership that stays the course
During a major replatform and product reorg at an enterprise security software company, we stepped in as the team's fractional SEO lead. We ran the traffic impact analyses, guided URL structure and product naming decisions, and kept day-to-day SEO work moving for a short-handed team.
- Average client tenure
- 3+ yearsAverage client tenure
- Brands served
- 20+Brands served
- Agencies served
- 5+Agencies served
- Of SEO experience
- 13 yearsOf SEO experience
FAQ
Questions about Fractional Search Leadership
What is fractional SEO?
Fractional SEO is SEO leadership on a part-time basis. A fractional SEO consultant acts as your head of SEO, owning strategy and priorities without a full-time salary.
How is a fractional SEO consultant different from an agency?
An agency is usually hired to produce work. A fractional lead sits on your side of the table, setting direction, making the calls and holding all the work, an agency's included, to a standard.
How much time do we get each month?
We scope time around your goals and your team, then adjust as needs change. You can scale up for a launch or a migration.
Can you manage our in-house team?
Yes. We set priorities, review work and coach your team day to day, while line management stays with you.
How long do fractional engagements last?
Most run six months or longer. Engagements start with a three-month minimum, then go month to month.
Next step
Put someone in charge of search this month
Tell us about your team and what's stuck. We'll suggest a shape that fits.
- Tell us what's going onIt takes about two minutes.
- Talk with MaxA 30-minute call with Max to dig into the details.
- Get a clear next stepA short written recommendation, whether or not we work together.