A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader you share with other companies for a monthly fee, so you get the plan and the oversight without a full-time salary. At Trojan Digital Marketing that leader is Jeff Clerisier, who founded the company in March 2018. He also spent two years as Marketing Director and Assistant Store Manager at Georgetown Market in Indianapolis, from July 2023 to July 2025.
Questions, answered.
What does a fractional CMO cost?
It depends on the scope, so Jeff gives the price on a call after he learns what your business needs.
How is this different from hiring a marketing agency?
An agency usually sells a set service. A fractional CMO decides what your business should do next and makes sure it gets done, by our team or by the vendors you already use.
Can you work with our current agency or freelancer?
Yes. Managing other vendors is part of the role, so everyone works from the same plan and reports against the same numbers.
What do I get each month?
A written plan with priorities, the campaign work our team does under it, a budget set with you and a plain report on results.
Is business growth consulting a separate service?
It's part of the same role. Jeff reviews pricing, quote follow-up and office operations along with the marketing, since each one affects how many inquiries become paid jobs.
“…drove a noticeable uptick in leads within just a few weeks…”
“I had a great experience working with Jeff…”
We have more than 1,400 live websites.
We’re based in Indianapolis, where the city and Marion County share one government, Unigov.
We also work with clients across the United States.
What the role covers each month
Each month starts with a written plan that says what we'll work on, why it comes first and what it should cost. Our team then runs the SEO, ads and website work the plan calls for, so you aren't paying a strategist and then hiring a separate crew. If you already work with an agency, a freelancer or someone in house, Jeff manages that work too and keeps everyone on the same plan. He sets the marketing budget with you and reports results in plain terms, including what didn't work.
Growth advice that goes past marketing
More leads won't help much if quotes sit for a week or prices don't cover the job. That's why the role includes business growth consulting. Jeff looks at how you price, how your sales process follows up on quotes and how your office turns an inquiry into paid work. He reviews those alongside the marketing, since a fix in one often changes what the other should be.
Who it fits
It fits an Indianapolis business that has outgrown doing its own marketing but isn't ready to hire a full-time marketing director. You might be spending on ads without knowing what they bring back, or paying vendors who don't talk to each other. It's a weaker fit if you need someone in your office every day.
Free local help worth using too
- Business
- Start from the real business.
- Coverage
- Identify the places it actually serves.
- Office
- Do not turn a service area into an invented office.
Indianapolis has small business support that pairs well with paid help. The Indy Chamber's Business Ownership Initiative makes microloans from $1,000 to $50,000 and offers free business coaching, according to the Indy Chamber. Its Enterprise Corps program with the IU Kelley School of Business pairs small businesses with faculty coaches and MBA student teams, as the Kelley School describes it. We'll point you to them when they fit your plan.
How we start
We start with a call about your goals, your current marketing and what you spend on it. The price depends on the scope, so Jeff gives it on that call. If it's a fit, the first month's plan comes from what we find in your accounts and your numbers. You can read more about Jeff and the company before you book.
Sources & further reading
Talk with Trojan Digital Marketing
Based in Indianapolis, we serve central Indiana and clients across the United States.
