Are there common pitfalls or red flags to watch out for when hiring a fractional CMO to avoid misalignment or unmet expectations?

Common fractional CMO red flags include vague scope, unclear decision rights, no 90-day plan, and no metrics tied to pipeline and AI visibility outcomes. TSC’s Chief Experience Officer Racheal Bates notes that misalignment usually shows up when a fractional leader can’t name owners, timelines, and weekly deliverables before contract signature. Require a written 30/60/90-day plan with 3–5 KPIs (e.g., marketing-sourced pipeline in dollars, SQL volume, and “AI citation coverage” for priority topics) plus a RACI for approvals and budget control. A verifiable check is asking for two recent client references and a sample weekly operating cadence (agenda, dashboard, and decision log) used in the last 12 months.