Marketing leadership for startups and emerging companies
Senior marketing leadership before you can hire a full-time CMO.
A startup needs marketing leadership long before it can afford a full-time CMO. Without it, the money goes to tactics: a logo, some ads, a website that sounds like every other startup, and no position underneath.
As a Fractional CMO I sit with the founders, set the position and the priorities, and build the brand and the growth system in the right order. When it needs execution, my SliiceXR team does the work.
The order matters more for a startup than for anyone. Position first, so the company knows what it is and who it is for. Brand and website second, so the market can see it. Demand third, so the money spent on attention has somewhere to land. Startups that do it backwards spend their runway on activity and cannot say what it bought.
Investors, early customers and hires all research a startup before they engage, and more of that research runs through AI assistants every month. A startup that states plainly what it does and for whom gets named. One that sounds like every other startup does not. I also shape the investor story, and my SliiceXR team produces the deck and the materials to the brand.
Brand identity, web design and development, content, SEO and AI search visibility, demand generation, campaigns, marketing technology and creative production all sit inside SliiceXR. One strategic relationship with me, and the resources to execute.
What Our Customers Say
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★★★★★
I've had the ongoing pleasure of working with Catherine on many projects and it's been a genuine delight. She is a wonderful, creative person with a deep appreciation for and understanding of marketing.
Rick Sametz· LinkedIn recommendation
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★★★★★
Catherine and I worked together for several years planning and executing corporate marketing strategies for enterprise-level companies. Catherine's unique talents present great opportunity for companies desiring to reshape global brands both online and offline. From defining clear, concise objectives and goals to guiding the multiple facets of a marketing campaign from inception to execution, Catherine outlines the pathway with vision of successful outcomes.
Gloria Massey, Real Estate Investments· LinkedIn recommendation
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★★★★★
Catherine was instrumental in establishing our website. Of greater import, she greatly aided us in gaining market awareness and capitalizing on the market recognition we already had. Besides the website, Catherine hosted a weekly podcast wherein we shared our views and insights regarding significant developments in our industry and their short- and long-term implications for our business and our clients.
Joshua Barone, Principal Wealth Manager at Savvy· LinkedIn recommendation
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★★★★★
I needed a website that captured me: a wicked combination of high energy, fun, and function. Catherine nailed it! LizGoodgold.com is crystal clear in its messaging and target thanks to Sliice Marketing; she bit into this project whole-heartedly and delivered. When you're ready for your website makeover, call Catherine!
Liz Goodgold, Brand and Growth Strategist· LinkedIn recommendation
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★★★★★
Catherine and the Team at SliiceXR are excellent to work with. They took the time to understand our needs, and execute our vision. Their constant support and patience in designing and adjusting a website that works for both our customers and employees has helped transform our business.
Andy Zafiropoulos, LibertyCFS· Client testimonial
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★★★★★
I have had the pleasure of working with Catherine and SLIICE Marketing for the last 8 months, I have found her to be smart, hardworking, and very knowledgeable. Catherine is professional and easy to work with, she understands marketing, branding, and how to put her clients in a winning position. I encourage you to have a discussion with her.
Patrick Spargur, Sales Consultant at CarMax· LinkedIn recommendation
How we help Startups and Emerging Companies
Brand Identity
You need a brand that investors, customers, and your team can repeat. This is what a brand identity built from positioning looks like for a startup or emerging company.
Web Design and Development
For founders of startups and emerging companies, this is what a growth-focused website looks like, built on strategy not tactics.
Content
You need words that put position first, so investors, early hires and customers get it before you spend on demand.
SEO
You built the product. Now make sure investors, early customers and new hires can find you in search and AI answers.
Creative Production
Creative work for startups when the position and brand come first, so investors and customers see you clearly.
Demand Generation
You are in the right place. This page covers demand generation for startups and emerging companies, from position to pipeline.
Digital Campaigns
How a fractional CMO and a strategic campaign can help your startup get found, get funded, and get customers.
Marketing Technology
You need to see what marketing actually does for your startup. This page shows the setup that fits.
Common situations for Startups and Emerging Companies
Specific situations we go deeper on for Startups and Emerging Companies. Tap one to see the full answer.
Brand Identity
When to rebrand a company
Web Design and Development
How often a company should redesign its website
Content
What a CEO should post on LinkedIn
SEO
Is SEO dead now that search is AI
SEO
How to show up in ChatGPT answers
Creative Production
When a corporate video is worth making
Digital Campaigns
How to measure a marketing campaign
Digital Campaigns
Why your marketing campaign is not working
Marketing Technology
Marketing attribution for B2B
Brand Identity
Brand identity vs a logo
Brand Identity
Why rebrands fail
Web Design and Development
Why your website is not generating leads
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Read more →Frequently asked questions
When should a startup bring in a Fractional CMO?Before the first real marketing spend, or the moment the founders realize the money is going to tactics without a strategy. Earlier is cheaper.
What comes first, the brand or the demand generation?The position, then the brand and the website, then demand. Demand spent before the market can see what you are is runway spent on nothing.
How does a startup get named by AI assistants?By stating plainly what it does and for whom, on pages an assistant can read. Startups that sound like every other startup do not get cited.
Do you help with the investor deck?Yes. I shape the story, one idea investors can repeat, the market, the proof and the ask, and my SliiceXR team designs it to the brand.