What is a Fractional Head of SEO?
A senior SEO leader on a part-time basis — typically 3 to 5 days per week over 3 to 12 months. Takes ownership of strategy, team leadership, governance and C-level reporting with full KPI accountability. The model originates from finance (Fractional CFO) and has become established since 2022 in specialized marketing disciplines.
When does a Fractional HoS make sense?
Four typical scenarios: transition after a hire departure, scale-up without full-time need, crisis intervention after algorithm update or migration, and post-merger integration following acquisitions. Not ideal for stable, permanent demand — a full-time hire fits better there.
What sets a Fractional HoS apart from SEO consulting?
Accountability. A consultant recommends — a Fractional HoS leads. Sits in team meetings, appears in the org chart, attends board calls, carries KPI ownership and signs off roadmap decisions. Consultants deliver reports; a Fractional HoS delivers outcomes with team leverage.
How long does a typical engagement run?
Typically 3 to 12 months. Short engagements (3 months) for transition and crisis scenarios. Mid-length (6 months) for scale-up strategy or migration recovery. Longer (9-12 months) for team build, international rollout or post-merger integration. Handover to a full-time successor or advisory retainer at the end.
In which industries is the experience strongest?
20+ years of enterprise experience in automotive, pharma and healthcare, B2B SaaS, e-commerce, travel and industrial. Focus areas: international brands with multi-market complexity, Series B/C scale-ups and PE-held portfolio companies preparing for exit.
What does onboarding look like?
Structured in four phases across the first 14 days: stakeholder mapping and tool access (days 1-3), technical and content audits (days 4-7), roadmap consolidation and quick wins (days 8-11), kickoff with C-level and 90-day plan sign-off (days 12-14).
Which KPIs does a Fractional Head of SEO own?
Three layers: business KPIs (pipeline contribution, revenue attribution, CAC reduction), SEO performance KPIs (organic traffic, money-keyword rankings, citation rate, knowledge-graph presence) and operational KPIs (team health, roadmap delivery, stakeholder NPS, time-to-publish). Monthly executive reporting to C-level.
How does a Fractional HoS differ from an SEO agency?
An agency brings operational capacity (content, link building, tech); a Fractional HoS brings leadership capacity (strategy, prioritization, team build, stakeholder management). The two models are complementary — the Fractional HoS defines strategy and governance, the agency executes the roadmap.
What does a Fractional Head of SEO cost?
Investment depends on weekly share (3-5 days), duration, team size, international complexity and crisis intensity. Typical monthly retainers sit below the fully loaded cost of a comparable senior full-time hire — with no recruiting risk, no headcount commitment and senior impact from day one.
Can the Fractional HoS also recruit the team?
Yes — recruiting support is a core part. Includes defining job profiles, job postings, candidate screening, technical interviews and onboarding of new hires. In scale-ups, often full build-out recruiting for 3 to 8 SEO positions across 6 to 12 months.
How is the handover organized?
The hand-off phase starts four weeks before engagement end. Content: strategy documentation, governance framework, KPI setup, tool stack inventory, stakeholder relationships, coaching plan for the successor. Optionally a 3 to 6-month advisory retainer follows.
