A Virtual CMO is the same as a Fractional CMO. Different industries adopted different terms for the same function over time. These terms then made it into the public domain. That’s why you’re now stuck with Googling “virtual CMO”, “CMO for Hire”, “Fractional CMO”, “Outsourced CMO” or even “Fractional Marketing Director.” All these terms refer to the same function: a marketing executive who comes in to assess your current company, marketing efforts and technology stack and then creates a plan of action on how to optimize your marketing spend.