When to Hire a Fractional Marketing Director, A Cost Effective Growth Strategy for London Businesses with Merx Marketing
- Oliver Nikolla
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Effective marketing drives growth, yet many SMEs do not need a full time director. A Fractional Marketing Director gives you senior leadership, clear strategy and measurable results, without a permanent hire. If you are scaling or stuck, this is often the smartest next step.
What is a Fractional Marketing Director
A senior marketing leader who works with your business part time. You get the same strategic expertise as an in house director, focused on outcomes and delivered for an agreed number of days each month.
At Merx Marketing Ltd, we help businesses navigate the evolving landscape of modern marketing. In this blog, we break down how product managers can successfully implement AI-powered strategies, from data analysis to customer personalisation, while staying aligned with business goals.
If you're curious about how AI can elevate your marketing performance and streamline decision-making, this guide offers clear, actionable steps to get you started.
When to hire one
You are growing fast and need a clear plan, targets and governance.
Results have stalled and you want a fresh, unbiased view.
You need leadership to manage agencies and freelancers.
You are entering new markets and require market fit and launch plans.
You want board level reporting and budget control, without a full time cost.
What they deliver
Strategy and roadmap that link spend to revenue.
Channel plan across SEO, paid social, email, web and offline.
Campaign leadership, briefing, QA and optimisation.
Messaging, positioning and brand coherence.
Budget planning, KPI dashboards and weekly cadence.
Team leadership, hiring and partner management.
Daniel Nikolla, Fractional Marketing Director at Merx Marketing
Daniel Nikolla is the founder of Merx Marketing and the company’s lead Fractional Marketing Director. A Chartered Marketer and chair of Generation Next, Daniel provides board level marketing leadership to London businesses and brands across the UK. Daniel designs clear growth strategies, aligns research, positioning, SEO, content and paid media, and builds simple reporting that links spend to revenue.
As a fractional leader Daniel Nikolla sets the roadmap, manages internal teams and partner agencies, and installs the processes that turn plans into consistent enquiries and sales.
Clients choose Daniel when they need senior direction without a full time hire, faster execution, and measurable results. Work directly with Daniel Nikolla at Merx Marketing to install a proven fractional marketing engine that supports sustainable growth.
Why this is cost effective
You pay only for the senior time you need, not a full salary, benefits and overhead. The director sets direction, then uses your team or trusted partners to execute efficiently, so more of your budget goes into activity that moves the numbers.
Why choose Merx Marketing
Chartered leadership and hands on delivery for London SMEs.
Joined up strategy across signage, web, SEO, email and Meta Ads.
Fast execution, clear tracking and reporting in plain English.
A test and learn approach that improves results each week.
Flexible engagement, from a few days a month to interim cover.
How an engagement works
Discovery. Goals, current performance, gaps and priorities.
90 day plan. Strategy, channel mix, budget and KPIs.
Execution and optimisation. Weekly cadence, creative testing, media control and clear reporting.
Review. Monthly board pack with actions and next quarter plan.
From personal branding to advanced SEO and AI-powered digital marketing solutions, we offer an end-to-end approach rooted in:
Business Excellence
Collaboration
Growth
Fun
Visit us for a free marketing consultation:
75 Colney Hatch Lane, London, United Kingdom, N10 1LR
Contact us:
+44 (0) 7480 845583 - danieln@merxmarketing.co.uk
MERX is here to help
FAQ:
What is the difference between a Fractional Marketing Director and a consultant?
A consultant advises, a fractional director leads. They set strategy, manage teams and own delivery and results.
How much does it cost in London?
Fees vary by scope and days per month, usually far less than a full time hire, with clearer ROI due to focused senior time.
Can they cover digital and traditional?
Yes. At Merx we align Meta Ads, SEO, email and web with offline assets such as signage, all under one plan.
How do I know if my business is ready?
If you need senior direction, faster execution and accountable reporting, but not a full time director, you are ready.
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