Strategy First™

The marketing blueprint, and the Fractional CMO team, for established small businesses ready to replace disconnected tactics with one accountable growth system. For automotive marketing, visit AutoStyle Marketing.

Why “Strategy First” Matters

Most contractors don’t fail from lack of effort—they fail from disconnected tactics. A Strategy First plan:

  • Clarifies your brand message so every ad, truck wrap, or follow-up call says the same thing. ​
  • Identifies exactly who your best customers are (and who isn’t worth chasing). ​
  • Aligns all channelsSEO, paid media, door hangers, even call-center scripts—under one playbook. ​
  • Gives you a living, 90-day-renewable roadmap that keeps pace with seasonality and growth.

The Pain We Eliminate

Established small-business owners tell us they are…

  • Guessing which campaigns actually work
  • Churning through junior marketers or “ghosting” agencies
  • Competing on price because the phone isn’t ringing enough
  • Losing time trying to keep up with Google, LSA, GMB, Yelp—and tomorrow’s platform

Our Solution

Strategy First + Fractional CMO Agency
You get senior-level strategy and the cross-functional team to execute—without hiring a $200 K+ CMO, videographer, PPC manager, web dev, designer, and analyst in-house.

What You Receive in 30–45 Days

The 7 Core Ingredients

  1. Total Marketing, Brand & Online Presence Audit
  2. Customer Interviews & Competitive Analysis
  3. Ideal Client Personas & Core Message
  4. Strategy Overview & Customer-Journey Map
  5. Editorial Plan + Hub-Page SEO
  6. Priority Growth Plan (EOS-style rocks)
  7. 90-Day Execution Calendar

Delivered Through Our 10-Step “Recipe”

  1. Comprehensive Discovery
  2. Audit
  3. Interviews
  4. Personas & Message
  5. Mid-Point Check-In
  6. Journey Map
  7. Editorial Plan
  8. Growth Plan
  9. Calendar
  10. Delivery & Launch

Result: a bespoke, owner-ready playbook plus the option to keep our team on retainer to run it.

What Makes Us Unique?

  1. Fractional CMO Agency
  2. Strategy First
  3. One Accountable Growth Team

Investment & Guarantees

Engagement Fee
Strategy First Plan (30–45 days) $7,500
Long-Term Retainer
(optional, once plan is approved)
$4,000 – $10,500 / month*


*Range depends on the tactics you approve—no cookie-cutter bundles.

Positive Return Guarantee: If we have not achieved a Positive Return by Day 90, we continue working for up to 90 more days, ending at Day 180. If we still have not achieved a Positive Return by Day 180, we refund everything you paid Stoddard during the initial 90-day period. Pass-through costs are excluded.

Performance Bonus (optional): Many clients add a small commission on revenue growth to motivate the team

Is Strategy First Right for You?

  • Established home-services contractor ready to break past the next plateau (You are likely already doing $1M to $20M in annual revenue)
  • Emerging or mature franchise / multi-location brand needing one coherent plan across territories
  • Willing to invest in strategy before tactics and hold the team accountable to numbers

 

(If you’re an Aftermarket Automotive Restyler, please visit AutoStyleMarketing.com—the same process, tailored to your industry.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the plan really take?

30 days is our goal; 45 if customer interviews or document access run long

Not until you approve the plan and budget. You may self-implement, use another vendor, or engage us for full execution.

A trimmed version ($3,997) for start-ups under $1 M. Ask if you qualify.

Let’s be real; incentivized performance pay is always best in the long run. It turns our team into commissioned growth partners instead of passive fee collectors.

Next Steps

  • Schedule a 15-minute Discovery meeting to ensure proper fit, followed by an optional 30-60 minute Strategy Call to confirm fit and answer questions.
  • Sign the simple Agreement & pay $7,500 to lock your start date.
  • Complete a brief Intake Form and join the Kick-Off Call.
  • Your custom marketing roadmap—and the team to run it—can be live in six weeks.

 

Let’s build the machine that powers your growth.

*All pricing in USD. Retainer range reflects typical budgets for contractors doing $1 M–$50 M in annual revenue.