Kim Gusta: A Successful Fractional CMO for High-Growth Startups

Wondering what gave Kim Gusta an immensely successful Fractional CMO career?  In this article, we will chart her journey.

We’ll explore her role as an agency owner, and discuss how she juggles multiple Fractional CMO roles. In today’s fast-paced Startup world,

a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) has become an integral part of many founder’s talent pool.

Executives like Kim bring a wealth of experience and expertise that transforms struggling Startups into thriving businesses in months.

Gusta, is a Fractional CMO who has made a name for herself in the Startup industry.

Kim Gusta: Becoming a Successful Fractional CMO for High-Growth Startups
Kim Gusta’s Journey to becoming a Successful Fractional CMO for Startups (MidJourney Generated)

Kim Gusta began her career in marketing after earning a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature & Honors Sociology from the University of Michigan .

In the early years of her career, she gained valuable experience in various aspects of marketing working for several companies.

Gusta’s early experiences helped her develop a deep understanding of the strategies required to deliver on business goals. 

She honed her skills in areas such as brand management, product development, and customer acquisition.


Who is Kim Gusta? Let’s Dive Deeper

Kim has over 20 years’ experience in the marketing industry. She started her career working for an advertising agency called Publicis Media.

She moved on in 2016 to work for GroupM. GroupM is a media investment management company that specializes in media planning, buying, search, digital and more.

They are the world‘s largest media investment group, with a focus on delivering strategic value and optimal performance to their clients. 

At GroupM, Gusta quickly rose through the ranks and by 2018, she was the Global VP of Digital Analytics. 

After several years in the corporate world, Gusta decided to start her own marketing agency in 2019. BrandGusta was based in Sunny California, they specialized in digital marketing, branding and consulting. Kim was passionate about small businesses, especially Startups.

Kim relaunched and rebranded her agency in 2020 – Kim Gusta Marketing which is now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

She was driven by the mission to provide SMBs with an unparalleled level marketing expertise. At a fraction of the cost. 

In a matter of months, Gusta’s agency quickly gained a reputation for providing high-quality marketing services.

She soon became a highly sought after thought-leader in the marketing industry. 

 

The Transition From Agency Owner to Successful Fractional CMO

As an agency owner, Gusta is responsible for managing a team of marketing professionals. 

Her key focus was in developing marketing strategies for clients, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of her agency Kim Gusta Marketing.

Gusta’s experience as an agency owner has given her a unique perspective which she brings to her Fractional CMO roles.

Kim’s approach is perfect for Startups, she develops effective and affordable strategies that generate results. 

Thanks to her agency’s diversity of services, Gusta is able to provide additional services to her Fractional CMO clients.

For example, if a client needs help with website design or content creation, Gusta can tap into her agency’s resources to provide those services.

After gaining extensive experience in the marketing industry, Gusta decided to transition to a role as a Fractional CMO.

 

Becoming a Successful Fraction CMO at multiple Startups

Along with running her agency, Kim began taking on Fractional CMO roles for various companies.

As a Fractional CMO, Gusta would work with a company for a week or a month to develop and execute marketing strategies with a focus on growth. 

Gusta quickly became known as a Fractional CMO who could deliver results. She had a deep understanding of marketing which helped companies develop effective strategies.

Her success as a Fractional CMO led to her being approached by several Startups. In a matter of months she found herself juggling multiple roles!

She worked with 3 Startups – Rec Room, Verlocal and Yotpo. Two were from California and one based out in New York. Rec Room was one of the Startups based out in California.

Rec Room was a platform that helped people to find and book unique recreational experiences. With under 50 employees, they were an ideal client for an experienced marketer like Gusta.

The other Startup she worked with was Verlocal. Situated in San Francisco, Verlocal helped their customers to discover unique experiences with local hosts.

They had 45 employees and desperately needed a marketing strategist to help them reach their target audience. Kim duly stepped into this role. 

The third Startup is Yotpo. Yotpo a customer marketing platform that helps brands build trust and loyalty with their customers. 

Kim worked with Yotpo as a Fractional CMO consultant between 2017 and 2020, helping Yotpo to build brand equity, generate awareness and optimize their customer experience.

This resulted in a 40% increase in website traffic, 50% increase in inbound leads and a 100% increase in conversion rates. 

Kim’s Secret to Juggling Multiple Fractional CMO Roles 

Managing multiple Fractional CMO roles can be challenging, but Gusta developed a system that allowed her to be effective in each role.

The key to managing multiple roles, according to Gusta, is to be extremely organized and focused.

Gusta begins each day by creating a to-do list and prioritizing her tasks based on urgency and importance.

She also schedules regular check-ins with each of her clients to ensure that she is up-to-date on their marketing needs and goals.

She ensures that she can give each client the attention they deserve. That’s why she sets aside specific times during the week to work on each account.

She also delegates tasks to her team members which allows her to focus on strategic planning and high-level tasks.

 

Keys to Gusta’s Success as a Fractional CMO

Gusta’s success as a Fractional CMO can be attributed to several factors. First, she has a deep understanding of marketing strategies and how they can be used to achieve business goals.

With her passion for industry trends and best practices, Gusta stays up to date to ensure that her clients are always receiving the most effective marketing strategies.

Gusta has excellent communication skills and is able to build strong relationships with her clients. Kim listens to their needs and works collaboratively with them.

She focuses on developing sound marketing strategies tailored to her clients specific goals. Her highly organized framework creates a time-efficient way of working and this allows her to juggle multiple Fractional CMO responsibilities at once.

Kim Gusta’s success as a Fractional CMO is a testament to the importance of marketing expertise in today’s business world.

Her ability to develop effective marketing strategies, build strong relationships with clients, and manage her time effectively has allowed her to help businesses achieve significant growth.

For businesses looking to achieve their marketing goals, working with a Fractional CMO like Gusta can provide valuable expertise and guidance.

By leveraging the experience and knowledge of a Fractional CMO, businesses can develop marketing strategies that are tailored to their specific needs and goals

The Benefits of Working with a Fractional CMO like Kim

Working with a Fractional CMO like Kim Gusta has many benefits for Startups. Businesses with limited funds can access the expertise of a CMO without having to hire a full-time executive.

Fractional CMOs can help businesses develop and execute effective marketing strategies that align with their goals.

By providing valuable insights and guidance on industry trends and best practices, working with a Fractional CMO allows Startups to make quicker decisions with minimal financial outlay.

Instead of hiring a full-time executive, businesses can work with a Fractional CMO for a set amount of time each week or month, depending on their needs and budget.

 

Becoming a Successful Fractional CMO Made Easier With Prelo

Prelo is the only tool for Fractional CMOs (Chief Marketing Officers) looking to connect with founders of fast-growing Startups. 

  • Quick Access to High-Growth Startups: Prelo provides Fractional CMOs with funding updates, funding dates and direct access to a wide range of Startups. These Startups that have been identified as high-growth potential. This saves Fractional CMOs hours in researching potential clients.

  • Efficient communication: Prelo makes it easy for Fractional CMOs to target key decision makers of these high-growth Startups through LinkedIn Outreach and direct email messages.

  • Increased visibility: By being part of Prelo’s network, Fractional CMOs can increase their visibility and credibility within the startup ecosystem. This leads to more opportunities to work with higher-growth Startups, referrals from satisfied founders and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Overall, Prelo is a valuable tool for Fractional CMOs looking to connect with fast-growing Startups, save time in their client search and increase their visibility within the startup ecosystem

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Discover High-Growth Startups with the budget to pay for your Fractional CMO services.

 

Conclusion

Kim Gusta’s role as both a Fractional CMO and agency owner is a testament to the importance of marketing expertise in today’s Startup world.

Her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and manage her time effectively has allowed her to provide her Startup clients like Yotpo with a insane results.

As an agency owner, Gusta understands the challenges that businesses face when it comes to marketing.

By working with a Fractional CMO like Gusta, businesses can develop and execute effective marketing strategies that focus on a hyper-targeted business goal.

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