Fractional CMO & Marketing Strategy for Seattle and Tacoma Businesses
Before you do more marketing, make sure you’re making the right marketing decisions.
The McKnight Element helps established businesses understand what’s actually happening in their marketing, determine what should happen next, and (when needed) step inside the organization to lead it.
HOW I APPROACH MARKETING
I don’t start by asking what else you should do.
I start with the business, the audience, what the current marketing is revealing, and what deserves time, money and attention next.
I don’t decide the service first. I figure out the problem first.
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
Diagnose. Strategize. Lead.
Three ways we can work together, depending on what you need most right now.
Marketing Audit and Strategic Direction
Understand what’s happening before you invest more.
A comprehensive look at your current marketing ecosystem to identify what’s working, where effectiveness is breaking down, and what deserves attention next.
_______
Starting at $3,329
Marketing Strategy Development
Build the strategy underneath the marketing activity.
A comprehensive strategy engagement built around the audiences, opportunities, customer journey, priorities and business goals that should shape your marketing going forward.
Minimum 12 weeks
Starting at $9,449
Fractional CMO
Put senior marketing leadership inside the organization.
For organizations with people and partners/vendors already executing marketing but no senior leader responsible for connecting strategy, teams, agencies, investment and performance.
6-month minimum
Starting at $9,250/month
Have one specific marketing decision you need to work through?
AUDIENCE STRATEGY
You probably know who buys from you. Do you know them well enough to grow from it?
Knowing your customers in a sentence is not enough. We identify the audience groups that matter most and understand how they think, decide and buy differently.
A customer group can become a growth strategy.
Marketing should be a system.
Strategy connects the dots: audience → message → customer journey → channels → capacity → business priorities.
EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE STRATEGY
Strategy is stronger when you understand what it takes to execute it.
7
Team members led in the automotive industry
$2M+
Annual advertising investment managed
$107K
New digital revenue generated in 30 days
10+ years
Across marketing, publishing, and founder-led environments
MEET ELAINE MCKNIGHT, FOUNDER AND MARKETING STRATEGIST
I have the heart of a teacher and the mind of a strategist.
I’m Elaine McKnight, founder of The McKnight Element. My work sits upstream of execution: understanding the business, asking the questions that expose the actual marketing problem, identifying patterns and opportunities, and turning what we learn into decisions people can actually use. I’ll challenge assumptions, ask the right questions and lead when it’s time to execute.
FOR AUTHORS
Your book deserves a marketing strategy long before launch day.
The Book Launch Roadmap is a custom comprehensive marketing strategy built specifically for self-published and small-press authors who need more than a collection of launch ideas.
4-6 weeks development process
Investment: $2,857
AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
I’m not a marketing agency. That’s intentional.
The McKnight Element doesn’t make more money because you buy more ads, create more content, rebuild your website or add another platform. I don’t have quotas, commissions, or vendor agendas.
My job is to help make sure they’re executing the right work.
What clients say
“I really enjoyed working with Elaine! She’s incredibly thoughtful in how she approaches strategy and does a great job breaking things down in a way that actually makes sense. She helped us set up our audiences, get our ads up and running, and gave us a strong foundation to build from. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for smart strategic support.”
Austin M. | CEO of Theory Real Estate
“Elaine is absolutely incredible and talented in many ways. She helped my team and me arrive exactly where we needed. The steps were clearly outlined, and she was very communicative throughout the whole process. She was knowledgeable and fun to work with. We would absolutely work with Elaine again! Truly a gem.”
Emily W. | Digital Coordinator
“The outcome was beyond what I expected. We now have a much stronger foundation, clearer direction, and confidence in where we’re headed. If you’re a small business looking for a marketing partner that truly cares about your success and helps build a solid base for sustainable growth, I highly recommend McKnight Element. Thank you for helping us see the bigger picture and setting us up for long-term success!
Raveen K. | Owner of Manager’s Pizza
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
You don’t need to know which service you need.
Tell me what’s happening in the business. What are you trying to accomplish? What’s becoming harder to manage? What can’t you confidently explain about the marketing today? We’ll start there. You don’t need to diagnose the problem before we talk.