ReThink your strategy, ReNew your operations, and ReConnect with customers.
Fractional Chief Digital Officer Services
Are you ready to ReThink, ReNew & ReConnect
Most SME owners don’t hire a Chief Digital Officer because they can’t afford one.
What they actually can’t afford is the cost of not having one: decisions made on guesswork, AI investments that go nowhere, marketing spend that doesn’t track back to revenue.
I solve that clarity problem. As your fractional CDO, I give you the executive leadership to know exactly where your digital business stands, what to fix first, and how to get there without the six-figure salary.
Client feedback
Abdul Qadir “Jacobus always went the extra mile to ensure everything was perfect. His expertise and understanding of business requirements made him the go-to person for all our needs.”
Marlene Kotze “He is a well-connected professional who always takes the time to make you feel valued.”
Georgina Stirrup “Jacobus is a genuine team player, with great integrity and practical, good ideas which can be implemented by the organisation…”
Nandi Scorer “Jacobus is a consummate professional and a great asset on any team. He is a true expert in his field. Above that, he shows constant patience and a willingness to help us, the client, understand this digital world..…”
Gary Hendrickse “Jacobus is a true professional and a pleasure to work with. He is a digital marketing guru and a professional who has earned the trust of his clients.…”
Dillon Jearey “…the outstanding service and warm professionalism I have experienced to date have been just exceptional!”
Izak De Vries “…always willing to help. Big or small, they sort them all. Excellent technical skills combined with old-fashioned customer care.”
Hendrik de Waal “…Had a great experience dealing with Jacobus and the team. Very knowledgeable and professional. They delivered on our expectations.”
Willem Botha “ I had the privilege to work for many years with Jacobus and his team. Their role was to add value to our digital marketing activities through Google, Facebook and LinkedIn ads, SEO, improving our digital visibility, etc.
Jacobus always supplied us with the best professional service and advice. He also worked closely with our local and our corporate marketing teams in setting up, running, monitoring and adjusting campaigns in our region. He was a valuable soundboard and partner for our marketing team.”
Jaap van der Westhuizen “ I have dealt with Jacobus for the last 10+ years and have never been disappointed by his and the service, expertise and advise. I will continue to support him and his business.
Gary Hendrickse “ Jacobus is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.
A digital marketing guru and a professional who has earned the trust of his clients.
What is a fCDO (fractional Chief Digital Officer) and how can they help me grow my business?
I also collaborate with a trusted network of fractional professionals, technical experts, and specialised agencies to ensure we have the right talent for every project.
Why Choose a Fractional CDO?
A full-time CDO costs €120k–€200k annually. A fractional CDO costs a fraction of that and gets to work immediately, without the hiring risk, the onboarding lag, or the cost of a mistake.
I help businesses:
- Know what’s actually driving revenue (not what you think is).
- Cut digital spend that doesn’t work. Keep what does.
- Make decisions without waiting for a data analyst to find answers.
- Use AI where it genuinely saves time. Skip it where it doesn’t.
ReThink your strategy. ReNew your operations. ReConnect with your customers.
How I work
I offer fractional Chief Digital Officer (fCDO) services tailored to the needs of SMEs. This means I become your part-time digital expert, helping you:
- ReThink (map the digital ecosystem, cut what doesn’t work, build a roadmap)
- ReNew (integrate systems, automate workflows, introduce AI where it genuinely saves time)
- ReConnect (optimise the customer journey, build reporting, make every digital investment work together)
I work on a retainer basis, providing ongoing support and expertise to help businesses achieve its digital transformation, operational and marketing goals.
Typical Investment
Monthly retainer: €3,500–€8,500 depending on business size and complexity. That includes 10–15 hours a week of my time, plus all strategy, implementation oversight, and reporting.
First step: A 30-minute diagnostic call costs nothing. I’ll tell you what I’d prioritise and give you a ballpark for what that looks like on retainer.
How is this different from hiring an agency? Agencies bill hourly or per-project. They want you to keep hiring them. I’m on your team on retainer. My incentive is to make your digital business work so well you don’t need as much external help.
What if you find there’s nothing to do? That happens rarely, but if it does, we dial back the retainer or pause. I’m not motivated to invent work.
Can I cancel if it’s not working? Yes. Most retainers have 30-day exit clauses. If we’re not delivering, you can walk.
How much time does this require from my team? Minimal once we’re up and running. The ReThink phase needs more input from you (maybe 5 hours over six weeks). After that, I mostly work with your team independently.
I work across three areas
Strategy & Leadership — Audit your digital environment, build your roadmap, steer execution.
Systems & Operations — Integrate platforms, automate workflows, build reporting dashboards.
Customer & Growth — Optimise the customer journey, improve online presence, align digital investment to revenue.
Other
Services
ReThink:
Strategise for the Future
Analyse your current digital landscape. I’ll help you understand your strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for improvement.
Develop a roadmap for the future. Together, we’ll create a clear transformation plan to achieve your business goals.
Identify areas for innovation. I’ll help you explore and find new ways to use and integrate technology to your advantage.
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ReNew:
Optimise for Efficiency and Growth
Streamline your operations. I’ll help you review and implement new technologies, systems and processes to improve efficiency.
Enhance productivity. I’ll help you automate tasks and make better use of your resources.
Drive growth. I’ll help you use data to make informed decisions and achieve your business objectives.
ReConnect:
Engage Your Customers in the Digital World
Create meaningful customer connections. I’ll help you build stronger relationships with your customers through personalised digital experiences.
Optimise your online presence. I’ll help you make sure your website and online channels are effective and optimised.
Reach your target audience. I’ll help you develop engaging content strategies to use in various online channels to connect with the right people.
Read the Ultimate Guide to the 33A AI Design Sprint®, with FAQs
About Jacobus
I ran a digital agency for 18 years and sold it in 2022. That taught me what works and what doesn’t. It also taught me that most SMEs don’t need another agency, they need someone inside their leadership team who gets the business.
I hold an MBA in Digital Transformation and I’m a certified AI Design Sprint facilitator. But mostly, I’m useful because I’ve been where you are, building a real business, scaling it, and trying to figure out what digital actually matters.
Now I work with established SMEs (€5M–€50M) as a fractional CDO. I help you cut through the noise, build a clear roadmap, and actually execute it.
