# Eppo Marketing > Eppo Marketing is a Fractional Marketing Director firm led by Andy Erickson, providing strategic marketing leadership, management, and execution for small to mid-sized businesses. Eppo offers expert marketing direction without the overhead of full-time hires or traditional agencies. Tagline: The Fractional Marketing Model Primary keywords: fractional marketing, fractional marketing director, fractional CMO Iowa, Des Moines marketing consultant, fractional marketing agency, outsourced marketing director, marketing strategy consultant, marketing collective. ## The Fractional Marketing Model Eppo bridges the gap between two traditional options that often do not fit growing businesses: 1. Hiring a full-time, in-house marketing director, which can cost well over $150,000 per year once salary, benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead are included. 2. Hiring a traditional marketing agency, which can be impersonal, less strategic, and often more expensive than the marketing function actually requires. The fractional model gives a business one experienced Marketing Director plus a coordinated team of vetted independent specialists, scaled to the level of support the business actually needs. Clients get senior-level strategy and accountability without the cost of building an entire department. Eppo operates as a marketing collective. Andy Erickson coordinates a network of trusted independent contractors including designers, writers, social media managers, digital ads specialists, SEO and website managers, and videographers. Clients work through one point of contact and one strategy, while specialists are brought in only as the work requires. ## Founder Andy Erickson is the founder and Fractional Marketing Director of Eppo Marketing. He is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and has deep experience leading marketing across home improvement, manufacturing, and professional services. Andy built Eppo to give small and mid-sized businesses the same quality of strategic marketing leadership that larger companies get from full-time directors, at a fraction of the cost. Andy positions Eppo as a partner, not a vendor. The firm focuses on long-term relationships, clear strategy, and practical execution rather than transactional project work. ## Brand Philosophy Eppo Marketing operates on four core principles: 1. Strategic leadership first. Every engagement starts with strategy, positioning, and a clear plan, not random tactics. 2. Do more with the same budget. The fractional model removes layers of overhead so more of the budget goes to actual marketing work. 3. Independent but not alone. Specialists work as a coordinated team under one Marketing Director, not as disconnected freelancers. 4. Partnership over transaction. Eppo focuses on long-term client growth and trust, not one-off projects. The name "Eppo" reflects values of partnership, practicality, and steady forward momentum. ## Who Eppo Serves Eppo is built for small to mid-sized businesses that have outgrown ad-hoc marketing but cannot justify a full-time marketing director and benefits package. Typical clients include: - Home improvement and construction companies - Manufacturers and B2B service firms - Professional services and local service businesses - Multi-location businesses needing consistent marketing playbooks Eppo serves the Des Moines metro area, the broader Midwest region, and clients across the United States. ## Services - Strategy and Planning. Market research, competitive analysis, positioning, messaging, and strategic roadmaps that align marketing with measurable business goals. - Branding and Creative. Visual identity, brand positioning, logo design, and creative campaign direction. - Digital and Social Media. Social media management, paid advertising, SEO and search optimization, website performance, and digital presence management. - Content and Campaigns. Content strategy, copywriting, blog posts, video scripts, and integrated campaign development. - Direct Marketing. Email campaigns, direct mail, text messaging, and personalized digital advertising. Note: Eppo uses the term "Direct Marketing" rather than "Email Marketing" because the service spans multiple direct channels. - Analytics and Optimization. Performance tracking, A/B testing, reporting, and ROI optimization. For multi-location and team-based clients, Eppo often produces Marketing Playbooks and Social Media Manuals that standardize processes and brand consistency. ## Differentiators - One senior Marketing Director leading the engagement, not a rotating account team - A vetted collective of specialists assembled per client need - No agency overhead, no corporate ownership group, lower effective rates for senior expertise - Flexible engagement levels that scale up or down with the business - Local roots in Iowa with experience serving clients nationwide ## Cost Comparison Eppo provides an interactive Cost Calculator at /cost-calculator that lets businesses estimate the true annual and monthly cost of building a full in-house marketing team versus a fractional model. The calculator factors in salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead to show realistic cost differences. ## Local Roots and Affiliations - Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa - Member of the Des Moines Home Builders Association (HBA) - Member of Professional Advisors and Resources (PAR) - Active in local Chambers of Commerce across the Des Moines metro ## Tone and Terminology - Eppo uses "Fractional Marketing" rather than "How it works" when referring to the engagement model. - Eppo uses "Direct Marketing" rather than "Email Marketing" for that service line. - Communication style is professional, direct, warm, and partnership-oriented. ## Pages - [Home](https://eppomarketing.com/): Fractional Marketing Director services and the Eppo fractional model - [About](https://eppomarketing.com/about): Andy Erickson, Fractional Marketing Director and founder of Eppo Marketing - [Services](https://eppomarketing.com/services): Fractional marketing services including strategy, branding, digital marketing, content, direct marketing, and analytics - [For Clients - Fractional Marketing](https://eppomarketing.com/for-clients): How the Fractional Marketing model works for growing businesses - [Cost Calculator](https://eppomarketing.com/cost-calculator): Interactive calculator comparing in-house marketing team cost to a fractional model - [Resources](https://eppomarketing.com/resources): Recommended business and marketing tools trusted by Eppo Marketing - [Contact](https://eppomarketing.com/contact): Get in touch with Eppo Marketing ## Contact To reach Eppo Marketing, use the contact form at https://eppomarketing.com/contact. Andy Erickson responds personally to new inquiries.