January 11, 2026

Be seen. Be heard. Be found.

Case study: Fractional CMO support to VE Group


What does fractional CMO support to the civil construction and heavy haulage industry look like?

A large yellow Caterpillar dump truck being transported on a flatbed trailer, pulled by a semi truck.

At In Cahoots Co, we don’t just "do" marketing; we become part of the engine for growing SMEs.


Our ongoing partnership with VE Group Australia is a prime example of how our Fractional CMO support bridges the gap between high-level executive strategy and technical execution.

As VE Group continues to scale, they reached a common crossroad: they needed experienced marketing leadership but didn’t necessarily require a full-time, in-house C-suite executive. They needed agility, situational awareness and a team that could execute across everything from SEO to organic social media creation, performance marketing (paid ads across meta and Linkedin) to strategic advice.

The Strategy: Embedding for Impact


Unlike traditional agencies that operate behind a ticket system, our Director embedded directly within the VE Group office. This "Fractional" approach allowed for:


  • Real-time Decision Making: Direct access to stakeholders meant we could pivot quickly and save the leadership team hours of back-and-forth emails.
  • Situational Awareness: By being in the building, we understood the company culture and operational nuances that a remote agency would miss. Authorised team members can reach out directly to maintain momentum from recruiting ads, to videography support for events.
  • Integrated Support: From videography, paid ads and photography to WordPress management, we ensured every asset produced aligned with the broader commercial goals.


A large Caterpillar truck being worked on in an industrial yard; several people, machinery.

Visibility in the Age of AI


A major priority for the first 12 months was a digital overhaul. VE Group is a leader in their field, and their online presence needed to reflect that.


We moved beyond traditional SEO, implementing AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) strategies which will be a key focus in 2026. This ensures that as the digital landscape shifts toward AI-driven search, VE Group remains the authoritative answer for industry queries.

Building Human Connections


Digital is only one piece of the puzzle. We provided strategic advice to get the team back to basics: personal connections. We identified key Local Government Conferences and industry groups where VE Group needed a seat at the table. By associating "real people" with the brand, we’ve helped strengthen their reputation among key decision-makers. Networking at scale will be a key advantage in 2026 (regardless of industry) as a level of digital fatigue sets in and trust is harder to earn.

Omnichannel Execution


To support this visibility, we launched a multi-platform social strategy.


  • LinkedIn & Facebook: Established a professional yet accessible organic presence to build trust with B2B partners. Content focus spreads across operational and project highlights, through to a very positive staff culture, including awards and community/charity support.
  • Instagram & TikTok: Later in the year, we expanded into short-form video to showcase the "behind the scenes" of VE Group, humanising the brand and reaching a broader demographic.


Organic social media is an important piece of the puzzle, as it can also be used as a recruiting tool to attract the best talent, by sharing the employer of choice content.

The Result


By combining technical marketing with board-level strategic advice, VE Group now boasts a modern, future-proofed marketing ecosystem. They have the peace of mind that their digital assets (from their website to paid digital campaigns) are being managed by partners who are as invested in the business as they are.

Ready to grow?

SEARCH ARTICLE

SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

RECENT POST:

Low-angle shot of a person's foot about to step down. The sole of the shoe is visible against a blue sky.
By Ben Hayward January 5, 2026
The dominance of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI Overviews is fundamentally reshaping how authority is determined in generative search results.
Woman working on a laptop at a desk in a modern office, typing with a focused expression.
By Ben Hayward December 14, 2025
How we combined cutting-edge tech with smart UX to create a lead-generating sister site to In Cahoots Co Director Ben Hayward, a Brisbane based fractional CMO.
Smiling man with glasses holding a laptop.
By Ben Hayward December 9, 2025
What is a fractional CMO? How can they help your growing Brisbane business? Because they aren't bogged down in your company's daily politics or history ...
By Ben Hayward November 23, 2025
The biggest misconception in modern marketing is that digital channels (Google Ads, Social Media etc) have killed traditional advertising ...
By Ben Hayward November 19, 2025
Keeping up? The world of search is evolving right before your eyes, and for Australian small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), understanding these shifts ...
Workers on high-rise building with ocean view, cables, and a nearby building.
By Ben Hayward November 10, 2025
WordPress provides the stable, open-source foundation required for long-term scalability and security. We custom-developed the site within this ecosystem ...
Laptop displaying a website for Landscaping Engineering Design & Project Management, with aerial view in background.
By Ben Hayward November 10, 2025
Lean and mean Wordpress site delivered for Rockhampton consultant by In Cahoots Co.