CMO & AI Systems Architect

Welcome to My Portfolio!

Trusted by Brands You Already Know:

Does this sound familiar?

  • You’ve built a brand, booked a few wins, but your funnel is duct-taped together, and your contact list is half-dead.

  • Your team keeps growing, but your systems aren’t scaling. You’re either doing everything yourself or micromanaging the people who are.

  • You’re juggling 14 tools, and the only automation working is the one sending people straight to unsubscribe.

You don’t need more ideas. You need execution that sticks.

Entrepreneur first, Fractional CMO second.

I'm the guy people call when they’re tired of marketing that almost works.

I specialize in scaling businesses through end-to-end sales systems, campaign execution, and AI integration—work designed to perform in real operating environments, not just on paper.

I’ve written and executed advertising and marketing campaigns for brands including BMW, Duolingo, American Express, H&M, The Wall Street Journal, Snickers, Gillette, Urban Outfitters, El Pollo Loco, and Upwork, spanning both B2B and B2C markets.

Before marketing, my background included service in the U.S. Marine Corps, leadership as Vice President of a human trafficking rescue 501(c)(3), directing a private investigative agency, and serving as a senior partner in a medical concierge organization.

Those roles shaped how I approach systems: clarity first, execution second, and zero tolerance for inefficiency.

Transform your marketing, drive conversions, and stop chasing new trends

NO MORE wasted time, money, and energy.

Shaping Brand Stories Since Day One

I scale businesses through end-to-end sales systems, campaign execution, and AI integration—built to perform in real operating environments, not just on paper.

I’ve led campaigns for BMW, Duolingo, American Express, H&M, The Wall Street Journal, Snickers, Gillette, Urban Outfitters, El Pollo Loco, and Upwork across B2B and B2C.

Before marketing: U.S. Marine Corps service, VP at a human-trafficking rescue 501(c)(3), director of a private investigative agency, and senior partner in a medical concierge service.

My operating style: clarity first, execution second, zero tolerance for inefficiency.

000 145 198 210 280 300+ Projects for 00 42 58 61 75 80+ Clients

300+ Projects for 80+ Clients

Selected Work Across Agencies, Brands, and Campaigns

Agency Contracts:

Long-term and project-based engagements supporting agencies and structured organizations.

Proof in the numbers

Real Performance Snapshots

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Screenshots shown are representative performance snapshots.
Business Overviews

Business Overview Examples

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Advertising Archives:

Campaign execution and copy for global, enterprise, and consumer brands.

Ad Headlines

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Reddit Headlines

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Client Growth Stories

How GRUBHUB increased Brand Engagement with Meta Reels and Story Ads

Impressions: Up by 1.4 million

Brand awareness: Boosted 7X

CPMs: Slashed by 39%+

We Reimagined Roblox Top-Talent Recruitment with Long-Form Storytelling

Views: Over 1.3 million (and counting)

300% increase in CTR

81% increase in applicants

How Connected TV Amplified Serena & Lily's Reach

Achieved a 4.2x ROAS

CVR: Increased by 13%

83% increase in media spend

TESTIMONIALS

“Lee is amazing! A true gentleman and valuable asset to our email marketing. I'm keeping him on speed dial because he is just WAY to valuable of a resource to let disappear-would LOVE to work with him again in the future!”

“Lee has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He took my requests and made them real, all the while being EXTREMELY responsive, a pleasure to talk to and deal with, and always keeping me up to date on deadlines and next steps.”

“His content and knowledge are both top-notch and I'm EXTREMELY happy with the work he did for me. I would VERY HAPPILY work with him again - And most probably will soon!”

“Lee was fantastic to work with! Great expertise, and excellent communication throughout. I highly recommend working with him.”

“Lee was such a joy to work with. He was personable, understanding, flexible, and so incredibly efficient. Things that would have taken me weeks were completed in a matter of hours. He was able to capture the vibe and voice of my business seamlessly which made revisions practically non-existent.”

“Lee was an absolute pleasure to work with and produced amazing results. He was considerate of our somewhat unique needs, helped to build our processes, and was a delight to talk to any time we were on a call. In nearly a decade of hiring on UpWork, he's one of a select few perfect 5/5 scores we've given.”

FAQs.

How do I know this will work for me?

If you're searching for scalable solutions to break past your growth plateau, it's essential to work with a team that understands your unique needs and challenges.

But how do you ensure it's the right fit?

First, you need assurance that the team you're considering is legit and possesses a proven track record.

Most options in the market fit into one of the following categories:

Category 1 - Coaches & Consultants

This is often a “done-with-you” model. These groups provide valuable information but require you to do most of the work. Often, you're given access to tons of video lessons, which you must complete on your own. The support may include group coaching calls, but you're ultimately responsible for executing.

Category 2 - Agencies

This is typically a “done-for-you” model. These companies might handle your ad campaigns but often neglect the critical steps that follow lead generation. They may offer “guarantees” riddled with conditions, making it almost impossible to achieve the desired results.


So, where do we fit in?


We pride ourselves on being transparent, which is why we've detailed our process in the “How It Works” section above.


In essence, we offer a hybrid approach, combining the best of both worlds. We create all the necessary assets (done-for-you) to enhance your lead generation and conversion efforts. Then, we hand over everything to you and guide you (done-with-you) to fine-tune the strategy.


This approach ensures you aren't reliant on outside consultants for sustained growth. You take ownership and steer your success.

Am I a good fit for you?

We typically work with mid-sized businesses generating between $5-10 million in annual revenue, primarily in the tech or e-commerce sectors. Our ideal clients are those looking to scale operations through strategic marketing initiatives.

We work best with businesses ready to scale and eager for more efficient, data-driven marketing strategies that significantly boost their conversion rates and ROI.

How are you different?

We employ a highly refined process, blending insightful analysis with creative innovation. Here’s a quick overview:

Discover & Analyze: We dive deep into your brand's unique story and historical performance metrics.

Creative Production: We meticulously design captivating assets that resonate with your audience.

Creative Testing: Testing various messages and styles to determine what best engages your target audience.

Launch Time: Deploying your new creative into the market, backed by strategic planning and precision.

Measure Performance: Monitoring key metrics like ROAS, CPC, CTR, and CVR to obtain actionable insights.

Rinse & Repeat: Continuously optimizing and iterating to ensure maximum engagement and revenue generation.

By focusing on these steps, we help you achieve 5x business growth within 12 months, ensuring your brand doesn't just keep up with market trends but rises above them.

Do you have proof that this will work in my industry?

We have worked across multiple industries, notably tech and e-commerce, accumulating a wide range of successes.

Your goal should be to find examples of results as closely aligned with your business as possible. While we’ve delivered significant outcomes in over 32 industries, many clients prefer to keep their data private. However, we have several publicly available case studies and testimonials.

The accumulated data, insights, and experience enable us to adapt successful strategies across various industries, optimizing them to meet the specific needs of each client.

If you still have reservations, our team will be happy to discuss your specific situation and determine if our approach can deliver the results you're aiming for. We only onboard clients when we’re confident in achieving mutually beneficial success.

How long does it take until I start seeing results?

The timeline for results can vary, influenced by factors including our engagement level, your participation, and market conditions. Some clients witness remarkable outcomes within days, while others may take weeks or months to fully optimize and see the best results.

Initial results often appear shortly after launching your lead generation campaigns, with ongoing improvements as we refine and iterate our strategies.

All our clients understand that patience and involvement are crucial. In three months, six months, or a year, their business is in a significantly better position due to our proven processes.

CONTENT CREATION * COURSE BUILDING * WEB DEVELOPMENT * DIGITAL MARKETING * BRANDING * EMAIL MARKETING * CONTENT CREATION * COURSE BUILDING * WEB DEVELOPMENT * DIGITAL MARKETING * BRANDING * EMAIL MARKETING *

I don’t operate in isolation. I work With two execution-first companies that turn strategy into measurable outcomes:

Big Click Energy: Turning clicks into conversions.

Big Click Energy is a full-spectrum digital growth partner built for brands that want results, not vanity metrics.

With 45+ years of combined experience and 155+ completed projects, we bring strategy, creativity, and execution under one roof—so messaging, systems, and growth stay aligned.

Mail Escorts: End-to-end email management

Mail Escorts specializes in high-performance email ecosystems—handling everything from automation flows and campaigns to segmentation, deliverability, list health, analytics, and optimization.

We operate across email, SMS, and backend integrations, ensuring messages reach the right audience at the right time—and convert.

Clear positioning. Disciplined messaging. Systems that convert and scale.

If that’s how you think too, let’s collaborate.

J. Lee Payton
c: (612) 619-6593
B2B & B2C Marketing
Campaigns | Content | Optimization
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