Notes from the Helix team

Field notes.

Practical notes on AI GTM operations, audits, signals, and content systems. We run Helix on Helix first - what works ends up here.

LatestJul 3, 202611 min readMatt Merrill

Seed-Stage SaaS Marketing: What Actually Works

Most Seed and Series A SaaS companies have engineers, a product, and zero marketing staff. Here's what to run first, what to skip, and how to get all eight channels covered without a $10K/mo agency or a full-time hire.

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Jul 3, 202610 min readMatt Merrill

Marketing Without a Marketing Team: A Founder's Real Options

You don't have a marketing hire. You're not going to get one next month. Here are the four actual paths founders take - and what each one costs in money, time, and sanity.

Jul 2, 202610 min readAda Mendez

Marketing for SaaS Startups: What Works at Seed and Series A

Most Seed and Series A SaaS founders handle marketing themselves — or don't handle it at all. Here's a line-by-line breakdown of the four real options in 2026: DIY, first marketing hire, traditional agency, or AI marketing service.

Jul 1, 20269 min readJenna Maroney

Multi-Channel Marketing for Small Business, One Fee

Most small businesses pay $5K-$15K per month for one or two marketing channels from a traditional agency — or try to run everything themselves in stolen hours. Helix bundles all eight channels into a single subscription starting at $1,500/mo, with AI handling volume and humans holding the bar.

Jul 1, 202611 min readMatt Merrill

How to Outsource Marketing as a Small Business

Every outsourcing option for small business marketing in 2026 - from DIY tools to freelancers to AI marketing services - ranked by cost, coverage, and how much of your time they actually save.

Jun 30, 20268 min readJenna Maroney

Fractional CMO vs AI Marketing Agency: Which Fits Your Business?

A fractional CMO costs $5,000-$20,000/month and you still manage them. An AI marketing agency like Helix covers all eight channels for $1,500-$4,500/month — and you manage nothing. Here's how to decide.

Jun 30, 202610 min readJustin Henriksen

AI Marketing Automation for Small Business: Build or Hire?

Every "AI marketing automation" article hands you more software to configure. Here's the honest breakdown of building your own automation stack vs. hiring a service that already runs one - including where Helix fits and where it doesn't.

Jun 29, 20268 min readJustin Henriksen

How Much Does AI Marketing Cost in 2026?

AI marketing for small businesses ranges from $0 (DIY tool stack) to $15,000+/month (traditional agency). Helix bundles all 8 channels at $1,500-$4,500/mo - here's how every option breaks down.

Jun 29, 20269 min readAda Mendez

AI Marketing Agents for Small Business: What Actually Works

Everyone's talking about AI marketing agents. Most of the advice assumes you have a revenue team and a data engineer. Here's what actually matters if you're running a small business.

Jun 28, 20268 min readJenna Maroney

What Your Marketing Agency Should Report Every Week

Monthly slide decks hide bad news for 30 days. Here's what a weekly marketing report should actually contain - and what to do if your agency won't send one.

Jun 28, 20269 min readAda Mendez

AI Marketing for Small Business: Tools vs. Done for You

Excerpt: Every "AI marketing tools" listicle hands you more software to learn. Helix does the marketing instead - 8 channels, AI for volume, humans for quality, one flat fee. --- Most small business owners researching

Jun 6, 20265 min readJustin Henriksen

AI Lead Generation Tools: What ROI Actually Looks Like

Most SMBs measure AI lead gen wrong. The real ROI comes from embedding AI SDR agents into your site to qualify visitors who are already interested, not from spraying more outbound messages.

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