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.

LatestJun 5, 20264 min readAda Mendez

Fractional AI Officers: When to Hire One

Most SMBs should start with an AI consultant engagement before committing to ongoing fractional support. Here's how to decide which path fits your stage.

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Jun 1, 20264 min readJustin Henriksen

2026 Is When AI Marketing Automation Actually Pays Off

InsiderOne calls 2026 the tipping point for AI marketing automation ROI. Here's what that actually means for SMBs running lean GTM stacks.

May 30, 20265 min readMatt Merrill

AI Handles Execution. Judgment Just Got More Valuable.

Forbes Councils nailed it: AI automates execution work, which means your judgment calls matter more. Here's what SMBs should do with that insight.

May 27, 20264 min readMatt Merrill

Sales Operations AI Tools That Actually Drive Growth

Improvado's latest research shows AI lets sales teams scale operations without adding headcount. Here's what that looks like in practice for SMBs.

May 21, 20264 min readMatt Merrill

Best AI Sales Tools for 2026: What SMBs Should Actually Deploy

Highspot's 2026 roundup covers call analysis, data entry automation, and predictive tools. Here's what SMBs should actually buy and why most teams overcomplicate this.

May 15, 20265 min readJenna Maroney

What Salesforce Gets Right About AI for SMB Marketing

Salesforce's guide to AI for small business marketing nails the efficiency angle, but the real opportunity is fixing specific workflow bottlenecks, not chasing tools.

May 9, 20265 min readMatt Merrill

Small Businesses Are Winning the AI Marketing Race

SMBs are outpacing enterprises in AI marketing adoption because they can test, learn, and ship in days instead of quarters. Speed is the only advantage that matters right now.

May 5, 20264 min readJustin Henriksen

Agencies vs In-House: Who Wins with AI Agents?

Dentsu and Dept are betting on AI agents. Hyundai's in-house pilot proves brands can cut out the middleman. Here's how to decide which path fits your SMB.

May 5, 20264 min readMatt Merrill

AI SEO Tools Worth Using in 2026: I Tested 20+ So You Don't Have To

After testing 20+ AI SEO tools, here's what actually moves the needle for SMB visibility and what's just noise.

May 5, 20265 min readJustin Henriksen

The First Three Things to Hand to AI GTM Agents

Stop trying to automate your entire GTM motion at once. Here are the three tasks agents actually handle well from day one.

May 2, 20265 min readJustin Henriksen

AI Implementation Failure Starts With Data. SMBs Have a Hidden Advantage.

Forbes Councils reports that data foundation problems kill most enterprise AI GTM deployments before launch. SMBs can fix this faster. Here's how.

Apr 26, 20265 min readJustin Henriksen

AI GTM Strategy Guide for B2B Leaders

LeanData's AI GTM guide shows the playbook: AI qualifies and books, humans close. Here's what SMB teams should take from it.

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