Try for free
Behind Closed Books
Behind Closed Books

AI for Small Business: Automation, CRMs & the Future of Client Communication | Annette Merriman | EP 115

21 May 2026 50:24 Craig Sheets

Listen to episode

About this episode

AI is changing business faster than most owners realize — but where do you actually start?

In this episode of Behind Closed Books, Craig Sheets sits down with AI consultant and automation strategist Annette Merriman to break down how small and midsize businesses can realistically implement AI without overwhelming their teams or losing their human touch.

From AI audits and CRM optimization to conversational bots, voice cloning, automation systems, and the future of AI assistants, this conversation explores what business owners should actually focus on right now.

You’ll learn:

  • What an AI audit looks like for a business
  • How automation can save hours every week
  • Why AI should support people instead of replace them
  • How CRMs and AI tools work together
  • The differences between ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot
  • How AI personas and voice cloning are changing customer communication
  • What business owners should know about AI safety and guardrails
  • Why small businesses can now compete at enterprise levels

Whether you’re a CPA, consultant, real estate professional, agency owner, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you understand how AI can improve efficiency, communication, and customer experience without sacrificing authenticity.

#AIForBusiness #SmallBusinessAI #BusinessAutomation #ChatGPT #CRM #ArtificialIntelligence #Entrepreneurship #DigitalTransformation

More AI podcast episodes

Browse all →

Want to find AI jobs?

Join thousands of AI professionals finding their next opportunity

We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.

© 2026 Behind Closed Books. All rights reserved.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about how DevFound's AI matching, resumes, and referrals work.

DevFound's AI Copilot ingests your profile, goals, and live job data to deliver curated matches in seconds. Every match includes a resume variant, suggested referrals, and interview prep so you can act immediately. The more feedback you provide, the sharper the Copilot becomes.

AI-led job searches shrink the hours spent sifting through boards and formatting resumes. DevFound pairs automation with your personal outreach, so you reserve energy for interviews and negotiation. Traditional networking still matters, but AI gives you a lift before you even send a message.

Modern AI roles expect comfort with production-grade code, data fluency, and practical ML tooling. The strongest candidates pair deep technical chops with storytelling—translating model impact to product, GTM, and exec partners. Continuous learning keeps you ahead as stacks evolve.

DevFound rewards active seekers. Keep your profile fresh, respond to match quality prompts, and enable alerts so you never miss a role. The AI prioritizes companies and teams that align with your feedback, accelerating both introductions and interview invites.

High-density tech hubs continue to host the deepest AI talent pools, yet distributed teams are catching up fast. Use DevFound filters to hone in on onsite, hybrid, or fully remote roles and watch openings expand across time zones.

DevFound aggregates thousands of remote AI openings and flags the nuances—core hours, async culture, and visa needs—up front. The Copilot also recommends how to position your distributed work experience so hiring managers know you can thrive on a remote team.

Still have questions?

Contact Support