Douglas Karr's Articles on Martech Zone
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Virtual Agents vs Human Agents: Finding the Perfect Balance in Modern Contact Centers
Businesses are increasingly turning to virtual agent contact center solutions to stay competitive and meet growing customer expectations. Customers now demand instant, personalized responses across multiple channels—whether it’s voice, chat, email, or social messaging. Traditional contact centers staffed solely by human agents…
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Efficiency Meets Engagement: The State of Events 2026 from EventsAir
The global events industry has officially moved past the era of returning to normal and entered a phase of intentional reinvention. According to The State of Events 2026, a comprehensive new report from EventsAir, the sector is operating with a…
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Fast, Cheap, Right: Building Stronger, More Productive Vendor-Client Relationships
My favorite client story has a bit of a twist. I once had a prospect who was hesitant about my hourly rate, telling me it was twice that of my nearest competitor. I looked him in the eye and said…
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The Science of the Share: Top Words for Viral Headlines in 2026
Your headline is no longer just a title; it is the handshake that determines whether a user stays or scrolls. With over 16 billion Google searches occurring daily in 2026, and social feeds becoming increasingly crowded with slop (low-quality AI…
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How to Incorporate AI in Planning Your New Web Site
I'm currently working on a long-overdue redesign for our corporate website. Since I'm not looking for work but my wife is taking on more clients, we want to prioritize the site to better represent this. Years ago, I would have…
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The Future of Mobile: The Final Convergence of Personal and Business Computing
The beige box is dying. The laptop, once the symbol of the mobile professional, is increasingly looking like a transitional fossil. We are standing on the precipice of a computing singularity where the distinction between a mobile device and a…
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While You’re Having Dinner and Watching TV, We Are Building With AI
Let’s be clear from the jump: This is not an argument against rest. I’m not downplaying family time. Those things are essential. Recharge, reconnect, unplug. I fully endorse all of it. But for many of us who identify as builders,…
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ClipMake: Replace $300 UGC Creators with AI Video Ads at $2.50 Each
Performance marketers have a creative production problem. The algorithm demands volume - 20 to 40 ad variations per month to test hooks, find winners, and kill underperformers before creative fatigue sets in. But traditional UGC production delivers 2-3 videos per month…
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Hostinger vs. HostGator vs. GreenGeeks: Which Budget Host Has the Fewest Gotchas
The first bill is always friendly. The second one, after the promotional term expires, is where things go sideways. Every host in this comparison uses the same tactic: low introductory rates that require long prepaid commitments, followed by renewals that…
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Jifflenow: Maximize Your Event ROI With Automated Scheduling
Bridging the gap between a marketing lead and a signed contract requires more than just digital touchpoints; it requires high-value, face-to-face engagement. However, coordinating these interactions—especially at large-scale in-person or hybrid events—is often a logistical nightmare. Sales and marketing teams…
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What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization In 2026
One area of expertise I've focused on in marketing over the last two decades is search engine optimization (SEO). I've always been a little reluctant to wear that label proudly, though... not because I'm not confident in the work, but…
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Viktor: Your Slack or Teams AI Coworker That Handles the Workload
If you're like me, you're drowning in AI noise. You have access to endless chat interfaces that can summarize a meeting or draft an email, but the actual heavy lifting still falls to you. After the AI gives you advice,…
