Douglas Karr's Articles on Martech Zone
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Guess What? Vertical Videos Aren’t Just Mainstream, They’re More Effective
Years ago, a colleague publicly mocked me online when I was sharing my thoughts via video. His problem with my videos? I was holding the phone vertically rather than horizontally. Based on my video orientation, he questioned my expertise and standing in the industry. It was maddening for a few reasons: Videos are all about their ability to captivate and…
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How to Treat Your Public Speakers
This is a post that I should have written over a year ago, but I was motivated to write it tonight after an event that I spoke at. Last year, I traveled out to Rapid City, South Dakota and spoke at Concept ONE, a premiere business marketing event founded by Korena Keys, a regional entrepreneur, agency owner, and proud South…
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How to Record Multiple Local Guests on Your Zoom H6 With a Remote Guest in Garageband
If you’re going to get serious about podcasting, I’d encourage you to save up for a Zoom H6 Recorder. It’s a simple device that requires almost no training to record with. Add some Shure SM58 microphones, portable microphone stands, and you’ve got a studio that you can take anywhere and get great sound with. However, while this is great for…
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Yes, There Are Still Great Blogs Out There To Discover… Here’s How to Search for Them
Blogs? Am I really writing about blogging? Well, yes. While the official umbrella term we now apply in the industry is content marketing, blogging continues to be the most common format that companies are utilizing to reach their perspective and current clients. I never actually realized that the term blogging would grow to obselecense, but it’s used a lot less…
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The Top Content Marketing Tips for Driving More Traffic and Engagement
This week I’m back in the office from speaking in Sioux Falls at the Concept ONE Expo. I did a keynote presentation on how companies could relaunch their digital marketing program to save time, save resources, improve the omni-channel digital experience, and – ultimately – drive more business results. Some of the advice was counter-intuitive to industry standards and best…
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How Long Does It Take To Rank In Google Search Results?
Whenever I describe ranking to my customers, I use the analogy of a boat race where Google is the ocean and all of your competitors are other boats. Some boats are bigger and better, some old and barely staying afloat. Meanwhile, the ocean is moving as well… with storms (algorithm changes), waves (search popularity crests and troughs), and of course…
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How to Make the Most of Your Desktop to Mobile Migration
In the rush to embrace mobile, it’s easy for businesses to neglect their desktop sites, but most conversions still happen via this method, so it is not advisable to disregard your desktop site completely. The best scenario is to have sites for multiple platforms; after that, it’s a matter of deciding whether you want a standalone mobile site, a responsive…
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What is Direct Response Copywriting? How to Write Copy that Converts
Direct response copywriting is a powerful marketing technique designed to elicit immediate action from the reader. Unlike general advertising, which aims to build brand awareness, direct response copy focuses on driving a specific, measurable response—whether purchasing, signing up for a newsletter, or requesting more information. This form of copywriting is essential for businesses looking to generate leads, increase sales, and…
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A Tiny Bit of Research Can Dramatically Impact Social Shares and Drive Sales
While many small businesses are abandoning Facebook, I’m always intrigued when I see something unexpected happen there for a client. Believe me, unless they’re paying to promote posts… I don’t set expectations too high. One of my clients is a family-run roofing company that serves central Indiana. They’ve been here for decades and have an incredible reputation. Recently, a hail…
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The Strategies That Are Killing Your Content Marketing #CONEX
Yesterday I shared how much I learned about building ABM strategies at CONEX, a conference in Toronto with Uberflip. Today, they pulled out all of the stops by bringing in every marketing superstar the industry had to offer – Jay Baer, Ann Handley, Marcus Sheridan, Tamsen Webster, and Scott Stratten to name a few. However, the vibe wasn’t your typical…
