Martech Zone Interviews

Martech Zone Interviews

By Douglas KarrBusinessMarketing
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Martech Zone Interviews episodes

  • Search Engine Optimization is Not a Project

    Search engine optimization (SEO) is not just about keyword research, publishing content, and monitoring your search traffic. Many businesses believe that by identifying high-volume keywords and creating content around them, they’ll naturally rank higher and get more traffic.

    SEO is much more dynamic and complex. It’s more about delivering an excellent user experience (UX), ensuring your website loads fast, is easy to navigate, and provides valuable information to visitors.

    Additionally, conversion rate optimization (CRO) plays a pivotal role in SEO, as you need to understand which search traffic is converting into actual sales or leads. Driving traffic is not enough; you need to ensure it’s the right traffic that impacts your bottom line.

    From time to time, companies ask for project-based SEO work. However, SEO is not a one-time project. It’s an ongoing process because you’re constantly aiming at a moving target. Everything in search continues to evolve:

    • Search algorithms change frequently: Search engines, especially Google, regularly update their algorithms to stay ahead of spammers and low-quality content producers. Your site can lose rankings if you’re not adapting to these changes. Even though the shift may not be drastic, adjustments based on the most impactful ranking factors can improve your site’s visibility.
    • Competitors continuously adjust their tactics: While your website may rank well today, competitors are also optimizing their sites. As they adopt new strategies, they may outrank you if you’re not actively refining your SEO.
    • Business strategies, products, and services evolve: As your company introduces new offerings or pivots its strategy, your SEO efforts must adapt. Ensuring that your site reflects your business’s current landscape is essential to staying relevant and competitive in search results.
    • Keyword usage evolves: Search behavior changes over time. For example, terms like platform, solution, application, and software have fluctuating search volumes in the tech space despite being closely related. To remain competitive, your keyword strategy must reflect these shifts in user language.
    • Search volumes fluctuate: User search behavior can vary by time, day of the week, and season. Adjusting your content to match these fluctuations can boost your search performance.
    • Technology advancements impact SEO: Platforms and technologies used to build websites change; what worked years ago might not work today. Many sites built on outdated content management systems (CMS) suffer in search because they lack modern optimizations. If your CMS isn’t SEO-friendly, you risk losing valuable traffic.
    • Industry relevancy shifts: The authority of different sites in your industry changes over time. A site that was once the top resource may decline, making room for others to gain prominence. You can maintain or improve your rankings by consistently promoting your website on relevant and authoritative sites.
    • Investing in an ongoing SEO strategy with a reputable provider delivers consistent returns. A proactive approach ensures that your site evolves with the digital landscape. Utilizing Google Search Console can also be a valuable investment of time if your business handles SEO internally.

      In our experience, clients continually refining their SEO efforts see the most significant returns. Their cost per lead drops, and they can effectively leverage search for customer acquisition. SEO requires continuous adjustment and monitoring. Beware of any agency offering SEO as a one-time project.

      Key Takeaways
      • SEO is an ongoing process: It’s not a one-time project. Search engine optimization requires continuous adjustments as search algorithms, competitors, and trends evolve.
      • User experience matters: SEO isn’t just about keywords; it’s about ensuring a fast, intuitive, and valuable user experience that drives conversions, not just traffic.
      • Regular algorithm updates require agility: As search engines like Google make frequent updates, your site needs to adapt to avoid drops in rankings and maintain visibility.
      • Monitor competitor activity: Your competition is constantly refining its SEO strategies. Staying aware of their efforts and adjusting accordingly is essential to maintaining a competitive edge.
      • Keyword strategies must evolve: As user search behavior changes over time, regularly updating your keyword strategy ensures you stay aligned with current trends and search volumes.
      • Invest in the right platform technology: Outdated CMS platforms or poorly optimized technology can significantly hinder your SEO performance. Regularly audit and update your systems to ensure they support your search goals.
      • Industry relevance can shift: The sites that link to you or refer traffic today may not hold the same authority tomorrow. Stay active in building relationships with high-authority, relevant websites.
      • Periodic audits are worthwhile: If you have an internal team handling SEO, periodic external audits can help identify and correct issues before they become problems. These audits can provide valuable insights and keep your team focused on the right strategies.
      • Consider long-term SEO contracts: It’s best to commit to a long-term contract if you’re outsourcing SEO. Effective SEO requires constant analysis, monitoring, and fine-tuning to drive sustainable results and maximize ROI.
      • Integrate your SEO strategy: Combining your SEO with other channels maximizes reach and impact. For example, using PPC and PR campaigns to promote high-quality content can drive backlinks and enhance your website’s authority, improving SEO rankings. This multi-channel approach amplifies visibility and strengthens overall brand performance.
      • By understanding and applying these principles, businesses can maintain a robust SEO strategy that adapts to changes, improves performance, and delivers ongoing value.

        ©2024 DK New Media, LLC, All rights reserved | Disclosure

        Originally Published on Martech Zone: Search Engine Optimization is Not a Project

        0 min
      • Foursixty: Make Your Instagram Shoppable with UGC and Ambassador Shops

        For brands seeking to transform Instagram content into shoppable experiences, the challenge often lies in balancing aesthetics with functionality. How can you turn user-generated content (UGC) and influencer partnerships into something that builds engagement and drives sales directly from your social platforms?

        Foursixty

        Foursixty provides the solution—bridging the gap between content and commerce with an intuitive platform that turns Instagram and UGC into fully customizable, shoppable galleries for websites, email campaigns, and more.

        Trusted by over 3,000 brands, bloggers, and agencies, Foursixty makes it easy to showcase your products directly within Instagram posts, UGC, and influencer content. The platform offers a seamless integration that allows you to create beautiful, on-brand galleries that feel like a natural part of your site while offering full conversion tracking and deep insights. Here’s what Foursixty can do for your business:

        • Ambassador Shops: Create dedicated shoppable galleries for your influencers, allowing customers to shop directly from their favorite brand ambassadors. These galleries offer a fully immersive experience, letting your ambassadors shine.
        • Customer Reviews by Okendo: Easily incorporate customer reviews from Okendo into your galleries, helping build trust and inspire confidence in potential buyers.
        • Email Campaign Galleries: Bring your Instagram and UGC galleries into your email campaigns, allowing subscribers to shop directly from their inbox.
        • Instagram Auto Publish & Schedule: You can schedule and auto-publish your Instagram posts directly from Foursixty, saving you time and keeping your content consistent.
        • Instagram Business & Stories Insights: Get granular data on how your Instagram Stories and posts perform. Measure reach, impressions, exits, and replies to optimize your social strategies.
        • On-Site Shoppable Insta & UGC Galleries: Turn Instagram and UGC into fully shoppable galleries for your website. Place these galleries on your homepage, product pages, or online store.
        • Shop Minis: Create mini, shoppable versions of your full galleries, perfect for product pages or collection pages.
        • TikTok Galleries: Leverage TikTok’s growing influence by creating shoppable galleries to engage customers where they spend more time.
        • Track Creators & Campaigns: Monitor the performance of your influencer partnerships and campaigns, tracking metrics like engagement, conversions, and revenue generated.
        • Getting Started With Foursixty

          Getting started with Foursixty is simple. First, sign up for a 14-day free trial and integrate the platform with your online store. You can then curate content from your Instagram feed or aggregate UGC featuring your products.

          From there, use the platform’s customization tools to create shoppable galleries that match your brand’s look and feel. With built-in analytics, you’ll be able to track which content drives the most conversions, giving you the insights needed to refine your strategy.

          Start your 14-day free trial today and transform your Instagram into a shoppable experience that drives real results!

          Sign up for a 14-day Foursixty Free Trial

          ©2024 DK New Media, LLC, All rights reserved | Disclosure

          Originally Published on Martech Zone: Foursixty: Make Your Instagram Shoppable with UGC and Ambassador Shops

          0 min
        • How to Build a URL Shortener (PHP, MySQL, .htaccess)

          With so many long URLs cluttering the web, having your own URL shortener can help create clean, short links perfect for marketing campaigns, social media, or personal projects. From a marketing standpoint, URL shorteners are critical for a couple of reasons:

          • Campaign Tracking: You should always append your Analytics UTM parameters to track where every visit is coming from. However, those parameters often take a typical URL, making it long and unmanageable.
          • QR Codes: Throw a long URL in a QR Code, and you get a huge QR Code. Shortened URLs make QR Codes far more simple, which can extend their visibility from further away.
          • Because of this, you may be tempted to buy a license for a URL shortener… but you’d be amazed at how simple they are to build. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to create a URL shortener using PHP, MySQL, and .htaccess for clean, shortened URLs like http://yourdomain.com/abc123.

            In this guide, we’ll walk through how to build a URL shortener using PHP, MySQL, and .htaccess, and we’ll incorporate critical security enhancements, database optimizations, and performance improvements. We will cover how to:

            • Use PHP to handle URL shortening and redirection.
            • Set up a MySQL database with optimized structure and security features.
            • Implement .htaccess for clean and user-friendly shortened URLs.
            • Enhance the entire system’s security, prevent URL guessing, and improve performance.
            • Table of Contents
              1. Step 1: Set Up a Secure MySQL Database
              2. Step 2: Create the PHP Script with Security and Performance Features
              3. Step 3: Use .htaccess to Create Clean URLs
              4. Step 4: Enhance Performance with Caching and Optimization
              5. Step 5: Track and Manage Expiring URLs
              6. How Many URLs Can I Store?
              Step 1: Set Up a Secure MySQL Database

              A robust database structure is crucial for efficient URL storage and redirection. Follow these steps to set up your MySQL database securely.

              1. Create a MySQL database (if you don’t have one already) and create a user with limited privileges to minimize security risks:
              2. CREATE USER 'url_shortener_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
                GRANT INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE ON your_database.urls TO 'url_shortener_user'@'localhost';
                1. Create the URLs table:
                2. CREATE TABLE urls (
                  id INT(6) UNSIGNED AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
                  original_url TEXT NOT NULL,
                  short_code VARCHAR(10) NOT NULL,
                  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
                  clicks INT DEFAULT 0,
                  last_visited TIMESTAMP NULL,
                  expiry_date TIMESTAMP NULL
                  );
                  • id: A unique identifier for each URL.
                  • original_url: Stores the original URL.
                  • short_code: The shortened code.
                  • clicks: Tracks how many times the URL was accessed.
                  • last_visited: The last time the short URL was clicked.
                  • expiry_date: Optionally sets when the URL will expire.
                  • Indexes: Add an index to the short_code column to optimize lookups:
                  • CREATE INDEX idx_short_code ON urls (short_code);

                    This makes retrieving URLs faster, especially as the table grows.

                    Step 2: Create the PHP Script with Security and Performance Features

                    Create a shortener.php file that:

                    1. Generates short codes.
                    2. Stores the URLs securely in the database.
                    3. Redirects users when they visit a short URL.
                    4. Tracks clicks and handles expired URLs.
                    5. setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
                      } catch (PDOException $e) {
                      die("Could not connect to the database: " . $e->getMessage());
                      }
                      // Validate the URL before storing it
                      function validateURL($url) {
                      return filter_var($url, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL) && strlen($url) <= 2048;
                      }
                      // Generate a unique short code
                      function generateUniqueShortCode($pdo, $length = 6) {
                      do {
                      $shortCode = generateShortCode($length);
                      $stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM urls WHERE short_code = :code");
                      $stmt->execute(['code' => $shortCode]);
                      } while ($stmt->fetchColumn() > 0);
                      return $shortCode;
                      }
                      // Generate a random short code
                      function generateShortCode($length = 6) {
                      return substr(str_shuffle("0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"), 0, $length);
                      }
                      // Shorten a URL and return the short code
                      function shortenURL($pdo, $url) {
                      if (!validateURL($url)) {
                      die("Invalid URL provided.");
                      }
                      // Check if the URL already exists
                      $stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT short_code FROM urls WHERE original_url = :url LIMIT 1");
                      $stmt->execute(['url' => $url]);
                      $result = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
                      if ($result) {
                      return $result['short_code'];
                      }
                      // Generate a unique short code and store the URL
                      $shortCode = generateUniqueShortCode($pdo);
                      $stmt = $pdo->prepare("INSERT INTO urls (original_url, short_code) VALUES (:url, :code)");
                      $stmt->execute(['url' => $url, 'code' => $shortCode]);
                      return $shortCode;
                      }
                      // Handle URL redirection, clicks, and expiry
                      if (isset($_GET['code'])) {
                      $shortCode = $_GET['code'];
                      // Find the original URL
                      $stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT original_url, clicks, expiry_date FROM urls WHERE short_code = :code LIMIT 1");
                      $stmt->execute(['code' => $shortCode]);
                      $result = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
                      if ($result) {
                      // Check if the URL has expired
                      if ($result['expiry_date'] && strtotime($result['expiry_date']) < time()) {
                      die("This URL has expired.");
                      }
                      // Update the click count and last visited time
                      $stmt = $pdo->prepare("UPDATE urls SET clicks = clicks + 1, last_visited = NOW() WHERE short_code = :code");
                      $stmt->execute(['code' => $shortCode]);
                      // Redirect to the original URL
                      header("Location: " . $result['original_url']);
                      exit();
                      } else {
                      die("URL not found.");
                      }
                      }
                      // Handle URL shortening form submission
                      if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' && !empty($_POST['url'])) {
                      $url = $_POST['url'];
                      $shortCode = shortenURL($pdo, $url);
                      $shortURL = "http://yourdomain.com/" . $shortCode;
                      echo "Shortened URL: $shortURL";
                      }
                      ?>
                      Key Security Enhancements in the Code:
                      1. URL Validation: Ensures that only valid URLs are shortened.
                      2. Rate Limiting & reCAPTCHA (optional): To prevent abuse, implement rate limiting using tools like mod_evasive or use Google reCAPTCHA in the form.
                      3. HTTPS Enforcement: Ensure that HTTPS is enforced using .htaccess.
                      4. Step 3: Use .htaccess to Create Clean URLs

                        To rewrite the URLs so that users only see the shortened code (http://yourdomain.com/abc123), create an .htaccess file in the root directory:

                        RewriteEngine On
                        RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
                        RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
                        RewriteRule ^([a-zA-Z0-9]{6})$ shortener.php?code=$1 [L]
                        • HTTPS Redirection: Ensures all traffic is encrypted by redirecting HTTP requests to HTTPS.
                        • URL Rewriting: Converts any 6-character alphanumeric short code into a parameter for shortener.php.
                        • Step 4: Enhance Performance with Caching and Optimization
                          1. Browser Caching: Add headers to cache the redirect in the user’s browser for a set time:
                          2. header("Cache-Control: max-age=3600"); // Cache for 1 hour
                            1. Database Indexing: Ensure the short_code column is indexed for faster lookups.
                            2. Track Clicks: Update the click count and last_visited time every time a URL is accessed.
                            3. $stmt = $pdo->prepare("UPDATE urls SET clicks = clicks + 1, last_visited = NOW() WHERE short_code = :code");
                              $stmt->execute(['code' => $shortCode]);
                              1. Optional Caching with Memcached or Redis: Cache frequently accessed short URLs to minimize database hits.
                              2. Step 5: Track and Manage Expiring URLs

                                To add an expiration feature, ensure the expiry_date column is used to set URL expiration dates. Check whether the URL has expired during redirection:

                                if ($result['expiry_date'] && strtotime($result['expiry_date']) < time()) {
                                die("This URL has expired.");
                                }
                                How Many URLs Can I Store?

                                The number of URLs you can store in this URL shortener depends primarily on two factors:

                                1. The Length of the Short Code: In the example provided, the short code is six characters long and uses a combination of 62 characters (uppercase A-Z, lowercase a-z, and digits 0-9). Using the formula for possible combinations: [
                                  1. With a 6-character code, you can theoretically store 56.8 billion unique URLs.
                                  2. The other limiting factor is database size. Each URL takes up space in your MySQL database. Since URLs can vary in length, the total storage space needed depends on the length of the original URLs.
                                    • The short code itself (6 characters) will take negligible space.
                                    • The original URL stored as TEXT can hold up to 65,535 bytes (around 65 KB), which is sufficient for almost any URL.
                                    • The database size limit depends on your MySQL configuration and hosting environment. For example, MySQL databases can handle tables up to several terabytes, depending on the storage engine and file system.
                                    • If you have URLs that average 100 bytes in length (about 100 characters per URL), and you want to store 1 million URLs, you would need about 100 MB of space (not counting database overhead). If your database has 1 GB of free storage, you could store roughly 10 million URLs, assuming an average URL length of 100 characters.
                                    • With a 6-character code, you could theoretically store up to 56.8 billion unique URLs, far exceeding what most URL shorteners need. Your database’s storage capacity would likely constrain the actual limit. Do you need more or less capacity?

                                      • Shorter Codes: If you use shorter codes, like 5 characters, the total combinations would drop to ( 62^5 = 916,132,832 ), limiting you to around 916 million URLs.
                                      • Longer Codes: If you use longer short codes (e.g., 7 or 8 characters), the number of possible combinations increases dramatically:
                                        • 7 characters: ( 62^7 = 3.52 \times 10^{10} ) (~35 trillion URLs)
                                        • 8 characters: ( 62^8 = 218.34 \times 10^{12} ) (~218 trillion URLs)
                                        • You’ve built a secure, optimized, scalable URL shortener that can withstand attacks, handle large-scale usage, and provide a clean user experience. With HTTPS enforcement, rate limiting, click tracking, and expiring URLs, this shortener is ready for real-world deployment.

                                          ©2024 DK New Media, LLC, All rights reserved | Disclosure

                                          Originally Published on Martech Zone: How to Build a URL Shortener (PHP, MySQL, .htaccess)

                                          0 min
                                        • Snap, Share, Shine: Top 5 Photo Booth Apps to Elevate Your Next Event

                                          Oh, the good old days when taking photos in a photo booth meant squeezing into a tiny box with your friends, trying to look glamorous (even though your pose is awkward), and waiting for those strip-like photos to get out of the slot… Fantastic times! But today, those times are gone in the world of AR beauty. The small booths are becoming high-tech, innovative things that let you create memories in a tap. No more battling with cramped spaces, cheesy backdrops, or waiting for your prints—just instant fun and a digital trove of memories.

                                          This article will discuss the top 5 photo booth apps that will spice up any occasion.

                                          Photo Booth Apps
                                          1. Snappic
                                          2. Simple Booth
                                          3. LumaBooth
                                          4. Sparkbooth
                                          5. TouchPix
                                          Snappic

                                          The first one on the list is Snappic, the ultimate photo booth software aimed at designing memories that truly last and wow your guests. It offers filters, effects, digital props, animated overlays, and more. Snappic users can dive into 360-degree experiences for a complete view and create full-length videos with its awesome VideoFX feature. You can even set up an eye-catching animated attraction screen to ensure no guest misses your photo booth.

                                          This app also prioritizes competition, letting its users participate in various interactive contests, such as Scratch-to-Win or Spin-to-Win.

                                          With Snappic, guests can create, share, and print their photos in just a few minutes, crafting memories that truly last.

                                          Simple Booth

                                          The second app on the list of photo booth apps is Simple Booth. This app lives up to its name with straightforward functionality and fantastic results. Whether you’re hosting a wedding or a birthday bash, Simple Booth makes capturing memories effortless. 

                                          By the way, Simple Booth has introduced its own hardware called HALO, which has proven to be successful for various businesses. For example, one restaurant chain has put HALO in one of its spots. And you know what? It helped them attract more guests and became their marketing tool, making this place very popular. The math is simple: 9 out of 10 guests who use HALO will post the taken photo on their social media profiles and tag the restaurant, of course. Sounds like a free advertisement for the place, right? So, Simple Booth is a cost-effective solution that keeps guests engaged and makes them stay in this restaurant much longer.

                                          Of course, we can’t help but mention its clear design and interface. Just one minute to set it up, and you’re ready to go! HALO’s users can create professional-quality photos, GIFS, boomerangs, videos, and beyond. And, of course, Simple Booth remembers about customization: you can change the background and add the name of your company or logo or come up with anything you wish to be added to the photo strip.

                                          LumaBooth

                                          LumaBooth is a standout app for many reasons. It seamlessly turns your phone or tablet into a high-quality photo booth with little fuss. The app provides extensive props and backdrops to ensure your photos are anything but ordinary. You can use the built-in filters or let your creativity shine by designing your ones. 

                                          For those looking to add a touch of elegance, LumaBooth can act as a glam booth, providing guests with smooth, flawless skin and reducing imperfections (if any). It also offers the unique feature of creating a video guest book where guests can record and share their personal messages. Plus, with AI technology for background removal, you can transport your guests to virtually any location, adding fun and creativity to your photo and video experiences.

                                          Sparkbooth

                                          Sparkbooth is the ultimate fusion of fun and functionality. It’s celebrated for its lively photo effects and interactive features, turning each snapshot into a memorable piece of art. Whether using photo strips, GIFs, or videos, Sparkbooth offers various photo sizes and customization options, making it an affordable and unforgettable party favor. 

                                          With its social media integration, guests can easily share their moments, extending the party’s enjoyment beyond the event. Ideal for weddings, kids’ parties, birthdays, or any special occasion, Sparkbooth lets you choose from themed layouts or upload your own background photo, and add a logo or message to personalize your celebration.

                                          TouchPix

                                          There is definitely a reason why event professionals rave about this app. Being loaded with features that enhance every aspect of your event, TouchPix seamlessly integrates with almost any device, making it incredibly versatile. You can let your guests capture 360-degree photos and videos and play around with over 60 filters and effects. TouchPix also lets you add animated overlays and backgrounds, transforming your photos and videos into dynamic creations. 

                                          The AI face replacement feature is perfect for making quick adjustments, and you can also use the app’s background removal tools to switch things up—even when you’re offline! Video speed control is another fantastic feature, allowing you to add slow-motion or fast-forward effects. Plus, you can personalize TouchPix with your logo, background, and colors, ensuring your event stands out and leaves a lasting impression.

                                          ©2024 DK New Media, LLC, All rights reserved | Disclosure

                                          Originally Published on Martech Zone: Snap, Share, Shine: Top 5 Photo Booth Apps to Elevate Your Next Event

                                          0 min
                                        • Why I Stopped Podcasting... And It Was A Mistake

                                          I stopped podcasting in the summer of 2021. I had several excellent reasons to do it at the time, but in hindsight, it was a mistake. Most of my decision centered around the resources it took to record, edit, publish, and promote the podcast... and then attempting to attribute sales to it. I had a difficult time doing that... but it didn't mean that those sales did not exist. I believe the momentum I had and the visibility it provided me was providing opportunities... long-term.

                                          Podcasting can significantly enhance inbound sales strategies by leveraging the power of voice, capturing the attention of podcast listeners, and utilizing the necessity of repetition to get heard. Here's how:

                                          • Engaging Voice: Podcasting allows businesses to convey their message using a human voice, which adds a personal touch and authenticity to the content. A well-spoken host or guest can establish a connection with the audience, making the content more relatable and trustworthy. This personal connection can positively influence listeners' perception of the brand and its products or services.
                                          • Captured Attention: Podcast listeners are often highly engaged and attentive. Unlike written content, which requires visual focus, podcasts can be consumed while multitasking, such as during commutes, workouts, or household chores. This captive audience is more likely to absorb the message and remember it, increasing the likelihood of brand recall when making purchasing decisions.
                                          • Necessity of Repetition: Repetition is key in marketing, and podcasting provides an excellent platform for consistent messaging. By regularly releasing podcast episodes, businesses can reinforce their brand's value proposition, key benefits, and offerings. Repetition helps ingrained the message in the minds of listeners, making them more likely to consider the brand when the need arises.
                                          • Incorporating podcasting into your inbound sales strategy can capitalize on the power of voice, engage listeners' attention, and ensure consistent repetition of your messaging, ultimately boosting brand awareness, trust, and conversion rates.

                                            It will be interesting to see how long it takes for me to get my momentum back... I'll keep you posted!

                                            Sponsored By:

                                            • Highbridge: With a minimum of a decade each in the technology industry, Highbridge is leading the way in helping clients maximize their technology investments. Promo Code: martech zone

                                            Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                            17 min
                                          • Kate Bradley Chernis: How Artificial Intelligence Is Driving The Art Of Content Marketing

                                            In this Martech Zone Interview, we speak to Kate Bradley-Chernis, the CEO at Lately. Kate has worked with the largest brands in the world to develop content strategies that drive engagement and results. We discuss how artificial intelligence is helping to drive organizations' content marketing results.

                                            Lately is a social media AI content management platform that helps organizations understadn the words, phrases, and sentence strucutres of what your audience wants to read, hear, or watch. They have impressive results:

                                            • Marketers are spending 84% less time generating content with Lately's algorithms highlighting what the audience will love.
                                            • Marketers can automatically atomize any longform video, audio, or textual content into dozens or hundreds of pre-tested social media posts, producing 12,000% times more engagement.
                                            • Marketers can get consistent, engaging content designed to generate 200%+ more high-quality leads without being experts at copywriting.
                                            • You won't find a more engaging speaker than Kate when it comes to learning about content engagement,be sure to listen to this fantastic interview!

                                              Special Guest: Kate Bradley Chernis.

                                              Sponsored By:

                                              • DK New Media: Douglas Karr is a recognized influencer in the marketing technology industry. Hire Douglas to speak at your next event, develop an online webinar, host and develop your company's podcast, or train your marketing team. Promo Code: dknewmedia

                                              Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                              Links:

                                              • Lately — A.I. that studies what your audience wants to watch, hear or read and then automatically atomizes any longform video, audio or text into DOZENS of pre-tested social media posts, based on what it learns.
                                              • Lately: Automatically Create, Optimize And Share Social Media Updates Using AI and Existing Content — Lately's artificial intelligence platform constantly learns from your past social media posts and builds a writing model based on what is most engaging for your audience. Customers see real incredible results… including a 12,000% increase in engagement, 245% more clicks, and 200% more leads.
                                              23 min
                                            • Cumulative Advantage: How to Build Momentum for Your Ideas, Business and Life Against All Odds

                                              In this Martech Zone Interview, we speak to Mark Schaefer. Mark is a great friend, mentor, prolific author, speaker, podcaster, and consultant in the marketing industry. We discuss his newest book, Cumulative Advantage, which goes beyond marketing and speaks directly to the factors that influence success in business and life.

                                              We live in a world where being great may not be enough. We need momentum.

                                              From the best-selling author of KNOWN and Marketing Rebellion comes a practical guidebook to building unstoppable momentum for your ideas and your business -- even when the odds seem stacked against you. Filled with motivating ideas and fascinating case studies, Cumulative Advantage is an indispensable and practical source of inspiration for the entrepreneur, business leader, and every person with a dream that's ready to take flight. You will learn:

                                              • How the initial advantage that drives momentum comes from everyday ideas.
                                              • The inside secrets of creating vast awareness for your projects.
                                              • How to nurture powerful connections that lead to break-through opportunities.
                                              • Why momentum is driven by the speed, time, and space of a "seam."
                                              • How the "certainty of business uncertainty" can be used to your advantage.
                                              • Mark Schaefer weaves decades of research and revealing expert views into an entertaining guide to building momentous success in the real-world. You'll never view the world the same way again after learning how initial advantages, seams of opportunity, sonic booms, and the lift from mentors can impact your world in powerful and permanent ways. Get ready to make Cumulative Advantage work for you and your ideas right now!

                                                Special Guest: Mark Schaefer.

                                                Sponsored By:

                                                • DK New Media: Douglas Karr is a recognized influencer in the marketing technology industry. Hire Douglas to speak at your next event, develop an online webinar, host and develop your company's podcast, or train your marketing team. Promo Code: dknewmedia

                                                Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                                Links:

                                                • Cumulative Advantage: How to Build Momentum for Your Ideas, Business and Life Against All Odds — At its essence, marketing today is about answering one question: “How can we be heard?” How can we rise above the din of infinite options to create sustainable meaning with an audience or group of customers?
                                                • Mark Schaefer — One of the world's leading marketing futurists and keynote speakers.
                                                • Marketing Companion Podcast — The Marketing Companion is always fun, always interesting, and always on-target with insights and ideas that will turn up your marketing intellect to an “11.” Find a topic in the guide below or push one of the subscribe buttons to get episodes delivered free to your email account every other week.
                                                30 min
                                              • Lindsay Tjepkema: How Video and Podcasting Have Evolved Into Sophisticated B2B Marketing Strategies

                                                In this Martech Zone Interview, we speak to co-founder and CEO of Casted, Lindsay Tjepkema. Lindsay has two decades in marketing, is a veteran podcaster, and had a vision to build a platform to amplify and measure her B2B marketing efforts... so she founded Casted! In this episode, Lindsay helps listeners understand:

                                                • Why video and audio are critical to B2B marketing strategies
                                                • How technology is providing businesses with the means to edit, publish, and amplify that content
                                                • An overview of Casted and how their ability to amplify and measure the impact of rich media B2B content marketing
                                                • With Casted, marketers can unlock the power of podcasts by giving enterprise organizations access to use your most valuable content across every channel.

                                                  Special Guest: Lindsay Tjepkema.

                                                  Sponsored By:

                                                  • DK New Media: Douglas Karr is a recognized influencer in the marketing technology industry. Hire Douglas to speak at your next event, develop an online webinar, host and develop your company's podcast, or train your marketing team. Promo Code: dknewmedia

                                                  Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                                  Links:

                                                  • Casted — Casted is the audio and video content marketing solution for enterprise brands.
                                                  24 min
                                                • Marcus Sheridan: Digital Trends That Businesses Aren't Paying Attention To... But Should Be

                                                  For almost a decade, Marcus Sheridan has been teaching the principles his book to audiences around the globe. But before it was a book, the River Pools story (which was the foundation) was featured in multiple books, publications, and conferences for its incredibly unique approach to Inbound and Content Marketing.

                                                  In this Martech Zone Interview, we speak to Marcus Sheridan about the growing digital trends that businesses are not paying attention to, but that are having a dramatic impact on their sales and marketing processes. 33% of buyers want a sales-free customer purchase journey. Wether a consumer or business-buyer, customers are seeking assistance online where they can self-schedule, self-price, or walk through a self-assessment to reach a recommendation.

                                                  Marcus shares valuable information on the strategies companies should be adopting... including the seldom-seen strategy of disqualifying visitors who are not prospective buyers.

                                                  Special Guest: Marcus Sheridan.

                                                  Sponsored By:

                                                  • DK New Media: Douglas Karr is a recognized influencer in the marketing technology industry. Hire Douglas to speak at your next event, develop an online webinar, host and develop your company's podcast, or train your marketing team. Promo Code: dknewmedia

                                                  Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                                  Links:

                                                  • Marcus Sheridan — Powerfully engaging. Obsessive about takeaways. When Marcus Sheridan gives a keynote, the audience is everything.
                                                  • River Pools and Spas — River Pools was the foundation of Marcus Sheridan's book “They Ask You Answer” and has been featured in multiple books, publications, and conferences for its incredibly unique approach to Inbound and Content Marketing.
                                                  • They Ask You Answer — They Ask, You Answer is a straightforward guide filled with practical tactics and insights for transforming your marketing strategy. This new edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the evolution of content marketing and the increasing demands of today’s internet-savvy buyers. New chapters explore the impact of technology, conversational marketing, the essential elements every business website should possess, the rise of video, and new stories from companies that have achieved remarkable results with They Ask, You Answer.
                                                  • IMPACT+ — A FREE online learning community with on-demand courses, hundreds of expert-led sessions, thousands of your peers ready to support you, and much more.
                                                  29 min
                                                • Pouyan Salehi: The Technologies That Are Driving Sales Performance

                                                  In this Martech Zone Interview, we speak to Pouyan Salehi, a serial entrepreneur and has dedicated the last decade to improving and automating the sales process for B2B enterprise sales reps and revenue teams. We discuss the technology trends that have shaped B2B sales and explore the insights, skills and technologies that will drive sales performance in the coming year. Pouyan is passionate about the non-traditional, bottom up SaaS approach of selling to customers and how revenue teams are utilizing this as a key go-to-market strategy.

                                                  We discuss the key benefits of bottom-up SaaS including:

                                                  • How users can easily try or use the product without heavy integrations or cumbersome onboarding.
                                                  • How the decision-maker is sometimes a front-line employee (not always the C-Suite).
                                                  • How teams and individuals get immediate value from the product opposed to a full enterprise roll-out.
                                                  • How every application should have a consumer-like quality, making it something customers enjoy using.
                                                  • Pouyan is the co-founder and CEO of Scratchpad. Scratchpad is the first workspace built for sales. They designed every feature and interaction with account executives in mind, which means speed. Scratchpad combines sales notes, spreadsheets, tasks, Kanban boards, search, collaboration, and sales process adherence in one simple and intuitive workspace - connected to Salesforce to eliminate all those tabs and double work.

                                                    Special Guest: Pouyan Salehi.

                                                    Sponsored By:

                                                    • Highbridge: With a minimum of a decade each in the technology industry, Highbridge is leading the way in helping clients maximize their technology investments. Promo Code: martech zone

                                                    Support Martech Zone Interviews

                                                    Links:

                                                    • Scratchpad — Scratchpad is the fastest way to update Salesforce, take sales notes, and stay on top of to-dos. Designed for account executives. Fewer clicks. Free to use.
                                                    • Scratchpad Command — A detailed article on Martech Zone about Scratchpad Command, Scratchpad's Google Chrome plugin to interface directly with Salesforce easily.
                                                    27 min

                                                  About Martech Zone Interviews

                                                  From the publisher's feed

                                                  Douglas Karr Interviews Business, Marketing, and Sales Leaders