On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney sits down with Helena Bourdillon, four-time World Champion freediver and four-time World Record holder, whose path from the depths of depression to the depths of the ocean reframes what it actually means to perform under pressure. Bourdillon's work spans elite sport, clinical mental health recovery, and professional breathwork instruction, and what she brings to high-stakes sector audiences is not a wellness program. It is something far more comprehensive than that.

Most organizations address stress at the surface. They offer flexibility perks, mental health days, and well-intentioned check-ins that treat symptoms while the root system goes untouched. But mental fitness is different from mental wellness. The architecture of the practice is built on science-backed tools that retrain the nervous system rather than soothe it. The distinction matters because leaders and teams that skip this foundation do not plateau. They erode. And no marketing performance metrics or customer insights dashboard will surface the real reason why.

What freediving reveals is that the body and the mind must be in alignment, or performance becomes friction. Bourdillon speaks to a state she calls "quiet clarity," and what she says next is worth sitting with. "When we can do it from that place we are so much more present for ourselves," Bourdillon explains, "for what we're doing, so we actually get it done a lot faster and a lot better and more importantly we are there for the people around us, some who might really need us."

The tools that produce quiet clarity are not complex. That is precisely what makes them easy to dismiss and costly to ignore. Bourdillon's five science-backed tools are the kind of thing a 15-year-old could learn and a seasoned executive has likely never tried. Watch her award-winning documentary Light Beams for Helena and connect with her at helenabourdillon.com.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

For most B2B companies, the problem is not creating content. The problem, instead, is distributing content.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing content marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney draws a hard line between two things that are not interchangeable and not even close to the same thing. B2B teams that have published well-researched, well-written, and genuinely useful content only to hear nothing back will recognize the gap most people are too uncomfortable to admit exists in their own organization.

Posting and distributing are not the same thing, and the difference between them is not subtle. Most b2b digital marketing efforts are built backwards, and the real weight of a social media marketing strategy has very little to do with what gets published and everything to do with what happens next. Earning the right to ask before ever making an ask sounds like common sense until you look at how few teams actually operate that way.

"Content creation is about 30% of the work and distribution is about 70%," McKinney explains. "And honestly, most people are doing it absolutely backwards."

Good content and a good audience are not enough if the two never actually meet. That tension sits at the center of every B2B marketing conversation worth having, and it is the one that most teams keep deferring. The content is not the problem. The question is what happens to it after it exists.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney sits down with Matt Kleinschmit, founder and CEO of Reach3 Insights and part of the broader Rival Group family of companies. With nearly 30 years in the research industry, Matt brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial range and deep methodological conviction to a conversation about what the insights industry keeps getting wrong and why fixing it requires owning the problem from the ground up.

Most quantitative research still runs through email. That single fact, unremarkable to many and alarming to few, sits at the center of a much larger tension between how research has always been done and how people actually live, communicate, and share. The gap between a clinical survey experience and a genuine human response is not a design preference. It is a data integrity issue. And in a world where customer insights drive high-stakes business decisions, the cost of that gap compounds quietly until it doesn't.

Owning the human source data layer is not a common commitment in this industry right now. Aggregation is easier. Subcontracting is cheaper. And the downstream consequences of river sampling, bot contamination, and unvalidated respondents are someone else's problem until they aren't. "Leaning into the future, but not losing touch with the past," Kleinschmit explains. "[This] is the notion that a lot of the client researchers that we work with, [that] they want to be innovative. They want to bring new things into the organization, but they also have to have trust and credibility that what they're bringing into the organization is legitimate."

The brands drowning in AI options, synthetic data promises, and methodology noise are not asking the wrong questions. They are asking them to the wrong partners. What it actually takes to guide a Fortune 100 client through that landscape, with transparency, calibration, and something worth trusting, is a much harder thing to build than a platform or a panel alone.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

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Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Shopping online and shopping in-store are two different animals.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney sits down with Vesna Fuiorea, Senior Consultant at Next Level Trends, to examine why shopper behavior operates on an entirely different frequency than consumer behavior. Vesna brings over 20 years of experience in consumer goods to a conversation that challenges assumptions about how people make purchasing decisions when time, emotion, and mission collide at the point of sale.

The gap between how brands communicate and how shoppers actually process information in-store represents one of the most expensive blind spots in retail strategy. Packaging redesigns that seem like progress can obliterate brand recognition. Promotional displays positioned outside the mental map shoppers carry into stores might as well be invisible. The autopilot mode that makes shopping efficient for consumers creates a fortress that most marketing performance metrics fail to penetrate. Fuiorea points to cultural differences that complicate global retail strategies, convenience trends reshaping store formats across continents, and the reality that an aging population demands fundamentally different approaches to shelf arrangement, flavor differentiation, and package design.

"Making sure that your brand is visible and accessible in the store are two things that sound silly when we are talking about," Fuiorea explains. "But brand owners need to make everything possible to differentiate their brand."

But the relationship between online and offline retail continues to defy predictions of brick-and-mortar extinction. E-commerce growth patterns vary dramatically by geography and culture, with southern European markets maintaining strong preferences for fresh food purchased in physical stores while northern countries adopt digital grocery shopping at higher rates. The real disruption may come not from the channel itself but from AI agents that intercept purchase decisions before shoppers even enter stores or open apps, creating an entirely new battlefield for customer insights and brand visibility.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney examines why the relationship between chief marketing officers and chief revenue officers breaks down before a single lead changes hands. The tension isn't about incompatible personalities or departmental turf wars. It exists because bonuses are tied to different outcomes, "qualified" definitions remain unspoken, and timing expectations never align. When one executive optimizes for brand awareness while another chases quarterly closes, no amount of collaboration workshops will bridge the divide that the org chart itself has severed.

The marketing qualified lead becomes the flashpoint. Marketing celebrates engagement metrics and demographic fit. Sales dismisses anything short of active intent. Neither side agrees on what distinguishes browsing from buying. Yet, both departments defend their interpretations as if revenue depended on being right rather than on alignment—the argument over lead quality masks a deeper issue. Nobody defined what sales qualification actually requires before the first campaign launched.

"If marketing thought that was a marketing qualified lead, then instead of getting more of them to try and solve this problem by a numbers game, why don't we all get back in the room and talk about what a marketing qualified lead would actually look like?" McKinney asks. "The salesperson's job is to qualify them for sales, but there is a piece that marketing can do."

Fixing the CMO-CRO relationship doesn't require new software or revised messaging. It requires rebuilding the foundation both roles stand on. Shared incentives, transparent data, and defined handoff criteria transform what feels like a personality clash into what it actually is. A solvable systems problem. Companies that treat b2b lead generation as a shared accountability rather than a departmental transaction stop arguing over who's responsible for failed conversions and start optimizing the entire revenue path together.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Priscilla McKinney, host of Ponderings from the Perch and CEO of Little Bird Marketing, welcomes Joey Maddox and Henry Legard, Chief Strategy Officer and CEO respectively at Verisoul, for a conversation about where fraud prevention in market research keeps missing the mark. A LinkedIn video, equal parts nerdy and genuine, sparked the connection that led to this episode about structural problems most people in the industry would rather not acknowledge and what they are doing about it!.

It can be said that market researchers today inherited a volume problem disguised as a quality solution:Sample providers get paid per respondent. Aggregators get paid per completed survey. Every middleman in the chain benefits from passing bodies through, not from stopping to verify who those bodies actually are. The result is predictable. Data quality tools chase yesterday's fraud techniques while bad actors stay three steps ahead, and businesses make million-dollar decisions on compromised customer insights. The real kicker? A worst-case scenario is aA three-week diligence survey can collapsinge entirely when someone finally checks if the data makes sense, leaving clients without answers at the exact moment they need them most.

But not all respondents are fake, bad or trying to cheat the system. So, how do you let those into your ecosystem while keeping the bad actors out? "One of the crusades that we've had at Verisoul is how do you block as much fraud as possible with essentially zero false positives," Joey Maddox explains. "We need to block as much fraud as possible, but we can't just go willy-nilly blocking a bunch of people." 

So, it’s about striking the right balance. And they discuss new technology in this episode and how they are collaborating with other data quality experts already in the industry to make everything ship shape and better than it was yesterday! 

They discuss how respondent integrity matters more than response integrity now that AI makes faking expertise trivially easy. They get specific about why trap questions alone don't work anymore, how IP deduplication blocks hospital workers from taking legitimate surveys from the same network, and more. Their technology is built around one important question, “What if respondents could own their verified identity across the industry instead, choosing what to share and earning more for providing greater certainty?”  It's the kind of idea that makes some people uncomfortable, which is exactly why this conversation matters.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell

Sponsors:

Is your concept testing budget disappearing without driving better decisions?

Most insights teams waste 30 to 40 percent of their research spend on preventable leaks. Socratic Technologies has created a free audit to help you identify what leak is costing you the most—and exactly how to fix it. 

Click here to download the audit today and start making concept testing that drives growth.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Dan Womack, president of KLC, joins Priscilla McKinney on Ponderings from the Perch to dismantle the "study mindset" that keeps research teams from driving real business outcomes. He brings over 20 years of corporate research experience from Fortune 500 firms, including GE Capital, Genworth Financial, and Aflac, plus a provocative take on why the industry needs to stop obsessing over executive access and start focusing on organizational action.

Womack presents a four-pillar framework that redefines effective insights work. First, understand what customers know and believe, the baseline of primary research. Second, understand how they arrived at those beliefs, going beyond simple "why" questions. Third, translate those findings into business implications, which requires commercial literacy that most researchers never develop. Fourth, and most critical, ensure the organization actually acts on the market research insights. AI will likely automate the first three pillars within years, leaving the fourth as distinctly human territory and the future of the profession. "How do you ensure that the business actually does something? How do you ensure that they act on what you brought to them?" Womack explains. "If an insight falls to an empty room, nothing happens to it."

The industry's decades-long fixation on "getting a seat at the table" misses the point entirely. Not everyone gets interviewed after the game, but that doesn't diminish their contribution to the win. Data-driven marketing decisions require commercial literacy, understanding P&Ls and business implications, more than proximity to executives. Gateway's willingness to scrap an expensive ad campaign in the mid 1990s after research revealed parents wanted complete computer packages demonstrates what true customer centricity looks like when combined with organizational courage to act on findings.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Candidates are going through 200 interviews before landing offers, yet companies are still losing top talent because their hiring processes are too long.

Diana Benedikt, executive recruiter at Newman Search Group, joins Priscilla McKinney on Ponderings from the Perch to discuss what it truly takes to land and thrive in top CPG brand and marketing roles. Benedikt brings over 20 years of startup and VC ecosystem experience, along with deep expertise in growth strategy and talent acquisition for companies ranging from early-stage ventures to established consumer packaged goods brands in the better-for-you segment. They explore the complex skill set required for brand strategy leadership, from stage-gate experience and cross-functional relationship building to the ability to execute data-driven decisions under pressure.

Brand managers operate at the hub of organizational success, with spokes reaching into R&D, finance, sales, and operations. Beyond technical expertise in persona development and go-to-market strategy, the most successful candidates demonstrate genuine passion for the brand's mission, whether that's a B Corp commitment or a fast-paced product launch cycle. Companies in the high-growth, better-for-you space, which is expanding at roughly twice the rate of traditional CPG, need professionals who can move quickly without sacrificing strategic thinking, pulling insights from data they analyze themselves rather than delegating to analysts.

"I always want to note, are you pulling the data? Are you analyzing the data yourself, or do you have a bunch of analysts doing it for you? And if you're pulling it, give me an example of where you've pulled the insights, made a move," Benedikt explains. "Whether it's a pivot or a new product or pricing or whatever you're doing, being able to pull the insights into strategies that drive a positive outcome."

To fill a top CPG Brand Manager role, experience requirements remain strict in today's competitive market. Companies want candidates who have already succeeded as Senior Brand Managers, not those simply ready to step up. Her advice? Candidates should diversify their opportunities and demonstrate genuine listening skills in every interaction, while companies have compelling job descriptions that serve as sales documents. When hiring processes drag on too long, top talent gets lost to competitors who move with greater urgency.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Most marketing teams are drowning in AI-generated content that sounds impressive but lacks the one thing that actually converts, and that's humanity.

Priscilla McKinney, host of Ponderings from the Perch and CEO of Little Bird Marketing, cuts through the AI hype to reveal what actually works. She explains the critical difference between tasks you should delegate to AI and work that demands human expertise, focusing on three areas where this balance matters most, namely, content creation, strategy development, and quality control.

AI excels at mechanical tasks like generating structured outlines, brainstorming blog titles at scale with SEO considerations, and providing fresh perspectives on complex topics. But, AI fundamentally lacks authentic industry experience, personal anecdotes, and the ability to build genuine emotional connections. AI has no war stories from conferences, no colleagues to quote, and no ability to call in favors for expert insights. The skeleton it builds needs human flesh on the bones, specifically the storytelling, context, and networking insights that only come from real experience.

"AI tells you what happened before, but only you can decide what's going to happen next with that information," Priscilla explains. Letting any tool do your work for you without that context and insight can really get you in serious trouble, or worse—get you nowhere. Yup, if you’re using it to write compelling content that differentiates you from your competitors, good luck! 

While AI handles marketing automation tasks exceptionally well by compiling KPI reports, tracking performance trends, and generating benchmarks, it cannot grasp the nuanced context of your business goals or understand how priorities shift between quarters. It misses performance anomalies that aren't statistically significant but might reveal important patterns in team behavior. AI processes information like a typewriter, one line at a time, which creates inconsistencies and redundancies within projects.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Most companies don't have a product problem but an operational problem that's quietly destroying their customer experience.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Lasandra Barksdale, Founder and Principal at Kompass Customer Solutions about using customer insights to improve customer experience (CX). They examine how service-driven businesses often excel at marketing and sales but fail at the handoffs, workflows, and internal processes that determine whether customers stay or leave. Barksdale talks about her work helping companies transform support tickets, online reviews, and frontline feedback into actionable customer insights to create a clear roadmap for removing friction from the customer journey. And that is the crux of great CX!

Specifics they discuss include how friction typically occurs at the handoff between departments, where no one truly owns the customer experience. While marketing drives interest and sets expectations, sales closes the deal, but breakdowns happen during delivery. This is when slow onboarding, internal efficiency policies, and disconnected tech systems create customer frustration. Barksdale emphasizes that the real challenge is recognizing that customers evaluate the entire experience as one seamless interaction, not as separate departmental functions.

"I think we have to remember that customers really don't separate your marketing from your operations. It's, and we should either, right," Barksdale explains. "It's all one experience."

The conversation also addresses how companies can identify friction by examining support tickets, online reviews, customer surveys, and feedback from frontline teams. Barksdale explains that call reduction itself is not a customer experience strategy because the real goal should be eliminating the need for customers to call at all. She shares practical examples, including how Amazon proactively refunded her for a subpar movie rental before she even thought to complain, demonstrating how companies can address friction before customers experience it as a problem.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney reveals how strategic interviews transform the content creation problem from manufactured brilliance into curated snippets of conversations. She walks through a content marketing strategy that turns industry leaders, colleagues, and conference contacts into sources of compelling material while building genuine professional relationships. 

Before any tips are handed out a strong warning is given that the approach requires understanding your audience first through persona development. With that settled, asking questions that are relevant to your ideal audience becomes easy! 

But how do you get the best answers from experts you’re already talking to? By asking better questions! She explains that most professionals fail at interview content because they ask questions that trigger autopilot responses. Generic queries about leadership style or company background produce forgettable answers because the subject isn't actually thinking. Better questions dig into specific decisions, failures, trade-offs, and frameworks that force people to explore their reasoning rather than repeat rehearsed talking points. This distinction separates content that stops the scroll from content that gets ignored.

"When someone has to actually think about an answer to your question, the answer starts becoming interesting," McKinney explains. "In those stories they might even share a framework, or if they start talking about how they frame something up, say whoa whoa whoa whoa tell me about the framework!” Encouraging others to reveal their thinking process creates really interesting content that stops the scrolling on LinkedIn."

Interviews solve multiple problems simultaneously. When you interview someone thoughtfully, you're not just extracting content; you're giving them visibility, building a genuine relationship, and positioning yourself as someone who curates valuable insights for your network. A three-minute recorded conversation at a conference becomes weeks of LinkedIn posts. A colleague's solved problem becomes a framework your audience can apply. The interview itself becomes the relationship builder, not just the content source. This approach works because it removes the pressure to be brilliant and replaces it with genuine curiosity about what smart people know.

Mischief managed. 

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Is your concept testing budget disappearing without driving better decisions?

Most insights teams waste 30 to 40 percent of their research spend on preventable leaks. Socratic Technologies has created a free audit to help you identify what leak is costing you the most—and exactly how to fix it. 

Click here to download the audit today and start making concept testing that drives growth.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Priscilla McKinney, host of Ponderings from the Perch and CEO of Little Bird Marketing, challenges the bulk mindset destroying promotional budgets across every industry. She introduces what she calls the "stress ball epidemic"—the reality that 90% of conference swag ends up in the trash before attendees even leave the hotel. This episode reveals the psychology behind why people keep certain items while others create nothing but waste, and how strategic promotional giveaways can transform marketing expenses into measurable lead generation strategies.

She explains that companies order 3,000 cheap items instead of 300 quality items, believing the math makes sense until they realize 3,000 items thrown away immediately have zero value. The solution lies in what McKinney calls the "three life strategy": the event experience itself, social media amplification through user-generated content, and evergreen brand love created by items people actually use. Strategic giveaway campaigns capture email addresses and generate qualified leads for B2B lead generation rather than simply distributing forgettable stress balls and keychains that end up in landfills.

"If you spent $3,000 on a giveaway campaign and it generated 500 qualified leads, that's $6 per lead," McKinney explains. "If you spent $3,000 on traditional swag that you can't point to a single lead from, that's infinite cost per lead."

She shares real-world examples of successful campaigns, from Louis Vuitton purses tied to merger messaging to Kindle giveaways that sparked conversations about global connection. These weren't random prizes—each aligned with brand values and created stories worth sharing on social media. McKinney emphasizes that quality items photograph well and generate organic social sharing that amplifies reach without additional cost. Winners naturally post about premium gifts on LinkedIn, creating user-generated content that extends brand visibility across entire networks while following social media marketing strategy principles of organic engagement.

And if you're heading to a conference and you realize you need help thinking through the strategy, then this is exactly kind of work we do at Little Bird Marketing. Our peeps would love to talk about conference strategy because that service includes helping clients think through promotional strategies that actually generate leads instead of just generating trash. We bring strategic, organized, accountable, and repeatable approach to everything we do and we like to extend that to how you show up at events so that your brand can SOAR.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Is your concept testing budget disappearing without driving better decisions?

Most insights teams waste 30 to 40 percent of their research spend on preventable leaks. Socratic Technologies has created a free audit to help you identify what leak is costing you the most—and exactly how to fix it. 

Click here to download the audit today and start making concept testing that drives growth.

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Can market research actually drive your thought leadership strategy?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Senior Vice President of Marketing Research at Method Communications, Svetlana Gershman, about how market research and PR must work together to create authentic thought leadership. They explore why these disciplines historically operated in silos and how the rise of large language models (LLMs) is forcing communication teams to unify around consistent narratives that build expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.

McKinney and Gershman discuss how thought leadership research differs fundamentally from internal business research. While both require methodological rigor and straightforward storytelling, thought leadership research must find the intersection between what's measurable and what's newsworthy. "Your research has to be timely with what's going on," Gershman explains. "Timely facts, cultural facts, taking advantage of that and understanding what that means for your industry, for your context, for an employer, is important. It's fun, it's timely, it will make the news, but it's also valuable." Gershman explains the "dream headlines" approach her team uses, where they draft potential headlines before designing the survey to ensure the research can generate media pickup while maintaining data integrity.

Their conversation reveals how LLMs are reshaping the relationship between customer insights and b2b content marketing. Search engines now act as gatekeepers in B2B decision-making, which means brands must maintain narrative consistency across all channels. Gershman shares how her team at Method Communications bridges the gap between research and PR by ensuring that customer insights inform thought leadership strategy while meeting the standards journalists expect from authoritative sources.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

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Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses a systematic approach to creating high-quality LinkedIn content without adding another full-time job to your plate. She reveals how to capture moments of unconscious competence—when you're speaking from deep expertise during client pitches, presentations, or team meetings—and transform those insights into a consistent content library.

She explains that the most powerful content doesn't come from staring at a blank page at 7 a.m. with coffee in hand. It comes from recording those golden moments when you're in flow, solving real problems, and articulating your unique value naturally. "Workflows [only] work when they fit YOUR workflow," McKinney explains. "Do not try to do something that is so foreign to you that you will not do it. Get inspired to understand how you can get disparate systems to work together and shorten your path to success." By building an automated workflow using tools like Zapier, ChatGPT, and Claude, you can capture transcripts, filter for viral-worthy topics, and create polished posts that actually sound like you.

The episode walks through a six-step automation process: capturing transcripts from recordings, using Zapier to connect tools, filtering topics with ChatGPT, crafting spicy takes with Claude, creating project management cards, and scheduling polished posts. Priscilla emphasizes that perfection isn't the goal—adaptation is. Your tech stack and team structure will differ, but the principle remains: multiply the value of work you're already doing by being kind to your future self.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the three pillars of developing an authentic brand tone of voice. She breaks down how personality, perspective, and language work together to create communications that sound distinctly like your brand across every touchpoint, from formal proposals to casual social media interactions.

McKinney explains that tone of voice begins with understanding your core values and how they translate into daily behavior. She walks through Little Bird Marketing's four core values (care deeply, finish strong, stay gold, and be true) and demonstrates how each value shapes not only what the company says but also how they show up in client relationships. The key is defining both what each value means and what it explicitly does not mean, creating clear guardrails for authentic communication. These values become the foundation for personality, the first pillar of tone of voice, which determines how you say things rather than just what you say. "Your tone should be flexible in different contexts," McKinney explains. "I can go into a formal meeting, and I can go to a fun, happy hour. I'm still Priscilla, right? But it shouldn't be so unrecognizable that there's no flow."

The second pillar, perspective, requires brands to take clear stands on industry issues and articulate their beliefs, even if it's unpopular. McKinney shares how Little Bird Marketing built their business around the conviction that every brand deserves a clear and effective marketing plan with tangible deliverables, a direct challenge to the industry norm of vague creative promises. The third pillar, language, involves making concrete decisions about vocabulary, sentence structure, and level of formality. McKinney provides a practical exercise that helps brands identify five non-negotiable tone descriptors. As with many elements of marketing, Priscilla emphasizes that the real challenge isn't creating the document, but implementing it consistently across every communication touchpoint.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

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On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and President of the Research & Planning Group, Sean Jordan, about the critical challenges facing marketing research today and the specific experience of working mostly in healthcare. They explore how healthcare organizations lag behind other industries in adopting marketing best practices, why emergency departments create paradoxical brand experiences, and how data quality issues threaten the reliability of modern research methodologies. Jordan also shares about his new podcast, ⁠The Marketing Gateway⁠.

Together, they have a few thoughts on the growing crisis in research data quality, particularly the overuse of research panelists who may not provide authentic responses. They discuss the rise of VPNs, spoofing technologies, and how generative AI has created an arms race between researchers trying to verify respondent authenticity and fraudsters finding new ways to game the system. "We're at the point where 30 to 40% of panel respondents can be fraudulent. And that's not a statistic that I made up," Jordan explains. "That's what the people who sell these panels will tell you."

But after discussing the insights industry at large, they go deeper, where Jordan explains his work with organ procurement organizations, where the research stakes couldn't be higher. With hundreds of thousands of people waiting for transplantable organs, these federally designated nonprofits face complex challenges around donor family consent, ethical practices, and maintaining public trust. He highlights another interesting conundrum in healthcare with the revelation that healthcare systems often subcontract their emergency departments to physician groups, creating a disconnect in which patients report terrible emergency experiences but excellent hospital care once admitted. This paradox undermines hospital brand equity and underscores why organizations need to reclaim control of their front-door experience.These two issues alone show why it is important to have deep experience in the healthcare vertical in order to come alongside companies and help them make better decisions - based on great data. 

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the four distinct types of thought leaders and how identifying your natural style can unlock your content creation potential. She breaks down the visionary, revolutionary, radical, and inspirational approaches to thought leadership, explaining how each adds unique value to your audience and brand positioning.

She explains that most people mistakenly believe thought leadership requires predicting industry trends or being visionaries like Richard Branson and Elon Musk. "When I hear these kinds of comments from people saying, ‘I know I have something to say and they can say it well,’” McKinney explains. “I get the sneaking suspicion that they're not writing in their natural style and that's what's causing blocks and problems." This misconception causes talented professionals to feel blocked when creating content because they're forcing themselves into an unnatural writing style. Understanding whether you naturally inspire like Mother Teresa, revolutionize like Malcolm Gladwell, radicalize like Brené Brown, or envision like Branson allows you to write authentically and consistently. 

Once you understand your natural thought-leadership style, McKinney provides a roadmap to amplify that voice across multiple channels. She tackles the common mistake of one-and-done content promotion, explaining why quality thought leadership deserves strategic resharing with different hooks and angles throughout the year. From her Rule of 15 for balancing social media self-promotion with value-driven content, to understanding how topic clusters now outperform keyword stuffing for SEO, McKinney connects authentic voice with tactical execution that gets your expertise heard above the noise.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Senior Manager of Brand Insights at Ricard Pernod, Kira Greenberg, about the critical balance between innovative research methodologies and traditional human-centered approaches. They explore why customer insights derived from actual human experiences remain irreplaceable, even as AI and synthetic data promise faster, cleaner answers to business questions.

They discuss how the best innovations emerge from contradictions and tensions in consumer behavior rather than sanitized data. Greenberg explains that while quick research methods have their place, deeper qualitative approaches often prevent companies from needing to revisit the same questions repeatedly. The conversation reveals how insight professionals must sit in the messiness of human behavior and translate it for executives who face pressure to move at the speed of business. "Humans are messy," Greenberg explains. "But that's where the best [innovations] live. In contradictions, in tensions, in things that we're trying to solve for. Everything else is boring."

The discussion also covers the pendulum swing of research trends, from qualitative at scale to AI-driven insights, and why steadiness matters more than chasing every shiny new methodology. Greenberg emphasizes that consumers deserve more credit than they typically receive, particularly when it comes to articulating what they absolutely don't want. The role of insights professionals, she argues, is to dig deeper with sufficient skepticism to identify gaps in consumer statements and act on those discoveries.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection.

Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage.

Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it.

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest Paul Mastrianna, Vice President of Business Development at Socratic Technologies, about building research partnerships that prioritize client needs over product pitching. They explore how understanding a client's business objectives, capability gaps, and internal strengths transforms research from a transactional service into a strategic partnership that delivers long-term value.

They discuss how successful research partnerships require moving beyond transactional vendor relationships to become valid extensions of client teams. Mastrianna emphasizes understanding what clients need help with versus what they can handle themselves, conducting capability audits that identify gaps rather than pushing unnecessary services. "I hate hearing 'these are [just] our vendors' from clients," Mastrianna explains. "I always look at it as a partnership. We're here to help each other grow and learn." This consultative approach builds trust and creates what Mastrianna calls "stretch before you run" moments, where taking time upfront to understand questionnaire logic, sampling strategies, and reporting needs prevents rushed mistakes while enabling faster turnaround when speed matters.

The conversation reveals how institutional memory loss costs research teams real money and time. When team members leave, their knowledge often disappears into shared folders and scattered files. Mastrianna describes how centralized dashboards solve this problem by consolidating all concept testing results in a single, accessible location, enabling teams to compare performance across concepts, identify patterns, and onboard new team members without starting from scratch. This infrastructure transforms one-off research tactics into sustainable strategic programs that deliver compounding value over time.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Can premium brands thrive when consumers tighten their budgets and economic uncertainty looms?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Global Director of Premiumization Insights & Foresight at AB InBev Sebastian Schuliaquer about how premium brands navigate economic uncertainty and shifting consumer behaviors. They explore why established brands with proven quality maintain consumer loyalty during tough times, how cultural relevance shapes brand selection, and why smart consumption is replacing impulsive spending across demographics.

They discuss how consumer insights evolve through consistent methodologies that honor historical data while embracing new technologies. Schuliaquer explains that premium brands succeed by offering security and proven value when consumers become more deliberate about their purchases. The conversation reveals how younger generations analyze every purchase decision, from focus groups revealing preference patterns to research panels tracking consumption shifts, making transparency and authenticity non-negotiable brand attributes. "Consumers are not just following the trend. They are analyzing. They want to do the smart thing. They want to maximize," Schuliaquer explains. "What is happening now is that producing your money, it's so hard that you're not going to waste it."

The conversation also explores how emerging trends like GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumption patterns, pushing brands to focus on quality over quantity. Schuliaquer emphasizes that when consumers become more conscious about what they consume and how often they indulge, premium brands with clear cultural relevance and proven differentiation become the safe choice. The discussion highlights why brands must find cultural forces that connect rather than divide people, especially as values become increasingly compartmentalized across consumer segments.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses how to transform conference attendance from expensive guesswork into predictable revenue generation. McKinney breaks down a three-phase framework that includes three weeks of pre-conference planning, active participation during the event, and three weeks of disciplined follow-up to maximize return on investment.

She explains that conferences grow brand trust by 93%, brand recognition by 92%, and directly help 92% of attendees acquire new clients, but only when treated as a lead-generation system rather than just a networking event. She outlines specific tactics for pre-conference research and outreach, strategic booth design, active participation strategies including real-time social media integration, and the critical importance of immediate follow-up within 48 hours of the event ending. "You need a real kickoff meeting, and I mean official. It needs to be on the books, and people need to attend," McKinney explains. "It needs to be sales and marketing teams and everybody who is going."

McKinney emphasizes the importance of CRM integration and tracking, sharing how one speaking engagement at Insights Marketing Day in 2017 generated $2.8 million in revenue for Little Bird Marketing over the years because they tracked every connection. She stresses that without proper systems for measuring conference ROI through metrics like leads converted, revenue generated, and meeting quality, companies are simply guessing—and guessing is expensive. The episode concludes with an actionable plan for scheduling kickoff meetings, conducting thorough research on speakers and sponsors, and planning follow-up systems before ever walking into the convention center.

If you want to connect with the professionals McKinney references in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Jill Kushner-Bishop, PhD, Carlos Hevia, Anne Brown, Belinda Brown, and Meredith Falvo.

Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell.

Sponsors:

Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection.

Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage.

Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

The strongest client relationships are built by those who ask the best questions.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and President of Burke Consulting, Tara Marotti, about the critical importance of asking strategic questions that challenge clients to think beyond their initial requests. They explore how Burke Consulting, the full-service insights and innovation firm, approaches custom research by first understanding what data clients already possess and whether stakeholders are aligned before designing new studies that generate meaningful market research insights.

They discuss how successful client relationships develop through vulnerability and collaboration, where both parties admit when they don't know something and work together to find solutions that transform data into actionable customer insights. Marotti explains that Burke positions itself as the research partner clients turn to for complex, gnarly problems that don't have ready-made solutions, requiring custom approaches that meet clients exactly where they are in their decision-making process. "Nine times out of ten, whether it's an employee or client or anybody, people know what they need to do, but they need somebody to spar with to give them the confidence to say, okay, I think I know what I need to do," Marotti explains. "And sometimes that's about getting more information in the business, but sometimes it's just about accessing what you already know."

The conversation reveals how Burke Consulting has maintained its irreplaceable position through decades of industry disruption by leaning into whatever direction their clients are headed, whether that involves DIY solutions or new AI tools. Marotti emphasizes that their role often involves helping clients navigate organizational culture challenges and ensuring stakeholder buy-in for research initiatives, recognizing that great data from research panels means nothing without proper organizational support for implementation.

Sponsors:

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and PatientSight President, Dave Muggler, about the critical importance of patient-centered research in the healthcare industry. They explore how rare disease patients face complex diagnostic journeys averaging four to five years from initial symptoms to diagnosis, and how pharmaceutical companies are adapting their research approaches to capture these authentic patient experiences through agile methodologies.

Patients today are more informed and collaborative with their healthcare providers than ever before, with many actively researching their conditions and advocating for specific treatments. PatientSight's subscription-based model allows pharmaceutical companies to quickly pivot their research strategies based on customer insights from initial findings, rather than following rigid project timelines that may miss crucial patient perspectives gained through specialized research panels. This shift reflects a fundamental change in the healthcare landscape where traditional power dynamics are evolving. "Patients are more informed than ever because not only do you have Google search now, you have AI tools to work with. Information is at people's fingertips, literally," Dave explains. "And the other thing is that patients no longer put their physician on a pedestal. I mean, not that they disrespect them, but they view the relationship with their physician as more of a collaboration."

The conversation reveals how AI technology is transforming patient research through capabilities like AI-generated patient persona videos that combine survey data from multiple patients into compelling narratives for pharmaceutical teams. Muggler shares how these tools help companies develop deeper empathy for patient experiences while maintaining the ability to customize presentations for different audiences within their organizations, from senior leadership to sales teams.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Head of Consumer Insights at StarKist, Raina Rusnak, about building an insights function from the ground up. They discuss how she transformed a fragmented research environment into a strategic advantage by focusing on customer insights and establishing proper survey design standards that serve multiple internal stakeholders.

Rusnak got to work when she discovered teams were about to launch a 30-minute survey. A 30-minute survey! Instead, she applied her insights expertise and was able to help everyone shift gears, right size the survey and still get everyone the insights they needed. She got some quick wins by conducting low-budget DIY research to establish credibility quickly. Rusnak revealed how she worked hard to get market research insights efforts aligned with executive-level discussions by taking the initiative to understand business needs and deliver strategic recommendations. "I spent time being curious and asking people what their pain points were," Rusnak explains. "I would ask, ‘If I could wave a magic wand and give you an insight right now, what would that be?’"

The discussion also covers Rusnak's experience during 18 months of unemployment right before she landed this job at StarKist, which led her to write "Sampling Life: 100 Ways to Find Joy in Unemployment." She shares how being time-rich during unemployment allowed her to engage her mind, body, and connections while staying present and maintaining resilience through the job search process. She uses this book to encourage others now in that place and promotes the great job of networking and connection available through the Insights Career Network. 

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the widespread website traffic declines affecting businesses across industries. She explains how Google algorithm updates and AI search integration have fundamentally changed how people consume content online, with AI-generated summaries now providing answers directly in search results, eliminating the need for clicks to source websites.

She explains that businesses are experiencing traffic drops in two ways: many are seeing significant ranking declines for secondary keywords, while others maintain strong positions for primary terms but still lose 30-60% of their website traffic. McKinney breaks down how AI integration means people get information through bullet points, summaries, and step-by-step instructions right in search results. She acknowledges the challenge that AI faces in replicating unique, human-centered content, such as firsthand business experience, proprietary data, contrarian perspectives, and behind-the-scenes industry insights. "No amount of technical optimization beats genuine clarity and usefulness," McKinney explains. "If your content helps someone solve a real problem, understand a complex concept, or help them make a better decision in the moment, that value does not disappear because of algorithmic changes."

McKinney offers practical strategies for working alongside AI changes, including tracking AI citations through tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush that show when Google's AI overviews reference your content as authoritative sources. She addresses the reality that AI has a hard time replicating unique, human-centered content like firsthand business experience, proprietary data, contrarian perspectives, and behind-the-scenes industry insights. She emphasizes creating content that provides value even when rankings decline or AI systems can summarize basic information, focusing on content marketing strategy that leverages what makes human expertise irreplaceable in an AI-dominated search landscape.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, founder and president of Sylver Consulting, Brianna Sylver, about transforming turbulence into trust through emotional leadership. They explore how insights leaders can navigate the inevitable resistance, doubt, and complexity that emerge when driving meaningful change within organizations. Sylver is the author of "Leading Through Freefall: How Innovators Turn Turbulence into Trust," a practical guide for leaders navigating uncertainty, change, and team dynamics in high-stakes environments. 

They discuss how people experiencing change go through a grief curve that starts with resistance and moves through anger, depression, and bargaining before reaching acceptance. The more complex the challenge and the greater the potential impact, the more intense these emotional peaks and valleys become. Sylver explains that successful leaders must learn to recognize these emotions as signals rather than obstacles, using them as opportunities to lean in with more profound empathy and constructive dialogue rather than turning away or assigning blame. "It's our job to lead the emotional energy of ourselves," Sylver explains. "Our teams and our stakeholders."

The conversation also addresses the crucial transition from delivering great insights to becoming a steward of implementation, emphasizing that engagement along the journey doesn't equal commitment to outcomes. Leaders must help stakeholders understand how new insights fit into existing roadmaps, support the translation of insights into actionable steps through a comprehensive growth strategy framework, and sometimes accept that their role involves planting seeds that may germinate on different timelines than initially anticipated.

You can read a chapter of her book for free by clicking here.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses why most B2B social media strategies fail and how to build one that actually works. She explains that the problem isn't posting at the wrong time or using the wrong hashtags—it's trying to control random elements while ignoring the strategic elements you can actually manage.

McKinney compares social media marketing to Dungeons & Dragons for businesspeople, where you create your brand character, venture into different platforms, and deal with algorithm changes that feel like random dice rolls. She explains how companies waste time chasing algorithm hacks and viral content instead of focusing on evident expertise, understanding platform mechanics, and building genuine relationships. Her Rule of 15 provides a systematic approach: for every 15 posts, 10 should offer interesting industry insights, four should provide overtly helpful problem-solving content, and one can focus on a direct pitch. "The difference between reach and influence is everything," McKinney explains. "Reach is how many people see your content [at] once. Influence is being known and remembered for something useful by the right people." Getting this cadence right has a big effect on how people perceive your willingness to help them, which is a big part of building relationships that matter. 

She also discusses how employee advocacy amplifies brand messaging by 561% when done authentically, why niche beats are often more effective, and how platforms like LinkedIn reward dwell time and meaningful conversations rather than traffic-driving links. McKinney emphasizes that success comes from building strategies so strong and clear that people seek you out regardless of platform changes, focusing on influence over reach and genuine expertise over viral moments.

If you’re ready to quit chasing the algorithm and get social influence right, you’ll want to learn more about her Social Influence Course. 

Sponsors:

Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection.

Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage.

Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Psyclone CEO Ryan Baum about combining psychological science with data analytics to decode the emotional DNA of consumer and voter behavior. They explore how even seemingly rational B2B purchasing decisions are driven by deep emotional patterns, and why understanding the "big three" of thinking, feeling, and behaving is essential for effective marketing strategy.

McKinney and Baum discuss how emotions often serve as early warning signals before traditional KPIs show changes, providing brands with crucial forecasting capabilities in volatile markets. He explains that neuroscientific research proves we cannot make decisions without emotion, even in complex B2B environments where logic seems to dominate. Unlike traditional market research insights that focus on surface-level responses, his approach recognizes that while rational thinking plays a role in decision-making, emotions ultimately drive behavior. "We are emotional creatures," Baum explains. "But we do think rationally as well."

Baum also shares insights from Psyclone's 2024 Presidential post-election study that uncovered how identity alignment often trumps (no pun intended) issue-based considerations in political decisions. This same psychological pattern extends directly into consumer brand loyalty and purchasing patterns, helping explain why cross-channel attribution becomes challenging when emotions drive behavior across multiple touchpoints. This deeper understanding of consumer psychology reveals why traditional brand tracking often misses the full story by focusing on surface-level metrics rather than the underlying psychological drivers that predict future behavior.

Sponsors:

Is your company sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney continues her Conference Flyover of Quirks New York 2025. She conducts interviews with 12 industry leaders, giving you their thoughts on everything from agentic AI workflow automation and post-launch product optimization to fragile consumer sentiment and the critical importance of authentic, inclusive advertising. These conversations reveal how the industry is navigating unprecedented consumer volatility while building more efficient research processes that maintain human empathy and cultural authenticity.

Leaders from companies like Inca, Nailbiter, and Smith-Hanley Associates share how they're building solutions that automate tedious research tasks while preserving strategic thinking, using post-launch measurement to optimize products already on shelf, and helping brands navigate increasingly fragile consumer sentiment. (Wow, that presentation from Borderless Access was a good one!) AI-powered workflow tools are connecting disparate research platforms so professionals can focus on consultation rather than data management, while innovative measurement approaches are catching product failures before they become costly disasters. "When we think about how we're coming in, we're not trying to replace the workflow,” Raj Manocha from Gydence Group explains. “We're trying to make it more efficient or enhance it.”

The conversations also reveal how brands must adapt to consumers who have become increasingly empowered to punish companies for perceived missteps. Research leaders emphasize the need for hyper-personalized understanding of individual consumers rather than broad demographic targeting, while maintaining authentic representation in advertising that builds trust rather than appearing performative. These insights reflect an industry evolution toward more sophisticated consumer profiling and real-time sentiment monitoring, helping brands weather the storms of rapidly shifting public opinion while building genuine connections with their audiences.

If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Raj Manocha, Lindsey Bartlett, Kathy Cheng, David Dick, Kelsey Whitehead, Kira Greenberg, Mary Kelly, Nicole Mitchell, Maureen Evans, Nicole Ipsen, Jocelyn Simon, and Robert Pierson.

Sponsor:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

What happens when market researchers need insights yesterday but can't sacrifice quality or authenticity? They meet on the regular at events around the world to make meaningful industry connections and have real conversations! 

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney takes you on her Conference Flyover of Quirks New York 2025. She conducts interviews with 14 industry leaders, giving you their thoughts on everything from AI-powered translation and moderation to B2B expert panels and the persistent say-do gap in consumer behavior. These conversations reveal how the industry is adapting to demands for faster insights while maintaining focus on data quality, cultural authenticity, and human-centered research approaches. It’s just what happens when we get together and talk shop! 

The discussions highlight a significant shift in how research professionals approach AI integration, with most emphasizing hybrid models that combine artificial intelligence with human expertise rather than full automation. Leaders from companies like Multilingual Connections, SightX, and Luth Research share how they're building solutions that speed up research processes while preserving the nuanced understanding that only human researchers can provide. Translation experts stress that AI can handle basic language conversion but cultural adaptation requires human oversight, while moderation platforms are using AI to manage scalable conversations so human moderators can focus on complex B2B and healthcare audiences. "They want, you know, on the go, quick, and we're really, our role is to be their partner rather than be a researcher within the company, right?" Ava Arora from DirecTV explains.

If you attended Quirks NY, this will extend the value of your ticket. If you didn’t make it, this will give you a “bird’s eye view” of what happened, and help build your network without leaving your desk! The conversations also reveal creative approaches to the speed versus quality challenge that defines modern market research. Some companies have built platforms that deliver qualitative insights in under 24 hours without sacrificing depth, while others are bridging the persistent say-do gap by combining real-time digital behavior tracking with follow-up surveys to the same respondents. These innovations reflect a broader industry shift toward becoming strategic partners with stakeholders rather than just data providers, requiring researchers to deliver faster, more actionable insights while maintaining the rigor that makes research valuable.

If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Xavier Vaissiere, Tim Lawton, Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, Jeff Whiteside and Brandon Richard, Janeen Hazel, Drew Jones, Diana Lim, Danny Farkas, Daniel Khomenko, Cliff Kane, Carlos Hevia, Ava Arora, and Andrew Kawalek.

Sponsor:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney and CRO Stephanie Douglass give you their Conference Flyover from the American Society of Trial Consultants' 44th Annual Conference in New Orleans. They share insights gathered from interviews with trial consultants, psychology students, legal professionals, and industry veterans who are navigating the intersection of behavioral science and legal strategy.

The conversations reveal how trial consulting has become essential for cases involving wrongful convictions, with some professionals advocating for jury consultants to be standard practice rather than a luxury. Conference attendees discuss the meticulous research that goes into understanding potential jurors, the growing importance of social media management during high-profile trials, and how artificial intelligence is beginning to transform jury selection processes. The field attracts professionals from diverse backgrounds, from forensic psychology graduates to seasoned attorneys, all working to bridge the gap between human behavior and legal outcomes. "I see AI as having significant implications in the future for our industry," Emerson manager Patty Kuehn explains. "I think being on the cutting edge of learning how to use it as a tool is critically important."

The conference addresses pressing challenges facing the industry, including the need for more comprehensive jury selection processes, the role of technology in modern trials, and the importance of maintaining neutrality while applying psychological principles to legal proceedings. Attendees emphasize that trial consulting isn't about winning or losing, but about ensuring fair representation and understanding human decision-making in high-stakes situations. The field continues to evolve as professionals explore new methodologies for identifying bias, understanding jury dynamics, and applying cutting-edge research to real-world legal scenarios.

If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, included below are their LinkedIn profiles. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Samantha Weiner, Kyle Leffler, John Si, Patrick Ryan, Jacob Rolls, Patty Kuehn, Colin Piazza, Claudia Varner, Anthony Legion, Molly Outland, and Ally Robertson.

Sponsors:

Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection.

Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage.

Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it.

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CEO Alexander Millet about the critical disconnect between what customers say they want and what they want. They explore how Brandtrust uses applied social and behavioral sciences to uncover the more profound human truths that drive real decision-making. 

Traditional market research often captures what people say they want versus what they do. A perfect example of this comes from Netflix, which  promoted Schindler's List to customers as it was reported as people’s favorite. Basing this decision solely on self-reported information, they failed to see what the data was saying– that these customers actually more frequently watched Dude, Where's My Car. When asked, customers answered what they thought was the most respectable answer, and probably even believed they had watched Schindler’s List more often. But the truth was found not in the self-reported actions, but the actual data. Millet explains that this discrepancy reveals the more profound human truth about self-perception, self-reporting and non-conscious decision-making. With this example in mind, it follows that brands should be careful what data is used as a base for marketing decisions. Their conversation reveals how brands can achieve better marketing effectiveness measurement by understanding the emotional and non-conscious drivers behind customer choices rather than relying solely on self-reported preferences. "Business challenges are [the same as] human challenges," Millet explains. "What's not commodified is understanding and asking the better, more beautiful question."

Millet emphasizes the importance of moving beyond surface-level market research insights to create strategies that deliver results, sharing how Brandtrust’s approach focuses on asking more beautiful questions that reveal authentic motivations, helping brands align their values with genuine human needs rather than assumed preferences. This methodology has helped clients pivot their strategies significantly, sometimes discovering that customers want consistency and reliability rather than endless variety and options.

Sponsors:

Looking for those hard-to-reach voices in healthcare research? When you need insights from patients with rare diseases or their caregivers, Rare Patient Voice delivers.

Whether you're a healthcare system, policy maker, biotech company, or pharmaceutical firm seeking these critical perspectives, the team at Rare Patient Voice has you covered. They can source both specialized and general audiences for your market research needs.

Click here to see how they can support your research, and when you connect with them, thank them for sponsoring this podcast.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney takes you on a conference flyover of Greenbook’s IIX EU Amsterdam conference floor. She conducts interviews with 20 industry leaders, giving you an earful of  their thoughts on everything from AI implementation and global data collection to keeping the human in the loop with AI tools and the changing landscape of market research technology. These conversations reveal how the industry is adapting to new challenges while maintaining focus on data quality and human-centered insights.

The discussions highlight a significant shift in how research professionals approach AI integration, with most emphasizing hybrid models that combine artificial intelligence with human expertise rather than full automation. Leaders from companies like Quest Mindshare, Panolplai, and Rival Technologies share how they're building global communities, ensuring data quality across markets, and creating more engaging research experiences that combat survey fatigue while delivering actionable insights.Regarding the use of AI in your research process, Shafeeq Shajahan from Streetbees explains. "Trust your strategists because they will be the ones guard-railing the output." 

The conversations also reveal how the industry is grappling with global expansion challenges, from navigating cultural sensitivities in different markets to managing customs regulations for product testing. Translation experts and data collection specialists emphasize that successful global research requires more than just linguistic translation—it demands cultural adaptation and understanding of local regulations and social norms.

If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Steve Pendrell, Shafeeq Shajahan, Tasneem Dalal, Salma Nosseir, Riga Rezay-Strassburg, Nancy N. Hernon, Mike Ostrowski, Michael Steinberg, Kit Wiggin, Michael Vincent, Ed Staples, Dan Foreman, Joseph Wylie, David Bailey, Charlotte Kiddle, Brigette Small, Andrew Reid, Esther Marchetti, Martha Llobet and Julia Polakova.

Sponsors:Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together?

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, speaker and Full Circle Research Chief Product Officer Alexandrine de Montera about the critical shift in market research data quality standards. They explore how industry events have transformed client conversations from focusing on speed and cost to demanding defensible, transparent research practices that can withstand scrutiny, even from stakeholders.

Montera shares how Full Circle Research has evolved from treating quality as a back-end function to making it a strategic differentiator. AI presents opportunities and threats in fraud detection, creating data that may look good, but is actually bad, requiring human validation and manual oversight to identify correctly. They explore the challenges of maintaining customer insights integrity while meeting demands for faster research panels and more sophisticated survey design. "Real transparency actually attracts better clients. It reduces friction in QA conversations. It lets you focus on the strategy instead of defending your methodology," Montera explains. "The question is not, should you be transparent, but how quickly can you get there?"

The discussion covers the impact of the Department of Justice indictment on industry practices, the rising importance of ISO 20252 certification, and how major brands like Procter & Gamble are now mandating quality standards for their research suppliers. Montera addresses the balance between innovation and integrity, emphasizing that transparency builds long-term client relationships rather than compromising competitive advantage. The conversation underscores how reliable data quality enables better data-driven marketing decisions across global research initiatives.

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Potentia Insight Managing Director Suzy Hassan about building a successful consultative data collection company from the ground up. They explore how Potentia Insight achieved remarkable growth by focusing on human relationships and niche market research solutions rather than relying solely on digital automation, which dominates the industry.

They discuss how the key to rapid business growth lies in maintaining personal connections with clients, suppliers, and staff while leveraging senior-level expertise to deliver consultative services. Hassan explains that their approach centers on providing clients with a single point of contact who takes projects from start to finish, contrasting with larger organizations where clients work with multiple team members. The conversation reveals how focusing on hard-to-reach niche panels, such as UK farmers and tradespeople, allows smaller agencies to fill gaps that larger global panel companies often overlook. "We use technology as much as we can,” Hassan explains. “But it was more adding back that human element that sometimes is a little bit lost now in our day and age of technology."

The discussion covers practical strategies for business partnership success, including the importance of implicit trust and complementary skill sets between co-founders. Hassan shares how personal outreach, LinkedIn engagement, and strategic event sponsorships have consistently filled their pipeline through effective lead generation strategies while deliberately avoiding blanket email marketing in favor of personalized communications. They also explore how supporting industry networks like Women in Research creates meaningful professional relationships that extend beyond traditional business development, ultimately providing deeper customer insights that drive business growth.

Sponsors:

Knowing your customer is essential for moving any company forward. Enter market research. But what if that customer is a patient with a rare disease? Enter Rare Patient Voice.

They don't just find patients - they bring caregivers and health advocates to the table too. When market research firms, health systems, policy makers, biotech companies, and pharma need these important voices, trust the team at Rare Patient Voice.

Click here to transform your patient insights today.

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and President and Head of Client Consulting at Nailbiter, Gram Bowsher, about capturing authentic consumer behavior through their proprietary in-the-moment video methodology, videometrics. They dive into how Nailbiter's approach provides deeper customer insights than traditional survey methods while removing recall bias that often plagues market research.

Shopping habits continue to change. Ever wonder how brands stay competitive despite these changes? They discuss how brands face challenges in understanding shopper behavior across multiple touchpoints—from pre-shop research to in-store decisions to online price comparisons. Nailbiter's methodology allows brands to quantify consumer behavior at scale through human coding of video data, offering both the statistical validity of large sample sizes and the rich context of seeing consumers make purchase decisions in real-time. This combination of quantitative data with qualitative depth helps brands address issues from new product launches to packaging problems to retail optimization. "Traditional survey methodologies put a lot of burden on the person answering the questions," Bowsher explains. "We [want] to find a better way to open up that black box that [exists] in the industry."

McKinney and Bowsher also talk about the powerful insights revealed when brands see beyond demographics to understand the complexity of human shopping behavior. While age, gender, and income might influence purchase criteria, shopping behaviors and attention patterns are remarkably consistent across demographic groups. Nailbiter's market sizing capabilities help brands understand what's happening in the aisle and why certain products succeed while others struggle. It’s the difference that translates into a competitive advantage. 

Sponsors:

Knowing your customer is essential for moving any company forward. Enter market research. But what if that customer is a patient with a rare disease? Enter Rare Patient Voice.

They don't just find patients - they bring caregivers and health advocates to the table too. When market research firms, health systems, policy makers, biotech companies, and pharma need these important voices, trust the team at Rare Patient Voice.

Click here to transform your patient insights today.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses why obsessing over algorithms derails marketing strategies and how to build sustainable social influence instead. She explains that algorithms aren't the enemy or your friend—they're like the weather, shifting unpredictably and requiring businesses to focus on what they can actually control rather than trying to manipulate systems designed to keep users on platforms.

McKinney explains that companies cycle through social media managers because they expect tactics that worked in one context to work indefinitely, when algorithms change constantly. She breaks down how each platform prioritizes different engagement signals—LinkedIn rewards dwell time and meaningful conversation, Instagram prioritizes saves and shares, while X favors replies and retweets. She introduces her rule of 15 for consistent posting and her ABH principle (Always Be Helping), emphasizing that genuine human interaction remains the strongest signal across every platform, and that employee advocacy increases brand messaging by 561% when implemented through authentic social selling and networking tools. "When you stop chasing algorithms and start serving people, something remarkable happens," McKinney explains. "The people you're meant to reach start finding you, not because you game the system, but because you became impossible to ignore."

McKinney also explores the difference between reach and influence, noting that viral posts don't always convert to business outcomes, while consistent value builds lasting authority and personal brand visibility. She advocates for developing a thought leadership strategy that focuses on four controllable elements: clarity about your audience, consistency of presence through strategic content planning, genuine conversation and engagement, and varying content formats that match message to medium.

Sponsor:

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Senior Vice President at Rare Patient Voice, Pam Cusick, about the critical importance of including patient perspectives in healthcare research and product development. They discuss how patients with medical conditions are the true experts of their experiences, yet historically, they have been underrepresented in developing products and services meant to serve them.

They explore the transformation happening in healthcare research methodology, where the focus shifts from what doctors think patients need to what patients experience. Cusick emphasizes how her company connects researchers with a community of 180,000 patients and caregivers across 1,500 conditions, creating opportunities for meaningful B2B content marketing that genuinely addresses user needs. This partnership approach helps research firms avoid expensive recruitment challenges while ensuring products meet patient needs. "Patients live with their conditions 24/7/365. They are the experts on their condition," Cusick explains. "When something is created with the patient as the end user, you need to find out what the patient needs or wants."

The conversation highlights how patient input transforms everything from clinical trial design to product development as a part of niche B2B marketing consulting services. Cusick highlights the importance of inclusive research that considers accessibility needs and the often-overlooked caregiver perspective, which provides crucial insights that patients themselves might not recognize. Cusick shares how participating in research can be therapeutic for patients who rarely have opportunities to share their full experiences. All in all, this important work fits into a well-rounded plan for delivering high-quality insights for products and services that truly change lives. 

Sponsors:

Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry.

Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies.

Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away?

Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth.

No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results.

Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, author and Chief Creative Officer at HBT Marketing Nancy Harhut about behavioral marketing. Harhut explains how understanding hardwired human behaviors can help marketers craft more effective messages that drive customer action.

They discuss how behavioral science identifies automatic, instinctive responses that influence purchasing decisions, many of which consumers aren't even consciously aware of. Nancy shares how marketers can leverage these insights through testing and experimentation, focusing on buyer psychology rather than simply promoting product features. By understanding what motivates customers on a deeper level, marketers can create personalized content that drives action and builds authentic marketing connections. "If we as marketers can become aware of these factors that influence people's decisions—that they're not even aware of—it can help us craft better marketing messages, more effective marketing messages for our clients," Harhut explains. "We have these hardwired behaviors, these hardwired human behaviors are automatic, instinctive, reflexive responses."

Nancy shares a fascinating case study from AT&T that demonstrates the power of behavioral science principles in action. By leveraging autonomy bias—our deep-seated desire to control our own choices—AT&T significantly increased customer retention during a critical transition period. The campaign succeeded by speaking to business owners' fundamental need to make their own decisions rather than having choices made for them.

Sponsors:

Looking for those hard-to-reach voices in healthcare research? When you need insights from patients with rare diseases or their caregivers, Rare Patient Voice delivers.

Whether you're a healthcare system, policy maker, biotech company, or pharmaceutical firm seeking these critical perspectives, the team at Rare Patient Voice has you covered. They can source both specialized and general audiences for your market research needs.

Click here to see how they can support your research, and when you connect with them, thank them for sponsoring this podcast.

Little Bird Marketing is proud to sponsor the Small Business Coalition Symposium in NYC on June 3rd!

This one-day event brings together market research business owners under $10M to connect, collaborate on shared challenges, and develop crucial leadership skills through expert-led sessions.

Ready to join fellow entrepreneurs and discover why collaboration is the new competition? Click here to register for this industry-changing opportunity.

What makes a market research company truly stand out in 2025?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney delivers Part 2 of our Quirks Chicago Conference Flyover as she catches up with industry leaders about the evolving landscape of market research. This collection of candid conversations captures the pulse of the industry through unfiltered discussions with executives who are navigating the balance between technology and human connection.

They discuss how specialized recruitment panels are transforming agricultural and veterinary research, why community building is more effective than traditional panel development, and how behavioral data is becoming essential for accurate insights. From the merging of strategic partners and the development of AI-powered DIY tools to the critical importance of understanding emotions in brand perception, these leaders share practical approaches that deliver tangible results for their clients.

"Trust is the biggest factor when it comes to farmers or most folks within the ag industry," Mike Mostransky explains. "We're regularly in touch with those participants within the ag space. If they hear it coming in from us, because we are selective as to who we work with, they trust us."

This flyover features in-depth conversations with research professionals from diverse specialties, each offering unique perspectives on the intersection of technology, human expertise, and industry evolution. Despite technological advances and shifting business models, building genuine relationships with both research participants and clients remains the cornerstone of lasting success in market research.

Want to connect with any of our guests? Featured below are all of their LinkedIn profiles, and if you decide to contact them, make sure to let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Mike Mostransky, Insights Director at Qlarity; Pal Afzelius, CEO and Co-founder at Protobrand; Paul Gaudette, CEO and Co-founder at Dig Insights; Pierson Wofford, Executive Recruiter at Smith Hanley Associates; Ray Fischer, CEO of Aha! Insights Technology; Stewart Tippler, European Representative with Quirks Media; Nicole Potter, Field Manager at Insights in Marketing; Sean McKenna, SVP of Business Development at Luth Research.

How do research pros tackle today's most pressing challenges while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities?

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney gives you Part 1 of our 2-part Quirks Chicago Conference Flyover as she talks with market research professionals about current trends, challenges, and innovations in the industry. This conference flyover captures candid conversations with leaders from multiple companies, offering an unfiltered look at what's happening in market research right now.

They discuss how companies use AI to speed up processes while maintaining accuracy, why face-to-face research is experiencing a resurgence, and the critical role of connecting insights directly to revenue growth. From strategic pricing decisions and sports fan experience analysis to multilingual research and real-time mobile feedback, these experts share specific practices that create measurable value for their organizations and clients. "Being in the industry as long as we have, we've seen a lot of change over the years, over the decades. The companies that have been stable in their leadership, stable with their teams, tend to be the companies that are going to be sticky," J.R. Venza explains. "They're the companies that are going to be here at this conference or other conferences in 2025, 2026, 2030 and so on."

This conference flyover features rapid-fire interviews with ten different professionals, each contributing their distinct perspective on how technology and human expertise work together to drive business growth. Despite advances in technology, the human element remains irreplaceable in transforming data into decisions that deliver real-world results.

Want to connect with any of our guests? Featured below are all of their LinkedIn profiles, and if you decide to contact them, make sure to let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Adam Dietrich, Managing Director at Unlock Surveys, A Stagwell Company Emily Krol, Senior Manager Traveler Research at Expedia Group Jason Deutch, Strategic Account Director at SampleGurus Jonathan Dore, Executive Vice President at Reach3 Insights Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, CEO at Multilingual Connections J.R. Venza, SVP North America at Torfac Liv Metcalf, Senior Account Director at Relative Insight Matt Worden, AVP Sales & Marketing at Finch BrandsTim Hoskins, President at Quester Tim Lawton, Co-CEO and Co-Founder at SightX

Sponsors:

Little Bird Marketing proudly supports the Marketing Research Education Foundation's 2025 Race Around the World for Education. This virtual event in May 2025 promotes STEAM education in underserved communities. Participants log miles to circle the globe three times and aim to raise $90,000.

Form a company team to compete with other market research firms! Become a sponsor to help provide quality STEAM education to children who need access.

For registration and more information, visit: https://www.mrgivesback.org/

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Team Leadership Coach Meghan Opitz about unlocking collective brilliance in organizations. They explore how trust-based team coaching can transform company culture and drive b2b content marketing success.

As an American expat in Berlin with extensive market research experience, Opitz brings a unique perspective on building high-performing teams across US and European markets. As a leadership and team coach and the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Republikka, she works daily with teams laser-focused on revenue generation. Meeting and exceeding goals is her specialty. Having scaled Cint's respondent base from 10 million to 100 million, she provides valuable insights on revenue generation challenges and how understanding your buyer persona can lead to better team alignment. "When you talk about leadership coaching, you get to have a series of conversations with one person. With team coaching, it's several people," Opitz explains. "It's more than the individual topics of each person in that room. It's all of the dynamics at play that create that collective performance."

McKinney and Opitz discuss how empathy emerged as the key benefit in one team coaching experience, enabling members to see each other as humans working toward the same goals. The conversation touches on how building trust within teams enhances social influence and creates lasting business impact. This human-centered approach is especially critical today, as Opitz's recent survey revealed 54% of professionals struggle with balancing workload and burnout. By implementing an effective growth marketing strategy that values both business objectives and team wellbeing, organizations can achieve sustainable growth while supporting personal wellbeing.

Sponsors:

Little Bird Marketing proudly supports the Marketing Research Education Foundation's 2025 Race Around the World for Education. This virtual event in May 2025 promotes STEAM education in underserved communities. Participants log miles to circle the globe three times and aim to raise $90,000.

Form a company team to compete with other market research firms! Become a sponsor to help provide quality STEAM education to children who need access.

For registration and more information, visit: https://www.mrgivesback.org/

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. “The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went,” she explains.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks—it teaches you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses thinking outside the blog for content creation. She explores how a robust content marketing strategy extends beyond blog posts to include various formats that can help brands stand out in an attention economy.

She outlines six creative frameworks that marketers can apply to freshen up their content: the Haiku framework for distilling complex ideas, the Socratic dialogue framework that mirrors natural thought processes, the Recipe framework for making business processes digestible, the Weather Report framework for creating complete situational pictures, the Crime Mystery framework for building engagement through suspense, and the Botanical Growth framework for understanding natural progression. "It's easy to fall into that formulaic routine for the sake of efficiency, but don't do that," McKinney explains. "In an attention economy, that is not great for content marketing."

The goal isn't to force your content into any specific content strategy template but to use them as inspiration to think differently about presentation. These frameworks serve as tools to help your audience connect with your brand in meaningful ways. Priscilla, a respected content marketing consultant, emphasizes that b2b content marketing should drive revenue results while providing value to your audience. By applying these creative approaches, brands can transform their content strategy and stand out from competitors who rely on predictable formats.

Sponsors:

Little Bird Marketing proudly supports the Marketing Research Education Foundation's 2025 Race Around the World for Education. This virtual event in May 2025 promotes STEAM education in underserved communities. Participants log miles to circle the globe three times and aim to raise $90,000.

Form a company team to compete with other market research firms! Become a sponsor to help provide quality STEAM education to children who need access.

For registration and more information, visit: https://www.mrgivesback.org/

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. “The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went,” she explains.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks—it teaches you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, CEO and Founder of OpinionRoute, Terence McCarron, about modernizing consumer insights and delivering meaningful competitive insights. They explore the intersection of technology and human expertise in market research, focusing on helping small to mid-sized firms overcome challenges with feasibility, data quality, and disjointed processes.

McCarron shares insights on AI's role in consumer insights, noting it's not about replacing human-derived samples but creating a synthesis. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the needs of research clients rather than complicating their world with industry jargon. "I think we're about to enter what's going to become 20 years of [the industry's] golden age, but I am absolutely bullish about the small to mid-size agency," McCarron explains. "AI is going to be this massive tool that's going to unlock the creativity [necessary], even on the quant side."

The conversation also explores how modernizing a research firm isn't just about implementing new technology – it requires establishing strong process excellence and guiding principles first. McCarron explains that the goal is to move companies from "ad hoc to organized," creating systems that enable researchers to provide better competitive insights and client consultation. They address the future of the market research industry and how, despite current concerns about data quality, companies are better positioned to address these challenges with the right approach.

Sponsors:

Little Bird Marketing proudly supports the Marketing Research Education Foundation's 2025 Race Around the World for Education. This virtual event in May 2025 promotes STEAM education in underserved communities. Participants log miles to circle the globe three times and aim to raise $90,000.

Form a company team to compete with other market research firms! Become a sponsor to help provide quality STEAM education to children who need access.

For registration and more information, visit: https://www.mrgivesback.org/

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. “The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went,” she explains.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks—it teaches you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, keynote speaker, and Account Director at Savanta, Jake Pryszlak, about mastering social selling and building influence on LinkedIn. They discuss Jake's journey as "The Research Geek" and how his thought leadership evolved from differentiating himself during a job search to opening doors for new business opportunities.

They tackle the challenges of standing out in the market research industry, where companies offer similar services with nearly identical messaging. Jake shares his unique approach to content creation, which solves real industry problems rather than just sharing news. "I never really found a newsletter that was talking about [how] they've got this problem," Jake explains. "That's why I created the newsletter to talk about problems I've had in the past in the industry and how I've tried to overcome them."

The discussion includes actionable LinkedIn tips, with Pryszlak emphasizing the importance of mobile optimization for posts and Priscilla sharing her alphabet tagging technique. Both agree that investing in personal branding—whether through financial resources or time—delivers measurable ROI for both individuals and their employers. Pryszlak reveals how his personal branding journey faced resistance, sharing a story about being questioned by a former employer about his LinkedIn activity. 

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest Tara Mackay, Head of Global Events at The Research Club and Founder and CEO of Eventality, about the transformative power of corporate events as essential tools for networking. Mackay shares her expertise in creating meaningful experiences that foster connections and drive business results.

They discuss how face-to-face events have seen increasing demand post-COVID, with more organizations hosting their own gatherings to build relationships and accelerate sales pipelines. Mackay offers valuable networking tips, explaining that successful events begin with understanding a client's core objectives—whether sustainability, brand recognition, or specific business goals—before selecting venues and planning details that align with those priorities. "Face-to-face events are proven great opportunities to speed up your sales pipeline," Mackay explains. "People work with people they like, and it's been proven successful year after year."

Mackay's approach focuses on freeing clients from logistical concerns so they can concentrate entirely on addressing networking questions and building relationships during events. From finding the perfect rooftop terrace to creating "blank canvas" venues where branding can take center stage, she emphasizes how attention to detail and elements of surprise create memorable experiences that deliver a return on investment.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents the final part of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia. Joined by Multilingual Connections’ founder and CEO Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, and Business Development Director Carlos Hevia, they discuss the power of conducting research in participants' native languages and how this unlocks storytelling that might otherwise remain hidden. 

From coordinating projects across 75+ languages to managing the complexities of cultural context, these conversations show why authentic communication matters in research. "Language doesn't just describe some preexisting reality out there in the world," Bishop explains. "We create that reality through language and we activate different areas of our identity through language. I loved in particular when we talked about being bicultural as a superpower [at the conference]."

Their discussions highlight how qualitative researchers intuitively grasp language's role in revealing cultural truths. Carlos Hevia shares perspectives on what qualities seek when working internationally, while Jill Bishop details how Multilingual Connections has expanded from translation to bilingual moderation services, supporting researchers as they work in an increasingly diverse range of countries and markets.

How do qualitative researchers adapt to rapid industry changes while maintaining personal connections? A look inside Day 2 of QRCA.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney, along with co-host and CRO, Stephanie Douglass, present Part Two of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia, featuring conversations about business development strategies, AI integration, and the evolution of qualitative methodologies.

They discuss how QRCA provides unique opportunities for both solopreneurs and corporate researchers to learn and grow through shared experiences. From innovative AI applications to the nuances between online and facility-based focus groups, these conversations reveal how industry professionals are embracing change while preserving essential human connections.

"The truth of the matter is that this has become such a quickly evolving business that there are not only gaps that you may be aware of, but if you're smart, you understand there are gaps that you aren't aware of," Ken Burwitz of Mercury Analytics explains. "AI is obviously one of them. This is something that's changing weekly."

The discussions highlight the dual nature of modern qualitative research. While Brittany Stalsberg emphasizes the value of business development insights for solopreneurs, Carrie Ann Olson-Landis explores AI's potential as a creative partner rather than just an assistant. Michelle LaMire adds perspective on the superiority of in-person networking over LinkedIn for building meaningful professional relationships.

Along with the return of Multilingual Connections’ Carlos Hevia and Jill Kushner Bishop, PHD from Day 1, featured guests in this episode include:

Brittany Stalsberg of ​​BLS Research & Consulting LLC

Carrie Ann Olson-Landis of Nava

Ken Berwitz, Executive at Mercury Analytics

Frank Mellman of Insights in Marketing

Michelle Lemire of Festive Road

Zosia Czerska of Insight2Vision

Pam Goldfarb Liss of LitBrains

Lauren Bergner of Rakuten Insights

Jiten Madia of flowres.io

Meredith Morino of Human Sapiance Inc.

David Kalisher of Jolly Road Productions

Chiara Albanese of Motivo Insights

If you're not already connected with them on LinkedIn, now's the perfect time to reach out and keep this conversation going!

How do thought leadership and networking tools shape modern qualitative research? A look inside QRCA.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents Part One of a three-part Conference Flyover from QRCA in Philadelphia, featuring conversations about thought leadership strategy, networking tips, and the future of AI in research.

Multilingual Connections founder and CEO, Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, joined Business Development director, Carlos Hevia, in Philly for this annual conference. With bilingual moderation, and many other translation, coding and transcription services useful to the market research industry, they enjoyed talking with colleagues and amplifying important voices at QRCA.

Stephanie Douglass, CRO at Little Bird Marketing took to the conference, using the podcast interview as an exceptional networking tool to bring you this show with many voices! From first-time attendees to veteran researchers, these conversations reveal how industry leaders adapt to technological changes while maintaining valuable human connections. "This year is going to be a really exciting year for qualitative research because I think we have gotten over the initial AI hump," Kelli Hammock of L&E Research explains. "Things are getting really exciting in the industry, because people are using it in so many different ways."

Their thought leadership strategies span multiple perspectives on research excellence. Cynthia Harris draws parallels between the mental preparation needed in qualitative research and other disciplines, while Norma Mendez and Lillian Martinez of Fieldwork share networking tips that make QRCA distinctive.

Featured guests in this episode include Cynthia Harris, Principal Researcher at Harris Research; Nicole Potter, Research & Design Leader; Norma Reyes and Lillian Gonzalez of Fieldwork; Justin Bailey, CEO of Bailey Research; Susan Owens, Research Manager; Claire Kuhn, Senior Manager of Client Services; Kelli Hammock, VP of Research Solutions at L&E Research; and Jill Bishop, PhD and Carlos Hevia, CEO & Founder and Business Development director of Multilingual Connections respectively.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Ipsos Senior Vice President Alina Serbanica about global data privacy in market research. They explore how privacy legislation varies across regions and the challenges of implementing consistent standards in multi-country research projects.

In her role at Ipsos, Serbanica oversees privacy compliance across all operational areas, ensuring projects meet global, regional, and national law requirements. This is particularly crucial as policymakers implement new regulations around artificial intelligence technology and the protection of minors and vulnerable populations. They discuss how privacy principles remain consistent across both in-person and online research, though execution differs significantly based on methodology and technology used. "Many people think that privacy compliance regulations today are limited to GDPR, which is no longer the case," Serbanica explains. "Very few people know we have over 160 countries in the world with privacy regulations adopted."

Serbanica also shares insights from her 35-year journey in market research, including her role on the ESOMAR Council and as a national representative for Romania. Her work with ESOMAR focuses on transforming the association to represent professionals and companies better worldwide while updating ISO market research standards to address new components like artificial intelligence technology. For emerging researchers, she emphasizes the importance of understanding research fundamentals before diving into specialized areas like data privacy.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney presents the second installment of her exploration into mental models and the positive impact they can have on marketing strategy. As an established thought leadership strategist, she breaks down five powerful thinking frameworks and demonstrates how they can be used to help marketers understand complex patterns and make better decisions. Mental models covered in this episode include Bayesian updating, the Lindy effect, antifragile planning, systems thinking, and confirmation bias.

Over the years, she has broken down different frameworks, marketing systems and networking tools to help people use their time more effeciently. McKinney demonstrates how these mental models can serve as essential thinking tools for improving campaign outcomes. She explains how each model provides unique insights for social selling and strategic planning, from using Bayesian updating for data-driven iterations to employing the Lindy effect for balancing proven tactics with emerging trends. "Mental models can be applied for better thinking and truly better marketing strategy," McKinney explains. "They help identify universal patterns and principles that govern complex thinking systems."

McKinney also delves into antifragile planning, using the analogy of muscle growth through exercise to demonstrate how marketing strategies can become stronger through challenges. She emphasizes that successful marketing strategy requires not just surviving disruptions but building systems that actually improve from stress and change, challenging marketers to move beyond simple resilience to true adaptability and growth.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Social Lens Research Managing Partner Natasha Stevens and Founding Partner Julie Diaz-Asper about transforming marketing strategy through ethnographic research. They examine how video diaries and interactive activities help brands connect with diverse market segments representing $3.4 trillion in purchasing power.

Their collaboration with market research groups demonstrates how different communities approach purchasing decisions through distinct cultural lenses - from Latino and Asian consumers prioritizing family legacy to Black consumers focusing on building generational wealth. Their conversation reveals practical ways companies can build authentic connections across communities. "It's essential across different ethnicities, locations, and abilities to understand universal truths and meaningful differences," Diaz-Asper explains. "Because that can help you set up a strategy that can reach a lot of folks, but then you can have tweaks when you're trying to reach specific audiences within that."

The Lens Library platform equips companies with consumer video diaries revealing patterns in daily routines, financial habits, and cultural influences. This data empowers organizations to develop marketing strategies acknowledging both universal truths and meaningful differences in consumer behavior, helping teams align on initiatives that drive measurable brand growth.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going.

Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CEO of Mix Analytics Hillary Borndahl about transforming content marketing strategy through data-driven analysis. 

Through their company's marketing mixed modeling approach, Mix Analytics helps businesses develop a growth strategy framework to optimize marketing investments across channels by analyzing historical data and calculating actual returns. They begin their discussion with critical findings from Mix Analytics' study of $34 billion in sales data. The data revealed that most companies invest only 2-3% in marketing when they should at least 4% to protect and grow their brand. But what might be keeping the back is not knowing what will work and what will not. 

Borndahl emphasizes that businesses can use this approach with niche applications like focusing on B2B buyer persona development, but that more often than not, this approach is more familiar to retail brands catering to larger, more general population consumer segments. Regardless of the segmentation, buyers rely on emotional decision-making for their marketing strategies, and in that liminal space of decision data sceince can help brands win the game. She shares how businesses of all sizes can benefit from this analytical approach, explaining that while the scale may differ, the fundamental need to understand marketing effectiveness remains constant.

Another key finding Borndahl highlights is that often brands are spreading marketing budgets too thin across multiple channels, leading to diminished results. "The future CMO role is actually a future analytics role," Borndahl explains. "To be a marketer in the 2020s, you have to be comfortable with data."

The conversation delves into the concept of "ad stock" as the lasting impact of marketing exposure and how understanding this metric can help businesses make more informed decisions about their marketing investments. Borndahl discusses how Mix Analytics helps companies move beyond gut feelings to identify which marketing efforts drive results, enabling them to adjust their strategies and budgets confidently. But that confidence can take time to grow. She emphasizes the importance of starting somewhere, even if you are downloading your LinkedIn data today, as building historical data is crucial for future analysis and optimization.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and QRCA President Jeff Hecker about building community in qualitative research. 

As co-founder and principal of Athena Brand Wisdom, Hecker brings 15 years of experience conducting research across industries from pharmaceuticals to agriculture, using methods from focus groups to marketing semiotics. But his volunteerism in making the qualitative space is of interest in this episode. With the upcoming annual conference for the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA), they discuss how this non-profit has been instrumental in shaping careers through its commitment to open knowledge sharing and community building. The organization's emphasis on welcoming new members includes conference ambassadors and speed networking events, fostering connections that support professional growth. 

Hecker gives an excellent overview of what attendees can expect at this year’s event. With tracks covering fundamentals like discussion guide writing, logistics, business leadership, and emerging topics like AI integration, QRCA's upcoming conference offers practical tools for immediate implementation. "When people come in," Hecker explains, "we just share everything that we've learned with everybody because there's this notion that a rising tide lifts all boats."

The QRCA conference welcomes qualitative researchers, vendors, recruiters, translators, and quantitative researchers looking to expand their skill sets. This inclusive approach reflects the mixed-method reality of modern research, where complementary tools and perspectives enhance client insights. The organization maintains a global reach, with North American and

international conferences fostering worldwide connections among research professionals.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and RADICL Work co-founder Dan Riley about the critical role of trust in organizational success and creating transformative workplace environments. As a content marketing consultant helping organizations navigate change, Riley shares that only about 20% of employees trust their leadership but believe intentional changes and consistent actions can help build stronger, more engaged teams.

Riley explains how companies need to embrace a robust values-driven communication strategy in their approach to workplace transformation, especially regarding technology implementation and return-to-office policies. His growth strategy framework emphasizes that organizations must focus on the "long play"—prioritizing people and culture over short-term outcomes. Revenue and profitability are natural results of taking care of employees and building strong teams.

"We don't want to just tweak things," Riley shares about RADICL's approach. "We want to fundamentally make significant changes and take some chances and risks that focus on really empowering and putting the individuals first."

Riley and McKinney also discuss how HR's transformation presents unique opportunities to align individual values with organizational purpose and talk about how something as mundane as a content marketing strategy can even be aligned with company values. As organizations navigate hybrid work environments and technological advancement, Riley emphasizes that human connection remains crucial. He suggests that bringing people together should serve clear purposes like relationship building and collaborative learning rather than simply maintaining traditional office structures.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Stop letting outdated thinking frameworks hold back your marketing strategies.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, introduces powerful mental models that revolutionize marketing strategy and professional decision-making. Drawing from her background as a cultural anthropologist and fractional CMO, she shares how these frameworks can transform both marketing initiatives and broader business decisions.

McKinney discusses the first five fundamental models: map is not territory, circle of competence, second-order thinking, inversion, and availability cascade. She emphasizes how these frameworks can transform your thought leadership strategy and help avoid common pitfalls in marketing decision-making. The conversation explores how these mental models apply specifically to marketing tools and networking tools, highlighting the importance of testing conventional wisdom against real-world results rather than blindly following popular advice.

"The danger comes in when we confuse our simplified understanding of something with the actual thing itself," McKinney explains about ‘map is not territory’. "It's like trying to eat the menu instead of the meal."

While most marketing advice focuses on prescriptive tactics, McKinney challenges conventional wisdom by offering these helpful frameworks to help leaders think better, ask more thoughtful questions, and spot gaps in logic before they become costly mistakes. These mental models serve as cognitive tools for understanding market behavior, customer psychology, and improving campaign effectiveness.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move?

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney breaks down essential email marketing best practices through a creative North Pole analogy. She explains how businesses often chase new prospects while overlooking opportunities within their existing database. 

McKinney unveils a data-driven approach to email marketing B2B lead generation, from processing bounces to strategic database maintenance. Her framework combines analytical insights with human intelligence, bringing together email marketing KPIs and invaluable team insights about subscriber relationships. She demonstrates how face-to-face interactions inform digital strategy, transforming routine list maintenance into a powerful tool for business growth.

"Just as Santa doesn't need new chimneys to deliver more presents, businesses often don't need new lists to generate more revenue," McKinney explains. "They need clean lists that are meaningful… the magic really lies in reconnecting with those who already know and love you."

Through strategic nurture campaign development, McKinney shows how organizations can revitalize their email lists. Her research reveals that while 25% of email lists contain inactive contacts annually, companies can recover up to 14% of these subscribers through targeted re-engagement efforts within 12 months - proving that the real opportunity often lies within existing databases.

And for more information on email marketing best practices, click here for a comprehensive guide.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy.

Click HERE for a chance to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your social influence today! (drawings to be held at stated dates)

Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together? 

We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move? 

Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Glimpse Chief Strategy Officer + Chief Client Officer, Adam Bai about the evolution of buyer personas in marketing and how anthropology can perfect them. Traditionally, personas were simplistic stereotypes or basic demographic profiles. However, modern approaches focus on persona mapping and deeper attitudinal and emotional insights that go beyond surface-level characteristics.

Bai explains how Glimpse, a groundbreaking human response platform, helps companies develop a more nuanced understanding of their ideal customers. For example, in their work with HubSpot, they created a persona called "Growth Gabby.” Using a growth strategy framework and surveys that privileged unstructured, open-ended responses, this approach allows for capturing rich, emotional data about potential customers' aspirations, career goals, and worldviews rather than relying solely on traditional segmentation methods.

"We've transformed from being a better [market research] survey platform,” Bai explains. “[To where] the value is in the platform itself."

Bai and McKinney also discuss emerging technologies of synthetic data and digital twins. He describes synthetic data as a method of reconstructing potential human responses without directly interviewing individuals. This hybrid approach helps reach hard-to-access audiences, address representation gaps, and provide cost-effective market research.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went.

Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise.

Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, discusses how LinkedIn serves as more than just a job-hunting platform, positioning it as a powerful tool for networking and social selling at scale. The platform's evolution from a simple job board to a comprehensive professional networking space has created unprecedented opportunities for businesses and individuals to connect, share insights, and build meaningful professional relationships. As an influencer in the space she has a lot to say about it. Behold, her social proof: 

She explains how developing a thought leadership strategy can transform your professional presence while advocating for quality over quantity in networking. Random connections can dilute a network's relevance, and understanding your LinkedIn Social Selling Index (LinkedIn SSI) helps measure the effectiveness of your engagement efforts. McKinney emphasizes that successful networking isn't about collecting connections like baseball cards, but rather about cultivating relationships that can lead to genuine business opportunities and professional growth.

"You don't sell to your network," McKinney explains. "[Rather], you sell through your network."

McKinney also talks about the importance of personal storytelling on LinkedIn, challenging the notion that the platform should only feature formal corporate content. She emphasizes maintaining an updated profile with focused skills and meaningful recommendations, while encouraging users to adopt a casual yet professional tone in their communications.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy.

Click HERE for a chance to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your social influence today! (drawings to be held at stated dates)

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Tony Brown, founder of SKAIL, about transforming revenue generation strategies beyond traditional relationship-based selling. The urgency of this transformation is evident in recent industry reports, which show traditional firms growing at just 3% while the overall industry enjoys a 7.6% expansion rate.

McKinney and Brown discuss how market research firms can adapt to changing market conditions, particularly focusing on marketing effectiveness in their business development efforts. Brown, with over 25 years of experience as a fractional sales leadership consultant, shares insights on helping research firms transition from reputation-based growth to proactive business development, emphasizing the importance of measuring marketing automation ROI.

"Sales is not really about sales," Brown explains. "It's truly about understanding your clients' needs and understanding that you personally have a skill set that is of value."

They also discuss the evolving role of conferences in business development, the challenges of balancing "seller-doer" roles within research firms, and the importance of properly implementing CRM systems. Brown emphasizes the need for cohesive strategies that align marketing efforts with sales processes, while McKinney highlights the critical connection between customer experience and revenue growth. The conversation touches on how AI's advancement might actually increase the value of qualitative research, positioning firms for future success if they can adapt their sales and marketing approaches accordingly.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy.

Click HERE for a chance to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your social influence today! (drawings to be held at stated dates)

Glimpse is a next-generation market discovery platform uniting human insights and AI-enhanced performance.

It empowers marketers, researchers, and creators to make effortless decisions, create powerful content, and gain a perpetual advantage. The platform allows users to ask questions, find audiences, and analyze diverse data sources, uncovering behavior, emotions, awareness, and purchasing decisions through AI. Glimpse's capabilities extend beyond surveys, offering enterprise-grade digital twins and AI personas for real-time conversations with key audiences.

To learn more, visit Glimpseahead.ai.

They discuss the two primary ways to implement the SOAR™ system: DIY (Do It Yourself) and DFY (Done For You). McKinney explains that the DIY option includes the framework, training, and essential assets designed for internal teams to handle execution themselves. She emphasizes that DIY clients receive persona development, strategy sessions, and an annual marketing roadmap. For the DFY option, Douglass describes it as making Little Bird Marketing "an extension of your team," handling everything from strategy to execution like a marketing machine humming in the background while your team continues to do their work. 

"Marketing isn't just about creating pretty things," Douglass explains. "It's really about creating meaningful connections that drive revenue." 

McKinney and Douglass also discuss the Revenue Sprint option, a focused and quick-start marketing strategy centered around premium content, case studies, and prescriptive guides. This option is valuable for clients who may already have some aspects in place and just need specific assistance. As always, these two aim to provide value by sharing their marketing experience and helping teams ask critical questions for better return on investment for marketing efforts. 

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Glimpse is a next-generation market discovery platform uniting human insights and AI-enhanced performance.

It empowers marketers, researchers, and creators to make effortless decisions, create powerful content, and gain a perpetual advantage. The platform allows users to ask questions, find audiences, and analyze diverse data sources, uncovering behavior, emotions, awareness, and purchasing decisions through AI. Glimpse's capabilities extend beyond surveys, offering enterprise-grade digital twins and AI personas for real-time conversations with key audiences.

To learn more, visit Glimpseahead.ai.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with global trust expert and author Philipp Kristian about developing a thought leadership strategy that transforms how businesses approach social selling and building your social influence in the digital age.

McKinney and Kristian discuss how the trust economy is revolutionizing business relationships and social influence, drawing from Kristian's extensive work with Fortune 500 companies and his book "The Trust Economy: Building Strong Networks and Realizing Exponential Value in the Digital Age." Through their conversation, they explore how technology is scaling human connection and why innovation naturally emerges in environments where trust flourishes."What technology is doing [is] scaling human connection," Kristian explains. "When we scale human connection and trust, all of a sudden, there are a huge number of possibilities, and innovation happens only when there is connection."

They also discuss the neuroscience behind problem-solving, the value of diverse perspectives in decision-making, and practical techniques for effective social selling through authentic relationships. Their conversation touches on the importance of collaborative leadership, the power of vulnerability in innovation, and how businesses can develop a thought leadership strategy that builds genuine trust and influence.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Glimpse is a next-generation market discovery platform uniting human insights and AI-enhanced performance.It empowers marketers, researchers, and creators to make effortless decisions, create powerful content, and gain a perpetual advantage. The platform allows users to ask questions, find audiences, and analyze diverse data sources, uncovering behavior, emotions, awareness, and purchasing decisions through AI. Glimpse's capabilities extend beyond surveys, offering enterprise-grade digital twins and AI personas for real-time conversations with key audiences.

To learn more, visit Glimpseahead.ai.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CRO Stephanie Douglass about Account-Based Marketing (ABM). As a B2B lead generation agency, Little Bird Marketing shares insights on this targeted and customer driven marketing strategy that focuses on identifying and pursuing specific high-value accounts rather than casting a wide net with traditional demand generation approaches.

McKinney and Douglass discuss marketing effectiveness through the three-tiered approach to ABM: one-to-one (highly personalized campaigns for specific large accounts), one-to-few (targeting similar companies within specific industries), and one-to-many (broader targeting that resembles traditional demand generation). They explore the FIRE framework for selecting target accounts: Fit (alignment with ideal customer profile), Intent (showing interest in solutions), Relationship (existing connections), and Engagement (interactions with company content).

"One of the key differences between demand generation and account-based marketing is what you start with," Douglass explains. "In DemandGen, you're trying to create demand for a product that you have, but in account-based marketing, you're trying to identify the people who are gonna buy your product first."

They also discuss the importance of proper data management and CRM implementation through platforms like HubSpot, including the critical role of HubSpot lifecycle stages in tracking prospect engagement. The conversation explores the distinction between true personalization versus simple token replacement in marketing communications, and the resource requirements for executing effective ABM campaigns at different tiers. The conversation touches on the value of maintaining quality customer relationships over pursuing purely revenue-based partnerships.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently with Gazelle Global! 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, data collection? These are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides with much, much more! 

Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. 

No matter how advanced the technology it uses, market research still needs astute judgment… and the best judgment comes from humans. 

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, gives her patented Conference Flyover of Question Pro’s XDay 2024 in Austin, TX. XDay is a premier event where the best and brightest in market research come together to both network and share insights. 

Mckinney, and Little Bird Marketing CRO, Stephanie Douglass, talk with industry experts, such as Garry Batroff of Thematic and Ibby Sayed of Cotera (who is also a fellow podcaster).

Question Pro’s Cecil Puvathingal joins Priscilla in a conversational recap about what they heard and felt throughout the day. There were moments of inspiration – both personal and professional. They talk about conversations they had about solving timely problems in business including thoughts around digital innovation, data integrity, customer satisfaction, employee relations, communication gaps, maintaining a high survey response rate, and the impact of AI.

Many colleagues were mentioned and some interviewed. Expand your network immediately by connecting with them on LinkedIn. We’ve made it easy for you with each link: Ibby Sayed, Gary Batroff, Cecil Puvanthingal, Stanley Gibbs, James Canga and Jeff Noonan,Mainak Mazumdar, Tim Sanders (who, by the way, is also a published author), Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth, Stan Sthanunathan, Julie Rodda Ph.D, Stephanie Murphy Ph.D, Mainak Mazumdar and of course, Vivek Bhaskaran, founder and CEO of QuestionPro. 

Sponsors: 

I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy.

Click HERE for a chance to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your social influence today! (drawings to be held at stated dates)

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, gives you her conference flyover of Greenbook’s IIEX LATAM in Miami, Florida. IIEX LATAM is a conference dedicated to exploring the latest trends, technologies, and methodologies in market research, with a specific focus on gathering market insights from the Latin American region. She talks with leaders in market research about evolving marketing strategies and consumer insights in Latin America and how Spanish and Portuguese are needed for conducting representative market research in the U.S. 

McKinney's guests, such as Natalia Infante Caylor, Brian Ewan, and Ricardo Alvarez, discuss topics like the importance of understanding Hispanic markets, the role of AI in revolutionizing marketing analysis, and the challenges of discrete choice modeling. The conversations delve into various aspects of marketing strategy, from the nuances of multicultural research to the impact of fintech on traditional banking in Latin America. Guests also explore the controversy surrounding terminology like "Latinx" and the growing need for customization in research approaches.

"AI is revolutionizing everything," explains Alvarez. "It's going to make a big impact."

Here are the names and LinkedIn accounts for all of McKinney's guests. If you find any of them interesting and want to link up with them, feel free to do so. But if you do, please let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Natalia Infante Caylor, Brian McEwan, Cassiano Albequerque, Elizabeth Hecht, Emmily Maduro, Erica Ross, Gabriel Velez, Natalie Pusch, Ricardo Alvarez, and Tal Oren. . Use this podcast and list to immediately expand your network and start meaningful conversations! 

Special thanks to Carlos Hevia and the Multilingual Connections team for a fun photo booth experience at the event. 

Sponsors:

Glimpse is a next-generation market discovery platform uniting human insights and AI-enhanced performance.

It empowers marketers, researchers, and creators to make effortless decisions, create powerful content, and gain a perpetual advantage. The platform allows users to ask questions, find audiences, and analyze diverse data sources, uncovering behavior, emotions, awareness, and purchasing decisions through AI. Glimpse's capabilities extend beyond surveys, offering enterprise-grade digital twins and AI personas for real-time conversations with key audiences.

To learn more, visit Glimpseahead.ai.

EMI Research Solutions is a leading online sample consultancy dedicated to delivering high-quality, unbiased data tailored to the needs of their clients. 

Built on the foundation of quality, they were the first sample provider to recognize and implement sample blending as a best practice to reduce the sample bias inherent within and across panels. Their unique strategic sample blending methodology was built based on more than 11 years of research-on-research into the sample industry, making them an industry expert in the space. 

You can learn about EMI, their solutions, and download their annual report on the

sample industry, called The Sample Landscape, by visiting their website at http://www.emi-rs.com .

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, talks with guest and published author Joanna Bloor about her book, Tales of Potential: The Cinderella Story You Haven't Heard. Bloor, who examines how things work behind the scenes, discusses her experience of writing a book that presents a different perspective on potential and future. She describes how she overcame initial reluctance to put her ideas on paper, resulting in a work representing her viewpoint and contributing to thought leadership in the field.

Bloor and McKinney explore various elements of the Cinderella story that Bloor uses to illustrate her ideas about realizing one's potential. These include Cinderella's interaction with her fairy godmother, which Bloor interprets as a demonstration of holding one's own in front of a powerful figure, and the intentionally left-behind glass slipper, which she views as a marketing technique. Bloor discusses the importance of having a supportive squad and a decision-making "hive-mind," drawing parallels to collaborative efforts in achieving goals. By reframing these familiar story elements, Bloor presents an alternative way to consider personal narratives and potential futures, offering her perspective on what thought leadership entails and outlining marketing strategies for personal branding.

"When you're sharing a story about yourself or your ideas," Bloor states, "You're blind to any other version of it."

If you still need to grasp the best growth strategy framework to accelerate your career, your best marketing strategies have failed, or you need LinkedIn profile tips to help you get noticed, this is the episode for you! Joanna explains that the initial part of writing your own story, changing the narrative, and having your happy ending has to start with a bit of self-exploration. In fact, she urges everyone to start by finding out how people are describing you in the rooms where you are not present. Listen to her TWO-WORD EXERCISE, which is the best way to unlock your future. You don't want to miss it!

Sponsors:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing, and am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit https://insightsmarketingday.com/ and get your tickets today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, gives you her 2024 ESOMAR Congress flyover, held in Athens, Greece. The ESOMAR Congress is the premier global gathering for market research professionals. It brings together industry leaders to explore cutting-edge trends, share innovative methodologies and shape the future of marketing research.

McKinney’s guests discuss key topics such as the integration of AI in qualitative research, the use of virtual reality for enhanced consumer engagement and the challenges of conducting research in niche markets. She also highlights strategic insights from industry thought leaders, such as Ray Poynter, who emphasizes the importance of embracing diverse perspectives in today's global market research landscape.

"The first thing we have to accept," Poynter explains. "Is [that] there is not one human point of view, there are many human points of view from around the world."

Included here are all of our guests' LinkedIn profiles. If you find any of them or what they do interesting, then feel free to reach out, and let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Alessandro Imborgia, Sebastian Stahlofen, Anne Brown, Belinda Brown, Julia Polakova, Martha Llobet, Syed Sumaya Bukhari, Jagriti Shahi, Francesc Bruna Jordà, Scott Worthge, Pravin Shekar, Nicha Tanskul, Paul Gaudette, Killi Hammock, Jon Puleston, JD Deitch, Adrian Sanger, Pratik Sawant, George Zdanowicz, Tibor Darabont, Marya Kaska and the aforementioned Ray Poynter. Again, if you do decide to reach out, let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way! 

Sponsors:

I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

Glimpse is a next-generation market discovery platform uniting human insights and AI-enhanced performance. 

It empowers marketers, researchers, and creators to make effortless decisions, create powerful content, and gain a perpetual advantage. The platform allows users to ask questions, find audiences, and analyze diverse data sources, uncovering behavior, emotions, awareness, and purchasing decisions through AI. Glimpse's capabilities extend beyond surveys, offering enterprise-grade digital twins and AI personas for real-time conversations with key audiences. 

To learn more, visit Glimpseahead.ai.

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, talks about our proprietary SOAR™ - Strategy, Organization, Accountability, and Repeatability - system, a structured approach to marketing. 

While many businesses use systems for everyday tasks, like shopping lists and calendars, many abandon this systematic thinking when it comes to marketing. The SOAR™ system, on the other hand, is designed to help businesses create a sustainable lead generation system. It is broken down into three main elements: understand, unlock and unleash. 

The "understand" phase focuses on laying the groundwork by clarifying who the target audience is, establishing clear goals, and evaluating existing marketing assets. In the "unlock" phase, emphasizes the importance of organizing content into clusters to establish authority on specific topics in search engines. And finally, the "unleash" phase involves implementing paid promotions to amplify organic success and analyzing results to determine what's working and what isn't. Throughout her discussion, McKinney emphasizes that a good marketing plan should help identify which activities to stop rather than simply adding more initiatives, promoting what she calls "radical simplicity" in marketing strategy.

"Marketing isn't just about creating pretty graphics or clever taglines,” McKinney explains. “It's about creating a sustainable, measurable system that generates leads and helps your business grow." 

McKinney then explains how the SOAR™ system can actually be implemented in the workspace, depending on a company's needs and circumstances, such as if a company has or does not have a marketing department. She also shares a success story about implementing the system with thinknow, a multicultural market research firm, where they developed five different ideal client buyers and reorganized their content strategy, leading to tangible results within six months.

Sponsors:

Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy.

Click HERE for a chance to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your social influence today! (drawings to be held at stated dates)

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guests Brendan Egan and Lisa Kaiser, CEO and COO of Brightside Research Solutions respectively, about the latest market research industry trends in healthcare. With over 25 years of combined experience, Egan and Kaiser founded Brightside to address long standing issues in service and feasibility within the business marketing sector, touching on its unique approach to serving clients and enhancing healthcare outcomes through targeted market research insights.

Egan and Kaiser emphasize that their primary goal is to approach every challenge with innovative solutions, often going unnoticed when things run smoothly but bearing the responsibility when issues arise. They discuss the difficulties in reaching healthcare stakeholders and how they tackle this by tailoring their approach to each project, offering full-solution online and offline methods to find the right respondents for comprehensive market research.

"What is the thoughtful plan to get to the solution?" Kaiser explains. "The clients need to see that there is progress."

McKinney and the Brightside team also explore their proprietary healthcare panel, strategies to combat respondent fatigue in the post-COVID era, and current hot topics in healthcare research. They talk about the changing landscape of specific disease states, ultra-rare diseases, and the perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs), highlighting the importance of understanding provider thinking and how these marketing insights are utilized by their clients, who are primarily market research agencies and marketing firms.

Sponsors:

I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Orbit Media CEO Andy Crestodina, about the role of AI in modern SEO strategies. Crestodina, known for leading with value and always being helpful, brings over two decades of digital content marketing experience to the table. As the co-founder of Orbit Media, a web design company in Chicago, he's been at the forefront of content marketing and SEO trends, making him the perfect guest to shed light on this timely topic.

Crestodina delves into AI's strengths and limitations in content creation. He explores the importance of human creativity in crafting compelling content and explains how AI can be leveraged effectively in the content auditing process. Crestodina discusses using AI as a tool to enhance human-created content rather than as a replacement for human expertise, a crucial consideration for any content marketing agency.

"AI can offer an interesting perspective," Crestodina notes, "but if you don't give it the right persona first, what it gives you back is very watered down, generic, and undifferentiated. I joke that AI might as well stand for Average Information."

They also discuss the future of SEO and content marketing in an AI-driven world. Crestodina offers practical advice on how marketers can adapt their marketing strategy to incorporate AI tools effectively while maintaining the human touch that makes content resonate with audiences. Listeners will gain valuable insights into balancing technological advancements with tried-and-true marketing principles, including how to conduct thorough marketing analysis to inform their AI-enhanced content strategies.

Sponsors:

Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently with Gazelle Global! 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, data collection? These are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides with much, much more! 

Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. 

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit https://insightsmarketingday.com/ and get your tickets today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and TrueSense Marketing VP, Ann Campea, about the often-overlooked role of project management in business success. Campea, a fellow podcaster and experienced project management professional for companies like Apple, Amazon and Hasbro, has a diverse background that includes launching products, creating retail spaces, implementing data systems, and managing employee onboarding processes. She touches on TrueSense Marketing's unique approach to serving non-profit clients and enhancing their missions through targeted marketing strategies,including content marketing strategy and digital marketing strategy.

Campea emphasizes that a project manager's primary responsibility is to pave the way for team success, often going unnoticed when things run smoothly but bearing the brunt of criticism when issues arise. Using a sports analogy, she compares the unsung heroes of business to the unsung heroes of football - the linemen, who are only noticed when a holding penalty is called. 

"Now, the value realization [that comes] back to your organization,” Campea explains. “Is really understanding the connectivity between what you do on a day-to-day, and how that ladders up the overarching organization's goals."

McKinney and Campea also discuss time management strategies for busy professionals, the balance between ambition and realism in the workplace, and the role of AI as a complement to human skills rather than a job threat, exploring some of the best marketing strategies for businesses today, including podcast marketing strategies. 

Sponsors:

Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently with Gazelle Global! 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, data collection? These are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides with much, much more! 

Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. 

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney, talks with guest and Senior VP of Global Practice at The Kaleidoscope Group, Dawn Bryan, about the practice of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Unity (DEIU) in the corporate world. 

Bryan, a seasoned business and marketing strategy consultant with 30 years of international experience, discusses how these concepts translate into tangible business outcomes, examining the shift from mere tolerance to active unity in cross-cultural teams that actually enables positive change and measurable growth in organizations worldwide. 

Bryan and McKinney then examine the nuances of cultural anthropology in business settings, discussing how understanding and leveraging diverse perspectives can lead to innovation and improved performance. They address the challenges of implementing DEIU strategies in a globalized business environment and offer advice for leaders seeking to foster unity within their organizations, providing insights for effective marketing strategy, talent development and change management. 

They discuss the practice of Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEIB) which is commonly found in this space. They discuss where it misses the mark and why unity is a better goal. "Belonging is a feeling," Bryan explains. "But unity is not a feeling, but rather an action." She knows from experience as she has lead senior leaders through vision and strategy work, management training through people leaders empowerment trainings, and many other programs to help leaders and teams come together across lines of difference. This is the core of the work at The Kaleidoscope Group. 

The pair also discuss the ideal B2B buyer personas for DEIU initiatives, and how often the positive business impact of solid DEIU work is communicated, exploring the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure Return on Investment (ROI) in DEIU efforts. While building an accepting and positive culture has many positive outcomes, they specifically discuss the increased production and buy-in for goals and how this contributes to increased likelihood of accomplishing business goals. 

Sponsors:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

This episode of Ponderings from the Perch will be what I call a “Conference Flyover” of my time at the Quirks New York conference, which took place in… well, guess where!

But first, check out my latest boutique hotel find from my last night in The Big Apple! 

The conference itself was full of discussions on AI and data quality, and I'm still energized by the constant conversations and new connections I made. One of the highlights was co-sponsoring a private dinner with Adam Weinstein of Full Circle Research and Bernie Malinoff of Element54, which brought together an amazing group of industry professionals. There was also room for standout expressions, like Roddy Knowles of dtect sporting a shirt with a bold message against data fraud. 

Throughout the conference, I talked to various industry professionals who shared insights on market research trends and data analysis innovations with me, and we recorded said insights just for you! If any individual or their work interests you, please reach out to them! Their LinkedIn profiles will be included below. But if you do connect, let them know that Little Bird Marketing sent you their way.

In order of appearance: Sarah Kotva of Fieldwork; Gram Bowsher of Nailbiter; Daniel Cunhill of Blendi & respondi; Marc Macelliao of Rival Technologies; Haley Brown of MyTake; Jill Kushner Bishop of Multilingual Connections; Kayte Hamilton of The Social Question; Zachary Grashow of Quest Mindshare; Kristian Alomá of Threadline; Rajat Sahni of High Beam Global; Tim Lawton of SightX; Rajiv Kokane of Divergent Insights; Tasneem Dalal of MMR; Trip Kucera of CanvsAI; Vicky Shabi. of Market Expertise; and finally, Corey Zinser and Ethel Klein of Behaviorally. Again, if you decide to reach out to anyone on this list, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you, maybe even linking this podcast!

Sponsors:

I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, and guest and CCO of PSB Insights, Christopher Frank, talk strategy in business and market research.

Frank, who brings 25 years of frontline experience from American Express and Microsoft, discusses his recent move to PSB Insights, a 40-year-old research-based consultancy with offices in DC, Seattle, and London, transitioning from the client side to a consultancy role in the field of market research. He stresses the importance of framing problems correctly before diving into data analysis, which is crucial for gathering meaningful insights from both audiences and competitors; a key framework for which he calls IWIC (I Wish I Knew), which aims to shift discussions from data-driven to strategic by asking stakeholders what information they truly need to make confident decisions.

The two discuss Frank's two books on the subject, Drinking From the Fire Hose, and Decisions Over Decimals; the latter of which, highlighting its relevance in today's data-driven decision-making landscape, has been featured in Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Pink's Next Big Idea Club. His books emphasize the importance of balancing intuition and information in both the market research and strategy processes.

"If you are concerned that your role is going to be commoditized because of these new technologies,” Frank explains. “What [AI] is not delivering yet is [your own] judgment."

McKinney and Frank also discuss his role as co-director of Columbia Business School's Leading in a Data-Driven World program. This initiative focuses on developing quantitative intuition, teaching professionals how to make smarter, more informed decisions without necessarily needing advanced mathematical skills. 

That and much, much more!

Sponsors:

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently with Gazelle Global! 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, data collection? These are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides with much, much more! 

Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. 

This episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing Podcast, will be a replay of a part of my appearance on Joseph Jaffe’s podcast, Joseph Jaffe is Not Famous. Amongst the hijinks, I talk with Jaffe about my book, Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind.

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies for growth, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. (LINK to purchase).

“Collaboration is not about losing the hierarchy,” I explain. “It's about seeing it for what it is now, not importing unnecessary value.”

We also discuss LBM’s SOAR™ system, which provides businesses a framework for effective marketing that moves beyond reactivity to thoughtful, strategic action.

Please enjoy this special episode, and try to have as much fun as I had (no small task). 

Sponsors:

Get ready for another amazing Insights Marketing Day!

It’s everything you need to take control of your marketing funnel in one power-packed day. You’ll hear from fun, engaging and instructive speakers who are proven authorities in digital marketing. They’ll leave their egos behind and pull the curtain back to show you what it takes behind the scenes to achieve dramatic marketing results.

This year, we’ll take you on a journey from the very beginning of the marketing funnel through realizing revenue and how to create a more predictive model for success. You’ll be challenged to change your mindset, learn emerging skills and discover game-changing tools. All this while creating genuine connections with like-minded professionals. Learn, network, discover and strategize. Make Insights Marketing Day a MUST on your 2024 calendar.

Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day and get your tickets today!

Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently with Gazelle Global! 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, data collection? These are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides with much, much more! 

Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. 

A major topic of discussion is synthetic data in market research, with data quality remaining a crucial concern for obtaining reliable consumer insights. In fact it emerged as one of the top 12 trends mentioned by Insight 250 CEO, and Behaviorally Group President, Crispin Beale, the latter likening it to plastic pollution in oceans and emphasizing the need for industry-wide standards. "We have to move very quickly right now as an industry to create standards that we will all adhere to,” Beale warns. “Or we're going to end up with a big blob of synthetic data in the data ocean.”

Priscilla had to run down Mark Earls from HERD at the event because of his presentation on the concept of time and how we have enslaved our lives to chronology. THIS WAS FASCINATING. Interested? Listen into Priscilla's thoughts on it and reach out to Mark to follow his very interesting LinkedIn feed. 

We always love seeing data quality expert and dtect VP, Roddy Knowles. As an advocate for preventing poor data from entering surveys initially, rather than focusing on cleaning data after collection he continues to challenge the industry to think about the data quality problem differently, aiming to save time and resources while improving overall data quality, which is essential for generating valuable business insights. 

Have you met Izzy Pugh? Priscilla had never heard of G=mc2. Well, you should take a look! She brought the head of insights for...wait for it...ice cream from Unilever and an insights lead from Pandora to share what they discovered on the visual exploration for each brand. It was a fascinating presentation and the visuals were stunning! 

Another amazing firm that brought a client in tow included Amishi Takalkar from Nailbiter. She brought Yasmine Yehiaand Amy Gosslein from Mondelez to talk about how they solved a serious packaging challenge for their Oreo brand.

She heard interesting information about where the industry is in hosting surveys in VR. 

Priscilla and Stephanie always love seeing Tasneem Dalal and giving her kudos for her great efforts at connecting in this industry. We all know and support each other through Women in Research and it was fun to try the products as they presented with someone from Jade and Joy. 

Scott Worhtge from Quest Mindshare gave Priscilla a good update on what is going on with global sample procurement. More specifically, while they provide genpop respondents, they also specialize in B2B and healthcare recruiting for highly committed sample panels.

We were lucky to catch a co-presentation of a project with Kristian Alomá, PhD of Threadline and Jill Bishop, PhD of Multilingual Connections at IIEX NA in Austin just a few months ago. They shared so many personal and professional experiences around the art of emotional storytelling in multilingual research.

The event was not complete without a fun moment to celebrate the recognition of Belinda Brown, CMO of Gazelle Global as one of the Greenbook Future's List Winner. It was amazing to hear her thoughts about what makes a powerful brand and her challenge to us all to be bold in marketing. 

Tune in to this insightful episode to stay ahead of the curve and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges market research landscape.

SPONSORS:

Join Fieldwork and the insights industry on Tuesday, July 9th, for Global Focus Group Day! Use hashtags #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX. Sign up at http://fieldwork.com/global-focus-group-day

Get ready for Insights Marketing Day! Learn from proven authorities in digital marketing about controlling your marketing funnel. Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day for tickets.

On today’s episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing Podcast, host and Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney, and guest and marketing strategy consultant Ryan Barry, discuss the future of market research and the importance of community when fostering b2b relationships. 

As the co-founder and President of Zappi, an agile market research platform built to empower creators globally with smart, quick, and actionable data to inspire, optimize, and validate their ideas, Barry shares lead generation tips and intimate insights on the importance of customer and people-centric methods, emphasizing the significance of making genuine, human connections with all types of people, regardless of their position within a company. He also discusses the role of GenAI for both marketing automation and in today’s market research and its ability to deliver actionable results.  

“How can we give people tangible advice [today],” Barry asks “[so we can] make their jobs better tomorrow?”

McKinney and Barry also highlight the missteps in market research, pointing out how businesses can either miss out on, or flat out ignore, the massive shift towards AI, as well as focusing solely on results and not relationships. Either extreme is a recipe for disaster in today’s business landscape that requires data-driven insights for smart marketing. 

SPONSORS:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

But don’t let the learning stop there!

Join Fieldwork and the insights industry on Tuesday, July 9th, as we celebrate Global Focus Group Day! This day is all about recognizing the heroes of market research - those who dive into conversations to uncover the insights that shape business decisions. It’s a day to honor the power of face-to-face interactions and the "AHA" moments they bring.

Want to join the celebration? It's simple! On July 9th, use the hashtags #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX on social media. Share your stories, inspirations, challenges, and triumphs in qualitative research. And don’t forget to sign up at fieldwork.com/global-focus-group-day to receive a celebration box in the mail!

So, mark your calendars for July 9th. Use #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX. Celebrate the amazing work that drives impactful business decisions. Happy Global Focus Group Day!

Data Larks is a pioneering consultancy dedicated to diverse data storytelling and analysis. Hunter, with over 20 years of experience in cultural studies, shares her insights on both the benefits and overall importance of inclusive persona profiles, the pitfalls of traditional and subsequently outdated market research methods, and the intersection of market research and marketing in today's diverse landscape.

“We need to be able to pull all of [these differences] together and learn to collaborate,” Hunter explains. “To be able to deliver incredible insights that our clients can act on.”

Hunter and McKinney also discuss the transition of diverse data analysis from academia to business, the struggles of today’s researchers and, most importantly, where Data Larks comes into play, providing detailed examples and tips for both communicating with, and marketing to diverse personas. That and much, much more!

SPONSORS:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

But don’t stop there!

Join Fieldwork and the insights industry on Tuesday, July 9th, as we celebrate Global Focus Group Day! This day is all about recognizing the heroes of market research - those who dive into conversations to uncover the insights that shape business decisions. It’s a day to honor the power of face-to-face interactions and the "AHA" moments they bring.

Want to join the celebration? It's simple! On July 9th, use the hashtags #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX on social media. Share your stories, inspirations, challenges, and triumphs in qualitative research. And don’t forget to sign up at fieldwork.com/global-focus-group-day to receive a celebration box in the mail!

So, mark your calendars for July 9th. Use #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX. Celebrate the amazing work that drives impactful business decisions. Happy Global Focus Group Day!

On this episode Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney, and guest Corie Suzuki, director at Fieldwork Chicago, chat about the world of market research as they celebrate the upcoming Global Focus Group Day on July 9th!

"This day is all about recognizing the heroes of market research,” Suzuki explians. “It's a day to honor the power of face-to-face interactions and the ‘A-ha’ moments they bring."

Suzuki shares her eight-year journey with Fieldwork, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the company's dedication to high-quality participant recruitment and hosting facilities for in-person market research. 

McKinney and Suzuki also discuss the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and how Fieldwork's adaptability and client-centered approach helped navigate these turbulent times. Well past this history, the Fieldwork team continues to support brands, organizations and market research firms as they work to get closer to the consumer to co-create better experiences, policies, products, advertisements and more! 

Listen in and find out how you can celebrate with us all!

SPONSORS:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

But don’t let the learning stop there!

Join Fieldwork and the insights industry on Tuesday, July 9th, as we celebrate Global Focus Group Day! This day is all about recognizing the heroes of market research - those who dive into conversations to uncover the insights that shape business decisions. It’s a day to honor the power of face-to-face interactions and the "AHA" moments they bring.

Want to join the celebration? It's simple! On July 9th, use the hashtags #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX on social media. Share your stories, inspirations, challenges, and triumphs in qualitative research. And don’t forget to sign up at fieldwork.com/global-focus-group-day to receive a celebration box in the mail!

So, mark your calendars for July 9th. Use #GlobalFocusGroupDay and #FaceToFaceMRX. Celebrate the amazing work that drives impactful business decisions. Happy Global Focus Group Day!

On today’s episode of Ponderings from the Perch, a Little Bird Marketing Podcast, host Priscilla McKinney and guest Rob Biesenbach discuss how to captivate an audience beyond tech. With backgrounds in both business and acting, the latter of which he trained for at Second City in Chicago, Biesenbach understands the power of storytelling to captivate audiences and drive meaningful change, and firmly believes that traditional presentation methods like the aforementioned Death by PowerPoint and basic info dumps are no longer effective in engaging modern audiences.

Specializing in business-to-business (B2B) strategies via peer-to-peer relationships, Biesenbach encourages individuals in business to craft compelling narratives that blend engaging topics with personal experiences that resonate deeply with their audience, fostering genuine connections and driving positive outcomes.

"You're doing more than presenting information,” Riesenbach explains. “You are trying to change minds... maybe even change lives."

McKinney and Biesenbach also discuss his bestselling book, Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results, insider tips on his writing journey and how he equips leaders with the tools and techniques they need to become more persuasive and authoritative communicators. By doing so, individuals can build their personal brands, drive meaningful change and make a lasting impact in their organizations and beyond.

SPONSORS:

Hey y’all, Priscilla McKinney here, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing. I am very excited to announce the release of my much-anticipated book: 

Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind

The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy. 

Enter to win this exciting package of goodies to start building your influence today!

He’s looking for leaders who are mavericks.

He’s the founder and CEO of MOFI, a maverick-minded, human-obsessed boutique consulting firm that uses ethnographic research, journey mapping, human-centered design, experienced-based training, and design sprints to transform organizations. Shawn believes the only way to build a sustainable and thriving business is to put people first. As an experienced evangelist and experienced ecosystem designer, he unapologetically challenges leaders to blow up outdated, siloed systems and rebuild them with an aligned, human-first approach. He states, “If you put the human experience first in business you will get the numbers you need.”

He helps companies realize the tangible benefits of this commitment:

• employee retention
• staying relevant in business
• significant revenue growth
• regaining hope for what the business experience could be

He and Priscilla talk about the state of leadership and how our culture creates the expectation that it will be lonely at the top. But being lonely at the top is a choice. Shawn notes that leaders are struggling to authentically be themselves and still make a difference at work. Everyone talks about things like having a growth mindset and the like, but there is not much talk about a heart mindset. At MOFI, they help leaders take that short but seemingly long journey from their head to their heart. They help leaders discover that you can be a CEO of a company and have wonderful relationships. You can be supported and understood. You can create an environment where people can be respected AND loved.

As a former Disney Imagineer, he remembers how this insistence on the right environment and attitude at Disney was not an optional part of working there. In fact, this absolute drew a line in the sand - you’re either with us or not. When leaders take this stance the reality is that not everyone will follow and that is ok. When leaders let people go who cannot love their co-workers, they create a place where magic can be made and real growth is not thwarted.

Give a listen to his thoughts on his most recently co-authored book, Kiss Your Dragons: Radical Relationships, Bold Heartsets & Changing the World. (link: https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Your-Dragons-Relationships-Heartsets/dp/1944027866 ) In the end, they agree the secret to success means being transparent, building radical relationships and loving people.

SPONSORS

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy. What will you get?

A seat in her game-changing Social Influence Course, a $3,000 value.

One of Priscilla’s top reads Social Selling by Timothy Hughes.

Priscilla’s book, Collaboration is the New Competition.

Your very own Ponderings from the Perch branded microphone.

Little Bird Marketing branded wireless headphones.

Enter to win this package of goodies to start building your influence: https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/the-ultimate-social-influence-giveaway-q1-2024 

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, hosts our very own Chief Revenue Officer, Stephanie Douglass, to discuss the important focus needed on that important hand-off that happens at the intersection of sales and marketing. Getting that baton handed off correctly and cleanly has an incredible impact on revenue and B2B lead generation success. Together, they reflect on the challenges faced by businesses, particularly regarding meeting sales quotas, dealing with churn, and the frustration over the lack of visibility into marketing ROI.

Stats to know:

- 97% of C-Suite have revenue growth as a priority, along with customer retention

- 1/3 of B2B marketing and revenue leaders say that their marketing efforts are not aligned with their revenue budgets.

Stephanie points out it doesn’t matter how pretty things look; what matters is the bottom line. This is where CEOs and CROs meet and where the whole team should come together in agreement. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what problem you’re having, the bigger problem is that your company isn’t meeting the revenue goal. Priscilla and Stephanie emphasize the importance of aligning sales and marketing efforts and advocating for a shared responsibility model in the revenue marketing funnel.

There are no “3 easy steps.” But there are steps you should take and KPIs you need to pay attention to. Understanding the metrics can help to predict revenue accurately. They break it down in this conversation. Get ready for actionable insights to help your business enhance revenue generation strategies through better alignment of sales and marketing efforts. Listen in for the 4 KPIs you really need to be looking at and understand.

Watch How to Pass the Baton: Integrating Marketing and Sales for Predictable Revenue

The acronyms explained:

ROI - Return on Investment

KPI - Key Performance Indicators

MQL - Marketing Qualified Lead

SQL - Sales Qualified Lead

SPONSORS

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy. What will you get? 

A seat in her game-changing Social Influence Course, a $3,000 value.

One of Priscilla’s top reads Social Selling by Timothy Hughes.

Priscilla’s book, Collaboration is the New Competition.

Your very own Ponderings from the Perch branded microphone.

Little Bird Marketing branded wireless headphones.

Enter to win this package of goodies to start building your influence: https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/the-ultimate-social-influence-giveaway-q1-2024 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, loves advocating for women in business. Today, she pulls the curtain back to show the woman (and friend of hers) behind Harvest Insights, Alisa Hamilton. Her out of box business venture is a story every aspiring leader should hear.

Alisa started Harvest Insights out of a need she saw to help overwhelmed research teams be able to siphon off some of their overflow work on an as-needed basis. She went out to focus group research companies to simply offer assistance, and her business organically grew from there. With her research training, the phrase “I’ve been in your shoes, let me help” brought the opportunity for brand building and delivering value to others.

Great moderators provide a space for empathy and curiosity while engaging an audience. They break the ice by delivering a relaxed environment to discover the most accurate insights from the face-to-face focus group. As an experienced moderator, Alisa shares how, after losing the ability to be face-to-face, her appreciation for Qualitative in-person research grew exponentially. She believes that nothing delivers like an in-person moment.

You’ll love their passion for Women in Research (WIRe) and hear about how they give back out of gratitude for their experience in this amazing insights industry. It’s always free to join. So, what’s keeping you from getting the support you need for your journey? 

If you’ve ever wondered what the ups and downs of building a brand, listen to learn how Alisa grew a business she loves by doing what she loves. Need help on your next research project? Qual or quant, Alisa and her team are who you want to contact!

SPONSORS

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Priscilla McKinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy. What will you get?

A seat in her game-changing Social Influence Course, a $3,000 value.

One of Priscilla’s top reads Social Selling by Timothy Hughes.

Priscilla’s book, Collaboration is the New Competition.

Your very own Ponderings from the Perch branded microphone.

Little Bird Marketing branded wireless headphones.

Enter to win this package of goodies to start building your influence: https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/the-ultimate-social-influence-giveaway-q1-2024 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

So many market research firms hire a marketing agency only to spend the next 18 months explaining the difference between qual and quant, nuances in the competitive landscape, getting familiar with insights associations and organizations, and still not being any closer to gaining traction in terms of hitting revenue goals.

To be of immediate significance as a content marketer in the insight industry, it is paramount to understand the variations of the buyers in the space. Any great marketing plan starts with creating meticulously detailed buyer personas that grasp the challenges, fears, aspirations, and frustrations of their ideal customers. Generic market research personas simply won't cut it, and success hinges on gaining granular insights into the target audience.

A great marketing team for the insights industry also must understand the industry itself - the social influencers, brand captains, associations, organizations, podcasters, writers, conferences, and more. Inherent in understanding this market is also a seasoned perspective on how all of those players work together, where they compete, and where there is opportunity. An added layer of complexity also requires a great marketer to understand the restech landscape and understand how platforms, SaaS, knowledge management, outsourcing of operations, and team dynamics work for all of the players involved in consumer market research.

If your insights firm is considering outsourcing your marketing efforts, make sure the experts you choose are not only well-versed in marketing but also in market research. Take this actionable advice as a template for a great conversation to make a meaningful partnership that will provide short-term and long-term growth for your company.

Market Research Experts: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/market-research/

SPONSORS

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Priscilla Mckinney has taught many forward-thinking B2B professionals how to build a personal brand and create a presence on social media that advances their careers, showcases their thought leadership, and creates a dynamic relationship that expands their network. Now, she has put together a giveaway with the tools to make your social influence life easy. What will you get?

A seat in her game-changing Social Influence Course, a $3,000 value.

One of Priscilla’s top reads, Social Selling by Timothy Hughes.

Priscilla’s book, Collaboration is the New Competition.

Your very own, Ponderings from the Perch branded microphone.

Little Bird Marketing branded wireless headphones.

Enter to win this package of goodies to start building your influence: https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/the-ultimate-social-influence-giveaway-q1-2024 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management, and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

In this episode, Priscilla McKinney, CEO and Momma Bird of Little Bird Marketing is joined by Andrew Moffatt, CEO and Co-Founder of Qrious Insight to discuss the future of dynamic brand tracking instead of static brand trackers.

In their work with marketing and ad effectiveness, brands benefit from the aggregation of data they passively collect from panel members who opt in for continual tracking. This provides rich information about who they are, what they do, and how long they do it on their digital device in a wholly less intrusive manner than traditional survey models allow. Now, instead of searching for the potential respondent and asking them if they have, for example, seen a Domino’s ad in the last 30 days, that data is already available for automatic screening with no bothersome screener question to complete. Winning brands can immediately target the right group of people to not only understand their online journeys but then create powerfully focused surveys to further understand the WHY behind the behavior already verified.

They discuss the future of market research and a potential mass move away from expensive prescriptive survey writing to a more integrated approach. In this experience, the problematic cleaning of the data is now a moot issue. In the past, cleaning the data meant possibly misidentifying an anomaly, dismissing an emerging trend or missing the fact that the data was provided by a bot. Instead, this future of survey work is integrated into actual observed and recorded behaviors for richer insights in record time.

SPONSORS

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney loves advocating for women in business, and brought Kim “Kimfer” Flanery-Rye Founder & DEI and Culture Practitioner for Inclusion Equals to open the conversation for change.

Inclusion Equals is a social enterprise focused on the IDEA: Inclusion = Diversity + Equity + Accessibility to build culture from the inside out. Entrepreneurial in spirit, creatively minded, and service at heart, Kimfer is a seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience with a diverse background in design, digital marketing, and organizational and leadership development, just to name a few. She is also an Adjunct Professor teaching Creativity and Innovation for MBA students and has her MBA in Executive Leadership. She speaks locally, nationally, and globally and has most recently spoken at the 2022 and 2023 World Economic Forum regarding the importance of women on boards and what it means for women to have power, authority, and agency.

As a spokesperson, Kim has recognized the emotional tension that arises when the topic of DEI is brought up. She notes, if we can tone down the emotional response when DEI is brought up, we can begin to approach the change just like we would an SEO strategy update. An emotional response does no good. Instead, she talks in this podcast about her approach and it’s making a difference! 

Change is not going to happen overnight. Just like an SEO friendly content plan doesn’t happen overnight, diversity, equity, and inclusion require WORK and CONSISTENCY. If you’re ready to make an impact for real change in the workplace listen to the full conversation and learn how diversity, equity, inclusion, AND accessibility go hand in hand.

SPONSORS

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/ 

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

In the true spirit of “always be helping” (ABH), our Momma Bird and CEO of Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney pulls the curtain back and talks about her experience hiring a scribe to complete her book.

The most important first step is to get clarity about WHY you MUST write your book. Are you looking for new clients? Want opportunities for public speaking? Want some street cred to increase your speaking fees? No matter what the goal is, it’s important to understand how a book can support broader professional and personal goals.

She gives great advice about how to take book ideas and make them a reality by looking clearly at book title ideas, evaluating the topics, goals for writing a book, the need for considering the audience and getting the right structure in place to turn that book idea into a published book.

You may have a lot of great book ideas floating around in your head, but getting those out into the world could be the most important thing you do. Instead of going it alone, you might have heard of people hiring a ghostwriter. That can be an expensive proposition and it also may take some of the joy away if you’re a person who wants to take part in the process in a more dynamic way. Instead, she suggests finding a scribe to provide the structure, transcription, feedback, technical editing, and full accountability for the project.

Are you ready to chat with someone who has been through the experience? Click here to get on Priscilla’s calendar and chat through the idea first. Maybe hiring a scribe is the right way to go to help you refine your idea and get the ball rolling!

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Little Bird Marketing is – as you may know – a marketing company. This year we’re covering something near and dear to our hearts…holiday marketing! While we don’t really do holiday marketing we can all appreciate a good holiday commercial.

Walk down nostalgia boulevard as the Peeps spill on the best gift they’ve ever received and whether or not marketing influenced it. Play along with us on not one, but TWO holiday marketing trivia quizzes! 

We close out the episode with a fireside chat you won’t want to miss. Who doesn’t love a little Mad Men-esque holiday marketing ploy? 

This time of year is plenty busy, so take a brain break with the Peeps. Reminisce on your favorite childhood toys and let nostalgia take hold as we discuss the best holiday marketing of yesteryear.

Happy holidays from the Peeps!

A: Word of mouth.

Now, how did Microsoft Office improve its products using user experience research to satisfy customers and improve retention? No more dad jokes here. That’s a serious question for Joanna Jones with InterQ Research.

CEO of Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney, welcomes Joanna to this podcast episode on Ponderings from the Perch. Joanna founded InterQ Research, a full-service qualitative and quantitative research firm headquartered in San Francisco. InterQ specializes in the tech industry. She has used user experience research, in-depth interviews, ethnographies, biometrics, Jobs To Be Done, social listening, and quantitative surveys to help clients like Delta Air Lines, Audi, Microsoft, Disney, Google, and Salesforce. When tech companies need to understand what’s next in B2B lead generation, product and innovation and so much more, they have tapped into this female-founded and run company.

Joana shares that finding quality respondents is the key to B2B market research success and that companies must be willing to spend the majority of their research budget on recruiting alone. Equally as important as finding the best-suited respondents is creating a simulated environment for those participating to answer honestly. What good are the answers if they are not truthful and honest? Joana shares the effective strategies used by her team to create an environment for respondents that will produce the most natural feedback.

Listen in to learn how you can improve your digital marketing plan with knowledge from this tech industry research expert.

SPONSORS

Are you an aspiring author looking to transform your ideas into a compelling book that elevates your brand and establishes your authority in your industry? If you can’t seem to get that idea inside of you into book form, maybe it’s time you consider hiring a professional scribe. Don’t let your story remain untold. Take the first step towards becoming a published author by booking a consultation. Visit https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/meetings/priscilla18/become-a-published-author now and book a time to chat about how you can unlock the power of your words and stories.

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

CEO of Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney, is joined by content strategy expert, and good friend, Andy Crestodina to discuss the power behind collaboration. If you know Andy, you know he is helpfulness incarnate! In this episode, he’s doling out secrets to driving growth in content creation by finding ways to help others.

Andy has been in the web design and interactive marketing space for more than two decades.  He has helped thousands of people get results online. He’s a true evangelist for content marketing and ethical digital marketing. Together with the team at Orbit Media, Andy has put out some of the best digital marketing advice available in hundreds of practical articles, including posts on virtually all of the top marketing websites. 

Andy finds success when focusing on the success of others. While business leaders must find new growth strategies, there is plenty of room for collaboration. They recently discussed their mutual agreement on the collaboration principles featured in Priscilla’s new book, Collaboration is the New Competition.

Want the secrets to successful content strategy? Get ready for an inspiring episode! 

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Are you an aspiring author looking to transform your ideas into a compelling book that elevates your brand and establishes your authority in your industry? If you can’t seem to get that idea inside of you into book form, maybe it’s time you consider hiring a professional scribe. Don’t let your story remain untold. Take the first step towards becoming a published author by booking a consultation. Visit https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/meetings/priscilla18/become-a-published-author now and book a time to chat about how you can unlock the power of your words and stories.

- When you think about your marketing efforts, is it strategic?

- Have you defined and written down your goals and objectives?

- How are you holding your marketing efforts accountable?

- Are your marketing efforts repeatable?

When we sit down to do something, it's easy to have the mindset of just getting it done. We get hung up on the daily hustle and bustle of marketing efforts. But marketing goals are not achieved with random busy work. Getting the RIGHT work done is the key to success.

Leaders should ask themselves if they have been clear about the goals and objectives of their work. Tasks need to have alignment with the overall campaign and inbound marketing strategy. If a junior staff member can’t explain the goals of the work in alignment with the strategy, there needs to be a shift in connecting tasks with desired outcomes.

Also, you can’t get where you’re going if you aren’t clear about your starting point. To help you, we’ve created a custom Marketing Assessment to determine the status of your current marketing efforts: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/marketing-assessment/

Crib our SOAR system with tips from Priscilla in this episode. If you’re overwhelmed, overworked, or just would prefer professional help, let us help you with a comprehensive inbound marketing strategy. Our digital marketing services are strategic, organized, accountable, and repeatable. Learn more about our lead-generation services for predictable revenue growth: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/work/

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her much-anticipated book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

CEO of Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney, welcomes Jennifer Reid, Co-CEO and Chief Methodologist at Rival Group, to discuss how to best engage with Generation Z for market research. Jennifer is an expert in Gen Z engagement, specifically the ability to connect with younger generations for the purpose of consumer understanding and insights that move brands forward.

As with any generation, trust and transparency are important frameworks from which to operate to get dynamic insights, but with this generation, they are paramount. Jennifer works with teams to help them successfully engage with this important pool of respondents. Her advice? When trying to reach GenZ to participate in market research, we should ask ourselves if we’re using the wrong channel, have the wrong tone of voice, are using the wrong format or are asking the wrong question.

According to Jennifer, when you’re doing it right, you’re letting the individual know whose research it is you’re doing and what they intend to use it for. They know how to be properly suspicious about online connections, but once they have things verified and clear, they can engage beautifully. As this generation says, “TLDR (too long; didn’t read) and this is what we should lean into. This is the generation of summaries and skimmable copy. But she warns against some efforts that try too hard (“try hards”) to be “one of them.” Instead, she suggests a strong commitment to staying transparent about who you are and what you’re trying to do.

The upside? For the Rival companies, they have done the work and find this generation to be thoughtful and passionate about the brands they use. They are native to the mobile environment and are happy to record a video about their feelings and thoughts. If you want to engage well with them, expanding your digital marketing tools is the way to go.

Want to know what young people are thinking of?

Wondering what lead generation strategies work with this generation? 

Cut through the noise and let them know how important their voice is. They are willing to give their feedback, and that is a great way forward for better business impact!

Helpful resources from Jennifer:

Webinar on Gen Z communities: https://www.rivaltech.com/gen-z-communities-webinar

Gen Z Brand Power Index: https://www.reach3insightstop3.com/top_brands_list/

A study from The Wharton School about why consumers are more willing to open up when using their smartphones: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-consumers-share-more-personal-information-on-smartphones/

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Are you an aspiring author looking to transform your ideas into a compelling book that elevates your brand and establishes your authority in your industry? If you can’t seem to get that idea inside of you into book form, maybe it’s time you consider hiring a professional scribe. Don’t let your story remain untold. Take the first step towards becoming a published author by booking a consultation. Visit https://info.littlebirdmarketing.com/meetings/priscilla18/become-a-published-author now to unlock the power of your words and stories.

In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney, is joined by Nancie McDonnell Ruder, an experienced marketing strategist, branding consultant and consumer researcher. As Founder and CEO of Noetic, a Marketing and Leadership Consulting Firm, Nancie shares the issues marketers face and the steps to move past old thinking and onto new strategies.

Marketers today are confronted with challenges that demand constant vigilance. The fear of losing resonance with target audiences due to evolving trends and dynamic consumer behavior is a perpetual concern. 

It’s easy to go at these new problems with old solutions. People get comfortable with what they are confident in and don’t want things to change. We all have feelings about what we are and aren’t good at. Even when we should find new digital marketing tools, reconsider our content strategy or rethink our media planning, we stay with the known processes. Repeating phrases like “jack of all trades, master of none” will do no good. Specialization is not the replacement for learning new ideas and methodologies.

Striking a balance between innovative content strategy and data analytics remains a constant battle. The marketer's hope lies in decoding these challenges, seeking methods that yield genuine connections with the audience, and achieving a sustainable marketing strategy template.

Learn how to leverage your strengths for innovation, seek learning opportunities, and address identified gaps in your marketing plan template.

SPONSORS

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Hear it all right from these research pros:

Melanie Courtright - Chief Executive Officer at Insights Association. Listen to our episode with Melanie, MRX Mavericks: Protecting and Serving the Industry with Melanie Courtright

Andrew Cannon - Co-Founder of EQJOY, and Executive Director at GRBN. Listen to our episode with Andrew, Fostering a Life of Joy with Debby Schlesinger-Hellman and Andrew Cannon

Andrew Seinfeld - Innovation Ambassador at Appinio.

Carlos Hevia - Business Development Director at Multilingual Connections. Listen to our episode with Carlos, The Art and Science of Language Translation for Market Research.

Carrie Angiolet - Principal & President at Illuminas.

Danny Farkas - Director, Business Development at Virtual Incentives.

Jim Kershaw - VP/Senior Consultant of Burke, Inc.

John Sadler - Vice President of Client Solutions at RIWI.

Julia Eisenberg - EVP, Strategy & Insights at Sago.

Karen Krishfield - Previously Principal, Research Enablement at Hulu, now Free Agent.

Kelli Hammock - Strategic Communications Director at L&E Research.

Mark Resnick - Vice President of Sales at Zappi.

Pierson Wofford - Executive Recruiter at Smith Hanley Associates.

Sasha McCune - VP - Practice Leader - Media, Entertainment & Culture at CMB. Listen to our episode with Sasha, What's up with Analysis Paralysis, Corporate America? With Sasha McCune

Scott Johnson - Strategic Account Executive at L&E Research.

Experiencing FOMO when you don’t go to an industry conference? 

Struggling to get a return on investment from your trade show booth? 

You are not alone. 

Today, on Ponderings from the Perch, CEO and Momma Bird at Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney, delivers the tried and true maxim for in-person events: “What you put into it is what you’ll get out of it.” She outlines tips to make the most of your experience during the next conference…should you choose to go!

Time and money are lost when business leaders and execs don’t take full advantage of the conference season with tools for networking or when companies invest a lot of money but not enough time planning. Planning ahead seems like a simple mandate, but it is amazing how many plan a lot of details but little strategy to get the most out of the time and budget! 

Also, planning HOW your team will participate is critical, and Priscilla shares networking tips and how to hold teams accountable for outcomes from this marketing spend. In this episode, you’ll learn how to make the most of EVERY conference and turn an ordinary business event into an opportunity for meaningful connections.

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

A: Myth-busting Japanese culture expert Dominic Carter and his team.

Today, our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, welcomes a good friend and experienced researcher, Dominic Carter, Representative Director and CEO of The Carter Group.

Originally from Australia, where he was educated and started his career, Dominic has lived and worked in Japan since 1999. He has launched and nurtured several successful businesses in the market on his own account and worked as a key consultant on numerous large-scale launches and business expansions for his clients, which include some of the largest names in the world. His professional focus is the translation of cultural and customer insights into effective strategies for market entrants and established players.

Brands looking to expand to the Japanese market need researchers and recruiters who know and understand both them and the Japanese people. The Carter Group has professionals who can bridge the gap between brands and target Japanese consumers effectively. The work is crazy interesting, and it takes serious expertise to help brands find a way forward in a culture they don’t know. The worst outcomes start with assumptions, and that is what The Carter Group breaks down quickly.

Too often, brands think simple translations of their ads will bring them into a new market. But not understanding the culture really backfires. Dominic says, “Localization is much more than just translation.” Even something as seemingly simple as a skincare product and the promises it makes can differ significantly and impact a marketing campaign when introduced to a new culture. These small but meaningful changes influence the reactions to brands and products every day.

Their team brings real meaning to business strategy and applies cultural insights to translate the voice of the Japanese consumer. If you’re into international business, you don’t want to miss this episode!  

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So, this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

The marketing and market research industries have been challenged.

But what if we had the courage to face them boldly?

Join Priscilla McKinney, CEO and Momma Bird, here at Little Bird Marketing as she welcomes inspirational and aspirational colleague Eileen Campbell. With an amazing amount of experience in the industry and a finger on the pulse of what the change makers are thinking about today, she shares her insightful perspective about what conversations we should be having for better outcomes, including:

• How do we help our clients grow their business?
• How do we start moving at a faster pace that is more in alignment with the pace of business?
• How do we increase the amount of value we bring to the C-suite table for better decision-making?
• How do we clarify the voice of the consumer to the stakeholders?

As we continue to partner with businesses to help them face their most pressing challenges, we all can start asking better questions of each other. Eileen underscores that she is accessible for help within the industry and wants us to address tough issues that will help us all move forward better.

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Today, Priscilla McKinney chats with Alex Charlton, the SVP at Verve North America, a global insights consultancy. The conversation delved into how Verve approaches marketing, consumer insights, and market research in a rapidly changing post-pandemic world.

Unlike traditional agencies, Verve boasts a team of experts from behavioral scientists to tech experts, data scientists to cultural experts, all working collaboratively. This integrated approach synthesizes complex challenges more effectively to deliver a usable understanding of how culture and other unwritten rules and beliefs are driving consumer sentiment and behavior.

Alex emphasizes that technology should solve problems, not create them.

The team and leaders at Verve North America know that in this digital age, it’s vital to be a modern insights agency that leverages a wide range of tools and techniques to understand consumer behavior. And while there may not be an "ideal" client, Alex highlights the importance of receiving complex and challenging briefs. These briefs present opportunities for the team to use their array of skills and expertise to provide valuable solutions.

By combining AI, cultural analysis, and a diverse team of experts, they are an invaluable partner for businesses navigating the evolving market landscape. They bring, well, the verve to it all, and you can too!

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, our CEO, Priscilla McKinney and Tony D’Amato, a dedicated leader with over 20 years of marketing experience, discuss challenges and opportunities in the marketing ecosystem – from brand awareness to digital transformation. 

Tony emphasizes the importance of understanding and valuing the customer experience, which he has plenty of experience with! As the Senior Manager of Experiential Marketing and Public Relations at 3M, he spent 21 years living and breathing all things CX in the automotive appearance industry. Now leading his own consulting firm, this expertise can guide brands looking for a deep connection to their customers. 

He enters into conversations daily where companies have reached a point of reassessing marketing strategies neglected during high-growth phases. These issues can range from underinvestment in marketing to a lack of clear marketing plans. He knows from experience that a well-thought-out marketing plan aligns with the company's objectives and is built with sustainability in mind. 

“It has to be sustainable, or else what we do is for nothing.” - Tony D’Amato

Ready to fall in love with your own brand and help your customers do the same? Listen to gain a fresh perspective on strategic guidance and sustainable marketing plans.

SPONSORS

As the Transaction Experts, Behaviorally brings decades of global experience and category expertise in consumer marketing insights. They use a unique behavioral framework, cutting-edge AI technology and a digital-first approach to help brands achieve the most valuable moment in marketing. Listen to their award-winning podcast, Our Best Behavior, where they discuss how to achieve the biggest impact in marketing after a purchase is made. Find out more at www.behaviorally.com.

Want to know the real intentions of survey-takers?

Join CloudResearch on October 12th for their upcoming presentation, "A Deeper Dive Inside the Click Farm: What 'LIES' Behind Your Data PART II." Following their groundbreaking webinar on survey fraud, CloudResearch returns to reveal the hidden truths behind survey-taker motivations and address the presence of fraudulent participants, inattentive responders, and bots. Gain insights into the latest findings and discover new strategies to combat fraud in the market research industry. Register now at SurveyFraud.com for this invaluable event, which also includes free access to the Fraud Detection Tool to quantify fraud in your surveys. Don't miss out on securing trust in your data!

In this episode, Priscilla McKinney, our CEO of Little Bird Marketing, engages in a compelling conversation with James Pickles, Certified Performance Coach and award-winning Wellbeing Consultant. Together, they explore James's remarkable journey from the depths of a mental health crisis to becoming a sought-after keynote speaker and coach.

His story began in the fast-paced world of corporate sales, where he excelled in a high-pressure role. However, beneath the façade of success, James was silently battling stress and burnout, not unlike many professionals today. It wasn't until a candid moment of vulnerability that his journey took an unexpected turn.

Have you experienced the emotional turmoil of stress and burnout in the workplace? Opening up in a work environment can feel like risking your livelihood. People often avoid initiating difficult conversations about mental health due to fear or discomfort. James has a goal to openly share his story to create a safe environment for others to share their struggles.

It's never too late to rediscover our true selves, reclaim our authenticity, and inspire others to do the same. Listen in to learn more about the path to mental wellness in the workplace with Priscilla and James.

SPONSORS

Want to know the real intentions of survey-takers?

Join CloudResearch on October 12th for their upcoming presentation, "A Deeper Dive Inside the Click Farm: What 'LIES' Behind Your Data PART II." Following their groundbreaking webinar on survey fraud, CloudResearch returns to reveal the hidden truths behind survey-taker motivations and address the presence of fraudulent participants, inattentive responders, and bots. Gain insights into the latest findings and discover new strategies to combat fraud in the market research industry. Register now at SurveyFraud.com for this invaluable event, which also includes free access to the Fraud Detection Tool to quantify fraud in your surveys. Don't miss out on securing trust in your data!

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Let’s just start with this fact: simply including the word 'video' in the subject line of an email can increase click-through rates by approximately 20%! Add to that the fact that the majority of people are visual learners, and you have a compelling case for creating video content for your business! In this podcast, Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney covers plenty more reasons why video should be an integral part of your marketing strategy.

Video is a versatile and powerful tool that can significantly elevate your content marketing efforts. By incorporating video strategically, you can boost brand awareness, drive sales, grow your social following, educate and delight your audience, and establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field. Don't miss out on the incredible potential of video in your marketing strategy.

Avoid typical mistakes in content marketing with a little guidance from expert-level strategy.

In this episode, we also give a shout-out to our amazing video and motion graphics expert, Corey Mitchell! See his work for yourself: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/video/ 

SPONSORS

Want to know the real intentions of survey-takers?

Join CloudResearch on October 12th for their upcoming presentation, "A Deeper Dive Inside the Click Farm: What 'LIES' Behind Your Data PART II." Following their groundbreaking webinar on survey fraud, CloudResearch returns to reveal the hidden truths behind survey-taker motivations and address the presence of fraudulent participants, inattentive responders, and bots. Gain insights into the latest findings and discover new strategies to combat fraud in the market research industry. Register now at SurveyFraud.com for this invaluable event, which also includes free access to the Fraud Detection Tool to quantify fraud in your surveys. Don't miss out on securing trust in your data!

Ready to advance in your profession as a client-side insights leader? The Insights Association's Corporate Researchers Conference (CRC) is scheduled for October 25-27 in Chicago. Centered around the theme "Driving Growth in Turbulent Times," the event will spotlight the essential role of insights in guiding organizations through economic, geopolitical, environmental, and social challenges to spur growth. Keynote speakers will discuss critical topics like DEI, ESG, and data quality. Attendees will have the opportunity to foster connections during various social activities, including city excursions.

Secure your spot today by registering at insightsassociation.org.

In today’s episode, our CEO, Priscilla McKenney, welcomes Wes Michael, President of Rare Patient Voice. His company's unique approach to building market research panels allows patients and caregivers to contribute their insights to researchers and companies worldwide. Rare Patient Voice has expanded globally, completed numerous projects, and served hundreds of clients, all with the aim of making a positive impact on the lives of participants and future patients and caregivers.

Researchers are being forced to look beyond the basic questions when approaching respondents. Making a difference in the healthcare industry requires a more personalized touch. Instead of relying solely on traditional methods, researchers must introduce additional elements. New methods aim to gain a deeper understanding of what people are thinking and feeling beyond just their verbal responses.

But there is something taking an extreme toll on quality research. Fraud. On average, across the industry, 15 to 30% of market research data is fraudulent. In some studies, the figures are even higher. Wes discusses how he is well-acquainted with the risks associated with fraud in market research. He offers effective strategies to rise above the noise and gain genuine research results.

Listen in for the MR win-win!

SPONSORS

Want to know the real intentions of survey-takers?

Join CloudResearch on October 12th for their upcoming presentation, "A Deeper Dive Inside the Click Farm: What 'LIES' Behind Your Data PART II." Following their groundbreaking webinar on survey fraud, CloudResearch returns to reveal the hidden truths behind survey-taker motivations and address the presence of fraudulent participants, inattentive responders, and bots. Gain insights into the latest findings and discover new strategies to combat fraud in the market research industry. Register now at SurveyFraud.com for this invaluable event, which also includes free access to the Fraud Detection Tool to quantify fraud in your surveys. Don't miss out on securing trust in your data!

Get ready for a fantastic Insights Marketing Day! This event brings together expert speakers who are authorities in digital marketing and thought leadership, offering powerful and engaging presentations. Attendees will gain essential tips, actionable advice, and tools to improve their company's marketing. With networking opportunities, a marketing practitioners panel, delicious meals, gelato, and exciting prizes, this event promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Don't miss out on Insights Marketing Day in Chicago on September 28th. Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day for more information.

In this episode, Priscilla McKinney, CEO of Little Bird Marketing, welcomes Kerry Sette, VP, and Head of Consumer Insights and Research at Voya Financial, a Fortune 500 financial services company. Together, they dive into the challenges and strategies behind conducting market research in a rapidly changing industry.

The wide range of areas Voya supports includes enterprise brand, media, advertising, corporate social responsibility, employee experience, product development, marketing, advertising, brand health tracking, digital product work, and more. The unique challenge lies in serving both B2B and B2C markets, requiring a deep understanding of various customer constituencies.

To keep driving success, one important key to team success is to have “diversity of thought,” Kerry states. She underscores that this single fact truly “makes for a stronger team.” She finds it invaluable, in fact, as the digital transformation of how consumers access financial products continues to change and evolve at a rapid pace.

Kerry shares her experience about striking the right balance between a need for both specialists and generalists on an insights team and more “behind the scenes” wisdom. Find out what it takes to build a strong team that can advocate successfully for the consumer in all circumstances. 

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Ready to advance in your profession as a client-side insights leader? The Insights Association's Corporate Researchers Conference (CRC) is scheduled for October 25-27 in Chicago. Centered around the theme "Driving Growth in Turbulent Times," the event will spotlight the essential role of insights in guiding organizations through economic, geopolitical, environmental, and social challenges to spur growth. Keynote speakers will discuss critical topics like DEI, ESG, and data quality. Attendees will have the opportunity to foster connections during various social activities, including city excursions. Secure your spot today by registering at insightsassociation.org.

Today, our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, is joined by Melanie Courtright, the Chief Executive Officer at Insights Association. Melanie is a true vanguard in shaping the future of the insights and analytics industry. With almost three decades of experience, she knows the industry inside out and is a powerful advocate for quality and excellence. As a skilled networker in the market research arena, she can teach you a thing or two about meaningful connections.

Insights Association has a unique role as a service organization dedicated to the insights profession. Melanie explains that their focus is on protecting and strengthening the industry by setting standards of quality, advocating for regulations that make sense, and ensuring the profession's growth and relevance. They work to prevent overregulation and provide invaluable resources to professionals in the field.

One significant aspect of their work is advocacy, led by Howard Feinberg. Howard is the SVP of Advocacy, and he tirelessly represents the profession in governmental circles. He navigates complex regulations, works to prevent over-taxation of data sales, and ensures that insights professionals aren't adversely affected by legislation.

The Insights Association also offers numerous ways for professionals to get involved beyond advocacy. With six regional chapters and 12 active committees, there's a place for everyone to contribute. Whether you're interested in marketing, events, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, data quality, or various other aspects, there's a role waiting for you. The association's website provides information on how to get involved, or you can simply reach out to Melanie directly at Melanie@insightsassociation.org!

Get in touch with this outstanding team:

Rebekah McWain, CMP, Director, Events.

Art Flanagan, Vice President, Communications.

Nicole Symelidis, SVP, Members & Operations.

Howard Fienberg, CAE, Senior VP, Advocacy.

Jennifer Delfino, VP, IT and Event Solutions.

Remember, you can be a wingman to the MRX Mavericks anytime. Let’s take flight on this journey together!

SPONSORS

Want to know the real intentions of survey-takers?

Join CloudResearch on October 12th for their upcoming presentation, "A Deeper Dive Inside the Click Farm: What 'LIES' Behind Your Data PART II." Following their groundbreaking webinar on survey fraud, CloudResearch returns to reveal the hidden truths behind survey-taker motivations and address the presence of fraudulent participants, inattentive responders, and bots. Gain insights into the latest findings and discover new strategies to combat fraud in the market research industry. Register now at SurveyFraud.com for this invaluable event, which also includes free access to the Fraud Detection Tool to quantify fraud in your surveys. Don't miss out on securing trust in your data!

Ready to advance in your profession as a client-side insights leader?

The Insights Association's Corporate Researchers Conference (CRC) is scheduled for October 25-27 in Chicago. Centered around the theme "Driving Growth in Turbulent Times," the event will spotlight the essential role of insights in guiding organizations through economic, geopolitical, environmental, and social challenges to spur growth. Keynote speakers will discuss critical topics like DEI, ESG, and data quality. Attendees will have the opportunity to foster connections during various social activities, including city excursions.

Secure your spot today by registering at insightsassociation.org.

Steve Schlesinger, Executive Chairman of SAGO and Kim Harrison, Founder and CEO of Focus Forward, also serve as executive board members for the Marketing Research Education Foundation. Today, they join our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, who has served on this same board, to share the message and mission of this amazing organization.

Their mission is to unify, inspire and activate the marketing research community to focus its collective resources on educating children and youth worldwide. Find out more online at http://www.mrgivesback.org. Become a sponsor (https://www.mrgivesback.org/sponsors ), or participate in a fun and engaging campaign during the year. From the Race Around the World to the Backpack Challenge, there are many ways to get involved, do good and have fun while you’re doing it!

Get involved with the Backpack Challenge: https://www.backpackchallenge.org/

MREF: https://www.mrgivesback.org/

Race Around the World for Education: https://www.mrgivesback.org/race

SPONSORS

Get ready for a fantastic Insights Marketing Day! This event brings together expert speakers who are authorities in digital marketing and thought leadership, offering powerful and engaging presentations. Attendees will gain essential tips, actionable advice, and tools to improve their company's marketing. With networking opportunities, a marketing practitioners panel, delicious meals, gelato, and exciting prizes, this event promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Don't miss out on Insights Marketing Day in Chicago on September 28th. Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day for more information.

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

Priscilla McKinney, call sign Momma Bird, introduces us to esteemed guest and MRX veteran Dan Quirks of Quirks Media. Dan's mission at Quirks is to expand the company's digital offerings and global presence.

The day-to-day of Dan’s responsibilities revolves around staying abreast of industry trends and delivering valuable information to their audience. At Quirks, they differentiate themselves by primarily catering to end clients and providing free content to support researchers' growth and knowledge.

One significant challenge faced by Quirks is bridging the gap between suppliers' desired content and the information sought by end clients. To address this, they employ a team of skilled editors who ensure that the content meets the needs of both parties.

As a seasoned professional in the MRX world, Dan has experienced the historical transformation of the industry. From a data collection-centric approach, the industry has evolved into a more consultative relationship between suppliers and end clients, where the focus is now on actionable data and insightful storytelling. As Dan says, “For every Coke, there's a Pepsi. For every iPhone, there's a Samsung.” There are competitors in every industry, and market research isn’t exempt. But the key to standing out is BRANDING. In this episode, he provides this helpful mindset as their team comes alongside others to help them stand out from the crowd. 

To learn more about the market research industry's dynamic developments and join the "MRX Mavericks" journey, be sure to tune in!

Listen in closely for information about the 2023 Quirks Awards.

SPONSORS

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

Priscilla McKinney, call sign Momma Bird, is joined by Kristin Luck, Founder of ScaleHouse and consultant known for non-traditional growth strategies. You’ll hear the backstory of how and why Kristin founded  Women in Research and the impact this has made on the industry. Since 2007 this community has focused on empowering the women inside of insights has made a difference helping many to build successful careers and increase representation in leadership roles.

Various programs run by WIRe are working to include women in all spaces, such as mentorship programs, scholarship funds for women in emerging or conflict markets, and the WIRExec forum. They have made serious strides getting more female voices on stages at conferences around the world. All of these programs remain free and open to anyone. Yes, amazing men are a part of the WIRe family! 

The only paid positions include the WIRexec board. This was started as a retreat where senior-level women to connect, network, and share experiences. They have achieved success enough to pay to gather and collaborate as to how to amplify the great work and continue to ensure all other programs at WIRe are free and remain so.

Ready to be inspired and uplifted in the market research industry? Listen to these industry leader besties share their love for Women in Research.

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is excited to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Priscilla McKinney, call sign Momma Bird, and Lauren Isaacson took flight in their conversation about the Qualitative Research Consultants Association.

The QRCA is the hot spot for qualitative researchers and UX professionals. They offer the ultimate package: support, training, and networking opportunities. The association focuses on promoting high standards and best practices in qualitative research, including techniques like UX research.

Enter Lauren Isaacson, the self-diagnosed chronic volunteer from Curio Research. This superhero has donned various capes within QRCA, including chapter chair and board member. Lauren's dedication to volunteering is next-level, and she's been spreading her infectious enthusiasm throughout the association.

With 77% of members based in the US and others from all corners of the globe (hello, Canada and beyond), it's like a qualitative research world tour. They don't discriminate when it comes to professionals either—consultants, vendors, recruiters, and those fancy folks from in-house corporate positions are all invited to the party. QRCA knows that diversity makes for the best kind of fiesta!

If you're looking for a wingman or wing woman at QRCA events, Lauren is ready to connect and be your newfound friend. So buckle up, and get ready to soar to new qualitative research heights!

SPONSORS

Looking for an extension of your market research team? EMI Research Solutions delivers quality and unbiased market research data tailored to the needs of your business. With EMI, you get an agile-focused team of researchers with over 22 years of experience. Plus, their podcast Intellicast takes a look at the market research industry from a new perspective. Find out more at emi-rs.com

Priscilla McKinney, call sign Momma Bird, welcomes Karen Lynch, Head of Content at Greenbook, to the cockpit. Together, they pull back the curtain to examine industry events both as organizers and as attendees! 

Karen’s passion is to bring the best content to the Greenbook stage, to make sure the audience gets the ultimate experience. To do that, she has adopted the mantra “Always be Curating.” She says though Greenbook events appeal to a wide variety of industries (tech, MRX, entrepreneurs, etc.) the connecting thread between all attendees is a growth mindset. Her curation spans a multitude of sources to ensure the content honors the breadth of attendees.

They discuss Karen’s methodology for organizing content to span the variety of Greenbook events, both location-specific and topically themed. Karen also shares with Priscilla her three-part outline to maximize events for attendees. By dividing the event into three parts, she offers tips to build clarity and purpose. 

Karen also highlights the importance of making genuine connections - a decisive shift away from the non-stop selling mentality centered around building relationships with others: “It’s really quite special what you do when you just say, ‘I just want to get to know people.’”

SPONSORS

Priscilla McKinney, CEO at Little Bird Marketing, is thrilled to announce the release of her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind." The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information.

Today on Ponderings from the Perch, host Priscilla McKenny and Sasha McCune, Director at Conifer Research, are untangling the knots of post-pandemic paralysis and indecision in Corporate America.

Sasha is a strategic insights and design research leader, innovator, vision-setter, avid traveler, espresso junkie and tropical plant lover. As Director at Conifer Research, she specializes in ethnographic research, innovation programs, behavioral research and digital ethnography.

From Sasha’s experience, she has gathered insight into the leading cause of post-pandemic paralysis in the corporate world.

It’s vision. Or rather, the lack of vision. Companies are dropping the ball left and right by not providing their team VISION for where they are going. People need goals. Those who aim at nothing hit it with remarkable accuracy. Stuck in fear of financial setbacks and laying off hundreds, employers have left employees with a lack of belief and trust in their company.

Prominent leaders aspire to reintroduce a sense of culture within the workplace, yet they often lack a comprehensive understanding of what their culture is.

How can leaders reintroduce a thriving workplace culture, instilling belief and courage into employees? It all starts with listening. Listening to employees and this episode, of course! Tune in to find out how to move past the paralysis plaguing the corporate world.

Get ready for a fantastic Insights Marketing Day! With networking opportunities, a marketing practitioners panel, delicious meals, gelato, and exciting prizes, this event promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Don't miss out on Insights Marketing Day in Chicago on September 28th. Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day for more information.

But wait! Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/ 

Need even more information on instilling workplace COURAGE and building up your team? We got you: Fostering Meaningful Team Connections with Ryan Jenkins

This episode provides great conversation starters for your team about how you can get strategic, be mindful of first impressions and accurately document the event to maximize the marketing ROI.

As ideal client buyer experts of course, we start with thoughts on proper assessment of your most ideal client, but here with a twist about how to curate a great list from meaningful thoughts on marketing strategy. We provide some great ideas to spark creativity around first impressions and how to set the stage for great expectations when people do arrive at your event. Finally, we provide insight into how to extend the life and value of your investment in the event.

As B2B digital marketing events experts, we hope you found these tips helpful and that they will inspire you to plan your next unforgettable event.

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsor: Fieldwork.

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all, we mean it. From world-class facilities to low-incident recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded along with it with facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services. Their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research Fieldwork will do the rest.

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/ 

We’re not afraid of communicating through Shrek quotes, but we know with communication it's not just what you say, it's how you say it that unlocks the door to connection and understanding!

In this episode, Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney is joined by fellow Spaniard Carlos Hevia, director of business development at Multilingual Connections. Today’s discussion unveils the artwork of language and the science behind opening the door to international insights.

Accurate translation plays a vital role in the market research world. Without asking questions in the proper dialect, reliable data cannot be obtained. As Carlos highlights, “If you are not speaking their language, you might not find your insights the way you want to.” With language variations present, it takes the ability to see both sides of the language coin to elicit open and honest responses.

All journeys begin with a single step. Your translation and transcription journey is no different. A roadmap for success from Multilingual Connections will guide you through the steps you can take before giving your project to a trusted language service provider. Download A roadmap for success!

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

Ready to dive into the importance of social media in building a successful digital presence for your business? With over 4.62 billion people across the world using social media, it’s clear that a strong social media strategy is crucial for any business looking to succeed in the digital age.

As experts in the field, we share our knowledge about what it takes to build an authentic brand by showcasing your values, company history, and mission and getting your tone of voice right on social media. We share tangible ways to make your social media posts more personable to make your brand more accessible and create posts that better resonate with your most ideal audience.

We address the importance of building an engaged community on social media. Just like at a cocktail party, you want to interact with your customers and have meaningful conversations that spark discussion and increase brand awareness. We also debunk the myths surrounding employee advocacy programs that are not effective and really, a waste of everyone’s time. Instead, we offer ways to drive meaningful connections and improve social media plans and emphasize the importance of measuring your efforts for constant improvement.

If you’re ready for a more effective social media strategy that drives engagement and builds brand awareness, then tune in!

Want a guide to go along with this work? Just download this resource: https://trello.com/c/un0SPxsU/1477-the-benefits-of-social-media-marketing-a-guide-for-businesses

Special thanks to this episode’s sponsor Fieldwork.

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all, we mean it. From world-class facilities to low-incidents recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded along with it with facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services. Their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research Fieldwork will do the rest. 

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

But here's a twist: When you grab your Starbucks, you're not just getting a caffeine fix, you're purchasing a story! And even if you prefer to shop locally, guess what? You're still buying into a narrative.

In this episode, Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney is joined by Kristian Alomá, founder and CEO of Threadline, to discuss psychological research and the cross between a narrative economy and the building blocks of a brand.

Don’t consider yourself an Instagram influencer when you post that photo snagging that Starbucks cup? Kristian discusses the popularity of Starbucks and how its logo is the most photographed on Instagram, demonstrating that people are not merely buying their coffee for the caffeine. They are incorporating Starbucks into their self-perception and the narratives they have constructed about themselves. On the other hand, individuals may choose not to purchase Starbucks because it doesn't align with their desired narrative, opting instead for a local, artisanal coffee shop.

Kristian provides clarity between story and narrative. The story is the thing that is told or expressed. The narrative is the idea behind it all.

The idea that "love always wins" is a narrative concept. However, different stories like Shrek, The Notebook, and You've Got Mail each depict this idea in distinct ways. Kristian explains that comprehending individual stories is required in order to grasp the larger narrative. When brands make this effort, they can connect with their audiences on a deeper level.

Tune in to this episode as Priscilla and Kristian delve deeper into the captivating world of narratives, storytelling, and brand experiences that go far beyond a simple cup of coffee.

As promised, prepare to embark on an exhilarating journey through the narrative economy as Kristian Alomá unveils the secrets of brand building in his captivating must-read: Start With the Story Brand Building in a Narrative Economy

Get ready for a fantastic Insights Marketing Day! This event brings together expert speakers who are authorities in digital marketing and thought leadership, offering powerful and engaging presentations. Attendees will gain essential tips, actionable advice, and tools to improve their company's marketing. With networking opportunities, a marketing practitioners panel, delicious meals, gelato, and exciting prizes, this event promises to be both informative and enjoyable. Don't miss out on Insights Marketing Day in Chicago on September 28th. Visit littlebirdmarketing.com/insights-marketing-day for more information.

Perhaps you think it a ruthless generalization to say the task of a group project often forces one student with the ability, drive, and support from home to do all the work. But this was Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney’s exact experience when her son came home from school one fateful day.

News flash! The 5th grader group project setup doesn’t end with 5th grade. Turns out, it extends to the corporate world. When talking about collaborations in the corporate sphere, Priscilla was met with resistance. What business leaders THOUGHT was a collaboration was really just a Kumbaya moment.

Sure, we could sing All Together Now if you’re more of a Beatles fan, but that doesn’t get the work done! Getting people next to each other doing similar things DOES NOT equate to collaboration. It's not a win-lose situation. True collaboration means bigger wins for everyone. THAT'S what pushed Priscilla to write a book. Yep, Cultural Anthropologist, aspiring lunch eater, champagne aficionado, and social selling expert has now added AUTHOR to her titles. 

Want to know the framework for setting true collaboration in motion? Listen to today’s full episode for the three big factors of collaboration that lead to success!

The Market Research Podcast Award is back! And it’s time to nominate your favorite kick-ass market research podcast for a chance to win the coveted title of MR Podcast of the Year. 

Nominations are open now through June 30th, and voting will open from July 1st to August 12th. 

Nominate your absolute favorite podcast in the insights industry at littlebirdmarketing.com/mr-podcast-award! 

The winner will be announced at Insights Marketing Day on September 28th. Will your favorite insights podcast make the cut?

So what is the secret sauce? And who is the keeper of this said sauce?

Mindset.

Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney is joined by the President of Fieldwork Seattle, Adrien Whittemore, as they discuss the importance of client relationships and how the right perspective can change a client into a friend.

Trust goes a long way, and the trick behind building trust is showing clients they are more than just another piece of a project. Good client relationships are centered around building friendships and partnerships with clients rather than just treating the relationship as a transaction. After all, there is a common goal that both sides are working towards. It’s a team effort. *Cues We're All in This Together*

Adrien stresses the value of going the extra mile, having an attitude of helpfulness, and anticipating clients’ needs. This can mean going out of the way to make things easy for clients, whether that is setting up Zoom calls or providing necessary information upfront.

As Adrien states so perfectly, “Well-managed expectations avoid disappointment, and my recommendation would be to have a high bar to start with, but promise what you're able to deliver, and then always aim to exceed expectations.”

It may be a little sweet and sour to hear. Great client relationships don’t come easy, but Fieldwork is known for creating an end-to-end experience that sets one research project apart from another.

Adrien Whittemore has been with Fieldwork since 2000, where she started as a recruiter at Fieldwork Seattle and was quickly promoted to database manager. In 2003, Adrien moved to NYC and worked as the Recruiting Supervisor at Fieldwork New York-Westchester. She returned to her West Coast roots to manage the day-to-day operations, anchoring Fieldwork Seattle’s downtown location. Most recently, in Nov 2021, she became President of Fieldwork Seattle. Born in Northern California and raised in the greater Seattle area, Adrien has a firm handle on the Northwest market though she also loves traveling and exploring new cityscapes and their offerings.

Outside of work, she can be found hanging out with her gang of Chihuahuas; Lola & Roman, shopping for shoes and trying to learn how to pack in a carry-on before her next flight takes off.

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsor:

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all, we mean it. From world-class facilities to low-incidents recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded along with it with facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services. Their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research Fieldwork will do the rest.

Today, our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, talks with Ryan Jenkins to discuss breaking the connection barriers in the workplace. As Wall Street Journal best-selling leadership author of Connectable, Ryan has surveyed over 2,000 workers worldwide to discover the answers for quality connection and belonging and why sometimes technology that could enable connection actually thwarts it.

Now don’t take this the wrong way. Sending a quick text to a friend is good. But as Ryan points out, it takes intentionality to visit that friend. As humans, we follow the path of least resistance, so we choose convenience over connection if we’re not intentional. We’re wired for connection, and social snacking may keep our loneliness at a manageable level and keep us from reaching out for something more sustaining.

Ready to give your team a sense of belonging and connection? Take a seat, grab a snack (but no social snacking) and listen in closely for the story of how Joseph Strauss, the structural engineer behind the Golden Gate Bridge, fostered a sense of connection with a net.

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/ 

Today on Ponderings from the Perch, Stacey Weber, VP of Gazelle Global, shares her expert insight from over 20 years of experience in online and traditional research methods. Stacey’s expertise lies in uncovering which methodology will work best to reach the right respondents and produce the insights the client is seeking.

As highlighted by Stacey, clients often come not knowing what is needed or how to reach the target they're looking for and get the insights required for their project. While anyone can make a quick online search for a research firm in another country, they don't necessarily know about that particular country or the companies that operate there.

Stacey shares insight on insourcing versus outsourcing market research, managing human resources, and how to help clients navigate the complexities of global research with ease. With a deep understanding of local markets and a network of reliable partners across the world, Gazelle Global is the go-to company for businesses looking to expand their reach and tap into new markets.

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsors:

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/ 

We get into some details about the importance of creating a targeted list of core topics, finding short and long-tail keywords, and building web pages that are optimized with keywords and links. We discuss how starting a blog and implementing content writing strategies can help keep the website fresh and relevant. We also talk about the importance of creating a link-building plan to increase the website's authority and drive traffic.

We leave you with some great resources including Hubspot, Moz and The Orbit Blog by our lovely friend Andy Crestodina at Orbit Media Studios so you can keep current with SEO changes, news and best practices. We finish with some thoughts on tracking and evaluating your plan.

If you want to learn how to create a successful SEO strategy and optimize your website for search engines, this podcast is a must-listen. It's an investment in your business success and good marketing strategy. Tune in now and take your first step towards SEO success.

Need an expert to handle your SEO strategy? We’d love to hear about your goals! https://littlebirdmarketing.com/marketing-contact/

Special thanks to this episode’s sponsor Fieldwork.

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all, we mean it. From world-class facilities to low-incidents recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded along with it with facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services. Their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research Fieldwork will do the rest. 

The Market Research Podcast Award is back and it's time to nominate your favorite kickass market research podcast for a chance to win the coveted title of MR podcast of the Year. Nominations are open now through June 30th, and voting will open from July 1st to August 1st. The winner will be announced at Insights Marketing Day on September 28th. Make your nominations today at littlebirdmarketing.com/MR-podcast-award Will your favorite insights podcast make the cut?

In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, we have the pleasure of hearing from Isaac Rogers, the President of SAGO, previously Schlesinger Group. Isaac is a seasoned leader who has brought his extensive experience to the company where he is focused on driving change and new growth within the corporation.

Isaac shares the story behind the decision to rebrand Sago, a company that had been a staple of market research for six decades. He discusses the overall process of the rebrand and how they picked partners and the team to drive the initiative. Isaac also touches on a few mistakes or fumbles that occurred during the process.

Isaac highlights how SAGO became the name for the rebrand and the industry response to the change. He also provides a glimpse into what's next for Sago and the euphoria of getting a rebrand right in all of the meaningful ways.

If you’re considering a rebrand, Isaac emphasizes the importance of clarity and knowing what your brand stands for. He shares his insights and experience on how to drive innovation and growth within an organization while staying true to the company's values and vision and the future is bright for SAGO!

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsors: Gazelle Global.

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

The consumer is in control of WHERE they see your brand. 

The consumer is in control of WHEN they see your brand. 

The consumer is in control of HOW to see your brand. 

Brands need to work harder to find their consumers and to ensure that they are in the right spaces and places at the right time, engaging with them in the right way. 

Janeen Hazel, VP of Business Development and Marketing at Luth Research, joins Priscilla McKinney, CEO of Little Bird Marketing, to discuss how to drill down on when consumers want to hear from a brand and wants to see the brand. Innovation is the name of the game. With the digital landscape in a constant state of evolution, brands have to innovate to still keep a pulse on their ideal consumers - Everything from iOS changing how companies can see inside apps, to Amazon shifting their categories impacts how consumers find, understand and interact with your brand and so much more. 

Talk about innovation! As a woman-owned business, founded in 1977 by Janeen’s mother, Roseanne Luth, paved the way for other women in the marketing research industry. Luth was at the forefront of the digital revolution in 1999 with the launch of SurveySavvy®, their patented online research panel. SurveySavvy® is a cash-incentive panel, and in 2020 Luth launched SurveyShares® which is a company shares-incentive panel. 

Did you get that? They offer payment OR shares in the company to participate in surveys! Treating their panelists like GOLD is at the core of Luth’s values and not lip service.  By paying panelists well or by offering them company shares, Luth’s panelists are invested in the success of the brands they are sharing their data with. This makes humanity, and brands, MORE than a little bit better.

To sign-up for SurveySavvy® follow this link: https://surveysavvy.com

To sign-up for SurveyShares®  follow this link: https://www.savvyshares.com

Unlock career-changing breakthroughs by enrolling in Little Bird Marketing's 12-week social selling course. This personalized program delivers expert instruction and practical experience to build lasting relationships at scale. Learn how to expand your influence and establish authority. Enroll today at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/.

On tonight's episode of Palm Springs from the Purge, we dig deep to discover what dastardly fate has befallen the online presence of a well-established business. Was it saboteurs? Spies? Walls of fire? Join us as we inspect the crime scene, talk with eyewitnesses, consult with experts, and dredge the lake before making a bone-chilling discovery.

A word of forewarning - this episode is not for the faint of heart!

People have pulled Priscilla aside on numerous occasions to ask her to confirm or deny SEO rumors and gossip. Enough people were asking. It was time for her to get talking. As always, she pulls back the curtain and starts from square one, eliminating jargon and outlining what all the acronyms actually mean. 

The reason people have so many legitimate questions is that in this incredibly noisy market of tons of websites, it’s a struggle to be seen. How do we get your website to rank high and be optimized for search engines? It all starts with Google thumbs, and with knowing that Google wants to deliver a “wow” experience to their users. 

Google Thumbs

See, we left behind jargon and then created some ourselves. But this is an important acknowledgement that how anyone (your 13 yo son, or your 83 yo mom and even your most ideal client buyer) is using their thumbs on Google to find answers to life’s more pressing questions (and where to get the best pizza…) 

How Google Works

Knowing how Google and other search engines really look at your content is absolutely vital to your SEO strategy. This comes down to the trifecta: Experience, Authority, and Trustworthiness. Expertise is Google crawling your website and taking a look at everything that you have to say. You want to talk about your key topic clusters “six ways to Sunday,” as Priscilla says. Authority deals with hyperlinks — other websites linking to your website and your own website linking to itself. Trustworthiness also deals with links, but it’s about the links that you share, also called outbound links. Google checks to see if the websites you are linking to are reputable and high-quality. 

Time to get myth-busting?

MYTH: Google only ranks new content.

TRUTH: There is a difference between new content and the “freshness” of content. 

MYTH: Longer content has more value.

TRUTH: More does not always equal more.

MYTH: Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising helps ranking.

TRUTH: False. PPC and SEO and SEM are different and we break them down. 

MYTH: SEO takes at least 90 days to have an effect.

TRUTH: Changes take time for the search engine bots to process, but there is no magic to day 90 of your work. We break down what happens quickly and what can take a long time. 

SEO strategy is not one-size-fits-all, and there are a lot of nuances to the ever-changing, alive and kicking algorithm. Need a little help? We’re happy to be of service: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/work/

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsors: Fieldwork and The Insights Association 2023 Conference.

We're looking forward to being in glorious Hilton Head, South Carolina, April 24th through the 26th for the Insights Association Annual Conference. Known for providing exclusive research and objective brand presented content. The agenda for this year's IA Annual has been expanded to deeply examine four important disciplines: qualitative research, experience management, data analytics and quantitative, and behavioral research. Within each, we'll explore immerging trends, quality advancements, DEI progress and tangible business impact. More information on the agenda, which includes presenters from TD Bank, Mondelez, Masonite, Delta Faucet Company, Fidelity Investments, AARP and many other leading brands can be found at insightsassociation.org Use promo code ACBird to get 15% off your registration. We hope to see you there.

I love this industry and have met so many colleagues who have become friends - like really good friends. I had a lot of friends before I got into this industry, but I made room for more. Do you see how much fun I’m having and want to be a part of it? Good news! In this episode I scrap the rules, call my bestie, Sarah Kotva and gossip about people in the industry.

It’s all good and you’ll have a great time. So grab a glass of wine with us and let us introduce you to people you HAVE TO KNOW in market research. Then, go forth and connect with them online. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be in on all the jokes!

Let’s do this!

Cheat sheet:

Sarah Kotva https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkotva/

Patrick Olszowski https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickolszowski/

Ivka Markovic https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivka-markovic/

Aryn O’Donnell https://www.linkedin.com/in/arynodonnell/

Adam Dietrich https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dietrich/

James Endersby https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesendersby/

Adam Jolley https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjolley/

Alex Hunt https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-hunt-540ba910/

Vivek Bhaskaran https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekbhaskaran/

Cynthia Harris https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdharris/

Michaela Gascon https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelagascon/

Lisa Wilding-Brown https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawildingbrown/

Bob Quesreshi https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobqureshi/

Ryan Barry https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-barry-8354036/

Dominic Carter https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiccarterjapan/

Ted Pulsifer https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedpulsifer/

Dexter Chew https://www.linkedin.com/in/dexterchewtoronto/

Pravin Shekar https://www.linkedin.com/in/pravinshekaroutliermarketer/

Tony Cheevers https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycheevers/

Jamin Brazil https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaminbrazil/

Kristin Luck https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinluck/

Sandy Casey https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-casey-a3aa702/

Leigh Caldwell https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighcaldwell/

Disruption.

Angel Bellon, Senior Director of Insights and Cultural Intelligence at Paramount, joins Little Bird Marketing’s CEO, Priscilla McKinney, and divulges a deluge of facts, hacks, and insights around disruption and trend forecasting. It’s a drenching downpour of mindset-shifting expertise that will change YOUR game.

The truth is that business cannot go on as usual. The ever-changing digital landscape and especially *cough cough* Gen Z are disrupting the role of marketing altogether. It’s the role of generations to disrupt, but we’re now living in constant disruption with generational disruption on top of a fast pace of technological disruption and it’s a lot to make sense of at once. It’s even harder for brands to move forward in a meaningful way. 

To operationalize disruption, we first need to get clear on the definition. While innovation and disruption are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Innovation is something new. Disruption is a shift in the industry or with an audience, by redefining how a category typically is perceived. 

On the flip side, “a trend is a shift in consumer behavior and values,” says Angel. They discuss why trend forecasting much start with not only understanding your consumer but also being willing to look at your “anti-consumer.” You must ask difficult questions like: 

Who is not buying my brand?

Who does not value our category? 

Who are we repelling with our marketing messages or strategies? 

To tackle this holistic endeavor, Angel created a trend toolkit workshop at Paramount, and he generously reveals a significant portion of its content, providing us with valuable perspectives and strategies. 

After this episode, you’ll feel like you're drunk from a firehouse, but you’ll at least realize you’re not alone. 

Angel Bellon is a Senior Director of Insights and Cultural Intelligence at Paramount. A hybrid strategist and cultural anthropologist with over 15 years of experience, Angel fuses consumer insight with cultural foresight to forecast consumer behavior. At Paramount, Angel oversees thought leadership studies to push organizational thinking both internally and externally with Paramount’s advertising partners as well as inject culture-forward inspiration into the branded content creative process. Previously, Angel founded the Cultural Anthropology department at VaynerMedia, which included designing the agency’s insights methodology and overseeing the department’s output across all agency accounts and agency deliverables such as digital and social campaigns, audio/voice and brand strategy. Angel has presented at Advertising Week, Social Media Week, WPP Stream and the United Nations. Angel holds a Master’s in Media Studies from The New School and is a frequent guest lecturer at The University of Southern California (USC).

*All opinions in this episode are of Angel Bellon, not Paramount.”

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsor: The Insights Association 2023 Conference. 

We're looking forward to being in glorious Hilton Head, South Carolina, April 24th through the 26th for the Insights Association Annual Conference. Known for providing exclusive research and objective brand-presented content. The agenda for this year's IA Annual has been expanded to deeply examine four important disciplines: qualitative research, experience management, data analytics and quantitative, and behavioral research. Within each, we'll explore immerging trends, quality advancements, DEI progress and tangible business impact. More information on the agenda, which includes presenters from TD Bank, Mondelez, Masonite, Delta Faucet Company, Fidelity Investments, AARP and many other leading brands can be found at insightsassociation.org Use promo code ACBird to get 15% off your registration. We hope to see you there.

Bob Ferro, Founder of the executive recruiting firm Trusted Talent, joins Priscilla McKinney, Little Bird Marketing’s CEO, to discuss the current job market from a company and candidate perspective, as well as the pros and cons of delaying hiring.

From Bob’s perch, he’s seeing a huge slowing down in hiring. In fact, he describes it as a pause. However, it’s vital to understand that “if you don't hire a salesperson for a quarter, you've lost two quarters' worth of revenue - minimum.”

They also discuss retaining talent. As Bob says, “My number one asset isn't my product and my market and my customers, it's my talent. It's the people that make this company work. We're going to see successful companies shift from recruiting to retention, from the churn of using people as commodities to focusing on them as an asset that they can retain and that those people will have the heart to continue to contribute.”

If you are on the hunt for a few tips for candidates searching for jobs in this highly competitive market, you’re in luck! 

• Manage your expectations about the timeline of hiring
• Accept that finding a job is a full-time job
• Rise to the brand-marketing challenge of having a stellar resume and carry that over to LinkedIn
• Get out there and network
• Upscale yourself and uplevel your skills - don’t sit around waiting for the call back

As an industry-leading sales professional, Bob Ferro’s experience includes both technology and market research. Bob has worked with a variety of industry giants like Apple, Greenfield Online, SSI, Western Wats, Dapresy, Passenger, and Fulcrum. Bob founded Trusted Talent, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in helping Market Research firms find the right talent for the right jobs, and insights professionals find new opportunities. 

Shoutout to this episode’s sponsors: Fieldwork and The Insights Association 2023 Conference. 

We're looking forward to being in glorious Hilton Head, South Carolina, April 24th through the 26th for the Insights Association Annual Conference. Known for providing exclusive research and objective brand-presented content. The agenda for this year's IA Annual has been expanded to deeply examine four important disciplines: qualitative research, experience management, data analytics and quantitative, and behavioral research. Within each, we'll explore immerging trends, quality advancements, DEI progress and tangible business impact. More information on the agenda, which includes presenters from TD Bank, Mondelez, Masonite, Delta Faucet Company, Fidelity Investments, AARP and many other leading brands can be found at insightsassociation.org Use promo code ACBird to get 15% off your registration. We hope to see you there.

Like any other business or entity right now, non-profits are facing a dilemma: 

How do you break through the noise?

How do you keep up your own resilience around messaging when it feels like it’s falling on deaf ears?

We’re in an attention economy and translating your mission and message into bite-sized pieces is more important than ever. That being said, non-profits’ marketing and fundraising marketing efforts are held to a different standard. No one might complain about getting thirty emails from Lululemon about holiday sales, but getting a half-dozen messages from a non-profit about end-of-year fundraising goals can make people huff and puff and blow your email right until the dreaded trash can.

Executive coach and fundraising consultant, Mallory Erickson, joins CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, on the podcast to discuss strategy work at the intersection of fundraising and marketing.

Mallory Erickson is aimed at supporting non-profit leaders to change the way they lead and fundraise fundamentally. Through her signature framework, the Power Partners Formula™️, Mallory provides unique tools to help nonprofits fundraise more from foundations, corporate partners, and individuals. She has trained over 40,000 fundraisers using her unique win-win framework, which combines best practices from executive coaching, science-backed behavior design, and fundraising strategy. She is also the host of the What the Fundraising podcast. 

In their conversation, Mallory and Priscilla unpack how to help people frame the idea of relevance and urgency, and how to clarify your message authentically through storytelling. Mallory also brings up human behavioral design and her studies under Dr. BJ Fogg. According to Mallory, “Fundraising, at its best, is us aligning our core identity and deep desires with the identity and mission and desires of the organization. It's a human coming together with a nonprofit and saying, ‘We both want to see this change being possible and we have different skills and assets to do that. I have some money. You have the skills to create change in the community. How do we come together and do that?’” 

If there’s a culture of philanthropy with your donors, then there needs to be a culture of fundraising inside of your organization. “And the very first step of that is that fundraising is not a bad word.”

Positively brimming with actionable insight and fodder for a solid mindset shift, this episode is not one you want to miss!

Join Little Bird Marketing CEO, Priscilla McKinney as she guides you through organizing your marketing, proactive planning and mindset shifting needed to put your goals together T

Since organized marketers are 674% more likely to report success and proactive planners are 3x more likely to report success, the proof is in the pudding. Success means planning your marketing strategy in advance. Yet you can’t start planning without understanding your current marketing efforts. This is where clarity comes in. What is your “Point A”?

Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix. While Little Bird Marketing won’t be offering anyone a train ticket to Hogwarts, Priscilla shares tons of free resources, including the Order of the Phoenix Marketing Assessment Quiz to evaluate your brand’s marketing strategy and the best way to push your efforts forward. Everyone loves a good quiz!

Once you get clear about where you are currently, she offers clear steps needed to move to what you define as “Point B”.  Using the super helpful (and really crib-able) Little Bird Marketing proprietary SOAR™ System she explains how it can be done systematically. In fact, with the SOAR™ System, our team creates a sustainable lead generation system in just 90 days. Our approach is designed to confidently achieve both short-term and long-term revenue goals, without sacrificing your other priorities. Learn more about the “done for you” and “do it yourself” approaches to the SOAR™ System. 

So are you a Parakeet, Parrot, Peacock, or Phoenix? Take the Marketing Assessment quiz to get the pulse on your marketing strategy. Whiz on over and take the quiz: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/marketing-assessment/

Shoutout to our episode sponsor: Fieldwork!

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all, we mean it. From world-class facilities to low incidents recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded along with it with facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services. Their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research Fieldwork will do the rest. 

Today we’re going to talk about all things at the crossroads of shopper insights, marketing and behavioral science.

Anne Stephenson has been a guest on PFTP before and when I heard their team at Explorer Research had a new framework for their work I just had to ask her to tell us more!

Anne and I are both endlessly curious. You’ll love this guest. Welcome back, Anne Stephenson!

Anne Stephenson, Founding Partner of Explorer Research, is a behavioral science shopping insights expert helping clients develop and launch effective retail strategies grounded in shopper behavior. With over 30 years of marketing and research experience with packaged goods, retail, pharmaceutical and more, she captures and translates shopper behavior to help brands create winning campaigns and experience great business impact. 

None of us shop the same as we did 3 years ago. The customer journey has changed. Shopping is no longer a linear experience. Many questions need to be asked and answered with fresh perspective: 

• What are the category motivations when people are actually shopping? 
• What are the internal and highly personalized motivations for shopping? 
• What is driving individual shopping trips? 
• How are personal values interacting with external shopper influences?

Now, more than ever before, we need to look at shoppers from a holistic, total person standpoint. Being able to see the shopper as a person from multiple perspectives is important for brands. This kind of thinking needs a framework - a framework that can deliver compelling insights about how to activate your shopper. 

Let’s discuss with Anne on the Ponderings from the Perch Podcast.

And in case you’d like to snag yourself an amazing blazer, here’s the link to Smythe that Priscilla promised! https://shopsmythe.com Thanks for the hot shopping tip, Anne! 

Shoutout to our sponsors Ag Access and Year of Joy!

Uncovering insights in the agricultural industry can seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. Luckily, Ag Access is a team of needle-finding experts! From recruitment and survey design to planning and execution of custom full-service market research projects, you can count on Ag Access to deliver expertise and meaningful outcomes. Our 400,000+ member community covers the breadth of the agriculture chain, including technology, ag sales, crop growers, livestock producers, feed supply and more. With a full-time engagement center, research logistics team, and 400,000 member-strong insights community, Ag Access is an irreplaceable bridge between researchers and professionals in the agriculture industry. Visit ag-access.com to learn more. 

Are you looking for more joy in your life? Do you wanna improve your well-being? Increase your sense of belonging? Create more impact? Or simply have more fun? If you said yes to any of those questions, then check out the Year of Joy online community. If you are ready to find your tribe that helps you live your purpose. If you're ready for more fun, sign up for the Year of Joy at theartandscienceofjoy.com/year-of-joy The doors open to more joy on the 17th of January, so sign up now and be ready to receive that gift of joy. Learn more about the Year of Joy at the theartandscienceofjoy.com/year-of-joy or follow the Art and Science of Joy on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Whatever you do, choose joy today.

Join Little Bird Momma and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, as she chats with CEO and Founder of Hatch Tank, and VP of Qualitative Research at Numerator, Shamsu Bhaidani about the value of human support when it comes to market research technology.

With the push for better, cheaper and faster — and the word that we all have gotten sick of hearing: agile — teams were being asked to get more done with less. So what do they do? They turn to technology. Shamsu shared his observations, “​​What I see is that a lot of people get into using these platforms, do not necessarily use them to full capacity because they know what they know. They don't have time to explore more and take advantage of the different features and the different capabilities, and I just feel that the technology is underused.”

Specifically, Shamsu pointed out a shift in the last two years from clients wanting DIY to clients seeking DIT (Do It Together) technology. That is a collaboration. That is partnership. “That's where the human element comes in because everybody's good at what they do. You're good at doing your research. We're good at doing our technology,” as Shamsu says.

Human support eliminates a lot of stress around market research technology. It also boosts efficiency. It’s even better when the so-called human support is able to speak to you at a peer level rather than a provider level. Talk about a game-changer! Let’s reiterate: That’s a collaboration. That’s a partnership. That’s the power of real human support.

Ah, it’s always fun when two friends get together and talk shop! Catch the full conversation on the podcast with Priscilla and Shamsu!

Shoutout to our sponsor: CFR!

Businesses don't need research for the sake of research. They need research that leads to a meaningful impact for their customers, their products, and their bottom line. Communications for research is the trusted insights champion to lead you to that impact. They take their ownership of the research process so you can focus on your business and your customers, whether you need quantitative or data analysis for primary research, their expert logistics team has the experience to understand your objectives. They design and execute processes to achieve research outcomes that lead to better decisions. Visit cfinc.net to learn more.

Enter: Johanna Walker. 

As a speaking coach and storytelling expert, Johanna joins Little Bird Momma and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, on the Ponderings from the Perch podcast to discuss the stories that we tell ourselves, and how tapping into, owning and sharing your story can transform your business and can transform YOU.

One of Johanna’s mantras is: “Go before you’re ready.” While there are a thousand uncomfortable feelings and thoughts that can pop up when imagining getting on stage, being vulnerable and sharing your story, you have to embrace the sensations and drop the stories. If you wait until you’re ready, you may never feel ready. You have to go before you’re ready. When fear arises, “Drop out of the story and into your body, into your breath, into the sensation. Lose the story, connect with the sensation.”​​ 

Johanna is an artful speaker, and the power of her presence and voice translates beautifully in this episode. 

During Priscilla and Johanna’s conversation, they discuss:

Fear as a “battery pack”

Your voice as an expression of your human truth

Curiosity as the best teacher

Speaking as essential for business owners – especially those who want to step into thought leadership

The power of dropping into the sensations that arise in your body 

The process of preparing for a TEDx talk and how it has served her business

Johanna Walker is the fear-blasting, storytelling maven for coaches, consultants, leaders and change-makers (also known as a public speaking coach). As a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, she’s presented for corporations, non-profits, start-ups, community organizations and the TEDx stage, helping audiences develop an authentic presence as speakers, find the ideas they want to be known for, and craft those ideas into compelling presentations. She’s the founder of Craft Your Talk, a transformational speaker coaching program for emerging speakers, and The Speaker’s Playground, an unconventional training program where entrepreneurs and community leaders become confident and memorable speakers. She is the founder and host of Boulder’s Story Slam, where audience members come to the stage to tell true stories about their lives.

Johanna’s TEDx talk: “The stories that live in our bodies”

Johanna’s TED-style talk: “A Long Drink of Water: How telling the story makes anything bearable”

Johanna’s FREE download “Ten tips for telling more spine-tingling stories:” www.johannawalker.com/betterstories  

Want more from Johanna? She’ll be speaking live at Insights Marketing Day brought to you by Little Bird Marketing and Fieldwork. Don’t miss your chance! 

Don’t let the learning stop here. Little Bird Marketing’s 12-week social selling course is a practical hands-on experience designed specifically to help you network effectively and at scale, build rapport with targeted audiences, expand your influence, and become the go-to authority in your area of expertise. So this is not a quick “tips and tricks” for LinkedIn's success flash in the pan. It's a commitment to changing the way you show up online and experience career-shifting breakthroughs. This is expert instruction in small cohorts with personalized one-on-one coaching. If you're interested, learn more at https://littlebirdmarketing.com/social-influence-course/

If you keep up with Priscilla, you probably already know some of her thoughts on competition (yuck!), and how collaboration (yay!) is a better strategy. But even collaboration can be a perilous landscape. It goes all the way back to fifth-grade group projects where one kid does all the work and the others just coast. In the professional realm, there are many examples of things that *look* like collaboration on the surface, but are not actually collaborative at their core. 

In this episode, Executive VP Leighton Cordell commandeers the podcast to get the scoop on Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney’s forthcoming book: Collaboration is the New Competition. Given that Priscilla is well acquainted with the stunning discomfort of entrepreneurship, paired with the fact that her heart is always with business owners who are trying to make an impact, get traction on their ideas and sell their products and services — a book was born!

She shares with us enticing sneak peeks into the tactical, practical and insightful pages of her book and drops a few pearls of wisdom along the way! 

You know Priscilla and her commitment to #alwaysbehelping. 

(Whitesnake fans: Stick around for the ending!)

Shoutout to our sponsors: Gazelle Global and Year of Joy!

Are you looking for experts and tools to collect research data worldwide? Global sampling, field management and data collection are just some of the services that Gazelle Global provides. Visit gazelleglobal.com to learn more about how our expertise can help you unearth quality data that drives meaningful insights. Get your research done anywhere around the world quickly and efficiently. Visit gazelleglobal.com today.

Are you looking for more joy in your life? Do you wanna improve your well-being? Increase your

sense of belonging? Create more impact? Or simply have more fun? If you said yes to any of those questions, then check out the Year of Joy online community. It really could be for you. It's a place where you can find inspiring stories and practical advice from experts to empower you to build a more joyful life. It's a place where you can connect and share with like-minded people who are also looking to lead a more joy-filled life. Sound awesome. It's actually totally free. It's being funded by generous companies who understand the importance of giving people the gift of joy. Something that is just so needed in today's world. So if you are ready in 2023 to make it a year of joy for you and your loved ones. If you are ready to find your tribe that helps you live your purpose. If you're ready for more fun, sign up for the Year of Joy at theartandscienceofjoy.com/year-of-joy The doors open to more joy on the 17th of January, so sign up now and be ready to receive that gift of joy. Learn more about the Year of Joy at the theartandscienceofjoy.com/year-of-joy  or follow the Art and Science of Joy on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Whatever you do, choose joy today.

You know Priscilla is a straight shooter who doesn't shy away from tackling the big issues. In this episode, she delves into the world of ChatGPT, OpenAI, and the impact of NLP and NLG on business and branding. While she sees the potential for these tools to revolutionize the way we work, she also highlights some key concerns. For example, the lack of SEO integration in these systems can harm your online visibility, and using the same generated content as others can lead to plagiarism and a drop in page ranking. Additionally, the impersonal nature of these tools can detract from your brand's unique voice and style, and raises questions about the impact on thought leadership. Tune in to hear Priscilla's candid take on these cutting-edge technologies. 

Enough about ChatGPT and AI already? On to the tips!

1. Allow yourself the gift of the shitty first draft (SFD) as coined by Ann Lamott.

Have you ever heard of the SFD? That shitty first draft is exactly what you need to write to beat procrastination and beat perfectionism. Perfectionism is the leading cause of writers' block and it’s the enemy of writers!

1. Don’t keep waiting for inspiration.

If you wait for the day that grand ol’ magnificent and majestic inspiration pays a visit, you might be waiting for a long time. Waiting a long time means wasting a lot of time. Try to draw inspiration from your everyday experiences, from the mundane, from your drive to work and from your sock drawer! You make inspiration happen.

1. Outwrite self-doubt.

What if you just started calling yourself a writer? What if you started writing every day? Rather than basking in another self-doubt party, where it’s just you and a blank page… write, write, and write some more.

1. Don’t be boring.

Be creative. Be descriptive. See the world with new eyes. Try to describe things in such great staggering detail that your words come to life on the page. And then, after your first few drafts, we’re sure you’ll be cutting nearly half of all your descriptions, but still. It’s worth spending time noodling over the descriptions and breathing life into your words.

Marketing and content marketing is complicated. That’s why you need a system. Have you heard about our SOAR system and even about our SOAR DIY offerings? Consider it the ultimate flight plan. 

What's next for you? For business professionals, mastering social media is no longer a “nice to have” set of skills, but a fundamental need in order to advance your career. You need an effective and proven system to move from social selling all the way to digital dominance. Learn more here.

Books discussed on the podcast:

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown 

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

Shoutout to our sponsor: Ag Access! 

Uncovering insights in the agricultural industry can seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. Luckily, Ag Access has your back. From recruitment and survey design to planning and execution of custom full-service market research projects, you can count on Ag Access to deliver expertise and meaningful outcomes. Our 400,000+ member community covers the breadth of the agriculture chain, including technology, ag sales, crop growers, livestock producers, feed supply and more. With a full-time engagement center, research logistics team, and 400,000 member-strong insights community, Ag Access is an irreplaceable bridge between researchers and professionals in the agriculture industry. Visit ag-access.com to learn more. 

Join Little Bird Momma and CEO, Priscilla McKinney and the Global Lead: Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, Emmanuel Probst, as they discuss Emmanuel’s new book, Assemblage: The Art and Science of Brand Transformation and how brands can transform today to be truly successful.

So just what is assemblage? Emmanuel draws a delicious metaphor between the process distillers go through to create a perfect cognac by choosing wisely from a wide range of barrels, grains and other alcohols to combine and mix the blend until arriving at the perfect product, to what marketers and brand managers need to do — collect a wide range of personal, social, and cultural attributes that to bring to the brand, the product and the perception of the product.

Consumers are overwhelmed with products and overwhelmed with brands. Brands are waking up to the possibility of co-creating a new future with consumers. Emmanuel provides a handful of thought-provoking examples and walks us through how brands are dynamic and need to adapt over time.

Step one in transforming your brand? Close your laptop.

Tune in and soak up Emmanuel’s knowledge and guidance on where to start, how to transform, and what to keep in mind along the way. This podcast pairs well with a fine cognac. 

Links to Emmanuel’s books:

Assemblage: The Art and Science of Brand Transformation

Brand Hacks: How to Build Brands by Fulfilling the Consumer Quest for Meaning

Shoutout to our sponsor: Fieldwork!

Follow the trials and tribulations of our passionate holiday bakers whose goal is to be named the best Little Bird baker and the champion of the Great Birdish Bake Off! The bakers each tackle a different holiday treat, and Priscilla expects excellent flavor, top-notch texture, show-stopping looks and off-the-charts deliciousness. 

The Peeps also are all on board to share their favorite holiday desserts, dishes, and sides and then battle it out in the holiday quote quiz. We’re also going to share our top four photography tips for taking the best holiday photos! Be careful though, as we may be getting a little silly will all this holiday fun!

When the chaos subsides and your food coma ensues, wind down with our always hilarious, Annual Holiday Spectacular! Spectacular! You won’t be disappointed! 

Happy holidays! From the Peeps!

Shoutout to our sponsor: Gazelle Global!

CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, and Co-CEO of Ag Access and Co-CEO of Communications for Research (CFR) Colson Steber dig into the differences between specialists and generalists in the world of market research. Colson Steber also volunteers as the President of the Insights Association Great Lakes Chapter, which is the combination of five regional chapters into one. 

In this episode, we also discuss the value of serving a niche. Ag Access is laser-focused on the agricultural sector and has done large-scale work at a gigantic scope to stand out. His company has put together a phenomenal resource called the Ag Researcher’s Almanac that helps to get everyone on the same page with the terminology around Agriculture-based market research. It’s yours for FREE.

So what is the difference between generalists and specialists? As Colson Steber says, “nothing and everything.” Curious? Let’s dive into the details on the show.

Shoutout to our sponsors CFR and Year of Joy!

Resources mentioned:

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman

The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field by Mike Michalowicz

Join CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, and the Former President of ESOMAR and Chair of the Board at Zappi, Dan Foreman, as they unpack a laundry list of questions about WTF is going on with market research right now?

They start by pondering the big questions: Why are market researchers, albeit jokingly, bad at business? Are they really bad at business or are they just focused on their work? Do they simply lack the vernacular to have their point of view heard? Do they understand HOW their work is used for revenue or brand impact? Are they looking to solve their boss’s boss’s problem? 

As Dan says, “Data is the new oil.” Dan continues on to say, “Data is what people carry around in their heads and their hearts and their guts.” When you’re advising brands, governments, foundations, and people to make huge decisions based on the data, you get to see these incredible impact stories. Yet, the market research industry doesn’t effectively communicate that to the board rooms, the c-suite, or to the public at large. As Dan says, “we have a small voice that mostly takes to ourselves.” This is a huge industry problem. And, on the podcast, Dan and Priscilla stir up some ideas for how to move through that. 

Additionally, Dan also breaks down the anatomy of a private equity deal and we discuss the recent peak in interest from VC and private equity in the market research space.

Ultimately, Priscilla and Dan decided that they have broken through the difficulty and solved the conundrum of the market research world. Yes, you heard it all here on Ponderings from the Perch.

Don’t let the fun stop here.

For business professionals, mastering social media is no longer a “nice to have” set of skills, but a fundamental need in order to advance your career. You need an effective and proven system to move from social selling all the way to digital dominance. Learn more at littlebirdmarketing.com/social

Resources, companies, podcasts, and people mentioned:

WPP

Zappi

Bakamo Social

Latana Brand Tracking

VeyLinx

ESOMAR

Millward Brown

Market Research Institute International

Infinita Technologies 

Schroder Ventures Investment Plan

Neilson IG GFK

Ryan Berry

Steve Phillips

Leigh Caldwell of Irrational Agency

Kamran Jaffrani from HatchTank

Jamin Brazil

Stranded Podcast

Kristin Luck

Join Little Bird Momma and CEO, Priscilla McKinney, and VP of Marketing and Communications at Fluent Research, Stefanie Cousins, as they compare and contrast marketing and storytelling, and discuss the Venn diagram when two worlds collide! 

A lot of brands struggle, struggle, struggle to tell their story. As Stefanie Cousins says, “There’s a transparency to storytelling that some brands might not want to dig into.” While social media has given brands the opportunity to dig deeper into storytelling, melding and mixing storytelling in marketing takes finesse. 

Brands need to think about the craft of marketing, and hold space for storytelling to create something even more beautiful, meaningful, and powerful for their audience to connect and engage with. Storytelling content marketing is what stops the scroll. It creates space for a pause. 

If you’re looking for the inside scoop on storytelling content marketing, you’re in the right place.

Shoutout to our sponsors: Fieldwork and Year of Joy!

If you think you need a social media influence course…you do. Our 12-week Social Influence course will more than do the trick! We would also be happy, quite thrilled actually, to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

Well, chaos is inevitable. It’s part of growth and change. Personally and professionally. CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, and Executive VP Ashley Le Blanc know a thing or two about navigating chaotic situations with grace and strategic planning. Join us on the Ponderings from the Perch podcast as we become your collaborator in turning marketing chaos into marketing organization. 

Does this sound familiar?

• “Our company doesn't have a strong system in place to generate the right leads”
• “Our marketing actions are not in alignment with company goals”
• “My team just lacks the time and/or marketing expertise to execute our plan”

When strategic planning is at the forefront and there is a plan in place, marketing chaos evolves into marketing organization, which leads to *sigh* marketing clarity.

And the research backs that up. Research shows that marketers who proactively write a marketing plan are 356% more likely to report success. So let’s go over five tips to build an annual marketing plan. Strategize, organize, accountability, repeat, and execute. We’ll break these five strategic planning action items down more in-depth on the podcast.

If you have a hankering for more strategic planning in the name of marketing organization, don’t let the fun stop here. Download our free SMART Goals resource guide here.

Shoutout to our sponsors Fieldwork and Year of Joy!

In this episode of the Ponderings from the Perch podcast, CEO and Little Bird Momma Priscilla McKinney pulls back the curtain on digital transformation and how your business and brand can utilize these tools and tips to supercharge your marketing efforts and engage your team at a whole new level!

4 Tips To Digitally Transform Your Team

• Get Your Team Engaged With Social Selling
• Take A Load Off Your Plate With Content Management Systems
• Get Clarity by Streamlining Communication Channels
• Change the Game with Project Management Systems

Social selling, when done with genuine employee advocacy can engage your employees in exciting new ways, while also showcasing your brand’s culture to attract the best and brightest AND generating leads which, of course, leads to a boost in revenue. 

We did mention ditching the 3-ring binders right? Content management systems take the headache out of the social media schedule stress-fest, whereas streamlining your communication channels takes the running-around-like-a-chicken-with-it’s-head-cut-off feelings out of the office entirely. For the opportunity to go a little deeper and really change the game with your team, project management systems will level up your to-do lists, filing systems, and more.

Digital transformation is the name of the game. Tune in to get ready to step up to the plate and swing, batter, batter swing!

If you know that your business is in need of digital transformation but don’t know where or how to get started, we’d like to introduce you to our SOAR system— with do-it-yourself and done-for-you options you’ve got nothing to lose.

Shoutout to our sponsors: Multilingual Connections and Year of Joy!

While there was no imbibing on the podcast, Paul ceremoniously pulled back the curtain on tech-enabled consumer insights and about what innovation means to him and his company. Innovation isn’t one-sided. It’s two-sided. Consider the consumer experience and the client experience. Ask the right questions. Speak to people as if they are normal people. Using relevant language is key.

If you’re just beginning to dip your toes into the world of research or if you’re trying to find a way to get comfortable with tech platforms, Paul has amazing advice to offer you.

And it’s simple. Painfully simple.

Learn the fundamentals and remember that you yourself are a consumer! You don’t just have to put yourself into the shoes of the consumer, you are a consumer. Think about what you do, what challenges you face, and how you’d respond to questions when asked.

Are we right or are we right? Painfully simple.

For more tips, tricks, and downright great advice, make sure you subscribe to the Ponderings from the Perch podcast. And make sure to tune into the Dig Insights Podcast! 

Shoutout to our sponsors Cloud Research and AG Access! 

Luckily, we have the Senior Manager of Client Solutions at iContact, Hank Hoffmeier, on the podcast to talk shop with CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney about the top things people are doing wrong with email marketing. Your hazard lights will be flashing. Your red flags will go up left and right. More than a few lightbulbs will go off. 

After all, you don’t know what you don’t know.

Do you have a thing or two to learn about:

• Automation?
• Segmentation?
• Split Testing?

If your answer was yes, yes, and more yes then you’re not alone. The world of email marketing is constantly shifting. We all have to keep our eyes and ears to the ground. Hank’s bottom line? Simplify everything. Don’t overthink it. There are certain things that need to be checked off your list, like email authentication, sender policy framework (SPF), and Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKim). But there are also important strategic elements to consider, like a cadence that works for your audience (not for you!), and providing value with each and every email.

As Hank says, “Stop thinking about it from a marketer's perspective.” You have to think about email marketing from your client’s point of view. 

For more from Hank, download his freemium 501 Examples of Good and Bad Subject Lines.

Shoutout to our sponsors Fieldwork and CloudResearch!

If you're ready to get your social media act together, you might consider our 12-week Social Influence course. We would be happy to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

Lisa opens up about her passions for data quality, DEI and mentorship through different Esomar steering committee. In the past year Lisa has contributed to each of these efforts in the global insights community. You’ll want to year more about YES (Young Esomar Society).

No matter who is elected by month’s end, the association is in good hands based on the highly-qualified candidates for the council seats:

Nikki Lavoie

Alain Mizrahi

Dharmendra Jain

Priscilla McKinney

Tom De Ruyck

Priya Lobo

Claudette Dearnaley

Vanessa Oshima 

Jean-Marc Leger

Seyi Adeoye

Martin Oxley

Manny Rodriguez

Michaela Gascon

Lisa Wilding-Brown

Mariela Mociulsky

Martha Llobet

Joy Uyanwune

Corrine Moy

Paul Hudson

Diana Mitkov

Shoutout to our sponsors CloudResearch and Fieldwork!

Work has fundamentally changed, especially for knowledge workers, and the answer lies in working differently. Collaboration in the workplace is key. 

Are you the kind of person who needs some data? Employees working for companies with effective internal and external collaboration initiatives are about 22% more likely to believe that their employer cares about their morale, thus making collaborative employees more loyal to their organizations than their peers. And companies that promote collaborative working environments are 5x more likely to be high performers than companies with fewer employee collaboration initiatives. Data is power! Information is power! 

Collaboration is the new competition. That’s why it’s the title of CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney’s forthcoming book. In this podcast episode, Priscilla chats with LBM Executive VP, Ashley Le Blanc, about elements of the collaboration process and what you can do to hone your collaboration skills.

You may have heard a thousand and one mental health professionals, yoga teachers, spiritual gurus and gangsters alike harp on the benefits of gratitude. They’re on to something, folks. It’s not Koolaid. 

The mindset shift of gratitude leads us toward offering shout-outs to the people who have helped us along the way. We all know that we didn’t get to where we are today alone. Shoutouts sets the ball rolling in the collaboration process. Go from the ABC to the ABH. Turn that ABC of sales phrase, “Always Be Closing,” and morph it into ABH - Always Be Helping. Shifting your mindset from "what is best for the company" to "what is best for the client" or "what is best for the industry," shines a new light on the value of collaboration. 

Ah, there’s so much more to share! Collaboration in the workplace is our jam. Strawberry, blueberry, apricot, you name it. The collaboration process is what we’re all about here at Little Bird Marketing. So flit on over to the podcast and spread the juicy jam of collaboration all over your warm buttered toast. Did we take that metaphor too far? Or just far enough?

Shoutout to our sponsors Fieldwork, CFR, and CloudResearch!

If you're ready to get your social media act together, you might consider our 12-week Social Influence course. We would be happy to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

This episode features:

Pravin Shekar of ESOMAR

Aryn O'Donnell of Fieldwork

Anne Stephenson of Explorer Research

Crispin Beale of Behaviorally, Insight250 and mTab

Horst Feldhaeuser of Infotools

Chris Martin of FlexMR

Michaela Gascon of KJT Group

SPONSOR:

Do you know what “lies” behind your data? When the truthfulness of respondents is in question, the entire survey process is compromised. At CloudResearch, we’re exposing the hard truth about online survey fraud. 

Join us in an Insights Association webinar that pulls back the curtain to reveal shocking, never-before-seen footage from actual fraudulent click farms. You’ll see fraud as it truly happens with your own eyes, and learn how Sentry stops fraudsters in their tracks.

Join us, November 3, 2022. Stay tuned for how to register.

CEO and Little Bird Momma Priscilla McKinney and Ben Dueck, President/Founder of Cantera Leadership and a Gallup certified CliftonStrengths coach, join forces to talk about the principles of leadership, leadership qualities, and a laughably small step you can take in leadership. 

No pressure on leaders but 70% of the success of your teams rests on leadership. A huge factor in— get ready for the buzzword!—employee engagement rests on leaders in the organization. 

Employee engagement converts to:

• Profitability 
• Productivity
• Client Retention
• Client Sucess

The principles of leadership transform and translate into the metrics we, as business leaders, love to see. That’s why empowering leaders to know and identify their employee’s skills, knowledge, experience, and natural talents are vital for success. If you haven’t heard of CliftonStrengths, give it a whirl. It’s an incredible tool for understanding, empowering, and leveraging every individual’s talents in an organization. Little Bird Marketing’s resources are powerful tools too, and definitely whirl-worthy.

We’re sure you’re wondering, so what’s this laughably small step in leadership? 

Fill out this short statement for yourself:

When ___________ happens, instead of ___________ I will ___________. 

Building habits and changing habits don’t have to happen with big flourishes and grand gestures. How about if your goal is to work out in the mornings, your statement looked like this: When waking up happens, instead of showering I will put on my running shoes. That’s it. That’s the whole commitment you’re making. A commitment to shoes. As Dueck attests, “When that third blank is a laughably small step, our brains don't get in our way.”

This is applicable professionally and can be a game-changer for you and your team. When you’re building habits and we go too big— our brain will all too happily get in the way and then our habit will go out the window. And then we’ll be back on the therapy couch.

As Ben Dueck proclaims, “I'm not the savior. I'm not the only solution. But I want to help you succeed.” Here at Little Bird Marketing, we couldn’t agree more. We’re here to help you meet your goals, find clarity, spread your wings and… fly. We couldn’t resist! 

Shoutout to our sponsor Fieldwork!

Searching for a research partner to handle the details of your next qualitative project? When we say Fieldwork can handle it all – we mean it. From world-class facilities to low-incidence recruitment, their team of experts handles the details so you can stay focused on the research. Say goodbye to traditional focus group rooms and recruitment tactics. As market research has grown from the standard focus group to incorporate other innovative methodologies and technologies, Fieldwork has expanded right along with it. With facilities nationwide and sophisticated global recruitment services, their detail-oriented staff partners with you to achieve great insights. Focus on the research. Fieldwork will do the rest.

If you're ready to get your social media act together, you might consider our 12-week Social Influence course. We would be happy to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

Join Little Bird Momma Priscilla McKinney and Tony Cheevers, the Customer Success Officer with Researchscape International, as they dive into current trends and pet peeves when it comes to the world of market research. 

One of the biggest trends Cheevers points out is that market research can have an accessibility gap where buyers feel like their requesting data from a black box that magically appears from behind a Wizard of Oz curtain. As he says, “It's not really a tool that's accessible. So I'd like to see some disruption in that area to make something that's more available, more accessible and more affordable across a broader spectrum.” And that’s what Researchscape International set out to do by creating a digital storefront where you can’t buy cereal and eggs, but you can buy ten thousand answers from a specific population about dog food. 

Don’t buy the dog food— be the dog food.

 This dynamic episode spurs a mindset shift. Now it the time to get curious. Approach everyone with empathy. The world will be a brighter place! As would the world of market research. This is something Priscilla McKinney draws to light, “we are interested in how other people are seeing things, and how we can be a part of understanding how someone perceives something.” At Little Bird Marketing, we are here to be curious, to listen, and to help find clarity.

Clients, big and small, come to market research companies because they have a problem they’re trying to solve. Consider how market research companies could be more in the “story business” instead of the “research business.” They are responsible for helping people “write stories that they're presenting to their owners, their constituents, their stakeholders, their members, and their prospects,” as Cheevers says. And these stories are backed by the cold-hard facts culled from the research, data, and statistics. 

There’s so much more to cover! Not tuning in would just be… inconceivable! 

Shoutout to our sponsor Multilingual Connections!

Ready to understand and engage your multilingual audience? With language services in over 75 languages, Multilingual Connections provides the linguistic accuracy you expect with the cultural nuance you need. Whether you need translation, transcription, subtitles or voiceovers, Multilingual Connections tailors their high-quality language services to fit your unique needs. Request a quote and mention “Little Bird Marketing” to get $100 off your first project at mlconnections.com

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, and Executive VP, Ashley Le Blanc, have prepared a feast for your social media strategy on the Ponderings from the Perch podcast. Even better? There are two downloadable free resources that make the perfect pairing on our website— the oh-so-delicious Top Tips to Crush it Social Media resource guide and the Social Media Content Calendar download.

Grab a plate because we’re dishing up all the juicy tips on how to build up your sphere of influence on social media.

Step one of social influence? Take the stress out of social media. Anxiety, stress, and not knowing what to post are common reasons why people and brands don’t post or don’t post enough. Go ahead and wash your stress down the kitchen sink. Use the garbage disposal if you need to! Batch processing is the solution. We mean it. 

Here at LBM if you were to look on the back end of our Hubspot you’ll see that there are over 900 social media posts scheduled to go out over the next year. We really do batch process our posts a year ahead. While that may sound intimidating, start with one month of batch processing then move to a quarter at a time. 

Wondering what to post? You don’t have to start from scratch. Think about all the content you have already accumulated and pull it apart grabbing all the best bits for social media pull quotes, micro-video content, and more. Get creative. You are the chef in the kitchen of social influence!

As mentioned on the podcast, here are Andy Crestodina’s research and statistics from Orbit Media’s blogging statistics and the results from the blogger survey.

Are you ready to crush it on social media? Our 12-week Social Influence course is for you! We would be happy to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing.

And a shoutout to our sponsor Gazelle Global!

• What can you do to help ensure your business is ready for sale? 
• What do I need to change now to get my team engaged to meet my goals? 
• Why do only 25% of businesses get sold?
• What are the metrics I need to understand to increase the value of my business in 24-36 months? 
• What is different about selling to a private buyer, your employees or even a private equity firm? 
• What conversations should I start having to prepare my business for sale? 

But before you can think about an exit, there are key things to think about to maximize that moment. Take it from a business brokerage expert and listen in for these important conversations about digital transformation, employee engagement, growth hacking and more that will drive your business value. The mindset shift Damon offers includes helping you build wealth with your business instead of treating it like a job. 

Damon’s skill is identifying and executing opportunities to increase business revenue, profitability, and value. Damon brings 20+ years of building and managing businesses in extreme conditions and diverse industries to help clients reach their goals, crush competitors, and dominate markets. The proven framework Damon and the Exit Your Way® Team developed and used successfully in private equity-owned companies is being used to drive successful results daily. In the sale of businesses, Damon utilizes the knowledge of the private equity buyer’s desires & client businesses to clearly articulate the opportunity.

CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney and Executive VP, Ashley Le Blanc talk shop about SMART goals and they break down S-M-A-R-T with cheerleader levels of exuberance. SMART goals is a system that is not only strategic but is repeatable. Nailing your goals this year is great, but achieving all your goals for the next five years? Now, that’s fantastic.

“S” stands for specific. Instead of thinking in vague, lofty, idealistic terms get nitty-gritty with your goals. Get as specific as possible. Use numbers. Put a number on a “good” salary bonus - an actual number of new clients you want to onboard each quarter. Go ahead and make numbers your new BFF.

“M” stands for measurable. If you can’t measure it, then you won’t be able to accurately track your progress. Plus, the beauty of measurement is that it gives you all the glorious possibilities of celebrating small wins— we all need every “W” we get! The magic of measurement also gives you, as Priscilla puts it, “permission to tweak the strategy as you go.” If you can measure it, you can chart your results and adjust as you need along the way.

“A” stands for attainable. You have a goal, but is it really attainable? A good question to ask yourself is, “Can I attain this goal within my desired timeframe?” Also, consider asking others for their insights and advice. After all, this is common practice in business— consulting strategists, coaches, and colleagues. If you have some SMART goals that aren’t professional in nature, ask a spouse, partner, parent, or friend. Just make sure you choose who to ask wisely, certain people are in our lives to hype us up and dream big with us, and others are there to be our guardrails, offering us more caution and prudence.

“R” stands for relevant. Don’t create goals to check them off your to-do list for the year. Don’t create goals because they’re popular, trendy goals. Don’t create goals that are based on what everyone else thinks you should be doing. Create goals that are relevant to you, and are in alignment with who you want to be, what career you want to have, and where you believe your company should be going.

“T” stands for timely. Regardless of whether you are a self-diagnosed procrastinator or not, timelines matter. Timelines motivate us to take steps forward. They’re the binding agent in the recipe. Don’t just have a date of completion on your timeline. Mark dates down on your calendar for the halfway point, or when a key thing needs to be checked off the list to work you closer to completion. To-do lists are our favorite. So is Trello— which Priscilla advocates that the “T” could also stand for.

Without a clear game plan goals are really just wishful thinking.

Feeling hyped up about SMART goals? Snag your free, printable SMART goals resource guide here.

If one of your SMART goals is amping up your social media influence game then you might want to take a peek at our 12-week Social Influence course. We’d love to discuss what digital transformation could look like for your team! 

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing. 

Shoutout to our sponsor InnovateMR!

We here at Little Bird Marketing are eager to share this episode of our other podcast, Digital Transformation Sucess, with our dear listeners here on Ponderings from the Perch. Join CEO and Little Bird Momma, Priscilla McKinney, and President of Berlin Cameron, Jennifer DeSilva, as they pull back the curtain on the world of digital transformation and uncover a veritable treasure chest of resources and connections. 

Jennifer DaSilva is a seasoned integrated marketer with 20 years of experience working on Fortune 500 brands. As president of WPP boutique creative agency Berlin Cameron, Jennifer has spent the last 15 years managing key accounts like Coca-Cola, Heineken, Lexus, and Capital One. Moreover, she is a champion of entrepreneurship and is the founder of  LLShe, a Berlin Cameron division that empowers female entrepreneurs through connections and creativity. 

It’s no surprise that in this episode, the conversation centers around inclusivity in rapidly growing, albeit intimidating worlds of NFTs, crypto, and the metaverse. All are welcome. Period.

Yet, it’s an intimidating new world out there. And women are already reporting that they’re feeling excluded from the cryptocurrency market and the statistics show that 82% of brands are disproportionally targeting their NFT campaigns toward men. That’s why we’re sharing the game-changers in the field of inclusivity in the new world of digital transformation. The links and resources below are yours to peruse. This is your call to action. Follow these people. Learn all you can. Dig in. You’re welcome here.

People mentioned:

Cate Luzio founder of Luminary

Nadia Masri founder of Perksy

Michelle Reeves founder of WAGMI

Patrick Olszowski founder of Outrageous Insight

Resources mentioned:

NFT's are the future but where are the women? — Berlin Cameron

NFT ‘bro culture’ is missing a huge opportunity by excluding women

NYX Project: GORJS BEAUTY DAO | NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

NFT Mentions:

Welcome to the HUG

https://www.instagram.com/wagmi.nft/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/michellejreeves/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/mavionworld/?hl=en

CAA Hires a Chief Metaverse Officer.

https://www.instagram.com/mybff/?hl=en

Meta Angels – The Wishing Well

Meta Angels NFT

Honey Badges Community that is Decentralizing philanthropy

Honey Badges NFT

In need of some LBM free resources? Your wish is our command. Click here.

On the hunt for powerful content marketing and strategy resources? Come under our wing. 

And shoutout to our sponsor Gazelle Global.

Hate staring at a blank page knowing you need to just get on with it?

Know what it takes to write compelling content? 

Curious what the pros know that keeps them producing on quality blogs? 

Once upon a time, our CEO and Momma Bird and host of this podcast, Priscilla McKinney used to write every blog that left Little Bird Marketing. That is not scalable. We talk to a lot of companies having scaling problems. Probably at your company you have bandwidth issues when it comes to getting content out the door. And we know it’s not just about good quality writing, but you have to think strategically for SEO ranking and still carry the brand voice throughout all you do. 

We get it. It’s hard. 

We can create your content for you, but in this episode, Ashley Le Blanc and Priscilla discuss key considerations for success if you still want to try your hand at blogging. We work hard to bring you relevant marketing hacks as often as possible. But in this episode, we offer 4 tips for quality blog writing specifically for those who don’t consider themselves blog writers. 

1. Don’t write anything until you’re clear about your intended audience. 
2. Include links to top-performing web pages (including your own!).
3. Concise content wins. Also, bullet points are your friend. 
4. Find tech that fills in your skills gap. 

Feel free to reference Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and David Byrne as often as we like to. But no matter what you reference stay true to yourself, your brand and your strategy. Also, remember that we, the peeps, believe in you! 

Our Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, was able to steal Trevor Farris, SVP of Sales & Marketing at CivicScience, for a can’t-miss discussion on the most impactful factors shaping the future of market research.

Right now, you may find yourself asking, “What does transcending traditional market research actually mean?” Well, you can find the short, yet tease of an answer in these show notes, but you’ll have to press play to get the full picture. 

As most of us know, inflation is a current, nationwide issue, leaving no person, industry or project unaffected. In this episode, Trevor and Priscilla discuss what the rise of inflation means for traditional market research and how CivicScience utilizes a modern approach to gauge customer sentiment.

“We're allowing people to opt-in directly with our widget that sits on hundreds of publishers out there. We're going first party pulling direct customer sentiment into the way that we do business.” - Trevor Farris

With the ability to turn on a dime and be flexible within 24 hours to get questions out to the public, CivicScience is able to quickly understand how sentiment will ultimately drive behavior down the road. In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, you’ll discover how CivicScience matches the speed of business right now, how to uncover proactive business insights no one else is privy to, and so much more.