Ponderings from the Perch

Who here loves PowerPoint? Anyone… yeah, us too. 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'll admit, Shawn Nason is a lot. 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.

ROI & KPIs, MQLs& SQLs… The acronyms in marketing never stop. But the only KPI that really matters is that feeling you get when you're exceeding revenue goals! At Little Bird Marketing, we're overtly helpful, providing amazing resources and expertise like this lead generation funnel blog to provide important benchmarks for your work. What is also immensely helpful is knowing how to bring your sales and marketing departments together for a revenue generation WIN. No more listening to marketing blame sales for not closing leads or listening to sales say marketing doesn't deliver quality leads. Instead, we'll share our expertise on how to pass the baton successfully from marketing to sales in a way that creates predictable revenue generation. 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.

It's time to quit thinking inside the box you're creating for yourself. 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.

Join Priscilla McKinney, CEO, and Momma Bird here at Little Bird Marketing as she gets down to the nitty-gritty of why our expertise in market research matters for better content, lead generation, and ultimately, revenue growth. 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. 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 a world where survey respondents are basically sick and tired of doing all the work to TELL as screener about their behaviors, qualifications, demographics, and more just for the chance at participating in a survey, along comes Qrious Insight with their “always on” approach to passive data collection. 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.

We've had DEI 101, can we advance? It's time for 201. 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.

So, you want to write a book? Is the idea becoming a burden because you can just see a way forward to getting it done? 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.

It's here! Get ready for tidings and good cheer…it's the 8th Annual Holiday Spectacular! Spectacular! The Peeps won't be baking any treats this year, but we do have quite a few treats (and tricks) up our sleeve for you. Which holiday are we celebrating again?  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!

Q: How did Microsoft Office get so famous? 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.

Roll out the red carpet and act as paparazzi for those you admire in the business world; It's time to start collaborating! 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.

A few questions from the CEO of Little Bird Marketing, Priscilla McKinney about your current marketing plan template: - 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.

Don't get caught sending an email to Gen Z expecting them to take your survey. They won't see it in their inbox of 5,735 unread messages. 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.

Feel like you're becoming irrelevant and lost in the industry? 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.

What do the greatest research minds share when brought together? If you're experiencing a serious case of FOMO because you didn't make it or are just wondering what everyone else was talking about while you were there, we bring you the Insights Association Corporate Researcher's Conference in a nutshell. When it comes to market research, consumer insights, shopper insights, survey sample fraud, focus groups, UX and CX, mock juries, what AI can do in the industry, and what the heck a synthetic respondent is, we have you covered.  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.

Spending too much money on in-person events? 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/

Q: Who do you call if your insights are taking you to Japan?  A: Myth-busting Japanese culture expert Domonic 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/

You have been questioned. 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.

What level of energy is needed to produce h@!y sh!t level of insights? Let's just ask the? Verve team! 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.

John C. Maxwell famously said, “If you're proactive, you focus on preparing. If you're reactive, you end up focusing on repairing.” True dat. 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!

What happens when mental health suffers in the workplace? What are we supposed to do? It seems like the obvious answer would be to simply ask for help. But some workplaces don't allow for it. Also, some of our own minds don't allow for it. As James Pickles says, “You've got to know you have a problem to ask for help.”  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.

If only Auguste and Louis Lumière could see where their motion picture invention is today. Audiences were spellbound by the film of the workers pouring out of the Lumière factory. Cat videos would blow their minds. 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.

Healthcare is a sensitive subject for many struggling with rare diseases or disabilities. Researchers in the healthcare sphere are challenged with finding delicate ways to approach patients. How do researchers advance technology and create positive outcomes for patients?  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.

With a demand for accuracy but an appetite for innovating with new methodologies, finding the right balance between specialization and generalization is often seen as the key to success in delivering quality consumer insights. But what if we told you that there's more to the story? We're pulling back the curtain to hear from one of the wizards orchestrating the delivery of insights into the world of finance. 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.

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. Today, our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, is joined by Melanie Cortright, 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.

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. 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/

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. 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/

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. 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.

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. 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

Strap on your headsets and fasten your seatbelts - we're taking you on a ride through the skies of market research! Welcome to the MRX Mavericks miniseries, where we'll show you how to soar above the competition like the true Top Guns of the market research industry. 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.

“Slam the brakes, lay off employees.” Corporate America is out of the frying pan and into… the dumpster fire! Wait, what's going on?! 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

The success of any event depends on careful planning, at Little Bird Marketing, we always say, “There ain't no party like a Little Bird party!” Listen in for great tips about creating an unforgettable event that will further your B2B marketing strategies. 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/ 

LAYERS! Onions have layers. Languages have layers. You get it, they both have layers.  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/

Social Media Pillar Page Promo) - FIELDWORK (PR) - Social Influence (MR) 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/

Coffee and writers go together like plot twists and cliffhangers – they fuel the creative chaos and keep the words flowing! 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.

The A student's worst nightmare… The teacher says, “Grab a partner, it's group project time!” 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?

Whether you are a Sriracha, Tabasco or Cholula type of person— the secret sauce of great client relationships is guaranteed to be less spicy and less controversial. 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.

Calling all snackers! We love a good snack here at the Nest! But have you heard of social snacking? Your mom called and was worried your snacking might ruin your meal, but she should be worried that social snacking can lead to disconnection.  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/ 

How does a global research company become the Obi-Wan Kenobi of the industry, providing a framework for the most difficult projects? What does a global research Jedi's day-to-day reality look like? 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/ 

An SEO strategy for business success is a powerful investment. It can also be a daunting task. In this episode, we give insider information about what it takes to build a successful SEO strategy. The fundamentals are creating a list of core topics, assembling keywords based on topics, building web pages, maintaining a blog, creating a link-building plan, keeping up with SEO changes and measuring success. 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?

Why does a $300 million business with almost 6 decades of name recognition choose to rebrand? 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.

Buyers, and their journeys, are rapidly changing. Before the pandemic, brands had more control over when consumers saw an ad or a product. Now, the script is flipped. The consumer carves a unique path to find a brand, product or service and they aren't doing it like they have in the past.  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/.

It was a dark and stormy Thursday. The small office, normally peaceful, was a flurry of anxious murmurs and frantic typing. Tony the intern had brought donuts, but who could eat at a time like this? There had been a disappearance. 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!

While Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman won't be joining us, Little Bird Marketing CEO, Priscilla McKinney, rises to the challenge of being the official SEO MythBuster. 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.

Hi, I'm Priscilla McKinney, CEO and Momma Bird here at Little Bird Marketing and I'm a St. Patrick's Day birthday! Everyone wants to party on my birthday and have fun. I am a fun person - very outgoing and funny (if you agree, please call one of my kids and let them know). But people often think I am a people person. I'm really not. I'm a “my kind of people” person. What I mean by that is I like people who are overtly helpful, bring energy into the room, give without thinking of getting and don't take themselves too seriously. 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/

It's time to talk about the D-word.  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.

Reality is reality and finances are finances. There's a cost and a loss for not finding the right company or the right candidate at the right time. While there is a pendulum swing between when it is a company's market or a candidate's market, the pendulum's rate is accelerating— faster than it ever has oscillated before and if you're not careful it can give you whiplash! 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.

Uncomfortable, squirmy and guilty? Those are the common side effects when thinking about fundraising. But, fundraising isn't a dirty word. 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!

So you want to be the top dog, or rather the top bird? How do you do that? It starts with breaking down the journey from Point A to Point B. 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. 

At PFTP we're always pulling back the curtain to reveal the wizards behind the wizardry. To that end, I'm always looking for industry leaders who are willing to share their expertise openly. They are willing to say, “it's just us behind the curtain and this is how we make the magic.” 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.

At PFTP we're always pulling back the curtain to reveal the wizards behind the wizardry. To that end, I'm always looking for industry leaders who are willing to share their expertise openly. They are willing to say, “it's just us behind the curtain and this is how we make the magic.” 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!