Ponderings From The Perch

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 kn

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 Deve

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

Q: Who do you call if your insights are taking you to Japan?  A: Myth-busting Japanese culture expert Dominic Carter and his team. Today, our CEO and Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney, welcomes a good friend and experienced researcher, Dominic Carter, Representative Director and CEO of The Carter Group. Originally from Australia, where he was educated and started his career, Dominic has lived and worked in Japan since 1999. He has launched and nurtured several successful businesses in the market on his own account and worked as a key consultant on numerous large-scale launches and business expansions for his clients, which include some of the largest names in the world. His professional focus is the translation of cultural and customer insights into effective strategies for market entrants and established players. Brands looking to expand to the Japanese market need researchers and recruiters who know and understand both them and the Japanese people. The Carter Group has professionals who can bridge the gap b

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

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

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 marke

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 turm

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 o

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 el

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 B2

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 Courtright, the Chief Executive Officer at Insights Association. Melanie is a true vanguard in shaping the future of the insights and analytics industry. With almost three decades of experience, she knows the industry inside out and is a powerful advocate for quality and excellence. As a skilled networker in the market research arena, she can teach you a thing or two about meaningful connections. Insights Association has a unique role as a service organization dedicated to the insights profession. Melanie explains that their focus is on protecting and strengthening the industry by setting standards of quality, advocating for regulations that make sense, and ensuring the pro

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

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

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. A

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. Wi

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

“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 hundr

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 inspi

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 a