Ponderings From The Perch

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.

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 g

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 marke

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

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 roo

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 c

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,

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