Ponderings From The Perch

In this episode, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney talks with Fieldwork, Inc. Executive VP and  Fieldwork Denver President, Nikki Darré. They discuss Darré’s journey within Fieldwork, and the impressive longevity of project managers and supervisors at Fieldwork. They also discuss change within the industry and how Fieldwork keeps up with design trends to maximize the client experience. Fieldwork Denver is the host of Insights Marketing Day on October 10, and Priscilla and Nikki talk about the importance of industry events, keeping up with trends and forming relationships. Nikki’s fave podcast: How I Built ThisFave App: HeadspaceFave book: Pride and PrejudiceFave Blog: PursuitistAlso, check out a recent interview with Nikki on Medical Recruiting!Thanks to our sponsor, MMR Live. Visit mmr.live to learn how to add KEIs to your KPIs - to maximize your key emotional impacts, improve every brand experience, AND earn a greater share of wallet.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/

As our old pal, Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” He probably wasn’t talking about the business and consumer dynamic, but as this episode illustrates, it certainly applies. This week, Priscilla discusses how experiences between businesses and customers can be consciously designed toward excellence, with MMR Live Founder and Chief Operating Officer Tricia Houston. In addition to speaking about experience strategy’s impact on all levels of a business, Tricia also discusses how MMR Live has evolved since being founded in 2017. Along the way, they talk about the Atlanta Zoo, Zappo’s customer-first mentality, and how Chick-Fil-A wins at apologies. Want to hear more? Be sure to follow Tricia and MMR Live, and you can also catch her as a speaker at the upcoming Insights Marketing Day!...Thanks to our sponsor, MMR Live. Visit mmr.live to learn how to add KEIs to your KPIs - to maximize your key emotional impacts, improve every brand exp

“It’s never been easier to get started. There’s never been a time in all of business where there’s more things at your fingertips to help you be successful. But on the flip side, it’s also never been harder to scale, because competition is so fierce.”In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, Priscilla talks with Nicholas Holland, GM/VP of Product at Hubspot. In case you don’t know, Hubspot is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution for inbound or content marketing. Little Bird has been a Hubspot Certified Agency Partner for five years, and loves working with the platform. In this episode, Priscilla and Nick talk about content marketing, the access that businesses have to helpful content marketing tools, and the overall direction of the marketplace. Nicholas believes that good, helpful marketing is a quality-over-quantity endeavor, and that paid advertisements can be integrated in such a way that they are also compelling content. Listen to the whole episode, then read a few excellent blogs writte

Flock Stars is back with a new Women in Research miniseries! In this episode, Priscilla McKinney, Momma Bird and President of Little Bird Marketing takes the podcast on the road, bringing listeners an audio postcard of the goodness of the 2019 WIRexec Annual Retreat. Listen in to hear the wisdom and insights straight from the source! You'll hear from:Tacie Avedikian, Director of Customer Development at Critical Mix Brin Moore, partner at Trusted Talent & San Francisco Loval Event Lead at WIRe Natasha Stevens, Executive Vice President at GfK Alisa Hamilton, Atlanta Chapter Organizer at Women in Research Sima Vasa, Founder and CEO at Infinity Squared Ventures and host of Data Gurus Podcast Don’t forget to enter in our Badass Women Giveaway. This giveaway is in honor of these badass women and all they have accomplished. For this round, we’ve pieced together an incredible prize package full of amazing stuff you definitely want. Check all the goods and enter RIGHT HERE!Are you enj

So, you think you’re pretty tough, do you? Well lemme introduce you to a couple toughies who eat fear for breakfast. Their names: Priscilla McKinney and Andy Crestodina. I heard they’re so accustomed to living on the edge that they don’t even flinch at…using Wordpress for a web host. Pretty hardcore, yeah? In this episode, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney enlists the cognitive muscle and steely reserve of Orbit Media Co-Founder and CMO Andy Crestodina, to analyze an article arguing that Wordpress is “A Risky Choice” for web hosting. The daredevil duo offers a series of sound counterpoints to the article, while acknowledging a few of its valid points. In addition to rebuffing the content of the specific blog itself, the conversation also touches on a type of blog-writing that Priscilla and Andy feel is less than helpful. Priscilla says, “I feel very committed to the integrity of our industry, and when I see something like this that’s just written out there that really in the end looks like clickbait to me, it’s a

Flock Stars is back with a new Women in Research miniseries! In this episode, Priscilla McKinney, Momma Bird and President of Little Bird Marketing takes the podcast on the road, bringing listeners an audio postcard of the goodness of the 2019 WIRexec Annual Retreat. Listen in to hear the wisdom and insights straight from the source! You'll hear from:Sandy Casey, SVP of Global Strategic Alliances at TolunaShannon Smith, COO at JibunuErica Van Lieven, Managing Partner at InSites ConsultingKerri Edelstein, President and Founder at Research NarrativeMichelle Andre, Managing Director at Women in ResearchALSO! In celebration of the launch of our next Flock Stars podcast miniseries, it’s time for yet another Badass Women Giveaway. This giveaway is in honor of these badass women and all they have accomplished. For this round, we’ve pieced together an incredible prize package full of amazing stuff you definitely want. Check all the goods and enter RIGHT HERE!Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please take a moment

What do you think of when you hear the word “access?” Do you think of exclusive backstage tickets, a master key, or getting your foot in the door? In this episode, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney and Michael Roderick, host of the podcast “Access to Anyone,” discuss how access is less about sneaking in, and more about sharing interest. Michael went from being a high school English teacher to a Broadway producer in under two years,  then started his journey toward establishing Small Pond Enterprises. From there, he launched his podcast and started sharing his strategies and mindsets, which include associative leverage, vertical threading and carrying bags of apples. This episode is also dedicated to all the acronym fans out there. Your moment, full of RAB and TAC, has finally come. Bask in the glory. Some housekeeping links:Michael’s fave podcast: The Unmistakable CreativeMichael’s go-to app: EvernoteMichael’s present-favorite books:This is Marketing by Seth Godin + Overdeliver by Brian KurtzAforementioned a

If you really want to fulfill your lifelong dream of swimming through gold coins like Scrooge McDuck, you’re going to need to make some smart marketing decisions. Does anybody know a way to drive real, ready-to-buy-things customers to your website? Like - we’re talking 50% more customers than are driven organically? Anyone? Oh look! It’s Priscilla and Kahlief!In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, Momma Bird Priscilla McKinney gets into the sweet details about Google Ads with Little Bird’s own Graphic Designer/Google Ad Magician Kahlief Steele. They talk about the difference between display ads and search ads, walk through a fictitious shoe-shopping adventure wherein Kahlief finally snags those high-fashion kicks, discuss monthly ad budgets, and commonly-made (yet avoidable) mistakes. Basically, this episode answers everything you wanted to know – but were afraid to ask – about Google Ads. Do you have a marketing question you need answered? Drop us a line or leave a comment in iTunes. Learn more a

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Studies have shown that 80% of Americans are afflicted by stress, and that number is on the rise. In this episode, Priscilla is joined by her friend and Ponderings from the Perch alumni Rachael O’Meara. Rachael is a transformational leadership and executive coach who wrote the critically-acclaimed 2017 book Pause: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself A Break. Rachael and Priscilla discuss intentionality and incremental mindset changes, and they walk through a “Daily Pause” together. Rachael’s new program, “Thrive, Lead and Succeed,” is a 9-month virtual group coaching program, designed to lead participants out of the overwhelm and place them on the road to thriving. Ponderings from the Perch listeners - this episode contains a special $500 course discount using the code: BIRD. Check out the whole episode to learn more and take part in the Daily Pause!If you want to hear more of what Rachael has to say, connect with her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.&nbs

LBM: Are you interested in learning a unique way to boost social engagement by using programmable chatbots, which can help you circumnavigate algorithms that might otherwise suppress your awesome links? Comment “yes” or “no” below.YOU: “Yes.” ...typing LBM: So glad that you want to know more about chatbots! ...typing LBM: Check out this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, where Priscilla McKinney and Ashley Le Blanc talk all about the different ways you can use chatbots to deliver messages, offer sweet deals, and share pertinent information to your obviously interested customers!...typing LBM: Do you like winning cool stuff? YOU: "Yes." ...typing LBM: Check out our Ultimate Content Marketing Giveaway. Whether you're a content marketing master, a total greenhorn, or somewhere between -  you need to enter!From helpful resources to unique swag, this package has everything you need to take your marketing strategy to the next level. Click here to learn more! YOU: I love this podcast so much, I'm going to su

Entrepreneurship is a burning thing. And it makes a fiery ring. Seriously though, in this episode Priscilla talks with John Lee Dumas (or JLD) about two of her favorite things: entrepreneurship and podcasting. JLD is host of the award-winning Entrepreneurs on Fire - a daily podcast that features interviews with successful entrepreneurs as well as tips and creative solutions from the host. He and Priscilla discussed FireNation, his listener network, and the importance of listening to the audience. They also talk about SMART goals, brand-building, and mastering productivity during their jam-packed (fire-filled!) interview. Check out all 2,000+ episodes of Entrepreneurs on Fire, and for those who are interested in learning more about how podcasting works, JLD has assembled a Free Podcast Course to help show the way. Hey! Are you a content marketing master, a total greenhorn, or somewhere between? Regardless of your answer, you NEED to enter our ULTIMATE CONTENT MARKETING GIVEAWAY! From helpful resources to uniqu

Travel. Exotic food. Cultural research. Obscure musical instruments. The areas of overlapping interest in a Venn diagram between Priscilla and Andrew Kuiler, founder and CEO of The Silk Initiative are so abundant that we might actually need a larger diagram. In this episode, Priscilla and Andrew discuss how The Silk Initiative - brand insight, strategy and innovation firm - uses their specialized knowledge and custom research to provide detailed consulting for the international food and beverage industry.Along the way, they also talk about travel, their favorite snack foods, and Andrew's favorite food cities - those include Myanmar, Israel, Melbourne, Toronto and New York City. Most importantly, they discuss their love of unconventional musical instruments - Priscilla's autoharp may not be quite as loud as Andrew's bagpipes, but the collective musical clout has effectively raised the bar for all future podcast guests. Andrew's fave podcast:   Masters of Scale podcast - Reid HoffmanAndrew's fave book

You’d have to be pretty stone cold not to miss Austin as soon as you got to the city limits. That’s how Priscilla, Ashley and Emma felt when IIeX North America was over. Hosted by GreenBook, IIeX is all about new ideas, new approaches and new connections in market research and insights. In addition to co-chairing the event with our pal Will Leach, teaching a master class, and doing her part to Keep Austin Weird, Priscilla and the Little Bird crew attended amazing lectures, hit the pavement for Bird on the Street podcast interviews, and critically evaluated every scenario so that they could bestow upon four lone stars the (completely fictional) Little Bird Awards. Those sessions herein are compiled for your listening pleasure. Tune in to hear from IIeX staff, attendees and presenters. Including:Colleen Kennedy - Director of Marketing at GreenBookSasha McCune - Director at Conifer ResearchTim Lawton - Co-founder at SightX Jackie Anderson - Growth Strategist at ScaleHouseMark Macellaio - Vice President of Sales

One entrepreneur started a marketing company, and loves wigs. The other started a wig company, and loves marketing. Put them together, and what do you get? This episode of Ponderings from the Perch! Listen in as Priscilla chats with Carliz Sotelo Moore, founder of wigs.com - the largest online hair and wig retailer in the world!They discuss a wide array of topics including:• Employee buy-in, and the importance of making a positive impact• Growth of the non-need based wig industry• The important role that content plays in creating value for customers • How power of invested influencers who love to share• How to facilitate the best feedback from customers, and use it to shape the futureThey also talk about the magical powers of wigs, meeting Raquel Welch, and making awesome videos. Check out the whole episode, and be sure to follow wigs.com on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!Like what you hear? Let us know! Subscribe, rate and review Ponderings from the Perch on iTunes. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi

Q: What’s the one thing that Andy Crestodina wants you to get better at? A: Specificity!Here’s what you need to know about Andy: He’s the co-founder and CMO of Orbit Media, Chicago-based web design and development firm, he’s the author of Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing, and he’s the founder of Content Jam, Chicago’s largest marketing conference. Oh, and he was named a Top 10 Online Marketing Expert by Forbes Magazine!In this episode, Andy and Priscilla talk about the multifaceted nature of content marketing, including SEO and influencer marketing - taking an in-depth look at several tactics businesses can use to improve their ranking and levels of engagement. They also talk about the nuts and bolts of content creation, including books, blogs, and podcasts, wherein Andy shares a brilliant checklist for improving headlines. Later, Colton Harrington goes full-on Reading Rainbow, offering his thoughts on Andy’s book, Content Chemistry (take a look, it’s in a book!). Also, keep y

Anddddd we’re back! After 3 Quirk’s events, Momma Bird, Priscilla McKinney is in the podcast booth and recapping her time at the most recent Quirk’s Event in Chicago. In this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, Priscilla and Content Marketing Manager, Ashley Le Blanc, discuss their favorite parts of the conference, including: networking events, the MR Jam Band and eating french fries in bed after a long day.Per usual, the two give out a few awards for their favorite giveaway item, best shoes and the coveted, Quirk’s Spirit Award. The two attended the conference well-prepared with recorder in hand. Listen in as Priscilla and Ashley interview attendees, staff and presenters of Quirk’s Chicago 2019. Guests include: Katie Kulp - Quirk's MediaZoe Dowling - Focus Vision Sanjay Vrudhula - Recon MRTina Gaffney - RealeyesMichael Kissen - Fuel CycleRiley Maynard - DapresyKevin Mahler - Schmidt Market ResearchJustin Blomgren - 20|20 ResearchJim Jacobs - Focus InsiteJill Bishop - Multilingual Connections

Blasting out of the gate with a Baader-Meinhof phenom moment, Priscilla and Jamin Brazil hit the ground running in this episode of Ponderings from the Perch. Jamin, CEO of Happy Market Research podcast discusses his early love of market research methodology that led him to found Decipher, a market research software company, eventually selling the product to and becoming CEO of FocusVision. Brazil currently wears many hats, but the art of podcasting is top among his discussion points. Priscilla and Jamin talk about the craft of storytelling, the singularity of passive consumption, and their upcoming presentations at IIeX Austin:Jamin’s Presentation: 3 Ways You Can Leverage The Power of PodcastsPriscilla’s Masterclass: Effective Content Strategies for Being Heard Above the NoiseOther topics of conversation included upcoming tech, incremental improvement, and why it’s okay to stop worrying about older, potentially embarrassing podcast episodes and embrace them as artifacts of progress. Badass recommendations fro

Despite the fact that LinkedIn predates almost all popular social networking sites (2003!!), there are still a lot of relatively savvy internet users who have no idea what the social business site is all about. Until now. Listen in as Priscilla and Ashley discuss common misconceptions, what the site is and is not designed for, and how to utilize the platform to facilitate authentic connections. Priscilla - an undeniable LinkedIn whiz - gives special shoutouts to former podcast guest Tim Hughes for the innovative thoughts put forward in his book Social Selling, and to Adam Gray for the groundbreaking book Brilliant Social Media Business Strategy. From there, Priscilla and Ashley talk shop with five actionable LinkedIn tips including best practices for endorsements, introductions, and articles. Check out the whole episode and stop telling people that LinkedIn is the social site of the jobless. Hurtful! Want to hear more shows like this? Let us know by subscribing, rating and reviewing Ponderings from the Perch

“It can be easy to forget the motivation that ultimately all we’re here to do is to help people. And we help people by connecting supply and demand, as new opportunities emerge. So we work hard to fight against that. To remind everybody, every day: This is what we’re here to do. We’re here to help folks.”  It’s impossible to overstate the impact that GreenBook Executive Director Leonard “Lenny” Murphy has had on the world of market research. In this episode, Priscilla talks to Lenny about some of the experiences that shaped his path, and the most exciting new developments in GreenBook and IIeX. One of those developments is the upcoming IIeX from April 23-25, which will be held in Austin for the first time ever. Leonard and Priscilla talk about what prompted the move, and hatch a plan to “Keep Austin Weird” during the event which is co-chaired by Priscilla and Will Leach. Leonard discusses the vital role that content plays for GreenBook, how the agency shifted from a directory to a content creator, and ev

Why is it important to stay on brand in all elements of design? What’s the most challenging part of designing specifically for content marketing? Will Little Bird invest in a memes department in 2019?It was Priscilla's birthday, and Kahlief and Leighton said, "G'ahead and have a great trip... we'll handle the podcast for you!" Then they did it. In this episode, The Design Dojo - a.k.a. two of Little Bird's lead graphic designers - discuss the importance of graphic design for inbound marketing. Video, branding strategy, the GIF debate, and how the ideal buyer persona impacts the design process are all part of this short, feature-packed episode. A great listen for both marketers and designers alike! Don't forget to enter the Badass Women Giveaway before the month of March is over. Click here to enter! Like what you hear? Let us know! Subscribe, rate and review Ponderings from the Perch on iTunes.P.S. Check out some of our FREE resources on developing and utilizing your buyer personas. As Leighton explains, thes