Can market research actually drive your thought leadership strategy? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Senior Vice President of Marketing Research at Method Communications, Svetlana Gershman, about how market research and PR must work together to create authentic thought leadership. They explore why these disciplines historically operated in silos and how the rise of large language models (LLMs) is forcing communication teams to unify around consistent narratives that build expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. McKinney and Gershman discuss how thought leadership research differs fundamentally from internal business research. While both require methodological rigor and straightforward storytelling, thought leadership research must find the intersection between what's measurable and what's newsworthy. "Your research has to be timely with what's going on," Gershman explains. "Timely facts, cultural facts, taking advantage of that and understanding what that means for your industry, for your context, for an employer, is important. It's fun, it's timely, it will make the news, but it's also valuable." Gershman explains the "dream headlines" approach her team uses, where they draft potential headlines before designing the survey to ensure the research can generate media pickup while maintaining data integrity. Their conversation reveals how LLMs are reshaping the relationship between customer insights and b2b content marketing. Search engines now act as gatekeepers in B2B decision-making, which means brands must maintain narrative consistency across all channels. Gershman shares how her team at Method Communications bridges the gap between research and PR by ensuring that customer insights inform thought leadership strategy while meeting the standards journalists expect from authoritative sources. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book:  Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

What if your best LinkedIn content is hiding in conversations you're already having? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses a systematic approach to creating high-quality LinkedIn content without adding another full-time job to your plate. She reveals how to capture moments of unconscious competence—when you're speaking from deep expertise during client pitches, presentations, or team meetings—and transform those insights into a consistent content library. She explains that the most powerful content doesn't come from staring at a blank page at 7 a.m. with coffee in hand. It comes from recording those golden moments when you're in flow, solving real problems, and articulating your unique value naturally. "Workflows [only] work when they fit YOUR workflow," McKinney explains. "Do not try to do something that is so foreign to you that you will not do it. Get inspired to understand how you can get disparate systems to work together and shorten your path to success." By building an automated workflow using tools like Zapier, ChatGPT, and Claude, you can capture transcripts, filter for viral-worthy topics, and create polished posts that actually sound like you. The episode walks through a six-step automation process: capturing transcripts from recordings, using Zapier to connect tools, filtering topics with ChatGPT, crafting spicy takes with Claude, creating project management cards, and scheduling polished posts. Priscilla emphasizes that perfection isn't the goal—adaptation is. Your tech stack and team structure will differ, but the principle remains: multiply the value of work you're already doing by being kind to your future self. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book:  Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

How do you transform abstract brand values into a consistent voice that cuts through the noise? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the three pillars of developing an authentic brand tone of voice. She breaks down how personality, perspective, and language work together to create communications that sound distinctly like your brand across every touchpoint, from formal proposals to casual social media interactions. McKinney explains that tone of voice begins with understanding your core values and how they translate into daily behavior. She walks through Little Bird Marketing's four core values (care deeply, finish strong, stay gold, and be true) and demonstrates how each value shapes not only what the company says but also how they show up in client relationships. The key is defining both what each value means and what it explicitly does not mean, creating clear guardrails for authentic communication. These values become the foundation for personality, the first pillar of tone of voice, which determines how you say things rather than just what you say. "Your tone should be flexible in different contexts," McKinney explains. "I can go into a formal meeting, and I can go to a fun, happy hour. I'm still Priscilla, right? But it shouldn't be so unrecognizable that there's no flow." The second pillar, perspective, requires brands to take clear stands on industry issues and articulate their beliefs, even if it's unpopular. McKinney shares how Little Bird Marketing built their business around the conviction that every brand deserves a clear and effective marketing plan with tangible deliverables, a direct challenge to the industry norm of vague creative promises. The third pillar, language, involves making concrete decisions about vocabulary, sentence structure, and level of formality. McKinney provides a practical exercise that helps brands identify five non-negotiable tone descriptors. As with many elements of marketing, Priscilla emphasizes that the real challenge isn't creating the document, but implementing it consistently across every communication touchpoint. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Is your concept testing budget disappearing without driving better decisions? Most insights teams waste 30 to 40 percent of their research spend on preventable leaks. Socratic Technologies has created a free audit to help you identify what leak is costing you the most—and exactly how to fix it.  Click here to download the audit today and start making concept testing that drives growth. Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Years of experience in healthcare insights is worth its weight in gold. On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and President of the Research & Planning Group, Sean Jordan, about the critical challenges facing marketing research today and the specific experience of working mostly in healthcare. They explore how healthcare organizations lag behind other industries in adopting marketing best practices, why emergency departments create paradoxical brand experiences, and how data quality issues threaten the reliability of modern research methodologies. Jordan also shares about his new podcast, ⁠The Marketing Gateway⁠. Together, they have a few thoughts on the growing crisis in research data quality, particularly the overuse of research panelists who may not provide authentic responses. They discuss the rise of VPNs, spoofing technologies, and how generative AI has created an arms race between researchers trying to verify respondent authenticity and fraudsters finding new ways to game the system. "We're at the point where 30 to 40% of panel respondents can be fraudulent. And that's not a statistic that I made up," Jordan explains. "That's what the people who sell these panels will tell you." But after discussing the insights industry at large, they go deeper, where Jordan explains his work with organ procurement organizations, where the research stakes couldn't be higher. With hundreds of thousands of people waiting for transplantable organs, these federally designated nonprofits face complex challenges around donor family consent, ethical practices, and maintaining public trust. He highlights another interesting conundrum in healthcare with the revelation that healthcare systems often subcontract their emergency departments to physician groups, creating a disconnect in which patients report terrible emergency experiences but excellent hospital care once admitted. This paradox undermines hospital brand equity and underscores why organizations need to reclaim control of their front-door experience.These two issues alone show why it is important to have deep experience in the healthcare vertical in order to come alongside companies and help them make better decisions - based on great data.  Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

What if the reason you struggle with thought leadership isn't a lack of ideas, but writing in a voice that isn't yours? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the four distinct types of thought leaders and how identifying your natural style can unlock your content creation potential. She breaks down the visionary, revolutionary, radical, and inspirational approaches to thought leadership, explaining how each adds unique value to your audience and brand positioning. She explains that most people mistakenly believe thought leadership requires predicting industry trends or being visionaries like Richard Branson and Elon Musk. "When I hear these kinds of comments from people saying, ‘I know I have something to say and they can say it well,’” McKinney explains. “I get the sneaking suspicion that they're not writing in their natural style and that's what's causing blocks and problems." This misconception causes talented professionals to feel blocked when creating content because they're forcing themselves into an unnatural writing style. Understanding whether you naturally inspire like Mother Teresa, revolutionize like Malcolm Gladwell, radicalize like Brené Brown, or envision like Branson allows you to write authentically and consistently.  Once you understand your natural thought-leadership style, McKinney provides a roadmap to amplify that voice across multiple channels. She tackles the common mistake of one-and-done content promotion, explaining why quality thought leadership deserves strategic resharing with different hooks and angles throughout the year. From her Rule of 15 for balancing social media self-promotion with value-driven content, to understanding how topic clusters now outperform keyword stuffing for SEO, McKinney connects authentic voice with tactical execution that gets your expertise heard above the noise. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Can research partnerships move beyond the vendor-client dynamic to become valid strategic extensions of your team? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest Paul Mastrianna, Vice President of Business Development at Socratic Technologies, about building research partnerships that prioritize client needs over product pitching. They explore how understanding a client's business objectives, capability gaps, and internal strengths transforms research from a transactional service into a strategic partnership that delivers long-term value. They discuss how successful research partnerships require moving beyond transactional vendor relationships to become valid extensions of client teams. Mastrianna emphasizes understanding what clients need help with versus what they can handle themselves, conducting capability audits that identify gaps rather than pushing unnecessary services. "I hate hearing 'these are [just] our vendors' from clients," Mastrianna explains. "I always look at it as a partnership. We're here to help each other grow and learn." This consultative approach builds trust and creates what Mastrianna calls "stretch before you run" moments, where taking time upfront to understand questionnaire logic, sampling strategies, and reporting needs prevents rushed mistakes while enabling faster turnaround when speed matters. The conversation reveals how institutional memory loss costs research teams real money and time. When team members leave, their knowledge often disappears into shared folders and scattered files. Mastrianna describes how centralized dashboards solve this problem by consolidating all concept testing results in a single, accessible location, enabling teams to compare performance across concepts, identify patterns, and onboard new team members without starting from scratch. This infrastructure transforms one-off research tactics into sustainable strategic programs that deliver compounding value over time. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Can synthetic data truly replace the messy, uncomfortable truths that real humans reveal about your brand? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Senior Manager of Brand Insights at Ricard Pernod, Kira Greenberg, about the critical balance between innovative research methodologies and traditional human-centered approaches. They explore why customer insights derived from actual human experiences remain irreplaceable, even as AI and synthetic data promise faster, cleaner answers to business questions. They discuss how the best innovations emerge from contradictions and tensions in consumer behavior rather than sanitized data. Greenberg explains that while quick research methods have their place, deeper qualitative approaches often prevent companies from needing to revisit the same questions repeatedly. The conversation reveals how insight professionals must sit in the messiness of human behavior and translate it for executives who face pressure to move at the speed of business. "Humans are messy," Greenberg explains. "But that's where the best [innovations] live. In contradictions, in tensions, in things that we're trying to solve for. Everything else is boring." The discussion also covers the pendulum swing of research trends, from qualitative at scale to AI-driven insights, and why steadiness matters more than chasing every shiny new methodology. Greenberg emphasizes that consumers deserve more credit than they typically receive, particularly when it comes to articulating what they absolutely don't want. The role of insights professionals, she argues, is to dig deeper with sufficient skepticism to identify gaps in consumer statements and act on those discoveries. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection. Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage. Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it. Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

*This episode of Ponderings from the Perch is brought to you by Patient Sight, an agile primary research service providing timely medical insights of interest to your organization.* Can premium brands thrive when consumers tighten their budgets and economic uncertainty looms? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Global Director of Premiumization Insights & Foresight at AB InBev Sebastian Schuliaquer about how premium brands navigate economic uncertainty and shifting consumer behaviors. They explore why established brands with proven quality maintain consumer loyalty during tough times, how cultural relevance shapes brand selection, and why smart consumption is replacing impulsive spending across demographics. They discuss how consumer insights evolve through consistent methodologies that honor historical data while embracing new technologies. Schuliaquer explains that premium brands succeed by offering security and proven value when consumers become more deliberate about their purchases. The conversation reveals how younger generations analyze every purchase decision, from focus groups revealing preference patterns to research panels tracking consumption shifts, making transparency and authenticity non-negotiable brand attributes. "Consumers are not just following the trend. They are analyzing. They want to do the smart thing. They want to maximize," Schuliaquer explains. "What is happening now is that producing your money, it's so hard that you're not going to waste it." The conversation also explores how emerging trends like GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumption patterns, pushing brands to focus on quality over quantity. Schuliaquer emphasizes that when consumers become more conscious about what they consume and how often they indulge, premium brands with clear cultural relevance and proven differentiation become the safe choice. The discussion highlights why brands must find cultural forces that connect rather than divide people, especially as values become increasingly compartmentalized across consumer segments. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

Are you spending six figures on conferences and walking away with nothing but branded tote bags? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses how to transform conference attendance from expensive guesswork into predictable revenue generation. McKinney breaks down a three-phase framework that includes three weeks of pre-conference planning, active participation during the event, and three weeks of disciplined follow-up to maximize return on investment. She explains that conferences grow brand trust by 93%, brand recognition by 92%, and directly help 92% of attendees acquire new clients, but only when treated as a lead-generation system rather than just a networking event. She outlines specific tactics for pre-conference research and outreach, strategic booth design, active participation strategies including real-time social media integration, and the critical importance of immediate follow-up within 48 hours of the event ending. "You need a real kickoff meeting, and I mean official. It needs to be on the books, and people need to attend," McKinney explains. "It needs to be sales and marketing teams and everybody who is going." McKinney emphasizes the importance of CRM integration and tracking, sharing how one speaking engagement at Insights Marketing Day in 2017 generated $2.8 million in revenue for Little Bird Marketing over the years because they tracked every connection. She stresses that without proper systems for measuring conference ROI through metrics like leads converted, revenue generated, and meeting quality, companies are simply guessing—and guessing is expensive. The episode concludes with an actionable plan for scheduling kickoff meetings, conducting thorough research on speakers and sponsors, and planning follow-up systems before ever walking into the convention center. If you want to connect with the professionals McKinney references in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Jill Kushner-Bishop, PhD, Carlos Hevia, Anne Brown, Belinda Brown, and Meredith Falvo. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection. Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage. Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

*This episode of Ponderings from the Perch is brought to you by Patient Sight, an agile primary research service providing timely medical insights of interest to your organization.* The strongest client relationships are built by those who ask the best questions. On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and President of Burke Consulting, Tara Marotti, about the critical importance of asking strategic questions that challenge clients to think beyond their initial requests. They explore how Burke Consulting, the full-service insights and innovation firm, approaches custom research by first understanding what data clients already possess and whether stakeholders are aligned before designing new studies that generate meaningful market research insights. They discuss how successful client relationships develop through vulnerability and collaboration, where both parties admit when they don't know something and work together to find solutions that transform data into actionable customer insights. Marotti explains that Burke positions itself as the research partner clients turn to for complex, gnarly problems that don't have ready-made solutions, requiring custom approaches that meet clients exactly where they are in their decision-making process. "Nine times out of ten, whether it's an employee or client or anybody, people know what they need to do, but they need somebody to spar with to give them the confidence to say, okay, I think I know what I need to do," Marotti explains. "And sometimes that's about getting more information in the business, but sometimes it's just about accessing what you already know." The conversation reveals how Burke Consulting has maintained its irreplaceable position through decades of industry disruption by leaning into whatever direction their clients are headed, whether that involves DIY solutions or new AI tools. Marotti emphasizes that their role often involves helping clients navigate organizational culture challenges and ensuring stakeholder buy-in for research initiatives, recognizing that great data from research panels means nothing without proper organizational support for implementation. Sponsors: Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Can pharmaceutical companies truly understand their customers without hearing directly from the patients who use their products? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and PatientSight President, Dave Muggler, about the critical importance of patient-centered research in the healthcare industry. They explore how rare disease patients face complex diagnostic journeys averaging four to five years from initial symptoms to diagnosis, and how pharmaceutical companies are adapting their research approaches to capture these authentic patient experiences through agile methodologies. Patients today are more informed and collaborative with their healthcare providers than ever before, with many actively researching their conditions and advocating for specific treatments. PatientSight's subscription-based model allows pharmaceutical companies to quickly pivot their research strategies based on customer insights from initial findings, rather than following rigid project timelines that may miss crucial patient perspectives gained through specialized research panels. This shift reflects a fundamental change in the healthcare landscape where traditional power dynamics are evolving. "Patients are more informed than ever because not only do you have Google search now, you have AI tools to work with. Information is at people's fingertips, literally," Dave explains. "And the other thing is that patients no longer put their physician on a pedestal. I mean, not that they disrespect them, but they view the relationship with their physician as more of a collaboration." The conversation reveals how AI technology is transforming patient research through capabilities like AI-generated patient persona videos that combine survey data from multiple patients into compelling narratives for pharmaceutical teams. Muggler shares how these tools help companies develop deeper empathy for patient experiences while maintaining the ability to customize presentations for different audiences within their organizations, from senior leadership to sales teams. Sponsors: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

What happens when you walk into a company with no insights function, where everyone is conducting their own research? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Head of Consumer Insights at StarKist, Raina Rusnak, about building an insights function from the ground up. They discuss how she transformed a fragmented research environment into a strategic advantage by focusing on customer insights and establishing proper survey design standards that serve multiple internal stakeholders. Rusnak got to work when she discovered teams were about to launch a 30-minute survey. A 30-minute survey! Instead, she applied her insights expertise and was able to help everyone shift gears, right size the survey and still get everyone the insights they needed. She got some quick wins by conducting low-budget DIY research to establish credibility quickly. Rusnak revealed how she worked hard to get market research insights efforts aligned with executive-level discussions by taking the initiative to understand business needs and deliver strategic recommendations. "I spent time being curious and asking people what their pain points were," Rusnak explains. "I would ask, ‘If I could wave a magic wand and give you an insight right now, what would that be?’" The discussion also covers Rusnak's experience during 18 months of unemployment right before she landed this job at StarKist, which led her to write "Sampling Life: 100 Ways to Find Joy in Unemployment." She shares how being time-rich during unemployment allowed her to engage her mind, body, and connections while staying present and maintaining resilience through the job search process. She uses this book to encourage others now in that place and promotes the great job of networking and connection available through the Insights Career Network.  Sponsors: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

Are you seeing website traffic drops across your content? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses the widespread website traffic declines affecting businesses across industries. She explains how Google algorithm updates and AI search integration have fundamentally changed how people consume content online, with AI-generated summaries now providing answers directly in search results, eliminating the need for clicks to source websites. She explains that businesses are experiencing traffic drops in two ways: many are seeing significant ranking declines for secondary keywords, while others maintain strong positions for primary terms but still lose 30-60% of their website traffic. McKinney breaks down how AI integration means people get information through bullet points, summaries, and step-by-step instructions right in search results. She acknowledges the challenge that AI faces in replicating unique, human-centered content, such as firsthand business experience, proprietary data, contrarian perspectives, and behind-the-scenes industry insights. "No amount of technical optimization beats genuine clarity and usefulness," McKinney explains. "If your content helps someone solve a real problem, understand a complex concept, or help them make a better decision in the moment, that value does not disappear because of algorithmic changes." McKinney offers practical strategies for working alongside AI changes, including tracking AI citations through tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush that show when Google's AI overviews reference your content as authoritative sources. She addresses the reality that AI has a hard time replicating unique, human-centered content like firsthand business experience, proprietary data, contrarian perspectives, and behind-the-scenes industry insights. She emphasizes creating content that provides value even when rankings decline or AI systems can summarize basic information, focusing on content marketing strategy that leverages what makes human expertise irreplaceable in an AI-dominated search landscape. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

What happens when the biggest obstacles to innovation aren't technical, but human? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest, founder and president of Sylver Consulting, Brianna Sylver, about transforming turbulence into trust through emotional leadership. They explore how insights leaders can navigate the inevitable resistance, doubt, and complexity that emerge when driving meaningful change within organizations. Sylver is the author of "Leading Through Freefall: How Innovators Turn Turbulence into Trust," a practical guide for leaders navigating uncertainty, change, and team dynamics in high-stakes environments.  They discuss how people experiencing change go through a grief curve that starts with resistance and moves through anger, depression, and bargaining before reaching acceptance. The more complex the challenge and the greater the potential impact, the more intense these emotional peaks and valleys become. Sylver explains that successful leaders must learn to recognize these emotions as signals rather than obstacles, using them as opportunities to lean in with more profound empathy and constructive dialogue rather than turning away or assigning blame. "It's our job to lead the emotional energy of ourselves," Sylver explains. "Our teams and our stakeholders." The conversation also addresses the crucial transition from delivering great insights to becoming a steward of implementation, emphasizing that engagement along the journey doesn't equal commitment to outcomes. Leaders must help stakeholders understand how new insights fit into existing roadmaps, support the translation of insights into actionable steps through a comprehensive growth strategy framework, and sometimes accept that their role involves planting seeds that may germinate on different timelines than initially anticipated. You can read a chapter of her book for free by clicking here. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book:  Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

Is your social media marketing strategy failing because you're trying to control something that was never designed to be controlled? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney discusses why most B2B social media strategies fail and how to build one that actually works. She explains that the problem isn't posting at the wrong time or using the wrong hashtags—it's trying to control random elements while ignoring the strategic elements you can actually manage. McKinney compares social media marketing to Dungeons & Dragons for businesspeople, where you create your brand character, venture into different platforms, and deal with algorithm changes that feel like random dice rolls. She explains how companies waste time chasing algorithm hacks and viral content instead of focusing on evident expertise, understanding platform mechanics, and building genuine relationships. Her Rule of 15 provides a systematic approach: for every 15 posts, 10 should offer interesting industry insights, four should provide overtly helpful problem-solving content, and one can focus on a direct pitch. "The difference between reach and influence is everything," McKinney explains. "Reach is how many people see your content [at] once. Influence is being known and remembered for something useful by the right people." Getting this cadence right has a big effect on how people perceive your willingness to help them, which is a big part of building relationships that matter.  She also discusses how employee advocacy amplifies brand messaging by 561% when done authentically, why niche beats are often more effective, and how platforms like LinkedIn reward dwell time and meaningful conversations rather than traffic-driving links. McKinney emphasizes that success comes from building strategies so strong and clear that people seek you out regardless of platform changes, focusing on influence over reach and genuine expertise over viral moments. If you’re ready to quit chasing the algorithm and get social influence right, you’ll want to learn more about her Social Influence Course.  Sponsors: Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection. Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage. Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it. Ever feel like your company is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth.

What if the biggest factor driving your business decisions isn't logic, but emotions? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and Psyclone CEO Ryan Baum about combining psychological science with data analytics to decode the emotional DNA of consumer and voter behavior. They explore how even seemingly rational B2B purchasing decisions are driven by deep emotional patterns, and why understanding the "big three" of thinking, feeling, and behaving is essential for effective marketing strategy. McKinney and Baum discuss how emotions often serve as early warning signals before traditional KPIs show changes, providing brands with crucial forecasting capabilities in volatile markets. He explains that neuroscientific research proves we cannot make decisions without emotion, even in complex B2B environments where logic seems to dominate. Unlike traditional market research insights that focus on surface-level responses, his approach recognizes that while rational thinking plays a role in decision-making, emotions ultimately drive behavior. "We are emotional creatures," Baum explains. "But we do think rationally as well." Baum also shares insights from Psyclone's 2024 Presidential post-election study that uncovered how identity alignment often trumps (no pun intended) issue-based considerations in political decisions. This same psychological pattern extends directly into consumer brand loyalty and purchasing patterns, helping explain why cross-channel attribution becomes challenging when emotions drive behavior across multiple touchpoints. This deeper understanding of consumer psychology reveals why traditional brand tracking often misses the full story by focusing on surface-level metrics rather than the underlying psychological drivers that predict future behavior. Sponsors: Is your company sitting on a goldmine of opportunities, but they keep slipping away? Most companies already have their next big win hiding in their database. Little Bird Marketing's Revenue Sprint is a proven system that works backward from your revenue goals to create a focused plan for building a sales pipeline and predictable growth. No massive budget required—just strategic execution that delivers measurable results. Ready to turn missed opportunities into new wins? Click here and build a predictable pipeline for sustainable growth. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance.

*This episode is brought to you by Dynata, the world's preeminent provider of market data services and first-party permission-based data.* On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney continues her Conference Flyover of Quirks New York 2025. She conducts interviews with 12 industry leaders, giving you their thoughts on everything from agentic AI workflow automation and post-launch product optimization to fragile consumer sentiment and the critical importance of authentic, inclusive advertising. These conversations reveal how the industry is navigating unprecedented consumer volatility while building more efficient research processes that maintain human empathy and cultural authenticity. Leaders from companies like Inca, Nailbiter, and Smith-Hanley Associates share how they're building solutions that automate tedious research tasks while preserving strategic thinking, using post-launch measurement to optimize products already on shelf, and helping brands navigate increasingly fragile consumer sentiment. (Wow, that presentation from Borderless Access was a good one!) AI-powered workflow tools are connecting disparate research platforms so professionals can focus on consultation rather than data management, while innovative measurement approaches are catching product failures before they become costly disasters. "When we think about how we're coming in, we're not trying to replace the workflow,” Raj Manocha from Gydence Group explains. “We're trying to make it more efficient or enhance it.” The conversations also reveal how brands must adapt to consumers who have become increasingly empowered to punish companies for perceived missteps. Research leaders emphasize the need for hyper-personalized understanding of individual consumers rather than broad demographic targeting, while maintaining authentic representation in advertising that builds trust rather than appearing performative. These insights reflect an industry evolution toward more sophisticated consumer profiling and real-time sentiment monitoring, helping brands weather the storms of rapidly shifting public opinion while building genuine connections with their audiences. If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Raj Manocha, Lindsey Bartlett, Kathy Cheng, David Dick, Kelsey Whitehead, Kira Greenberg, Mary Kelly, Nicole Mitchell, Maureen Evans, Nicole Ipsen, Jocelyn Simon, and Robert Pierson. Sponsor: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

*This episode is brought to you by Multilingual Connections, providing unparalleled translation, transcription, transcreation, and localization services to organizations worldwide.* What happens when market researchers need insights yesterday but can't sacrifice quality or authenticity? They meet on the regular at events around the world to make meaningful industry connections and have real conversations!  On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney takes you on her Conference Flyover of Quirks New York 2025. She conducts interviews with 14 industry leaders, giving you their thoughts on everything from AI-powered translation and moderation to B2B expert panels and the persistent say-do gap in consumer behavior. These conversations reveal how the industry is adapting to demands for faster insights while maintaining focus on data quality, cultural authenticity, and human-centered research approaches. It’s just what happens when we get together and talk shop!  The discussions highlight a significant shift in how research professionals approach AI integration, with most emphasizing hybrid models that combine artificial intelligence with human expertise rather than full automation. Leaders from companies like Multilingual Connections, SightX, and Luth Research share how they're building solutions that speed up research processes while preserving the nuanced understanding that only human researchers can provide. Translation experts stress that AI can handle basic language conversion but cultural adaptation requires human oversight, while moderation platforms are using AI to manage scalable conversations so human moderators can focus on complex B2B and healthcare audiences. "They want, you know, on the go, quick, and we're really, our role is to be their partner rather than be a researcher within the company, right?" Ava Arora from DirecTV explains. If you attended Quirks NY, this will extend the value of your ticket. If you didn’t make it, this will give you a “bird’s eye view” of what happened, and help build your network without leaving your desk! The conversations also reveal creative approaches to the speed versus quality challenge that defines modern market research. Some companies have built platforms that deliver qualitative insights in under 24 hours without sacrificing depth, while others are bridging the persistent say-do gap by combining real-time digital behavior tracking with follow-up surveys to the same respondents. These innovations reflect a broader industry shift toward becoming strategic partners with stakeholders rather than just data providers, requiring researchers to deliver faster, more actionable insights while maintaining the rigor that makes research valuable. If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, their LinkedIn profiles are linked below. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Xavier Vaissiere, Tim Lawton, Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD, Jeff Whiteside and Brandon Richard, Janeen Hazel, Drew Jones, Diana Lim, Danny Farkas, Daniel Khomenko, Cliff Kane, Carlos Hevia, Ava Arora, and Andrew Kawalek. Sponsor: Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today!

What happens when psychology meets the courtroom and artificial intelligence starts reshaping how we select juries? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney and CRO Stephanie Douglass give you their Conference Flyover from the American Society of Trial Consultants' 44th Annual Conference in New Orleans. They share insights gathered from interviews with trial consultants, psychology students, legal professionals, and industry veterans who are navigating the intersection of behavioral science and legal strategy. The conversations reveal how trial consulting has become essential for cases involving wrongful convictions, with some professionals advocating for jury consultants to be standard practice rather than a luxury. Conference attendees discuss the meticulous research that goes into understanding potential jurors, the growing importance of social media management during high-profile trials, and how artificial intelligence is beginning to transform jury selection processes. The field attracts professionals from diverse backgrounds, from forensic psychology graduates to seasoned attorneys, all working to bridge the gap between human behavior and legal outcomes. "I see AI as having significant implications in the future for our industry," Emerson manager Patty Kuehn explains. "I think being on the cutting edge of learning how to use it as a tool is critically important." The conference addresses pressing challenges facing the industry, including the need for more comprehensive jury selection processes, the role of technology in modern trials, and the importance of maintaining neutrality while applying psychological principles to legal proceedings. Attendees emphasize that trial consulting isn't about winning or losing, but about ensuring fair representation and understanding human decision-making in high-stakes situations. The field continues to evolve as professionals explore new methodologies for identifying bias, understanding jury dynamics, and applying cutting-edge research to real-world legal scenarios. If you want to connect with the professionals featured in this episode, included below are their LinkedIn profiles. If you do decide to connect, let them know Little Bird Marketing sent you their way: Samantha Weiner, Kyle Leffler, John Si, Patrick Ryan, Jacob Rolls, Patty Kuehn, Colin Piazza, Claudia Varner, Anthony Legion, Molly Outland, and Ally Robertson. Sponsors: Tired of outdated survey methods while AI transforms the industry? The 2025 Sample Landscape Report from EMI Research reveals which synthetic respondents match real humans, the risks of high-frequency survey takers, and how AI is revolutionizing data collection. Industry leaders trust our insights year after year. This isn't just another report - it's your competitive advantage. Click here to download your free copy today. Your research success depends on it. Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started.

Why do brilliant marketing strategies with massive budgets still fail spectacularly? On this episode of Ponderings from the Perch, the Little Bird Marketing podcast, host and CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CEO Alexander Millet about the critical disconnect between what customers say they want and what they want. They explore how Brandtrust uses applied social and behavioral sciences to uncover the more profound human truths that drive real decision-making.  Traditional market research often captures what people say they want versus what they do. A perfect example of this comes from Netflix, which  promoted Schindler's List to customers as it was reported as people’s favorite. Basing this decision solely on self-reported information, they failed to see what the data was saying– that these customers actually more frequently watched Dude, Where's My Car. When asked, customers answered what they thought was the most respectable answer, and probably even believed they had watched Schindler’s List more often. But the truth was found not in the self-reported actions, but the actual data. Millet explains that this discrepancy reveals the more profound human truth about self-perception, self-reporting and non-conscious decision-making. With this example in mind, it follows that brands should be careful what data is used as a base for marketing decisions. Their conversation reveals how brands can achieve better marketing effectiveness measurement by understanding the emotional and non-conscious drivers behind customer choices rather than relying solely on self-reported preferences. "Business challenges are [the same as] human challenges," Millet explains. "What's not commodified is understanding and asking the better, more beautiful question." Millet emphasizes the importance of moving beyond surface-level market research insights to create strategies that deliver results, sharing how Brandtrust’s approach focuses on asking more beautiful questions that reveal authentic motivations, helping brands align their values with genuine human needs rather than assumed preferences. This methodology has helped clients pivot their strategies significantly, sometimes discovering that customers want consistency and reliability rather than endless variety and options. Sponsors: Looking for those hard-to-reach voices in healthcare research? When you need insights from patients with rare diseases or their caregivers, Rare Patient Voice delivers. Whether you're a healthcare system, policy maker, biotech company, or pharmaceutical firm seeking these critical perspectives, the team at Rare Patient Voice has you covered. They can source both specialized and general audiences for your market research needs. Click here to see how they can support your research, and when you connect with them, thank them for sponsoring this podcast. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got all the pieces, but are they really working together?  We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The result is, well, no results. Want to effectively evaluate your marketing efforts and gain clarity on your next strategic move?  Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz today and discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going – in just minutes.