Digging for Insights

Doing consumer insights work on the client-side is no small feat. So often research is completed by a research department but then sits on a shelf. Unearthing ways to make research come alive, and be implemented into the business is a craft. To address that need, James Wycherley, CEO of the Insight Management Academy, shares his experiences gained from 16 years of corporate insights teams. As a former insights director from Barclays Bank, he shares personal experiences and the collective...

In this episode, we hear from Jeanine Bassett, the global head of insights at General Mills. With 25 years of experience in market research, and 9 years leading the market research function at a Fortune 500 company, Jeanine shares case studies and career advice including: Case Study: HOw consumer insights turned around the billion-dollar Pillsbury brandCareer Story: Jeanine shares a candid perspective, especially for why she was chosen as VPSponsorship vs. Mentorship: How others can advo...

As marketing insights professionals, we often study consumer behavior. In this episode, we talk about how to design products and services that can nudge and shape customer behavior over time. In her new book, Amy Bucher (VP of Behavioral Design at Lirio) shares findings from her new book for how to design products (especially digital experiences like mobile apps) that can influence customer behavior. Book DiscountAmy has generously offered a 20% discount on her book to listeners o...

In this episode we talk with the head of marketing research at LinkedIn, Rogier Verhulst. Rogier shares his personal career journey and talks about his new book (with a generous 29% discount specifically for listeners of Digging for Insights).Career advice, including Rogier's story of taking a pay cut to pursue a different career pathRecruiting Tips, including what he looks for when hiring new people, something he calls the "Three C's"Introduction to his book, The Business of Marketing ...

How can we keep our research skills sharp throughout our careers? In this episode, we hear from Kathryn Korostoff, president of Research Rockstar, the leading independent provider of market research training. This episode will coverPros and cons of using part-time online learning (like Research Rockstar) courses vs. taking full-time graduate degree in research.How qual research has changed during the pandemicWhy sometimes text only online focus groups are better than using videoHow to b...

Insights professionals have learned a lot in the past year, especially with the impact of COVID. In this episode, I summarize observations from conversations with client-side researchers about current research trends that will continue well beyond the pandemic. Five Research Trends for 20211. Growth of Virtual Research (impact on qual, packaging and ideation work)2. More DIY and fast turn research solutions (going from 2 week to 2 day timelines)3. Fewer one-off projects, more ongoi...

With almost two decades of experience in insights (Pepsico & Electrolux), Brett Townsend shares the pitfalls of market research and how we can improve as professionals and as an industry. - How marketing research can be more relevant within companies- The importance of company politics for market researchers- Nuances of consumer targeting- How artificial intelligence amplifies consumer insightsYou can see the full notes at diggingforinsights.com

In this episode, we talk with Paco Underhill, bestelling author of Why We Buy, about his experiences as CEO of a global qualitative research firm, Envirosell. During this episode we cover a number of topics relevant for marketers and market researchers:1. What we can learn about customer-centricity from a Texas furniture store 2. The power of qualitative research (like web-alongs) even in the era of digital marketing3. The future of food, a sneak peek of Paco's new book launching n...

How did foundational consumer research transform Nature Valley snack bars into the billion dollar brand it is today? In this episode, we hear from Vivian Martin, a retired VP of Consumer Insights from General Mills who shares her personal stories from her 35-year career. In this episode we cover:1. How personalization and origin stories can grow brands2. Nature Valley's turnaround in the 1990s (inspired by consumer research)3. The danger of creating plans that are too detailed (secret of...

You don't need a huge research team to understand your customers and grow your business. In this episode, Stephen shares five analytics and insights tips that companies of all sizes can use to be smarter and more customer-centric. This is an edited version of an interview from the Student Built Start-ups podcast. The five tips covered include:The Five Analytics & Insights Hacks1. Customer Advisory Boards2. The power of benchmarks with data analysis3. White space maps for marketing positio...