We are trained to ask questions. Good journalists and marketers know to ask a variety of questions – both open-ended and specific questions, gather multiple relevant sources, conduct research ahead of time to inform the interview or focus group, and make subjects feel comfortable by being approachable, honest and vulnerable.  We are good listeners. Good journalists and marketers enter conversations with prepared questions, but are open and comfortable, allowing the interview to meander organically. If people want to talk, we know to listen. We don’t try to fill in the pauses in conversations with idle chatter, because we know that’s …

Either you run the day or the day runs you.   If I didn’t know those were the words of the late entrepreneur Jim Rohn, I’d put money on their being the musings of a busy PR pro.   After all, if anyone knows how to juggle, it’s PR agency professionals. The MP&F team manages the PR, marketing, advertising, branding and graphic design needs of more than 100 clients while also serving a roster of Nashville nonprofits through our pro bono program. And that’s just in the office. Our staff members also balance important family and volunteer commitments, yet somehow always go above and beyond for our clients.  We asked our MP&F colleagues to share their tips, tricks and tools for staying organized. Here are a few of our favorites.   Write it down …

Focus groups are one of the most effective and popular market research methods to collect information about a particular topic, product or area of interest to help companies, brands and organizations make informed business decisions.  But what happens when a global pandemic, plus an influx of advancements in technology, creates major changes in each of our behaviors, habits, and even the way we consume content, products and services? Insert the virtual focus group. For businesses that still want to carry out market research, virtual focus groups are a game-changing step in the evolution of research, building on the strengths of …

Event planning is tough in ordinary times. Event planning during a pandemic? Definitely not for the faint of heart. To help, we’ve compiled a punch list to set you up for success regardless of whether you’re planning a virtual event or in-person event, or are in the process of shifting gears from one direction to another. Ask your invitees (or key stakeholders) to share their opinionsField a short survey (no more than five questions) in advance of the event to better understand preferences around when the event should be held, what would motivate event attendance and more. Incentivize responding to …

Who would you trust to give you advice about your family-friendly vacation, a great new bourbon or a doctor to replace your knee? If you’re like most Americans, you are a bit more likely to trust the recommendations of people you know than those of strangers on the internet. But, perhaps surprisingly, you are exceedingly more likely to trust strangers on the internet than you are celebrities on TV, athletes on the ballfield or influencers on your social media channels. In fact, if you are a millennial, you are inclined to actively distrust celebrity or influencer endorsements of products or …

For years, consumers have shared their personal data with digital marketers as they browse the internet and enjoy social media sites. It’s what has made digital advertising a no-brainer and now 47% of all national brand ad dollars. Every time you hit “accept” on terms and conditions you never read, every time you connect a new app to your Facebook account, and every time you submit your email address to get results on a trending quiz, you are giving away valuable information allowing advertisers to target you in the most personalized way (for you) and most profitable way (for them). …