Businesses have a reluctance to use services that are free because it doesn’t fit their mindset
(Ray Poynter)

 BIG Conference  In the first of two podcasts in the run up to the BIG Conference in May 2007, Phyllis Macfarlane and Ray Poynter take a comprehensive look at how web 2.0 tools and techniques can be used to improve B2B research. They also talk about the obvious cultural and organisational issues that such changes invariably bring up

 STARRING 

• Ray Poynter, The Future Place
• Phyllis Macfarlane, Head, Gfk NOP Custom (Host)

Learn more about BIG Conference 2007

AUDIO QUALITY: We apologise in advance for the below-par audio quality and hope that the quality of the content makes up for this

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The assumption is that by-and-large, individuals make decisions on their own. My Herd point-of-view is that people influence each other, often without realising it

Mark Earls’ latest contribution to life, the universe and everything is gaining traction. His new book rethinks how people make decisions and discovers as a result that much of current research practice is fundamentally flawed in its assumptions and interpretation of consumer behaviour. Quite fitting for this self-styled ‘Contrarian’. The book provides psychology underpinning for many recent phenomena such as social networking, engagement, conversations, ethnography, blogging and predictive markets by showing how we act as groups and not individually. Part of our monthly column for ESOMAR’s Research World magazine

 STARRING 

• Mark Earls, author, Herd: How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature, Head Honcho, Herd Consulting

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“Unlike other applications … Second Life has a storyline related to pretty much any press you want to talk about”

 EXCLUSIVE  You could for forgiven for not having heard of Habbo because it is aimed at teens. But with the seemingly blanket coverage it’s received in the mainstream media as well as on blogs and podcasts, you will surely have heard of Second Life. Both are online 3D virtual worlds where people interact with each other via avatars. Both are extremely popular and are experiencing rapid growth. And some of the largest brands in the world are starting to setup virtual life in Second Life. Here we learn more about them from their creators, and find out why they are so popular and what the future holds. For those unfamiliar with either of these social networks we recommend taking a quick look at their websites to get a basic feel

 STARRING 

• Emmi Kuusikko, Director of User and Market Insight, Sulake (Habbo)
• David Fleck, VP Business Development, Linden Lab (Second Life)
• Mario Menti, GMI, blog

The first conversation was recorded live at the Euro MR Event 2006

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 GUEST  Kirsty Fuller, co-Founder and Chairman of the world’s largest qualitative consultancy, Flamingo International

 TOPICS  The new paradigm in branding (Jay-Z and Budweiser, co-creation, authenticity); The benefits of using intuition in research vs. being strictly evidence-based; EXCLUSIVE: Japan office coming soon

 NOTABLE MENTIONS  Andy Dexter, Apple, Budweiser, Chris Arning, Def Jam, Digg, Edny Tappy, Fiona Blades, Illuminas, Innocent, iPod, James Parsons, Jay-Z, Kate Moss, Levi, Maggie Collier, MySpace, Nike, Reebok, Simon Lidington, Top Shop, Truth Consulting, Walkman, YouTube

Music Brother Love and Martha Redbone from the PMN

Series:MarketingTalk Series:AdTalk
Series:Weekly

“We’ve had two years of change [in MR], my guess is we’ve got another 25 to come…” (Ray Poynter)
 

 EXCLUSIVE  Brand Strategy magazine’s Ruth Mortimer talks about some hot issues in branding such as co-creation and branded content. Ray Poynter talks tech trends. And FDS’s new co-owner and MD, Charlotte Cornish, on the extraordinary story behind her acquisition of FDS

 STARRING 

• Ruth Mortimer, Editor, Brand Strategy Magazine
• Ray Poynter, Director, Virtual Surveys, and Head, The Future Place
• Charlotte Cornish, MD, FDS and Director, Munro Global

Recorded live at ESOMAR CONGRESS 2006

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 GUEST  Online research pioneer Pete Comley, Chairman of Virtual Surveys

 TOPICS  YouGov quadruples profits; BrandIndex tracker & word of mouth; Web 2.0. VS: Staying independent; Accidental genesis of VS and early challenges; Research 2.0; Blogging; Future challenges

 NOTABLE MENTIONS  Al Gore, BSkyB, Current TV, Ed Keller, Eric Berne, ESOMAR, The Future Place, Google, Greenfield Online, Harris Interactive, Henley Centre, Keller Fay, MySpace, Quentin Ashby, Ray Poynter, RI, Stephen Phillips, Trish Comley, YouGov, YouTube

Music Brother Love and Matthew Ebel from the PMN

Series:Weekly

 Sponsored by 
In this thought-provoking chat, Dan O’Donoghue tells Olaf Willoughby why the end of advertising agencies is nigh, why planners should return to their roots as consumer champions, and why researchers shouldn’t expect guidance from ad. agencies during this time of media flux

 STARRING 

• Dan O’Donoghue, Worldwide Strategic Planning Director, Publicis, and author, “Born in 1842 - A History of Advertising”
• Olaf Willoughby, The Willoughby Partnership (Host)

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 GUEST  Semiotician Dr. Rachel Lawes, founder of Lawes Consulting

 TOPICS  Launch of branded communities within MySpace; Researching social communities; Internet key to promoting movies; Advertising blending into content; Semiotics explained; Lawes Consulting breaking into new sectors

 NOTABLE MENTIONS  Halifax Bank, HBOS, Lynx, MTV, MySpace, Snakes on a Plane, Spring Research, Stephen Phillips

Music Brother Love and Slackstring from the PMN

Series:Weekly

 EXCLUSIVE  BT’s Futurologist, Ian Pearson, on the increasing impact of technological change, being a thorn in BT’s side, the growth of podcasting and social media, increasing concerns over privacy, and trends that affect the research industry

 STARRING 

• Ian Pearson, BT

Recorded live at ESOMAR CONGRESS ‘06

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