AIIP: Is Our Association Right for You?

by Judith Binder, AIIP President

When I first started my business, I had no idea what I was getting into as a small business owner. I had developed my research skills in academic and special libraries and knew that I could use them as an independent information professional. But to launch and grow my own business required so much more.

Once I discovered The Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), I realized that this was a group of highly skilled and business-savvy professionals who were willing to share their experiences with me. I’ve been a member for more than 15 years now. My association benefits my bottom line, my professional development, and my reputation. I might be independent, but I’m never alone as a member of AIIP.

AIIP is unique. We’re an international network of independent business owners running diverse, information-centric businesses. AIIP supports both experienced and novice information entrepreneurs. Our members are consultants, researchers, freelancers, digital experts, marketers, teachers, students, writers, and knowledge managers.

AIIP members are specialists who provide services in one or more of these practice areas:

• Marketing & Communications: We are experts at homing in on clients’ needs to produce original content and programs for marketing their businesses. We help clients with social media, digital assets, marketing campaign planning, collateral development, web design, surveys, and more.

• Information Management & Technology: We are information managers, knowledge management consultants, information architects, taxonomy specialists, project managers, library consultants, and more.

• Training & Consulting: We work alongside our clients to provide top-notch training and consultative services. We help them better understand and implement information strategies to grow their businesses and stay competitive.

• Writing & Editing: From ideation to creation, editing, and publishing, we create engaging content that promotes our clients’ businesses. We help clients articulate their visions through the development of white papers, blog articles, research papers, web content, and more.

• Research: What do we research? Anything and everything, including companies and their competitors, markets, people, products, chemicals, patents, and more. We are experts at gathering, synthesizing, analyzing, and sharing research.

AIIP’s mission is to equip our members for ongoing business success. AIIP membership gives you access to:

• Materials to help you launch and grow your business
• Community support in a collegial environment
• Information sharing via private discussion list and other communication channels
• Access to thought leaders and specialists in their respective fields
• Peer-to-peer support opportunities, such as mentoring and coaching
• Virtual events and programs that provide networking, professional development, and training
• Our annual conference; April 23–26, 2020 in Denver, Colorado, USA
• Enhanced programs/benefits through partnerships with allied organizations
• Member discounts with vendors that meet the needs of our diverse membership

I encourage you to take a look at the AIIP website to discover if AIIP is right for you.  Questions? Ask an AIIP member.  Join us now and find out how AIIP can make a difference to your business success.

Judith Binder serves as president of AIIP. She launched RBSC’s Research Group in 2002