AIIP Connections Blog

If describing your business leaves you tongue tied, try these three tips for making your business listing stand out

Describe your business – how to be the one that stands out

Posted by AIIP

· Friday, February 24th, 2017 at 10:00 AM

One of the key benefits of belonging to AIIP – or any professional association – is having a listing in the membership directory: a post from Mary Ellen Bates

Independent info pros often need to bring colleagues in for a large project or subcontract out a job that exceeds their ability or timeframe, and there is no better way to find a good partner than through the AIIP Business Directory.

Many new business owners get tongue-tied when it comes to describing their business and, as a result, they miss a great opportunity to expand their business through subcontracting and referrals.

Categories : Growing Your Business

Tags : marketing, networking

Control_Your_Business_Long-Term_Planning

Stay focused with long-term planning

Posted by AIIP

· Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 at 10:00 AM

We asked our AIIP Past Presidents to share their tips on building and growing a successful independent information business.

Marcy Phelps, AIIP President (2009-2010) shares tips on long term planning.

At meetings of the I-25ers, a group of independent information professionals located in and around Colorado, we often discuss how to stay focused. It’s getting harder and harder, with the many hats we wear and the ever-increasing rate of change in our lives and work, to make decisions about our businesses and carry them out.

Setting goals for the next 5 or 10 years provides focus in our lives and milestones for success.

It will also keep you sane.

Categories : Association News

Tags : business planning

Find-Balance-Work-Plan-Change-Lead-InfoPro-Freelance

Finding a balance that works

Posted by AIIP

· Wednesday, January 11th, 2017 at 10:00 AM

We asked our AIIP Past Presidents to share their tips on building and growing a successful independent information business.

Crystal Sharp (AIIP President, 2006) shares her ideas on finding a balance that works.

In the usual course of play, study, or work, individuals — consciously or not — take steps to exert some control over their immediate short-term or long-term future. What is unsettling about Facebook, Linked In, Snapchat and the churn and flux of new social communication channels is the rapid pace at which our world is being stretched, flattened and flexed. As the familiar and predictable structures of social, professional and personal relationships are shifted, we are left less in control.

Categories : Growing Your Business, Independence

Tags : change, future ready, Past Presidents' Tips, solopreneur

Information_Professionals_Expert_Learning_Teaching_Together

Hiding in plain sight

Posted by AIIP

· Sunday, December 18th, 2016 at 04:00 AM

The information profession is vast, almost undefinable. At AIIP, we carve out our niche as infopreneurs with many research-based specialties including competitive intelligence, information management, marketing research, and pharma research. As diverse as our business specialties may be, “we are more alike, my friend, than we are unalike.” –Maya Angelou.

Our likenesses stem from running our own businesses and from being experts in aspects of finding, analyzing, managing and sharing information. The person next to you may be a private investigator, writer, marketer, patent researcher or a win-loss expert. We have a myriad of experts hiding in plain sight.

And therein lies the beauty of AIIP. The value we offer each other is that we are all teachers and learners.

Categories : President's Message

Tags : member benefits

four-things-solopreneurs-freelance-infopro

Four things successful solopreneurs do every day

Posted by AIIP

· Tuesday, December 6th, 2016 at 10:00 AM

We asked our AIIP Past Presidents to share their tips on building and growing a successful independent information business.

Mary Ellen Bates, AIIP President (1996-97 and 2004-5) shares four great tips.

I have often wondered about why some people succeed as solopreneurs and others don’t. Almost everyone I run into has at least the basic skills needed for their business; it isn’t that they can’t do the work. Rather, I see attitude and approach as the distinguishing factors between successful business owners and those who never seem to get the traction they need.

Categories : Growing Your Business, Independence

Tags : business growth, Past Presidents' Tips, solopreneur

Importance-Kill-Fee-Clause-Manage-Client-Freelancer-InfoPro

Using a kill fee clause

Posted by AIIP

· Wednesday, November 16th, 2016 at 10:00 AM

Amelia Kassel, President, MarketingBase, shares some tips on when to use a kill fee clause

Historically, I have not used a kill fee clause. More recently I have on occasion.

Without a kill fee clause, there is no protection if a client wants to stop the project before you have completed the research. This was the case with a recent project – until I explained why using limited and inconclusive information for an important business decision was a very bad idea.

Categories : Business 101, Working with clients

Tags : contracts, negotiations

How to avoid schope creep when clients want regular updates for freelancers information professionals

When updates turn into scope creep

Posted by AIIP

· Thursday, November 10th, 2016 at 03:00 PM

Amelia Kassel, President, MarketingBase, shares some tips on how to avoid scope creep

Several years ago, I went through an especially challenging exchange with a client. There were more than 50 emails back and forth over four months. Afterwards I thought, “Wow, next time I’m going to add another $1,500 to the project to cover unanticipated time.”

Categories : Working with clients

Tags : negotiations

get-to-know-us-member-benefits-AIIP-information-professional

Get to know us at AIIP

Posted by AIIP

· Sunday, October 9th, 2016 at 11:51 PM

AIIP President, Jane Langeman, talks about how member feedback is helping AIIP to develop new services to help our members to build their businesses.

Categories : President's Message

Tags : member benefits

Describe your business – how to be the one that stands out

Stay focused with long-term planning

Finding a balance that works

Hiding in plain sight

Four things successful solopreneurs do every day

Using a kill fee clause

When updates turn into scope creep

Get to know us at AIIP

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