Hiding in plain sight

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.

Continue reading Hiding in plain sight

Four things successful solopreneurs do every day

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.

Continue reading Four things successful solopreneurs do every day

Using a kill fee clause

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.

Continue reading Using a kill fee clause

When updates turn into scope creep

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.”

Continue reading When updates turn into scope creep

Infographic: 2016 Business Information Review Annual Survey

Denise Carter, AIIP member, recently stepped into managing the world’s longest running survey in the Business Information and Knowledge Management sector.

The Business Information Survey has been conducted annually since 1991 by Business Information Review.  In 2016 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with senior information managers in the financial, legal, pharmaceutical, science & technical, and telecommunications sectors.

Continue reading Infographic: 2016 Business Information Review Annual Survey

Internet Librarian International conference

As ever, library innovation conference Internet Librarian International (ILI) 2016 – 18 & 19 October, London – is all about responding to challenge through innovation, with the emphasis on sharing, learning and evolution.

This year’s conference themes have been steered by a panel of previous delegates, with two ‘big questions’ emerging and addressed through some  60 presentations by experts from around the world: how do info pros demonstrate the importance of their role and services; and how do they compete with Google? These broad challenges are explored in depth next month, with AIIP members benefiting from a 25% discount on the full conference fee.

Continue reading Internet Librarian International conference