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Taking the Independent Research Plunge
by Barbara Fritchman Thompson
I don't gamble, am not a risk taker, and can't remember the last time I took a dare. However, after years of listening to me talk about leaving my job of twenty years as a local public library branch manager, my husband Bob said, "If you're going to do it, just do it!"
So I did.
I was working for a fairly stable employer, county government. Leaving the safety net of a steady salary, good benefits and relative job security to jump straight into the unknown world of being an independent researcher was pretty scary for me. I had never had to reach out and find my clients; they always came to find me.
Becoming an independent researcher, though, was the logical answer to the question: "What do I want to do next?" The activities I enjoyed most at my public library job were research and working with individuals to help them find solutions to their problems. The things I had grown to hate included supervising people, along with the headaches of running a branch library and being a part of middle management. What was once a fun job had turned into day-to-day drudgery.
Making the Change
I had been contemplating a career change for quite some time. Several months before I took "the plunge," I read Opening New Doors: Alternative Careers for Librarians, edited by Ellis Mount (SLA, 1993). Several chapters discussed becoming an independent information researcher and working from home. In one chapter, I found a reference to AIIP (Association of Independent Information Professionals).
Shortly thereafter, I quit my job, joined AIIP, and subscribed to the AIIP discussion list. This list is a great learning tool, as well as a wonderful resource for asking questions and seeking help in getting your business set up, handling clients, etc. The AIIP web site itself has a great deal of information on how to join, how to get started, and other similar resources. My husband also purchased a copy of the Information Brokers Handbook by Sue Rugge and Alfred Glossbrenner (now out of print), which I read from cover to cover.
I recommend purchasing a copy of Mary Ellen Bates' book, Building and Running A Successful Information Business: A Guide For The Independent Information Professional (CyberAge Books, May 2003) and/or her paper entitled "Getting Your First Five Clients, AIIP Professional Paper No. 98-1 (Rev.01/99)." Another recommended source is Information Brokering: A How-To-Do-It Manual by Florence M. Mason and Chris Dobson (Neal-Schuman, 1998).
Using suggestions from these books, I set up my web site and began the process of establishing contacts and advertising my services to potential clients. This is the hardest part of the entire transition, unless you happen to come from a marketing background.
Fine-Tuning Your Focus
It is fine to have an anticipated focus for your business, but do not make it too narrow. If you are lucky enough come into independent research with a background in medical, legal, or other related professional experience you may possibly be able to bring clients with you - as well as have a target audience for your research skills. However, if you are a generalist like myself, you may find the going a little bit harder.
Coincidentally, the annual AIIP Conference was held near me in Washington, DC, shortly after I started my business. You really must attend a conference if possible. I had a great time. In addition to getting to meet and talk one-on-one with other information professionals, you also benefit from the wide variety of programs and workshops sponsored by some of our vendor partners.
Making a Name for Yourself
To get my name "out there," I began writing web review columns for Library Journal and Reference Reviews. This also helped me gain experience in writing for public consumption, which I largely lacked.
Both of these ventures ended up paying off for me in the long run. After two pretty good years, I hit a major slump in 2002. Late in the fall, I took a part-time temporary job with a local law firm. The project involved Internet research and data quality, two things that were right up my alley. With only four hours tied up on weekday mornings, I still had afternoons and evenings free for client work and marketing.
Now for those payoffs I mentioned earlier. AIIP had a PR booth at a conference in California in early March 2003. A sales and marketing person from a large corporation happened to stop by the booth to talk with our representatives about locating researchers for a short-term project. He was referred to our AIIP online referral database, hooked up with me, and hired me on as one of his contract workers.
Two weeks later I was contacted by another firm I had discussed a project with the year before. He had read one of my LJ WebWatch columns, and wanted to hire me to do something similar for his company. He had been unable to hire me after the initial conversation, but now had found himself in the position to get that project off the ground.
I am very glad I took the risk. When talking with fellow AIIP members and other entrepreneurial friends, I was warned to give my business at least three to five years. Into my third year I was still struggling to find my niche in a market I was comfortable working in. It is true that word of mouth is the best advertisement. Hopefully these short-term projects will enable me to gain referrals to future clients, and my business will once again take off.
Barbara Fritchman Thompson
Research Solutions
http://www.researchsolutions.net
Portions of this article appeared in AIIP Connections 16, no. 1 (Spring 2002): 10.