Keywords
Citation
Cronau, D. (2003), "Super Searchers Make It on Their Own", The Electronic Library, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 175-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470310470606
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
“Online research is a unique business opportunity for Internet‐savvy entrepreneurs who want to work from home. In their own words, 11 leading independent researchers explain the challenges, rewards, and day‐to‐day details of building a successful and rewarding business of your own.”
This is the tenth title, in the Super Searchers series for information users. This title involves research entrepreneurs revealing their strategies for getting started, developing a niche, finding (and keeping) clients, doing the research, networking with peers, and staying up‐to‐date with Web resources and technologies. You will learn how these super searchers use the Internet to find, organize, analyze, and package information for their clients. Most importantly, you will discover their secrets for building a profitable research business.
The table of contents, in bold print, lists the researchers with their field of research under their names. The fields of research discussed are:
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Business research for business professionals.
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Aviation expert.
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Healthcare industry monitoring.
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Intellectual property and patents.
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The craft of public records.
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Civic entrepreneur.
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Serving corporate libraries.
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Canadian business information.
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Value‐added research.
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Search engine analyst.
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Online information expert.
There are 279 pages of content by researchers who exemplify the two major trends in today’s society – the explosion of the information age and the rise of the independent professional – which are then followed by an incredibly useful 20‐page appendix of referenced sites and sources.
This title goes two steps beyond following the Super Searchers through databases, libraries, print media, and the Internet. The first step is into the marketplace where the validity and value of information research is put to the test. Searchers know good information when they see it, but there is a whole new level of skill involved in finding clients, cultivating relationships, and delivering a product that satisfies a need. There is the matter of a business to run, with bills to pay and daily tasks to be done. There is knowing how much work to take on, and when to outsource. There are issues such as copyright and licensing and how they affect the information retrieval and delivery process. And, there is the issue of marketing.
The second step the author follows is described as going into the personal realm. Where are these researchers? What combination of education and experience do they have? How do they balance work and life? What do they particularly like about what they do? What opportunities do they see for the future?
Driven by the worldwide growth of the Internet, the independent research business is poised to become one of the hottest entrepreneurial opportunities of the decade. This book encourages the reader to examine their skill base and explore how it can be directed into a personal business opportunity.
The interesting thing about this book is that both the process and the information presented were important to the author. She wanted the reader to not only have easy, clear access to some very useful tips and suggestions but to also experience the progression and flow of the interview process that resulted in each chapter. This book presents more of a behind‐the‐scenes view than the other titles in the series.
This is an excellent read for public or tertiary libraries but might also have some appeal to senior secondary school and business students. It is not only useful and informative but a good, enjoyable read.