The American Society for Indexing held its 2021 Virtual Conference, “Get Your Indexing Shot in the Arm,” on Friday, April 30, 2021 and Saturday, May 1, 2021. Three sessions were held virtually on Zoom each day.
In the third session on Saturday, Inside the Accidental Indexer, Nan Badgett discussed the professional, business, and lifestyle issues affecting indexers. Her presentation was an extension of her book, The Accidental Indexer. She said that even if we found ourselves as indexers “accidentally,” as she did, we need to be decidedly deliberate about moving forward to be successful.
She first described marketing strategies, emphasizing the need to determine one’s strengths and how to make oneself stand out. She gave the exercise of creating an elevator speech, writing down “who you are, what you do, and your skills and accomplishments” in a nutshell. Next she suggested creating a list of potential clients and being proactive in contacting them periodically, and deliberately, with emails and holiday cards. A marketing plan encompasses a compelling and unique personal brand: a business name, business cards, a logo, and/or a website.
Time management tips included advice on setting a schedule, tools to keep track of time, and ways to avoid distractions. She also recognized that burnout and anxiety can come from the pressures of meeting deadlines and can adversely affect one’s health. She recommended setting boundaries, eating well, taking breaks, getting exercise, and exploring interests outside of work.
This concludes the blog series on the ASI 2021 Virtual Conference. For more information about the services provided by the author of this blog, see the Stellar Searches LLC website, http://www.stellarsearches.com.