Resources
for Starting an Indexing Business
Though not an
exhaustive listing, the resources on this page should provide a starting
point for anyone interested in beginning an indexing business.
General Resources for Small Businesses
Business Tax and Bookkeeping (BTB) Service's Business Information Provided by the BTB company, these links cover a range of small business topics from organizations ranging from American Express to non-profits dedicated to making small businesses successful.
BusinessTown.comAnother
portal to a multitude of business topics, this site's motto is "Business
topics—All business, no bull."The
site offers quick access to information on business directories, consulting,
hiring and firing, office supplies, and a lot more.
Netscape's
Business Action Links This
web site is Netscape's portal to a multiplicity of business resources.Of
particular interest is the actual "Business Action Links" link found in
the frame on the right-hand side of the page.
Starting
a business One of the "Business Action Links" on Netscape's business
portal, this article by Wayne R. Parker is a concise, thorough introduction
to things to do and consider before starting a business.
U.
S. Business AdvisorThe
goal of this government web site is "to make the relationship between business
and government more productive." While not entirely directed at the home
business, the site, nonetheless, provides useful information about business
development, financial assistance, taxes, laws and regulations, workplace
issues, and buying and selling.Additionally,
there are links to other government agencies and business gateways.
U. S. Small Business
AdministrationThis site
should be the starting point for all those interested in starting a small
business or improving on the one they already own.The
site offers information on business start-up and development, government
regulation, marketing and advertising, and small business advocacy, to
name just a few of the covered topics.Information
about local SBA offices is easily found here as well.
Indexing and Information Profession Associations and Organizations
The
American Society of Indexers (ASI) The ASI is a non-profit organization
whose goal is "to promote excellence in indexing and increase awareness
of the value of well-written indexes."The
web site provides resources for anyone interested in the indexing profession
and offers links to publications, association chapters and special interest
groups.It also provides information
and links for those wishing to hire an indexer.Among
the resources on this page are links to the Carolina
Chapter of the ASI, Washington,
DC Chapter , and to the Tennessee
Regional Group . The collective web sites offer much information
for those interested in beginning an indexing business or in improving
the one they already have.
Association of Independent
Information Professionals (AIIP) According to their web site, the
AIIP is recognized within the information industry "as the unifying voice
for the independent information profession."Among
the goals of this organization are promoting the exchange of information
among independent information professionals and encouraging those professionals
to discuss common ideas.Their web
site works toward those ends and is a good starting point for anyone interested
in becoming an independent.One of
the most helpful resources on this page is found at the link called "The
Independent Information Professional."Clicking
on this link leads to white papers, a resource guide, and a bounty of other
resources for those who decide to make the independent career choice.
Australian Society
of IndexersAlthough designed
for Australian indexers, the resources at this site are, in the main, useful
to any indexer, independent or otherwise. Of particular value are the links
to "Professional Issues" and to "Resources."The
discussion in the "issues" section paints a broad picture of concerns related
to the indexing business.The "resources"
link provides access to indexing software sites, to a "webliography" of
indexing topics, and so forth.
Indexing
and Abstracting Society of Canada (IASC) The Canadian equivalent
of the ASI, this group has been in existence since 1977 with the goal of
encouraging "the production and use of indexes and abstracts," promoting
"the recognition of indexers and abstractors," improving "indexing and
abstracting techniques," and providing "a means of communication among
individual indexers" across Canada.Particularly
helpful are the links to indexing and abstracting newsletters (both the
Society's own and others), to indexing listservs, and to reference materials
useful to indexers and abstractors.There
are also links to indexing societies in the U.K., U.S., Australia, and
China.
National
Federation of Abstracting and Information Services
This group "serves those groups that aggregate, organize, and facilitate
access to information" by providing advocacy, continuing education opportunities,
and a forum for discussion of common issues.While
geared toward larger groups and companies in the information industry,
this site is useful to the independent indexer since many of the members
of NFAIS employee indexers.Thus,
their information on organization events and publications will prove useful
to any indexer.
Society
of Indexers (U.K.) This society "exists to promote indexing, the
quality of indexes and the profession of indexing."Although
it primarily serves as the British and Irish "professional body for indexing,"
the information on the indexing profession is helpful for indexers of any
nationality.Particularly interesting
are the FAQs and the "news" sections of the site.
Books and Articles on the Indexing Business
Many books on indexing are published for the American
Society of Indexers by Information
Today.Among the titles offered
are Starting and Indexing Business, by Enid L. Zafran and Running
an Indexing Business, by Janet Perlman.
Articles
Articles from About.com with guide Wendy Butler.This link leads to about.com's indexing topic.Articles cover a range of information concerning the business of indexing.
Papers by indexer and author Nancy
Mulvaney These papers cover a variety of topics from "current events"
in indexing to copyright issues for indexers.
Indexing Courses
The
Graduate School of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
offers a series of what they term "editing courses."Among
these courses are two on indexing, "Basic Indexing" and "Applied Indexing,"
considered by many in the indexing business as a "must-have" on the credentials
list.
Sageline
Publishing offers a variety of services to those with web publishing
needs.Additionally, they offer courses
in web indexing.The Courses range
from basic indexing courses to classes in using particular indexing software,
especially RoboHELP.
Indexing Listservs
1) Go to http://listserv.unc.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=Index-L
2) Press "Join Index-L"
3) Enter your email address.
4) Enter your Name.
5) Press Save.
6) Reply to the confirmation message you receive.
Unmoderated list where indexers, both new and experienced, can discuss concerns, issues, and questions in a community of interested indexers.While anyone may post to the list, only group members have access to the archives.Instructions for joining are located at the site.
For
those interested in discussing issues related to learning to index books,
magazines, databases and the World Wide Web.The
group is open to anyone interested in indexing, but it is particularly
geared toward those who are enrolled in indexing courses, including the
USDA course, and indexing instructors. Among the features of this list
are practice indexing exercises.Instructions
for joining are found at the site.
Indexing Software
MACREX software is used by indexers who work for academic institutions, corporations, publishing houses, and government organizations.This link will lead to the Macrex home page which provides instruction and discussion of issues which concern Macrex users. A demonstration copy is available for downloading.
Sky Software
is another indexing software that is widely used by professionals.This
site offers information on the purchase and use of the software as well
as links to other indexers' web sites and to the web sites of several indexing
societies.
Created by Linda Hickey O'Quinn lindaoq@yahoo.com
on 6/5/02