Marcy Phelps and Associates

Key takeaways from #AIIP19

April 22, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 0 comments

I recently attended the annual conference of the Association of Independent Information Professionals in Philadelphia. This is my 19th consecutive AIIP conference, and I make it my primary conference for the year. While I attend several others, this one is in my calendar, and everything fits in around that. It’s in my budget, too, so […]

10 small changes for transforming your client reports

April 1, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Reports / 4 comments

Small Steps Big Changes for client reports

I’m currently reading One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer, a book about taking small actions to ease into new habits. When we make any sort of change, we tend to aim for a major overhaul, which can be daunting – often preventing us from getting started. Instead, says, […]

Online database searching: More than just finding

March 20, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Tips/Techniques / 2 comments

As a researcher and investigator – and a former librarian – I’ve done a lot of online database searching. I’ve searched news, market research, public records, engineering documents, you name it. I’ve searched for information on any topic you can imagine, from silicon photonics to Jeff Zucker‘s career. I also teach other researchers and investigators […]

Questions to ask before starting an investigation

March 4, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 2 comments

Question mark speech bubble isolated on yellow background.

No matter the type of research or investigations that you do, it’s important to prepare. Before you start your interviews, online searches, surveillance, or whatever it is you do for your clients, you need to take this extra step to ensure success (like a happy client). It’s tempting to jump right in and get started […]

Online public records: Top investigative challenges and what to do about them

February 18, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 2 comments

In my experience as a librarian, business researcher, and private investigator, I’ve done a lot of online searching. I’ve reviewed, purchased, used, and taught others how to use all types of online databases. I’ve searched for all kinds of information. But the most challenging type of searching and the one topic that tests my fortitude […]

Tips for surviving career transitions

February 11, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 0 comments

I recently had the opportunity to present a webinar, Secrets of a Gumshoe Librarian: Tips for Transforming Your Career and Staying Relevant. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, you’re probably going through career changes. Maybe your job is changing, because employer and client wants and needs keep changing. Or maybe you’re forced […]

Vendor wish list – Making sure an upgrade isn’t a downgrade

January 23, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Information industry, Information sources / 2 comments

As an investigator, I rely on my collection of premium databases for hard-to-find information. You’d be surprised what you can’t find through Google. Over the years, I’ve worked with lots of different vendors who offer great products and customer service, and they’re well worth the investment. To their credit, database providers often upgrade their products […]

Looking for more privacy?

January 2, 2019 / by Marcy Phelps / Search tools / 0 comments

Judging from blog statistics, readers can’t seem to get enough of Google alternatives – especially privacy-based search engines. Clearly, many of you are tired of Google’s practices, including collecting and sharing your data and customizing search results. It’s not just privacy issue. As an investigator, I need to avoid filtered results, since I don’t want […]

A year-end wish

December 22, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 2 comments

To all my friends – Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and share your comments. No matter what you celebrate during this time of year, I hope it has been or will be full of joy. Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2019!

The ins and outs of checklists

December 10, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 6 comments

Mistakes happen. Sometimes we forget. Perhaps we’re stressed by tight deadlines. Or maybe we assume that something’s been done, and we skip steps. In investigations, risk is all about what we’re missing, and skipping steps can lead to trouble. Enter the checklist. While listening to a recent episode of one of my favorite podcasts, Hidden […]

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