What have we been talking about? March 2017
Our normal montly round-up of the discussion on the e-group, this time by Debs Simmons who, over the next year, intends to prove that you really can work from anywhere in the world!
The March discussions opened with a discussion on business telephone lines and recommendations were made for VOIP (cheapest option, with lots of useful add on services), Vonage and Zen as good alternatives to BT.
The new ICG logo was unveiled to mixed reactions; some feel it an improvement, with a more professional and contemporary design, and others believe the previous logo was a more accurate reflection of the organisation. A key point highlighted was the need to clarify the connection between ICG and Expert Independent Researchers. This was a point discussed in detail during the design process, but talks around this are ongoing, and there is a commitment to ensuring the membership feels more involved moving forward.
The new website went live early March, and was applauded for being a cleaner design, far more easy to navigate, and stylish. Members discussed updating profiles and pictures and on 2nd March Claire Labrum sent out an email to guide users through the process – if you are yet to update your profile and need some support, then it’s all spelt out really clearly in her message.
A thread around research with parents and children, ran throughout the first week, relating to DBS checks, consent and incentives. DBS checks – although not mandatory – are often requested by clients and help to reassure them of the researcher’s professionalism.
Mid-month saw the rise of finance-related conversations, which started with a post about the value of being VAT registered, and continued with requests for recommendations for accountants. A detailed comparison of the accountancy fees ensued, giving members a pretty good idea of what they should expect to pay for a variety of services. Later in the month the finance conversation arose again, this time with a focus on the imminent changes in flat-rate VAT terms and requests for recommendations on the best option for small research-related businesses. This conversation is ongoing…
A request was made for apps or tools for collecting ethnographic data, sparking an interesting thread on innovative methods. Members recommended new Civicom product Thoughtlight (qualitative mobile app for collecting richer in-the-moment insights including geolocation plus offline accessibility for locations without a data connection), and Over The Shoulder (that’s all they do – no online bulletin boards, pure mobile), which was deemed ‘super easy for user to upload video, audio and photo’.