Research update - why you should put off (some) planning for 2019
Jinfo Blog

By Robin Neidorf

Abstract

You're likely at crunch time for content purchasing and licensing negotiations, read our advice on how to get through this busy phase.

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When I talk with customers at this time of year, whether one-on-one or in our popular Community sessions, there's a whole lot of extra tension in those conversations around a particular topic: content pricing and negotiations.

Let's put that in boldface: content pricing and negotiations.

If just reading that phrase ratcheted up your own anxiety, you're hardly alone. That's why the resources and events offered through our focus on Jinfo for Content Purchasing are among the most valued by customers with a Jinfo Subscription.

Every information manager with responsibility for content purchasing and licensing is playing 3-dimensional chess, managing:

• Changes in pricing structures
• Evolving business needs
• Constricted budgets
• Data compatibility.

And this time of year also brings more renewals, along with the pressures of planning for the next calendar year.

Plan for 2019 success... later

Our best advice for reducing the stress of crunch season is to create a practical plan around the real-world challenges in YOUR environment, be they financial, political, technological, or rooted in arcane procurement practices.

But later. Not now. Put the following in your calendar:

1. Check out the February 2019 Community session, "Jinfo for content purchasing". This is a great opportunity to debrief with other people in the same role about how you coped with end-of-year, and what is within your control to improve for next time. 
   
   
2. Pencil in the January and February Community sessions on "State of the industry, 2019", during which we'll discuss trends in vendor strategies, pricing and licensing. 
   
   
3. Contact Claire Laybats, Jinfo's head of commercial development, and request a time to chat in January about bringing in the Jinfo Consulting workshop, "Holistic content portfolio management" to help your team think, plan and act more strategically around content licensing.

The time to deal with the next year's busy period is just after the end of this year's. That's when the challenges are still fresh in your mind, and you have time to do something about them.

And in the meantime, keep pushing through the urgent and difficult discussions. We're rooting for you.

This item was featured in the most recent Jinfo Newsletter. The Jinfo Newsletter brings you updates on Jinfo's research, latest resources and tips. If you're not yet receiving it, register here (free).

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