rewire your business data mindset
As your blog or business grows, you grow along with it – taking on new challenges and getting better each day. Part of this growth process, as you’ve probably discovered, is questioning your progress and performance. You’ll start to wonder what content is getting the most traffic or which channels are really worth the effort you’re putting in.
Chances are, you know your business has data stored somewhere that can help answer these questions. You’re pretty sure it could be useful stuff if you ever get around to hiring someone to deal with it, or **shudder** try to dig in yourself.
But here’s the thing – you’re thinking about your business data all wrong.
think of data as information
When we think data, most of us envision something along the lines of the scrolling screen from the Matrix.
It feels complicated and distant; great for big businesses, but not as accessible or relevant to our own business. Luckily, in our tech-focused world, it’s almost impossible not to have your own business data thanks to your website, your invoicing/online banking/orders, social media, etc. Moreover, data isn’t only the numbers you can get in a .csv or report. You might collect data on your own, like an event calendar or tracking your time.
You may not have a comprehensive, single source for your data, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have data to use. Think of data as information stored in a simple, binary system that can be understood by a computer. If it could be typed up as a table or spreadsheet, it’s data – data you can use to make better business decisions.
some of your data might not come from a tool at all
You most likely use a few tools in your business that already track useful data you can access. However, some of your most important data might not come from a tool. There may be information that only currently lives in your head – like the day you launched a campaign or the number of times you met with a client to revise work.
Wherever it comes from, organize the data you want in a way you can access it. Information you’ll review frequently can be automated, saving you time and making it easier to check in on. If you’re pulling data out of your own head, consider doing so in a spreadsheet so it can be easily reviewed and incorporated with other data.
TIP:
any time you’re recording your own data, make absolutely sure you’re consistent (dates are all formatted the same way, etc) so it can be used with other, computer-generated data
focus on helpful information
When you’re just getting started, there’s so much data available, you may feel like you’re drinking from a firehose. It’s overwhelming to try to work with all your data once – so don’t. Narrow your field of focus to just the most important information.
Rather than picking the important information by looking at every data output your business tools can produce, think about what information will help you make better decisions. Then, figure out where that information is being recorded and how you can get to it. It takes time to collect and review data. Stick to working with just the numbers that will help you – the rest will be there if you come up with other questions later.
getting started:
Data can be an incredible tool for your business – but it takes a little work. The best way to get started is just that: get started. Using the data you have access to now, or can get access to easily, start exploring and asking questions. A little information goes a long way towards optimizing your business to save you time, effort, and money.
Tag @blogging.analytics on Instagram and tell us about top tools or places you find data for your business.