Knowledge is power. It’s a common enough saying that you’ve probably heard it a thousand times by now, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

So, how does that apply to data and business? Well, data is basically a synonym for knowledge. Data can refer to any kind of information, and specifically helpful information that your business is able to gather.

So, we know what data is. How can it do your business any good?

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Relevant and Irrelevant Data

First, you need to work out what data is actually useful. We learn constantly throughout the day, and your business will gather all kinds of information, but not all of that data can be used. 

A cow’s stomach has four chambers. That is information. Some people might find it interesting. But for most people, that information isn’t relevant. In general life, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of irrelevant information, it’s what makes life interesting and messy. But in business, enough irrelevant information can get in the way of the information that you actually need.

This is why you need to sort through the data you do have and use it strategically.

One way to do this is by deliberately gathering relevant information. Customer surveys are a fantastic way to do this, as they allow you to come up with focused questions to learn more about your customers as a whole and their wants and needs.

Data and Marketing

Customer surveys, as we’ve very briefly looked at, are a specific form of market research. Market research is a necessary part of marketing, which is the only real way to grow your customer base.

The more customers you have, the more money you can make, and the more you can grow your business. It’s obviously more complex than that in reality, but you can see how vital marketing is to your business as a whole.

When you gather data, one of the best ways to use it is to inform your marketing techniques. For example, if you know who your customers are, you can cater your strategy to better suit them. Younger customers prefer using social media, so you might focus on social media marketing, as well as content marketing to attract that crowd.

This is just one example of how using one kind of data, the age range of your audience, can change how you market.

Protecting Your Data

Of course, because data can be so valuable, you need to be able to protect it and ensure that it doesn’t get lost or even worse, stolen.

Salesforce backup for your company can ensure that your data is always backed up and protected from loss, accidental deletion, or even a deliberate ransomware attack. This makes your life easier and allows you to recover more quickly from a potentially crippling disaster.

It’s also important to train your employees to identify scams or hack attempts. Use a firewall to help them steer clear of potentially dangerous websites and report any suspicious emails or texts right away.

If you keep your data safe, you keep your business safe.