Data Reports. Used to Hate Them. Now I Can’t Live Without Them.
Posted By Brad on February 8, 2010
Not too long ago I remember being asked (told) to pull some data to support a trend, or answer why there was a $50,000 increase in sales month over month, or why publisher xyz’s numbers are trending down. I used to hate these reports. I would roll my eyes and dive into data for a good part of the day.
Fast forward to today, and I can’t live without these reports. Several times a week I do a deep analysis of what’s performing for the business, what trends are like, and what’s the forecast for month end. Without these reports I would be flying blind and quite honestly, I wouldn’t have a clue as to what’s going on in the business and how can we use this data to help grow and be even more successful. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase, the devil is in the details, I’d probably have about ten bucks, but you get the picture.
Let’s say for example you see a $50,000 increase is sales month over month. If you just write that off like great, good job everybody, keep up the good work, and don’t dig into the reports, chances are you’ll only sustain that $50,000 increase one time or possibly even loose it and never give your company the chance to grow off of that initial surge and turn it into $60,000, $75,000 or $100,000 increases month over month.
If you don’t analyze the data you’re going about your career or business half-assed and you company will suffer. Who knows, perhaps that surge came off a new publisher testing your offers, you reach out, communicate and strike a better deal with them and now they drive you $75,000 in additional revenue each month. If you just left that publisher alone, they’ll probably just write you off like you don’t give a damn and most likely move on to another company who cares and wants to grow their business together.
You must analyze your data if you want to be successful.