Data is power, but getting it wrong can cost you dearly. Here are some tips on how to avoid data collection errors.
Asking the wrong questions
One of the most common mistakes you can make is using poorly designed questions that don’t result in useful responses. It’s vital not to confuse or mislead the user, nor be too vague.
To better understand the best practices in data collection and marketing, we recommend you consult a professional and experienced data collection company that is skilled in extracting the type of data that can be used legitimately.
Poor data cleaning
Data often does not come in a usable format, and it is therefore necessary to clean the data to make it effective.
Data cleaning means correcting any errors that occur during the collection process and identifying things like missing values or duplicate values that could affect the analytics. Failing to do so can be detrimental to the entire process.
An excellent data collection company will use all the necessary tools to clean up data before delivering it back to the requester.
Unethical data collection
Some companies engage in unlawful data collection, which means that they either collect or purchase data that has been sourced in a way that violates the rights and privacy of the user. If it is to be used or sold, users must give their consent to having their data collected for marketing purposes and, even if they do give their permission, the data should not be misused or falsified.
A data collection company will be familiar with GDPR practices and other laws and know how to treat data with respect.
Miscommunication of data
The final piece of the puzzle is to present the findings from the collection and reporting process effectively to the requester, enabling them to interpret it and use it productively in their marketing strategy. There are various ways to do this, such as through storytelling and other visual mediums – because lists and lists of data aren’t exactly usable!
