--- title: The Proof is in the Data description: Collecting and analyzing your data can help you to learn what direction your business is going in and how you can improve the current processes in place. It can also help you interpret your marketing efforts, as well as help you to evaluate your product costs and margins. image: https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/analysis-analytics-cellphone-984543.jpg --- [![infix-logo](https://blog.infix.us/hs-fs/hubfs/infix-logo-saved.png?width=124&name=infix-logo-saved.png)](http://infix.us) - [Services](https://infix.us/services/) - [About Infix](https://infix.us/about-infix/) - [Testimonials](https://infix.us/testimonials/) - [Small Business Resources](https://infix.us/small-business-resources/) - [Contact](https://infix.us/contact/) - [Pricing](https://infix.us/pricing/) # The Proof is in the Data By [Andy Kemal](https://blog.infix.us/author/andy-kemal) | August 9, 2018 | [Proccesses](https://blog.infix.us/tag/proccesses), [Business Coach](https://blog.infix.us/tag/business-coach), [Business Growth](https://blog.infix.us/tag/business-growth), [Data](https://blog.infix.us/tag/data) - [No Comments](https://blog.infix.us/the-proof-is-in-the-data#comments-listing) - 0 “Be Data Driven” - that’s what my professor in business school would drum in to us. He would say “because data changes behavior!” He was right of course, he’d had a long career consulting with many businesses and had seen the proof. So now years on I have seen it with many companies and small businesses. The problem is there’s a certain amount of ignorance out there with business owners around their own data. Much of the data collected by businesses hardly gets examined and is often overlooked.   ![analysis-analytics-cellphone-984543](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/analysis-analytics-cellphone-984543.jpg)   The problem is twofold. Firstly, many tools collect data in the background with the user unaware that they have access to it, and secondly, owners rarely know what to do with the data even if they know how to collect and access it. This is where business coaches with an expertise in data analysis can help businesses owners find and understand the data. > Find out why these [common misconceptions about working with a business coach](https://blog.infix.us/blog/common-misconceptions-about-working-with-a-business-coach) aren't true. So why does data matter?  ![american-blond-hair-coffee-1210531](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/american-blond-hair-coffee-1210531.jpg) Let’s consider for example you are trying to convince someone that your side of an argument is the correct side. The chances of you being successful based on using anecdotal evidence is probably 50/50 or maybe even less depending on how persuasive or charming you are. However, if you have some objective proven data to back your argument your chances significantly increase to above 90%. The same is true for business owners, I have shown them how they can grow their business just by extracting and analyzing their data. It can’t be argued with (although some do try but they look pretty silly doing it), and is truly powerful and instrumental in turning businesses around. The first step in transformation is to identify what data is out there already and then what data might be useful to start collecting. Second is the analysis of the data collected to understand trends, spikes, and anomalies. This analysis will truly let us know what the data is telling us. Here are some of the most important types for collecting: - Sales data is extremely important. Data like average prices, customer trends, most purchased product, etc. Sales data tells you if you are pricing your product right and if you are fully taking advantage of available margins. Remember pricing should be done on supply and demand not just a straight 1.x estimation so test to see what your potential customers are willing to pay for your product/service. The Law of Contrast comes in handy here, meaning as humans we always react positively to a lower price if the first price mentioned was the highest price, even if the second isn’t that much lower. It’s better to start high and go lower, since it’s hard to come up in price.  ![analysis-business-businesswoman-955447](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/analysis-business-businesswoman-955447.jpg) - Production data like timings, yields, productivity and efficiency are essential to knowing the internal workings of the business. Is the work being done efficiently? Is the workforce at capacity? Are production costs outrunning margins? These types of data are needed if a business wants to expand. It’s no good increasing orders if your workforce can’t handle the workload, and how are you going to know if they can handle it if you don’t collect and/or look at the data?  ![adult-back-view-business-1181345](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/adult-back-view-business-1181345.jpg) - Costs and expenses data tell the picture of where the money is going. We need to understand this to understand the cash flow of the business. Many times I have found huge errors or bad economies from this type of data. Busy business owners get caught up in the day to day and forget to challenge operational things that have been the same for years. Insurance is a big one, for instance on the personal finance side financial advisors say you should re-quote your big insurance costs every couple of years, but most rarely do and this happens with business owners too. Collecting data on costs and expenses helps you see the trends where you have been lazy and your business is suffering.   ![analysis-business-close-up-1179800](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/analysis-business-close-up-1179800.jpg) - One of my favorite types of data to collect is to survey customers where they found the business, i.e. google search, friend, social media, previous customer, tv ad, etc. One of the most important things a business owner can know is where exactly their business is coming from. Was it from a previous customer referral? Or that marketing campaign you did last month? Interpreting this data makes you answer the questions: What’s working? What's not? Do I need more marketing dollars? Do I need to network more?   ![analytics-chart-data-97080](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/Stock%20Photos/analytics-chart-data-97080.jpg)   As a business owner [there are many tools](https://blog.infix.us/blog/the-best-apps-for-your-business) you can acquire to help in the collection and analysis of your data. [Contact INFIX](http://www.infix.us/contact/)if you need help with collect and or analyzing your data, your eyes will be opened wide and your business will be better for it!   [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4349323/2fef6174-2324-4e4b-94fc-11dc818a5af0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4349323/2fef6174-2324-4e4b-94fc-11dc818a5af0)   Search ### RECENT POSTS ### ARCHIVES - [March 2022 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2022/03) - [January 2022 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2022/01) - [November 2021 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/11) - [September 2021 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/09) - [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/07) - [June 2021 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/06) - [May 2021 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/05) - [April 2021 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/04) - [February 2021 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2021/02) - [December 2020 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/12) - [November 2020 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/11) - [October 2020 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/09) - [July 2020 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/07) - [June 2020 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/06) - [May 2020 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/05) - [April 2020 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/04) - [March 2020 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (4)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/10) - [September 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/09) - [August 2019 (3)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/08) - [July 2019 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/06) - [May 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/05) - [April 2019 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/04) - [March 2019 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/03) - [February 2019 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/12) - [October 2018 (3)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (3)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (4)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/08) - [July 2018 (3)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/07) - [June 2018 (4)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/06) - [May 2018 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/05) - [January 2018 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2018/01) - [November 2017 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2017/11) - [August 2017 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2017/08) - [July 2017 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2017/07) - [January 2017 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2017/01) - [September 2016 (1)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2016/09) - [August 2016 (2)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2016/08) - [July 2016 (3)](https://blog.infix.us/archive/2016/07) see all ### CATEGORIES - [Business (28)](https://blog.infix.us/tag/business) - [Business Growth (28)](https://blog.infix.us/tag/business-growth) - [Priorities (22)](https://blog.infix.us/tag/priorities) - [Data (18)](https://blog.infix.us/tag/data) - [Proccesses (18)](https://blog.infix.us/tag/proccesses) ![footer-logo](https://blog.infix.us/hubfs/footer-logo.png) - [Privacy Policy](https://infix.us/privacy-policy/) - [Rates](https://infix.us/pricing/) Address --- 4135 54th PL Suite #7 San Diego, CA 92105 Contact INFIX --- [inquiry@infix.us](mailto:inquiry@infix.us) [949-484-6349](tel:9494846349) Follow INFIX --- - [![Infix - Facebook](https://infix.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/facebook-1.png)](https://www.facebook.com/Infixcoaches/) - [![Infix - LinkedIn](https://infix.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andykemal/) - [![Infix - Instagram](https://infix.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/infixcoaches/) - [![Infix - Youtube](https://infix.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRCBY5fU02seC-gRNPo4hg) Menu --- - [Blog](https://blog.infix.us) - [Services](http://infix.us/services/) - [Testimonials](http://infix.us/testimonials/) - [Pricing](http://infix.us/pricing/) - [About INFIX](http://infix.us/about-infix/) - [Privacy Policy](http://infix.us/privacy-policy/) - [Contact](http://infix.us/contact/) ### RECENT BLOG POSTS ©INFIX 2020 Kemal Consultants, llc. 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