Good Data Management Strategy Habits You Should Follow

It is a fact that the one of the most satisfactory feelings you can get is the relief from having all your business data well-organized so that you can make rapid decisions. But all those tedious conversations about how data is resourceful can lead us to forget one simple thing - Data isn’t something that you have, it’s something you do. 

It might feel like an ocean you're valiantly swimming in, but efficiently utilizing data is not just about being a ‘data freak’ or trying to develop a fantastic business strategy. Data, or more precisely, data management as we know it, is simply a fundamental part of any business.

From using HubSpot CRM for efficiency, to storing data and using all that collated data to calculate profits, a business needs to optimize its data management in order to grow. And if it is an MNC, the duty of data management is not just limited to the data science or analytics department; it is the responsibility of every team.

In this article, we will quickly go through some good and essential habits for a data management strategy that every business should follow.

Good Habit #1: Setting Achievable Goals

Think of a situation where you wake up one morning to prepare for relaxing Sunday lunch and as soon as you open your closet, all your piled-up clothes topple on to you. It’s frustrating, right? Well, that’s what happens when you store your data in an unorganized way.

Most neatness freaks would store data in an organized way, just like their clothes in a closet. But for the not-so-neat ones among us, the best thing is to be honest with yourself and set realistic goals.

Decide what is quality data for you and dedicate time then and there to organizing it, because no team can spend much time on data management. Write down pointers about what you want out of your data and how its quality impacts your business, then set realistic goals to work towards. 

Good Habit #2: Standardize Naming

Most businesses fail to standardize naming conventions on time, and that becomes their only antagonist when sorting out data. 

You can spend numerous Friday nights with your team members carefree, but the day a project comes up where you have to compare two databases, you’ll have to spend those Friday nights in your office. So our advice to you is to standardize naming conventions from the very beginning of your business and stay ahead of the curve. In fact, you can use HubSpot CRM to set the naming conventions for your business and maximize its functioning and data management. Having a standardized naming convention makes communication easier across departments as well.

Good Habit #3: Data Management Training

This might sound like an alien concept to you, but take our word for it: Data management training can take your business to heights you hadn't dreamed of reaching.

A good data management strategy without consistency will not get you far. So, to ensure that your business meets its goals, have ongoing data management training sessions for your employees.

This is where what we call ‘data culture’ comes in. Make sure every team member knows the importance of data quality management and the consequences of poor data quality.

Here are four basic suggestions that you can follow to build an efficient data culture:

1. Have open conversations regarding your data management strategy goals.
2. Ensure the naming conventions are comprehensible.
3. Keep a regular check that the rules you set are being followed.
4. Document everything.

Good Habit #4: The Right Tools x The Right Time

From using HubSpot CRM features to CDPs (like Segment) to ETLs (like Talend) to reporting problems (like Tableau), numerous other tools in HubSpot also help in your business’ data management. For example, simple means like HubSpot Automation can help you automate data quality easily.

It is for you to decide which tools work the best for your business and meet the goals of your data management strategy. 

Recently, we advised a client to shift from using spreadsheets to HubSpot CRM, and well, they’re really happy with the results, as it can automatically deal with errors while importing data, creating and enforcing rules for data validation and visually modeling their entire data management strategy.

So, take some time and decide on the best solutions to achieve your goals.

BONUS: Good Habit #5: Measure Your Success

If you want to take it a notch higher, this is a secret that no one will ever tell you about: frequent updates on the status of your data management. 

How do you do it? Hire an external partner to audit and compare your data management performance to your goals annually. Set up KPIs, interview the stakeholders who use your data, and re-evaluate the quality of your databases to assess your business’s market position.

This is a healthy way to keep you on track and help you realistically achieve your data management goals.

Better Late than Never!

It doesn't matter if you are starting from ground zero or trying to figure out how to untangle your unorganized data, following these good habits will make your work easier.

All that matters is how strategically you use your tools to store and manage your data. Take the first step and see the results for yourself… And if you think you might need help managing your company's data, you can always reach out to call us, your friendly, neighborhood HubSpot CRM experts.