The Truth About Big Data

How to Get Started
The first thing to remember about getting started with Big Data is just because something can be measured, it doesn't mean it's the most valuable information to you and your work. When you focus on the key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to the success of both your digital marketing work and your organization, it's hard to go wrong.

Because of the wealth of information out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the options you have at your disposal. It's important to focus your efforts and not just pull in every data source that is available simply because it is there.

By focusing on specific areas that assist in aligning your efforts directly with your KPIs, it will prevent you from wasting time and effort on the wrong things. This should be a good start to leveraging the power of Big Data for your marketing efforts.

The Right Tools For the Job
A quick search on Google will reveal many tools that you as a digital marketer can use to start taking advantage of Big Data insights. Rapleaf, Marketfish and many others provide services to marketers that leverage number crunching and analysis that larger enterprise solutions offer on a much more specialized and targeted basis. Pick a few areas that are directly tied to your KPIs and find solutions that fit.

Another place to get started is by talking with others in your organization. Perhaps they are using their own analysis tools for their respective roles within the company, and you can learn a thing or two from them?

The Future of Big Data
According to McKinsey & Company, the amount of digital information created annually will grow by a factor of 44 from 2009 to 2020, as all major forms of media—voice, TV, radio, print—complete the journey from analog to digital.