Okay, let’s get this out of the way first — we promise this won’t be a stiff and dense blog about big-data that’s confusing to digest and apply to your business. Phew, now that we got that out of the way, let’s dive in.

Data analysis isn’t just for big corporations. I repeat, data analysis isn't just for big corporations! Small businesses can benefit tremendously from all sorts of data. In this piece we’ll break down a bit about what “data” is, and how you can use it to grow your business and make calculated decisions.

What is data?

We know, maybe this seems elementary. After all, “data” is a word we hear all around us on a daily basis. From talking about your cell phone plans to reading about trends in the news — you’ll see and hear that word constantly. But what does it mean in the context of your business? Data (and more specifically, data analysis) helps businesses reach their goals. 

Studying data for even just a few minutes can help you use information to your advantage. So, what data are we referring to? As it relates to your business, data often comes in the form of:

Sales receipts

Whether you’re offering in-person or virtual classes, you can get a lot of insight about your customers based on what they’re booking, and what they’re paying. Seeing which classes are the most popular, and what their price points are, can help you make decisions about what classes to develop for the future.

Email reports

Opens, clicks, and orders that are coming from your email marketing efforts are important indicators of what your audience is looking for. If you’re sending emails to the customers, chances are high that you have access to reports about which type of content is performing well. Maybe it’s your outdoor classes? Or your virtual activities? By studying email reports you’ll have a better understanding of what your parent audience prefers. 

Social media insights

Likes, comments, shares, and engagement on your posts should be thoughts of than more just vanity metrics. Whether you’re posting about a specific class, or highlighting a new camp, study the types of responses and engagement you get from your audience on social media. 

Booking behavior 

What classes are your most popular? Are your activities geared towards toddlers filling up faster than your classes for grade schoolers? Understanding who is booking your classes can help you predict how to better develop a curriculum to meet the demands of your community.

How can you get eyes on the data for your business?

When it comes to breaking down data insights and trends from your customers, having the right tools to compile essential information in one place is the best way for you to run a tight ship. After all, you have enough on your plate — so why not keep the data reporting of your customers simple?

At Sawyer, a customer insight dashboard helps you to get to know your customers on a deeper level which is what business is all about. Here you’ll find at-a-glance insights for average customer spend, average number of customer bookings, and track growth for net new, enrolled, and existing customers over time. You can also browse parent and child contact reports for easy access to download email lists and apply filters such as sort by age, birthday, and more. 

At the end of the day, data should help you run your business smoother and more efficiently. Making sure you have the tools in place to analyze and act on the insights you learn about your customers will make your day-to-day operations easier!