3 Ways SMBs Can Leverage Big Data

The term "big data" is often associated with very large organizations, each equipped with a highly paid team of data scientists working their analytical magic on terabytes of information. And while that image is often accurate, it doesn't apply to the small and midsize business (SMB) market, where lower budgets and smaller staffs require more creative and affordable approaches to big data management.

SMBs can leverage big data effectively, however, if they follow a few basic guidelines before embarking on an ambitious data project. In a phone interview with InformationWeek, ClickFuel CEO and former Monster.com executive VP Steve Pogorzelski said that smaller companies must avoid feeling overwhelmed by big data, even if managers/owners have to administer their own data management endeavors.

"We know that small business owners in general are time-starved and task-focused," said Pogorzelski, adding that SMBs must understand their objectives and try to keep it as simple as possible.

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ClickFuel was founded in 2008 as Jet Pack and delivers online marketing services to business service and media companies. The company changed its name to ClickFuel in 2009. Its Fuel Station product is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) based campaign performance dashboard that provides SMBs with real-time marketing data, ROI metrics and other insights.

SMBs should consider three key factors before leveraging big data, Pogorzelski said.