If you have a very clear understanding of not only your intended dataset (i.e., organic weight loss journey social media posts) as well as your abilities (for instance, you don’t have a technical staff to collect data on your own), then choosing the right solution becomes quite straightforward.
In this article, we will discuss three ways in which you can pick the right data collection solution for your company and we will show you how to go about choosing the right data collection solution:
Data Collection
In order for us to collect data, it is absolutely necessary to collect observations and measurements in a systematic, methodical manner. If you are conducting research for commercial or governmental purposes, or if you are conducting research for academic purposes, gathering information may be of considerable assistance in helping you gain a deeper understanding and an original insight into the topic of your project.
3 Ways To Choose A Data Collection Tool
1. Goal-setting
Quite a few business managers seem to get quite frustrated at the thought of setting the initial goals of the data collection process when it comes to generating them. These companies will recognize that they need and want data to become more efficient and increase their ROI (ROI). The problem is that they have a tendency to think of data as being too generalized, even though it is not. For example:
- It cannot be overstated how important it is to have access to social media data
- We should gather the data of all of our eCommerce competitors, it would be a good idea for us to collect that data
- It would be very beneficial for us to have real-time information about inflation
However, businesses need to refine their strategies in order to be successful with their data collection initiatives and identify specifically which datasets will be of greatest value to them (even if you are unsure, you can test your hypothesis). As an example of the way in which the previously mentioned examples can be refined, the following can be referred to:
- In order to achieve our aim, we are going to leverage organic Facebook posts from users in and around the New York City metro area who write about their weight loss journeys throughout the campaign, so that our algorithms can analyze real-time state changes in user needs, as well as tailor marketing campaigns for them as they change their weight loss journey
- At the present time, our company is offering a GPS on several online marketplaces, and we are looking for customer reviews of the products offered by our competitors. In this way, we will be able to identify any shortcomings in our competitors’ products and improve our product listings to highlight our strengths in those areas (for example, high-speed shipping)
- As a company, we are primarily involved in the sale of Fast Moving Consumer Goods from China, which makes up the majority of our business. We want to collect alternative satellite imagery data on the speed with which Chinese production plants are beginning to resume production activity after COVID. To gain a deeper understanding of supply chain shortages so that we can better prepare for them in the future, it is our objective to gain a deeper understanding of them
2. Analyze your capabilities and requirements
It is imperative to have a clear understanding of which datasets you intend to target so that you are able to define your needs and your capabilities. Let’s look at some examples of how companies might express themselves using this criterion:
a. Company 1
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- The brand we represent is a digital fashion brand that has mainly focused on its niche rather than relying on data in order to make its decisions
- We need data in order to improve our production lines, marketing campaigns, SEO strategies, and so on, and this is why we need data. However, we prefer that the data we need be collected and fed periodically to our team members.
- Data collection personnel are not on the payroll at our company; we do not have the infrastructure or expertise to manage large-scale data collection projects, and we do not have the time to devote to such an undertaking.
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b. Company 2
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- Due to the complexity of the process, it can sometimes be difficult for investors to invest in real-time market data due to the risks involved. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for investors to do this. A full suite of tools will be provided to them which will allow them to monitor the daily volume of a stock, relevant news items and trending social media posts talking about the company in question
- The responsibility of ensuring our algorithms are fed with the data they need is in the hands of our internal technical staff who manage the data collection infrastructure that feeds our algorithms the data they need
- When collecting data from hard-to-reach target sites, we face many challenges, such as the fact that competing investor tools distort their open-source data in order to make it more difficult for their competitors to collect relevant data from these sources.
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c. Company 3
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- Using a platform that we have developed, travelers can search for vacation rentals on our website by using a platform that we have developed for that purpose
- With our own data infrastructure and personnel, we can perform real-time price comparisons and offer vacation packages at the best prices
- It is a problem that we face most often since we are having difficulty collecting geo-specific data from the perspective of a user and we frequently find that data points are skewed from the wrong geographic perspective (for example, we try to collect pricing data from our competitor for properties located in the U.S. using an IP address that’s located in the U.K.)
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3. Data Collection: Choosing the Right Solution
With the right information at your disposal, it becomes fairly straightforward to choose a suitable solution once you are in possession of such information.
a. Company 1
According to the above-mentioned scenario, company 1 would be most suitable to choose ProxyCrawl’s services if the above scenario were to occur. The reason is that it is a solution that can also solve the following problems:
- This is a system for collecting data in an automated way that automates the entire process of gathering data and storing it
- This requires zero technical knowledge on the part of the user
- It does not require any in-house data collection infrastructure
- As a result, companies can spend more time on their core business instead of collecting and analyzing data, allowing them to concentrate on what they do best rather than what they are good at
- Datasets and algorithms predefined by the team are delivered directly to the team members in a predetermined format, and a schedule for collecting data has been determined in advance (yet flexible at the same time).
b. Company 2
Taking into consideration the above scenario, ProxyCrawl’s Web Unlocker would be a more appropriate solution for company number two, if you take the approach mentioned above into consideration. Why? Because it is a solution that works on the following points:
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- It is guaranteed by the company that you will be successful 100% of the time. If your request is not successful, you won’t be charged a penny
- In the future, this device will be able to unblock even the most challenging target sites according to its sophisticated retry logic and CAPTCHA-resolving technology based on the recalibration of target sites
- The program can be used to simulate the entire user environment. In terms of browser-level, for example, you can set up full-featured cookie management and emulation of browser fingerprints (e.g., fonts, audio, canvas, WebGL fingerprints, etc.)
- Once all of these features have been integrated, they will be able to complement company 2’s existing infrastructure for collecting data, and they will be able to drive success rates through the roof.
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c. Company 3
In light of the previous scenario, I believe company 3 will be well served by selecting one of ProxyCrawl’s services. One of the reasons for choosing this solution is that it delivers the following:
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- Specifically, the application consists of a peer-to-peer global IP network that is real-time and real-time at the same time
- It is a program that allows you to geotarget cities and countries
- You will be able to guarantee the highest levels of reliability in data retrieval (for example, imagine that your request is being routed directly to a competitor’s site as if it were coming from an individual in your desired location) (for instance, you are looking up vacation rental prices for apartments located in Dallas from an IP address located in Austin).
Final Remarks
It is one of the most important things you can do for yourself to be specific about the goals you have for yourself. Make a list of the datasets which have the greatest likelihood of being able to provide you with the best solutions, and then compare your capabilities with what that product is capable of providing you. If your company has specific challenges or data collection goals, ProxyCrawl has a solution that will help you achieve your objectives regardless of the unique challenges your company faces.
