Some people think it’s all about the football …

So, the Euros are upon us and whether you are football mad or not, the tournament is sure to bring a much-needed feelgood factor to the nation.

Some people think it’s all about the football but there’s an interesting takeaway for all of us in business too.

Whilst much of the attention is on Gareth Southgate and his squad of 26 players it’s the extensive back-up team of strategists, dieticians, psychologists, physios, sports scientists, and many more who are the unsung and unseen heroes who do much of the heavy lifting.

Long gone are the days of gifted players and their coach and assistant assembling for a bit of fun.

Today it’s the pointy-heads and analysts behind the scenes where most of the interesting stuff happens.

Not that they’ll get the recognition they deserve but that’s just the way of things.

But whoever goes on to win the tournament it’s the backroom boys and girls who be in no small measure responsible for that success.

Because success in anything rarely happens by chance and they’ll have been crunching the data, checking over the numbers and comparing stats to ensure that the team selection is based on some pretty solid data.

And it’s the same for us in business.

A new website or marketing campaign needs data for you to act upon.

Who exactly is your target market? Your ideal customer?

What do they buy, how often and what are the prime movers in those buying decisions?

Even though most of us don’t realise it but we are sitting on a shedload of data.

It’s in Google Analytics, Search Console, in our CRM and Accounts packages.

Okay, it needs a bit of teasing out to get it, but your decision making will be all the better for it.

Use it well and you’ll be suitably rewarded.

Ignore it at your peril.

Food for thought, perhaps, this week?

But for now, …

If you want a sounding board or just want to bend my ear, I’m on hand for a chat about anything to do with Print or Web Design.

Stay safe.

Alec