What are the steps to clean data for social selling?

1 Identify your data sources

The first step is to identify where your social data comes from and how it is collected. You may use different tools and platforms to gather information about your prospects, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or CRM systems. You need to know what data points are available, how they are structured, and how often they are updated. This will help you to define your data quality standards and criteria.

2 Audit your data quality

The next step is to audit your data quality and identify any issues or gaps. You can use various methods and tools to check your data for completeness, accuracy, consistency, validity, and timeliness. For example, you can look for duplicate records, missing values, incorrect formats, outdated information, or irrelevant fields. You can also compare your data with external sources or benchmarks to verify its accuracy and relevance.

3 Cleanse your data

The third step is to cleanse your data and fix any errors or inconsistencies. You can use manual or automated processes to correct, update, delete, or merge your data. For example, you can use data cleansing tools or scripts to remove duplicates, fill in missing values, standardize formats, or enrich data with additional information. You can also use data validation rules or workflows to ensure your data meets your quality standards and criteria.

5 Analyze your data

The fifth step is to analyze your data and extract insights that can inform your social selling decisions. You can use various techniques and tools to analyze your data, such as descriptive, predictive, or prescriptive analytics. You can also use dashboards, reports, or visualizations to display your data and identify patterns, trends, or opportunities. Analysis will help you to evaluate your social selling performance and effectiveness, and optimize your tactics and campaigns.

6 Maintain your data

The final step is to maintain your data and ensure it stays clean and updated over time. You can use various strategies and tools to maintain your data quality, such as data governance, data stewardship, data audits, or data backups. You can also use feedback loops, automation, or integration to update your data regularly and synchronize it across your tools and platforms. Maintenance will help you to keep your data reliable and relevant for your social selling goals.