Constantly pushing data analysis to next week? Ignoring your business numbers can quietly lead to costly mistakes and stalled growth. Here’s how to fix it in 30 minutes.
“This can’t be good” was the only thought running through my head as I stared up at the ceiling of our downstairs bathroom.
The once egg-shell white ceiling now had a yellow tint...complete with tiny black specks. 🤮
And if I’m being honest, I wasn’t entirely shocked.
For months, I had been giving the drain in our tub upstairs the side-eye. Something felt off, but not an urgent emergency.
We told ourselves it was probably fine. Yes, the pipe was old, but nothing seemed to be wrong…no flooding, no leaking, no reason to call a plumber.
Until there was.
And suddenly our Monday was consumed with finding a plumber & pulling down drywall.
What on earth does my ceiling almost collapsing have to do with your business data?
Surprisingly, more than you think. 😉
The Hidden Cost of Not Paying Attention to Your Business Data
The Problem Isn’t the Leak…It’s Ignoring It
Your business data works the same way.
It’s quietly being gathered in the background of your busy days running your business.
And, whether you’re looking at it or not, it is your first warning to things that might be slightly off (and could turn into serious problems).
For example, your data could be showing:
- A dip in link clicks from Instagram
- A sharp decline in website visits
- Fewer email opens (or clicks)
- Less engagement on social media platforms
- A decrease in sales over the month
None of these things are flashing red lights signaling emergencies.
And a lot of these could simply be a normal pattern that your business has during a certain time of year or as a result of something else you’re doing.
But if you don’t look into them (or even notice them in the first place), they could grow into a bigger problem.
And if you aren’t regularly checking on your numbers, you might miss the early warning signs and suddenly have problems crashing down on your head.
What Ignoring Your Business Data is Really Costing
What are some of these problems, you ask?
Well, running your business & making decisions without paying attention to your business data can cost you:
- Months creating content that isn’t converting…or really doing much of anything
- Money spent on ads that aren’t producing leads (let alone sales)
- Traffic funneled to a sales page that doesn’t close the sale
- Investments that aren’t working because they aren’t solving the true problem
Spending time with your business data really isn’t an optional task for entrepreneurs.
And ignoring the numbers is only making your decisions more expensive (and difficult to make).
Because when you aren’t listening to your business data, and feel like things aren’t working, you generally try to fix the issue by doing more.
- More content
- More ads
- More freebies
- More offers
Which just leaves you burnt out, exhausted, and wondering if you just need to hang up your badge & go find a 9-5 job.
The Good News? You Don’t Need to Do More
So where do you go from here?
Because you want to pay attention to your business data, but just feel like adding one more thing to your plate will throw everything off.
I see you.
You’re building something meaningful and valuable for yourself and your family.
You LOVE the freedom this business gives you.
You’re juggling content, clients, ads, offers, and real life.
And you’re constantly rearranging your to-do list to make it all fit.
But if analyzing your data is always being pushed to next week, that’s a sign that it needs to get done first this week.
Here’s the good news, analyzing your data DOESN’T mean you need:
- A 40-tab spreadsheet with a bajillion complicated formulas
- A nerdy love for numbers
- A master’s degree in math
- 3+ hours a week
All you really need is:
- A clear, specific goal you’re working towards
- One or two numbers that show your progress towards said goal
- A simple weekly check-in process (that should take you 15 minutes)
The goal isn’t to obsess over the ceiling (or anything that could potentially go wrong with it).
The goal is to catch the small water leak before it requires a full-blown remodel.
The 30 Minute Habit that Prevents Bigger Problems
I’m all about creating rhythms that are practical for your business so that they actually happen, so it’s time to get practical.
So, here’s how I would start regularly looking at my business data to make sure I’m aware of any potential leaks.
First, I would choose ONE goal or area of my business I want to start bringing some numbers into.
Then, I would get organized.
I’m always going to choose to use a spreadsheet to keep my numbers organized.
Create a simple Google Sheets based on the goal and numbers I’m paying attention to.
And I’m talking one or two numbers per goal. You DON’T have to go crazy & try to collect and analyze 20 numbers each week.
I have an awesome Instagram data tracker FREEBIE that makes this step SO easy for you.
Check out my other spreadsheet templates at my Etsy store here.
Then we get into the actual 30 minute weekly routine.
Set aside 5 minutes to actually add those numbers to your spreadsheet.
Block off a different 25 minutes to review them.
When you review your numbers from this week, compare them to last week.
Ask yourself this question: “What moved?”
Did anything change?
Are any numbers lower or higher than last week?
Then, ask this followup question: “Why?”
Was there something you did differently this week that may have impacted the number changing?
Your goal is to see if any action you took impacted the change.
Finally, make adjustments to your plan for next week based on your data.
You’ll be ready to enter the new week with a game plan built on what you know is happening (and working).
Identify Your Leaks with Your Business Data
Going through the motions of your weekly plans while ignoring your business data is only keeping you in the dark on problems that are popping up (and how you can quickly fix them).
Keeping analyzing your business numbers as a priority is a simple, but effective way to make sure you discover leaks before they cause structural damage to your business that costs you way more to repair.
Thirty minutes a week is really all you need to catch the warning signs before they pose a real problem.
And if fitting 30 minutes in a week is still too much, I can get you down to 10 minutes flat.
A Data Drop is a remote audit I perform on your Instagram or Email data to show you where the leak is and provide you with the knowledge on how exactly to fix the leak.
Then you get to spend your time creating content without the doubt of if it will “land” this week.
Get a clear plan for what to post or email next (and what to stop creating) based on what’s actually working, without spending a single minute looking at your data.