Signal-to-noise ratio
Signal-to-noise ratio, formally used, applies to electricity and engineering, and refers to how much of a desired signal is being received, versus how much background noise is coming through.
The same thing applies to your database. The signal is your good data; the noise is your bad data. I've argued for years that the higher your signal-to-noise ratio in your database, the more likely you are to enter the cycle of doom, where staff will no longer trust the data, and stop using it. Bad data, including outdated contacts, is noise.
In order to improve your signal-to-noise ratio, you need to continually monitor and clean your data. Here are some ways you might do that.
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Some history IS important!
Some history IS important! When I’m advising clients on data conversion (moving data from one […]
“Many mickles make a muckle.”
“Many mickles make a muckle.” “Many mickles make a muckle.” – George Washington Apparently, this […]
It’s easy to collect; it’s harder to manage
It’s easy to collect; it’s harder to manage The beauty of today’s highly configurable AMS […]
Tell them why you want the data
Tell them why you want the data Because data is so easy to collect these […]
Don’t get hung up on something minor
Don’t get hung up on something minor I’m a problem solver. I love to solve […]
Be flexible, especially for unusual requests
Be flexible, especially for unusual requests One of the great benefits of off-the-shelf association management software (AMS) […]
“Her eyes were bigger than her stomach.”
“Her eyes were bigger than her stomach.” When I was a child, my siblings used […]
Once you buy crap…
Once you buy crap… “When you buy something cheap and bad, the best you’re going […]
It could always be worse
It could always be worse Because most of us don’t have the benefit (like I […]
It’s all about managing expectations
It’s all about managing expectations I placed an order online on a Friday and the […]
