There is more data today than ever before. It has been stated that humankind is able to store at least 295 exabytes of information. (that's a number with 20 zeroes in it.)

For us marketeers more data means more opportunity to be effective - if we handle it right. Here are some thoughts about the importance of data and getting the best from it. If you want help handling your data, contact us today.

27 quotes about data 

1. Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves. Tim Berners-Lee
2. Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all. Charles Babbage
3. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Arthur Conan Doyle
4. Experts often possess more data than judgement. Colin Powell
5. Life is made up of a series of judgements on insufficient data, and if we waited to run down all our doubts, it would flow past us. Learned Hand
6. Most executives, many scientists, and almost all business school graduates believe that if you analyse data, this will give you new ideas. Unfortunately, this belief is totally wrong. The mind can only see what it is prepared to see. Edward de Bono
7. As a matter of fact, when compression technology came along, we thought the future in 1996 was about voice. We got it wrong. It is about voice, video, and data, and that is what we have today on these cell phones. Steve Buyer
8. Data is only as good as the system (or process) that collects it. Anon.
9. Analysis is only as good as the data on which it is based and the skills and experience of the analyst. Anon.
10. Data is not information, information is not knowledge, knowledge is not understanding, understanding is not wisdom. Clifford Stoll
11. Data is what distinguishes the dilettante from the artist. George V. Higgins
12. No observational problem will not be solved by more data. Vera Rubin
13. Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in the new information society precisely because there is so much data. John Naisbitt
14. You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data. Daniel Keys Moran
15. You can use all the quantitative data you can get, but you still have to distrust it and use your own intelligence and judgment. Alvin Toffler
16. Education is not the piling on of learning, information, data, facts, skills, or abilities - that's training or instruction - but is rather making visible what is hidden as a seed. Thomas Moore
17. I don't see the logic of rejecting data just because they seem incredible. Fred Hoyle
18. In the spirit of science, there really is no such thing as a "failed experiment." Any test that yields valid data is a valid test. Adam Savage
19. You have to have access to ideas. The Internet is facilitating that access to ideas. In 25 years, the way that data's going to flow back and forth, we don't quite understand yet. Michael Nesmith
20. You may have heard the world is made up of atoms and molecules, but it's really made up of stories. When you sit with an individual that's been here, you can give quantitative data a qualitative overlay. William Turner
21. Our communications services revenue growth is being driven by continued strong top-line performance in data, Internet and international - three of the fastest growing and most profitable areas within communications services. Bernard Ebbers
22. The weaker the data available upon which to base one's conclusion, the greater the precision which should be quoted in order to give the data authenticity. Norman Ralph Augustine
23. Web users ultimately want to get at data quickly and easily. They don't care as much about attractive sites and pretty design. Tim Berners-Lee
24. When we have all data online it will be great for humanity. It is a prerequisite to solving many problems that humankind faces. Robert Cailliau
25. You don't get to cut that chain of evidence and start over. You're always going to be pursued by your data shadow, which is forming from thousands and thousands of little leaks and tributaries of information. Bruce Sterling
26. The level of ignorance is declining, and the ability to accumulate data and manipulate it for various ends is increasing. Bruce Sterling
27. Our criteria for good data feeds are that they need to be dynamic enough to be interesting, something that users want to attune to throughout the day, etc. David Rose

If this has inspired some thoughts about how we can help you to get the best from your data, contact us today.

(This blog post was originally shared in March 2012)