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Friday, January 22, 2010

Too Much Data?!?

Another blog post from Seth Godin (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/too-much-data-leads-to-not-enough-belief.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+typepad/sethsmainblog+(Seth's+Blog)) has gotten me thinking again. He postulates that too much data crowds out faith, and that skeptics will always find a reason not to believe no matter what data you put in front of them.

I definitely think there is a point of diminishing returns with data. But, where is that point? Is that point different for different types of data? Is that point different for different data recipients? Are there other elements involved?

I think a salesman would tell you that point is when the potential customer decides to buy... I think there is a time element involved as well though. Too much data from a salesman turns me off right away. But if they give me enough to peak my interest - and then wait - and maybe put it in front of me again a while later, I might bite. Hmmm... a fishing analogy???

I think we need to present enough data to peak interest, give people time to digest it, briefly remind them of the data, show them where they can look for more, give them more time and then "set the hook".