What is a Data Analyst?
Data Analysts are experts in the analysis of information. They collect and analyze company data, whether related to customers, products, performance or competitors. They provide their interpretation of all this information in the form of reports in order to guide management or marketing strategies.
All you need to know about freelance Data Analysts
What does a Data Analyst do?
The profession of Data Analyst is a result of the digital boom. With the digital transition, companies are required to collect large amounts of data. This information is relevant to all areas of the company and can be used to develop a more effective strategy and to stand out from the competition.
The role of a freelance Data Analyst is to examine the data available to the company that hires them. They’ll use it to extract crucial information that’ll help boost the company’s growth. For example, the data may help determine a company’s consumer profiles. Data Analysts’ reports allow marketing and sales departments to better target customers and meet their expectations.
Data Analysts must also create, model and optimize databases. They set up dashboards and KPIs and provide feedback on performance in order to provide an overview of the results of the various departments. Their role is also to monitor technology to ensure they’re always using the best data analysis tools. Although their duties may be similar to those of a Data Scientist, the latter focuses on more complex databases (Big Data), which are not necessarily structured or which must be accessible in real time.
What skills do Freelance Data Analysts have?
In order to correctly handle the data, freelance Data Analysts must have a solid understanding of mathematics, especially statistics. They’re comfortable with numbers, but also know how to handle the various tools that relate to databases, their processing and the programming languages that define them. Data Analysts are thus familiar with tools such as Excel, Acces, Hotjar and Dataiku DSS. They are proficient in languages such as R, Python and SQL. Some freelance data analysts are proficient in more advanced tools such as Hadoop and Spark, but they are more intended for Data Scientists.
In addition to strong statistical and computing skills, Data Analysts also have a good knowledge of marketing. These skills allow them to write quality reports and provide strategic advice to teams in charge of campaigns. Attention to detail, organization and good writing skills are other essential skills in this profession.
How do freelance Data Analysts work?
Some freelance data analysts work entirely remotely, while others will be required to work at their clients’ premises. This depends on the project and the tools used by the company. However, it’s essential that Data Analysts provide regular reports and are in constant contact with the client and the marketing team.
It’s crucial to brief the freelancer on the company’s values, challenges, targets and objectives before the start of the project. Data Analysts need to have a good understanding of the issues and constraints related to the sector of activity of the data they are analyzing.
The client’s needs and specifications will determine how they work. Not all companies use freelance data analysts for the same tasks.
How to choose a freelance Data Analyst?
The profession of Data Analyst is rapidly developing. Need a freelancer in this sector? Here are our tips for selecting the best one for your needs on Malt.
1. Their experience
As this is a relatively new sector, freelancers' CVs might be a little on the short side. You can, however, take a look at their most recent projects. Clients often leave reviews that offer good insight into the way freelancers work. You’ll also need to check their skills to choose those that are closest to your needs.
2. Their rate
As with many digital jobs that require advanced IT skills, the Average Day Rate (ADR) for a freelance data analyst is rather high. But good work comes at a cost, and the valuable statistical reports they provide will benefit your company. On Malt, you can filter profiles according to their ADR in order to find a freelance data analyst who’ll fit your budget.
3. Their availability
If you need a freelance Data Analyst to come and do some or all of the work on your premises, make sure that the selected profiles are available for this type of work in your location. You can use the filters in the search options to save time.
