This module provides practical techniques for addressing records where the provided website URL is not working or the information is difficult to verify. The core focus is maintaining momentum while thoroughly handling data discrepancies.
Why This Matters
- Maintain Momentum: Having a system for dealing with "dead links" prevents you from getting stuck on a single record, allowing you to hit your daily goal of 140+ records.
- Increase Data Quality: By using advanced verification techniques (like Google search), you can find the correct, active information, which improves the quality of the dataset for downstream use (dialing, marketing).
- Identify Status: You can reliably determine if a facility is active or permanently closed, which is critical for the client.
🚀 Strategies for Efficient Problem Solving
A key principle is to flag problematic records and set them aside to keep verifying other, easier records.
General Techniques
- Flagging:
- Application: Use a clear visual marker (e.g., highlighting in yellow) on the sheet for records you need to return to.
- Why? Preserves momentum; you can quickly skip and return later.
- VPN Usage:
- Application: If the site says it cannot be reached, install and activate a free VPN (like Urban VPN) set to a U.S. IP address.
- Why? Some U.S. websites block international IP addresses for security. This bypasses the block and allows verification.
👍
Urban VPN
- Google Search:
- Application: If the URL still won't load, copy the facility's name and address from the sheet and paste it into a search bar (Google search).
- Why? This is the fastest way to find the current, correct web presence and status for the location.
- Strikethrough:
- Application: Use a strikethrough on the row when Google Maps or search results indicate the facility is permanently closed.
- Why? Clearly flags the record for follow-up (e.g., confirming status via phone) without deleting data.
🔍 Two Common Exception Scenarios
This section details how to manage the two most frequent types of non-working links:
1. Facility is Permanently Closed (Dead Link)
- Symptom: The provided URL is a dead link, and searching the name on Google Maps shows a "Permanently Closed" status.
- Action:
- Strikethrough the record on the sheet.
- Flag the record (e.g., mark in a specific color) to indicate a status change for management follow-up.
- Rationale: Google Maps is a generally reliable indicator for closures, making the current data unusable.
2. Incorrect/Changed URL (Active Facility)
- Symptom: The provided URL is wrong, but a Google search of the facility name quickly leads to a new, working website.
- Action:
- Copy the new, correct URL and paste it into the Web Update field.
- Verify all original data (Name, Phone, Address) against the new website. Crucially, check if the facility has changed its Name or Phone Number during the domain change (often indicates a change in ownership).
- Update any discrepancies (e.g., adding suite numbers like "Suite 101").
- Remove the yellow flag once all corrections are made and verified.
- Rationale: This effort fully verifies the record, converting a "bad" record into a high-quality, accurate one within the 3-minute time estimate.
Summary
- Productivity Focus: Complete a minimum of 140 records per day. Use yellow highlighting to flag difficult records and maintain your flow.
- Website Access: If the URL doesn't load, first try activating a VPN set to a U.S. IP address.
- Data Recovery: If the link is dead, Google search the facility name to find a new URL or current status.
- Status Indicators:
- If Permanently Closed, strikethrough the record.
- If a new URL is found, update the sheet and re-verify all details (especially the name and phone number) against the new site.
- Data Quality: Adding detail (like suite numbers) and correcting obsolete information improves data quality and increases customer confidence.