Big Data For Small Business For Dummies

Chapter 15

Ten Free Big Data Sources

In This Chapter

Knowing where to look for free data

Understanding what sort of data you can get your hands on

Making the most of free data in your business

Data is everywhere – and a lot of it is freely available. These days companies don’t necessarily have to build their own massive data repositories before starting with big data analytics. Many big companies and governments have made large amounts of information available in the public domain, meaning there’s a wealth of data out there accessible to anyone and everyone.

Any company, from big blue chip corporations to the tiniest start-up, can now leverage more data than ever before. Many of my clients ask me for the top free sources they could use in their big data endeavour. Here’s my rundown of some of the best free big data sources available today.

Data.gov (US Government Data)

In 2013, the US government pledged to make all government data available freely online. This site is the result of that pledge, and it’s an absolute treasure trove of information. It acts as a portal to all sorts of government data on everything from climate to crime rates. You can use it for research purposes, ...