How to Start a Data Collection Project
Do you want to start your own automated data collection project but don't know where to begin?
Collecting data without the right knowledge can be a daunting task. Should you do it in-house? Where can you find a third party? Do you need to use proxies? If so, what type of proxy do you need?
In this article, we'll cover what to look for and offer solutions to help you execute your data collection project.
What data does your business need? Which target sites need to be accessed? What barriers must be overcome to obtain accurate data? Let's learn about the restrictions you might face when collecting data and which proxy solution suits your needs.
Online Restrictions
The target websites from which a business needs to collect data are a key indicator of the required infrastructure. Many sites use blocking techniques. These include geo-location restrictions, IP rate limiting, and fingerprinting specifications that a web scraper finds difficult to handle without proxy servers. The types of blocks used and the complexity of the target sites determine the type of proxy infrastructure needed.
Geo-location Restrictions
Sites use your IP address to determine where the request originated. This information is used by sites to provide relevant pricing and product information. IP addresses belonging to countries they don't serve may be completely blocked, while IPs clearly belonging to competitors may be blocked or, worse, misled with inaccurate data, such as inflated prices. By using the right country- or city-targeted IPs, this problem can be easily resolved.
IP Rate Limiting
Rate limiting is an anti-bot mechanism used to detect non-human behavior and block IP addresses. These measures work by counting the number of requests made from a single IP per minute and blocking IPs that send too many requests too quickly. Connecting your scraper to a pool of rotating proxies allows you to change your IP every X requests (the right number depends on the target site), providing a simple way to avoid rate limits and collect data at high speed and accuracy.
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting includes a wide range of methods that account for all aspects of your device, including installed software, languages used, protocol type, screen resolution, HTTP/TLS protocols, etc. Overcoming this specific obstacle in data collection begins with understanding the target sites and the fingerprinting methods they use. Depending on the type of fingerprinting, the solution may be a virtual machine, unblocking software, or simply trial and error.
Most blocking methods are relatively simple, but complex target sites may require third-party software to save time and ensure accurate data. There are various types of unblocking software, but make sure you understand how the company overcomes them and what proxy infrastructure it uses.
Proxy IP Types and Required Data
The type of IP needed for an automated data collection project depends entirely on the data itself and its intended use. Let's break down the most common IP types and their best use cases.
Data Center IPs
A data center IP is a machine-generated IP address of a server or data center farm. They can be country and/or city targeted and are the most cost-effective proxy solution. They are great for handling massive amounts of data, as they can be paid per IP with unlimited bandwidth or available by connecting to a pool of thousands of IPs that can be continuously rotated and billed per GB. Common uses of data center IPs include market research and web data extraction.
Residential IPs
A residential IP is an IP address belonging to an individual who has agreed to allow the proxy network to use their IP when their device has spare resources. These IPs have all the characteristics of a typical site visitor. Residential proxies are essential for actions where accuracy matters, such as ad verification, travel aggregation, and price comparison data accumulation. Real IPs are provided in pools and billed per GB, enabling unlimited rotation and easily resolving rate limit issues.
Mobile IPs
Similar to residential IPs, these are 3G/4G connections of mobile IP owners who join the network. Mobile IPs are necessary for direct billing campaign verification and app promotions. Additionally, they offer the highest quality as they typically bypass common blockers due to their inherent nature and high-resolution targeting capabilities. Mobile IPs are usually provided in pools, ensuring constant rotation and a per-GB pricing structure.
If you are unsure which types of IP you need, it's best to consult a data extraction specialist. The field of automated data collection is constantly evolving, and that's why the Web Scraper IDE platform was created in hopes of providing a simple solution.
Data Collection Options
- Outsourcing Required Data
Data can be obtained from a third-party company that collects analytics for clients. Simply provide data sets and target sites, and they will deliver the necessary information. However, the downside is that this same data is likely sold to various companies, including competitors.
- In-House Team and Proxy Infrastructure
Another approach is to have your own data extraction team build the proxy infrastructure, develop web scrapers, and maintain ongoing data collection. This solution is costly and can be complex to manage due to the many moving parts that must work simultaneously while adapting to constant changes on the web.
- In-House Team Using an External Proxy Network
A web data extraction team can hire a proxy network, allowing them to focus on collecting the needed data rather than spending time and resources managing their own proxies.
- Using a Proxy Network That Provides Data Collection Services
Many popular proxy networks offer data collection services, including scraping and proxy infrastructure. This form of Web Scraper IDE uses multiple types of networks, IP types, and various mechanisms to ensure the most accurate data.