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Goal-seeking helps you calculate backwards from an end goal. It鈥檚 a powerful way to understand how you should best allocate resources. If you use Excel to evaluate data, here鈥檚 how to plan ahead with the Goal Seek Excel function.

To use the Goal Seek function in Excel:

Let鈥檚 run through that with a simple example.

I want to bring in 130 new customers. But I don't know how many visits I'll need to reach my goal.

Before doing the Goal Seek analysis, I organize my data to find the average MoM visit-to-customer percentage.

Step 1: Select the cell with the output you want to change

In this case, I鈥檒l select the customer goal.

Step 2: Navigate to the 鈥淒ata鈥� tab

Step 3: Select 鈥淲hat-if Analysis鈥�

Step 4: Click 鈥淕oal Seek鈥�

Pro Tip: You can also get here with the Goal Seek Excel shortcut. Press Alt + A on your keyboard, followed by key W, then G.

Step 5: Type the number you want to hit into the 鈥淭o value鈥� field

My goal is 130 customers, so I鈥檒l type in that number.

Step 6: Select the variable you want to change in the 鈥淏y changing cell鈥� box

I鈥檓 changing Projected Visits so I鈥檒l place the cursor in the 鈥淏y changing cell鈥� box, then scroll down to select the corresponding cell.

Step 7: Click 鈥淥K鈥� to see the Goal Seek analysis

Voila! I find that to get 130 customers, I need to attract 5000 visits.

Use the Goal Seek Function In Excel for Smarter Marketing Insights

Take control of the variables that seem out of your control with the Goal Seek function. You鈥檒l gain respect within your company for predicting your needs and hitting your goals.

You'll also be ready if the unexpected happens. And you'll know how to make informed decisions or tweak your strategy with your new what-if analysis skills.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in [Month Year] and has been updated for comprehensiveness.