How to Use Your Data to Tell a Story

With so much data available for free it is no surprise that data visualization is more relevant than ever. Infographics, business dashboards, annual reports, case studies and videos use graphic design to make data atheistically pleasing and easier to understand. Telling a story with your data goes beyond just looking at individual metrics and ties together data and human communication.

Connect the Dots
In order to use your data to tell a story you need to explore relationships in your analytics and make connections. Think about what is relevant to your target audience. What do you want to convey though your storytelling? What data is unique to your company or platform that others may not have access to? Who would benefit from the information you are sharing? What platform are you planning to use to share the story? All of these questions will help inform the story you will tell.

Visualize the Data
Once you know what you want to do with your data it is time to make it digestible to audiences. One extremely important factor will be the kind of graphic you use to display the data. The data relationships will inform the type of charts or graphs you can use to best get your story across. Educate yourself on some of the best practices of data visualization to ensure your audience is able to understand your data.

Share Your Story 
Print your report, post your infographic, publish your blog or send that email. It has never been faster to get your story out into the world. Just be sure to track the results!