How do you choose the best chart type for your sales data?

This may sound unorthodox, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE spider graphs!!! ???! I used them in any opportunity I can for a few reasons. 1 - you almost never see them so when someone does use one, the knee-jerk reaction is "whoa what is that". Not your typical pie or bar or line chart! It's an interesting and engaging way to present data 2 - it allows you to simply show multivariable data in a simple way. From a sales perspective - you can show sales data for multiple areas/products and quickly see what areas or over/under performing. It makes those outliers easily identifiable. 3 - they are aesthetically beautiful! Pie charts got nothing on them!

While working with a client on simplifying their quarterly sales reports, I realized they were using charts that didn’t align with their goal, leading to confusion. This happens more often than we think. Understand your report’s objective Focus on clarity, not design Match chart type to goal Sell smart, close with confidence

The first question you should always ask yourself before you put any data into a chart or graph is "What am I trying to show or convey". Typically, people are comparing numbers between geographies, categories, brands etc. For making comparisons, Bar Charts tend work really well. On the other hand, if you are showing trends over time - say sales growth, web traffic etc., then a Line Chart is a great choice. If you have multiple variables to compare, then a quadrant chart which allows you to compare 3 different variables is the ideal solution. First, get clear about your intent and the choice of chart/graph follow from there.

One thing that I've always found helpful in choosing which type of chart or graph I use is to first ask myself 'what do I want the data to show?' That simple question helps guide me in the right direction. One of my clients always used a pie chart to illustrate any type of data that added to 100%. The problem was, the difference between several of the data points was very small. So, when plotted on a pie chart, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the best performers from the worst. In this case, the client was showing market share by the 9 regions in the country. With such slight differences between regions, a bar chart told the story much more clearly. Think about what you want the chart to say and then choose the right chart.

One of my clients shared their data using technical jargon, leaving their non-technical team lost. If your audience doesn’t connect, the chart fails. Tailor complexity to audience Prioritize simplicity Highlight actionable insights Sell smart, close with confidence

I once coached a team that used overly detailed charts, drowning their key message. It’s essential that your data supports the core message, not the other way around. Emphasize key takeaways Avoid cluttering with excess data Make visuals concise Sell smart, close with confidence

When working with startups, I find they often overlook additional factors in visual data, such as color coding and patterns that can make or break understanding. Use consistent color schemes Keep design intuitive Limit to essential metrics And don't forget to Sell smart, close with confidence.

The last thing that I'll say on the topic of which chart or graph to use is that sometimes the best way to communicate your information doesn't use a chart or graph at all. For example, one of my clients wanted to show that a large number of consumers wanted to see clean labels and ingredients that they could recognize. That number was 53%. A number so sizable that it made an impact by itself. Another client in a similar category wanted to show how the desire for clean labels and recognizable ingredients was more than double than what it was just 3 years ago. In that case, a bar chart was best. So, determine what you are trying to say, then determine the best way to visualize it.

One thing that I see with my clients that undermines their ability to effectively tell the story with charts and graphs is the use of 3D. 3D charts and graphs may look cool, but they often overcomplicate the image and in the case of pie charts can actually distort the look of the data. In a 3D pie chart, the data at or near the top is always recessed and makes it appear smaller than it actually is. This can confuse the audience and undermine your credibility. So, if you use 3D, please use it with caution