How can you create actionable insights through data visualization in business reporting?

4 Follow design principles and best practices

The fourth step to create actionable insights through data visualization is to follow design principles and best practices in order to make your charts visually appealing, easy to read, and accurate. These guidelines and rules serve as a foundation for creating effective and consistent data visualizations. For instance, it is important to use a grid layout to organize your charts and align your elements, as well as utilize white space to create breathing room and avoid clutter. Additionally, you should use the same color palette and font style throughout your report, along with the same scale and format for your axes and data labels. Moreover, it is wise to avoid 3D effects, pie charts, and too many colors or categories. Finally, be sure to check your data for errors, outliers, and missing values.

5 Tell a story with your data

The fifth step to create actionable insights through data visualization is to tell a story with your data. A story is a narrative that connects your data points, explains your findings, and persuades your audience to take action. To craft an effective story, you should first define your audience, purpose, and message. Then, use a logical structure and flow for your report, such as headlines, subheadings, and captions to guide your audience. Additionally, use charts that support your message and show causality, correlation, or comparison. Finally, use transitions, summaries, and calls to action to link your charts and drive action. Telling a story with your data can help you make it more memorable, engaging, and relevant.

6 Test and refine your data visualizations

The sixth and final step to create actionable insights through data visualization is to test and refine your data visualizations. This process involves evaluating your charts for clarity, accuracy, and impact, and making adjustments as needed. This can help you improve your design, fix any errors or inconsistencies, and optimize your message. To do this, you should review your charts for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. Additionally, you should check your data for accuracy, completeness, and validity. Seeking feedback from colleagues, clients, or stakeholders is also important. You can use data visualization tools or software to create, edit, and share your charts. Finally, iterate and improve your charts until you achieve the desired results.