GOOGLE DATA STUDIO

GOOGLE DATA STUDIO

At the beginning of my Studies at the CXL Institute in Digital Analytics, we were introduced to three Basic tools or platforms in Google Analytics employed at different stages to collection, analysis and presentation of Data. These included the Google Analytics (GA), Google Tag Manager (GM) and The Google Data Studio (GS).

In the week, i have been engaged in learning more about the Google Data Studio with Michele Riss as my Tutor.

INTRODUCTION: Data Studio is Google’s reporting solution for power users who want to go beyond the data and dashboards of Google Analytics. The data widgets in Data Studio are notable for their variety, customization options, live data and interactive controls (such as column sorting and table pagination). Data sources include Google products (Analytics, AdWords, Search Console, Sheets, YouTube, etc.), database connectors, file upload, and “community” connectors to popular marketing services. Google data studio helps to paint a cohesive picture to understand data visualizations for end users. It let users make custom reports with data from Google marketing services and external Sources.

Google Data Studio started out as part of the enterprise Google Analytics 360 suite. In May 2016, Google announced a free version of data studio for individuals and smaller teams. At the time, there were differences between the paid version and the free version, such as the number of reports that could be created per account. By February 2017, Google announced free, unlimited Data Studio reports. Since then, the free version of Google Data Studio has continued to add powerful features and usability enhancements.

This section of the Digital Analytics course was handled by Michele Kiss who did a very great job taking us through all what GA Data studio entails so far.

Firstly, Michele took us back to Data by addressing three key fundamental issues viz:

1.      Introduction to the types of Data

2.      How to explore data using the Google data studio

3.      Fundamental principles of Data Visualizations.

DATA SOURCES: A Data source refers to where our data are actually being generated or coming from. In Google Data Studio, “Data Sources” are the actual things being measured, which are Google connections or Partner connections. Partner connections are External applications or sources which aligns with the Data sources to produce required information. E.g. Adobe.

ANATOMY OF A DATA SOURCE

In Google analytics, when talking about data, two things will always definitely cross any users mind. They are Dimensions and Matrices. In defining a data source, the Green color represents the Dimensions, while Blue represents the Metrics. You can decide to change a numeric field from a Metrics to a Dimension if it makes more sense to you for proper management.

TYPES OF DIMENSIONS

1.      Numbers

2.      Text

3.      Date

4.      True/False

5.      Geography

6.      Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

TYPES OF METRICS

1.      Numbers

2.      Percentages

3.      Duration

4.      Currency

While exploring your data source, they are some factors one must keep at the back of his/her mind which includes the following:

1.      In Google Analytics it is essential to give data sources logical names to enable you do or spot the differences between one data source from another.

2.      Data sources should be set up at report levels. According to Michele, it is important to explore data sources before building a report.

3.      Think about the design before you start by taking notes of some factors such as:

A.     What data points do you want to include…?

B.     How much user engagements do you want…?

C.     Are you doing something highly flexible …or a curative snap shot …?

D.     Sketch out your desired outcome.

CUSTOMIZING THE BASICS

Google data studio deals mostly with presentations which the user can decide to design according to choice in colors and outlooks. Some of the Basic things that can be customized include: The color scheme, where the Nave appears or whether it is visible at all, the size and orientation of the page etc.

DATA VISUALIZATION OPTIONS

Data visualization options are platforms or tools through which the data for desired presentation can be made to the end user. Everything about Google reports is centered on configurations and customizations. Available data visualization options in Google Studio include:

1.      Score cards

2.      Line charts

3.      Bar, Column, and Area Charts

4.      Pie and Donut charts

5.      Maps

6.      Scatter plots

7.      Pivot tables

8.      Bullet

9.      Tree maps.

Michele went further to give us some guidelines in choosing which of the visualization options to choose in developing your presentation.

·        Line charts are good ways to emphasize a trend of progression over time.

·        Two metric charts can be used if the two metrices are telling the same story. This is not encouraged if they are telling different stories because it will end up causing the graph to look clustered.

   ·        If what you are trying to show is the differences between some of the values in dimensions, it will be better use Bar or Column Charts.

·        Line charts

·        When wanting to compare the Magnitude of different values over time, it is most appropriate to make use of the Area Chart.

·        Report space can be maximized through the use of the skarklines or line Graphs. When the items to be presented are much and the space available is small, Table Bars can be employed in Data presentation.

DATA VISUALIZATION PRINCIPLES

SCORE CARDS. Score cards can be used with graphs in maximizing space and presenting good data in a great deal. They can also be used to create visualizations that might not be directly possible.

Some important things to note when using Score Cards are:

1.      Compact the numbers to were appropriate to avoid clustering the presentation page.

2.      Be thoughtful on how you make use of                decimal points. You can as well chose to round up or down depending on the decimal points and cleanliness of presentation.

PIE CHARTS. The Pie chart is another very interesting visualization principle that can be used in the presentations of data with simple proportions. According to Michele, it is best used when You have minimal items (less than three…), and the data you chose to present is part of a whole. An additional advantage of the Pie Chart is that it is easy to understand, the level of effort to show something different is out of line with the value you will get from the chart. The only disadvantage of Pie Chart is that The human brain cannot judge the size difference in area very well so, one can decide to employ the use of simple Bar Chart in data representations. 

i will still be coming your way Next week to explore the miracle of Google Data Studio.

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