I had previously heard of Google Data Studio but I had never used it. Primarily because I did not know how to get started. Well, Annie Cushing from Annielytics fixed that for me. Now, I am using the Google Data Studio with everything. I am acting like a mad man.
Google Data Studio (GDS) is a tool for presenting your data in an attractive and understandable manner. You can find Google Data Studio at https://datastudio.google.com.
I am currently working on a project to create reports that will better present data to the businesses I am working with. Google Data Studio makes it a breeze to build these reports.
Data Sources
In her presentation, Cushing showed how to connect to a data source. With GDS, you can connect to over 150 different data resources. These resources can vary from Google Analytics to one of my favorites, Google Sheets. I have collected a lot of data in Google Sheets and GDS helps to show this information in an intelligent way.
Formatting
Cushing recommended thinking about branding first. You should first set your themes and color palette. Once done, you can then save the report as a template that you can copy and use as a starting point.
Report Elements
With GDS, you can insert a number of different report elements. These include:
- Time series
- Bar charts
- Combo charts
- Pie charts
- Tables
- Geo maps
- Scorecards
- Scatter charts
- Bullet charts
- Area charts
- Pivot tables
- Embedded URLs
- Text
- Images
- Date ranges
- Filter controls
- Data controls
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been building out a stack of reports with this tool. It is definitely a keeper. I am glad I sat in on this session.
Additional Reading
- How to Add and Manage Google Analytics Filters
- Book Review: Google Analytics Breakthrough: From Zero to Business Impact
- #SMMW17: Google Analytics: How to Measure What Matters for Your Business
