Data Visualization Basics for Wheaton, IL Businesses: Essential Guide to Getting Started









September 27, 2022

Data Visualization Basics for Wheaton, IL Businesses: Essential Guide to Getting Started

Visual data is the ultimate tool for all businesses. When done right, data visualization takes complex information and boils it down to a simple, attention-grabbing, and digestible image. This image is critical, as it can add value to your internal operational processes, marketing, and so much more. Want to learn more about data visualization and what it means? The Wheaton Chamber of Commerce shares all the essential information you need to know below.

 

What Is Data Visualization?

 

Data visualization is an image that graphically or visually represents data or information. This can be done by taking numbers from a spreadsheet or document and transforming them into a line chart or bar. It can also derive information from research, report, or survey and represent it through a pie chart or line graph. Whichever form it takes, data visualization is ultimately about understanding and analyzing trends and outcomes within data. 

 

Benefits of Using Data Visualization

 

According to Salesforce, visual content is processed much more quickly than text. This can have significant advantages for your business. Data visualization, when used correctly, can help you provide value to almost all aspects of business, including internal operational processes, marketing, customers, investors, and more. How? Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits:

 
  • Get a bird’s eye of critical data and metrics on the health of your business.

  • Integrate data sources and sets organized all in one place.

  • Provides an at-a-glance view of business performance or KPIs for investors, decision-makers, or board members.

  • Clarify internal processes and systems for operations and new hires to improve outcomes and performances.

  • Logically interpret data to better processes, procedures, and employees to boost the bottom line.

 

As you can see, that’s a lot of benefits! When considering big picture stuff, you will also be able to boost engagement, improve analysis, identify relationships and improve brand storytelling.

 

Data Visualization Tools and Resources

 

When it comes to visually representing your data, there are innumerable ways to do so. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used ones below:

 
  • Column graph

  • Bar graph

  • Area chart

  • Pie chart

  • Waterfall chart

  • Heat map

  • Funnel map

  • Scatter plot chart

 

The kind of visualization chart you pick will depend entirely on what you’re trying to communicate. Some charts are favored for tracking data over time, while others are best for tracking demographic data and more. Don’t think you need to do it all alone when creating these data visualizations! According to Toptal, the best tools for data visualization include Google Charts, Tableau, Grafana, Chartist, and Infogram. 

 

Data Visualization for Presentations

 

Once you’ve understood data visualization and used tools to aid you in creating them, it will be time to put them to use. One of the most significant ways businesses use data visualization is to share and present data findings to employees and investors. When doing so, it will be critical to ensure your final result looks professional and put together. When sharing and printing images, using a PDF is the easiest way to achieve this result. It is helpful to have a PDF editor, as you can do this to add PDF pages. Simply open the files you want to combine in the editor, select the specific pages you want to add, and rearrange them. When you’re happy, save it. 

 

Communicate Through Images

 

Data visualizations are beautiful ways to communicate an observation through images. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Selecting the correct graphical representation can help you tell your story and convey brand messaging uniquely and creatively. Also be sure to use your data visualizations to help you and your stakeholders learn more about what is working and what needs to be adjusted to make your business even more successful. So, what’re you waiting for? It’s time to get started on data visualization today!

 

Connect with and learn from other local business leaders by joining the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.