{"id":143169,"date":"2021-03-18T12:10:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T12:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginewatch.com\/?p=143169"},"modified":"2021-03-18T12:17:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T12:17:03","slug":"unlocking-the-secrets-of-data-storytelling-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/2021\/03\/18\/unlocking-the-secrets-of-data-storytelling-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking the secrets of data storytelling in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"well\">\n<h3>30-second summary:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data storytelling is the process of combining graphics and narratives to help audiences understand complex data<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are eight types of graphs and charts that marketers can use to tell data stories<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guide will help you understand why data storytelling is important and what best practices you should follow<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re seeing the growing importance of storytelling with data in 2021\u2014primarily because of the amount of data being shared with audiences over the past year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But data needs to make sense to people if it\u2019s to lead to better engagement and increased conversions. That\u2019s where visualization comes in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/data-storytelling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Venngage\u2019s recent study<\/a>, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">data storytelling<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has become a popular tool in an organization\u2019s arsenal, with 48 percent of marketers creating data visualizations weekly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-143173\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Visualization-Bar-Chart-Template_Venngage.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Visualization-Bar-Chart-Template_Venngage.png 814w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Visualization-Bar-Chart-Template_Venngage-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Visualization-Bar-Chart-Template_Venngage-768x478.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Venngage<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we will share why businesses are turning to data storytelling to tell their brand stories and to capture the imagination of their customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Why is storytelling with data important?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data-driven storytelling combines data and graphics to tell a compelling story. It also gives the data more context so audiences can understand it better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The visual representation of data lies can show readers patterns and connections they may not have deduced on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s what makes them such a necessary tool in a small business\u2019 arsenal\u2014data graphics can help businesses <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/loganix.com\/track-seo-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">track their performance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and set goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Kinds of data visualizations for storytelling<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are numerous visual tools available to render data\u2014they highlight why data visualization is important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the kinds of data visualizations for storytelling include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bar Graphs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bubble Charts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Histograms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infographics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Line Charts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pie Charts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scatter Plots<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each visualization technique serves a purpose. Bar graphs and charts are ideal for creating comparisons, whereas line charts show linear relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maps show geographical data, like this example about the languages of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-143175\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/languages-in-the-world.png\" alt=\"Languages in the world\" width=\"929\" height=\"791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/languages-in-the-world.png 929w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/languages-in-the-world-300x255.png 300w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/languages-in-the-world-768x654.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/great-data-visualization-examples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pie charts share data according to set categories, while scatter plots show relationships between multiple variables.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To understand which charts and graphs to use to tell your data story, you can refer to the below infographic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-143179\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-306x1024.png\" alt=\"Infographic chart on data storytelling\" width=\"306\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-306x1024.png 306w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-90x300.png 90w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-768x2569.png 768w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-459x1536.png 459w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Types-of-Charts-Infographic-Template_Venngage-612x2048.png 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Venngage<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Five advantages of data storytelling<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What advantages can businesses expect when storytelling through data?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are the questions that marketers and designers ask themselves before undertaking such a design-heavy project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are several uses for data graphics that make them worth investing time and effort into.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. Provides deeper analysis into information<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you look at the types of visualizations described above, you can see how they provide greater insight into information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A text post or report can do the same work but will require much more labor from the reader\u2014increasing the chances of them leaving your page for shorter <a href=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/2021\/02\/02\/taking-your-seo-content-beyond-the-acquisition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A graphic, on the other hand, tells the reader the same information in a much shorter time. This improves engagement rates and conversions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visuals can also convey patterns easily allowing the reader to analyze information quickly by connecting the dots themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. Promotes problem-solving<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data stories are succinct materials that boost the problem-solving process and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.proofhub.com\/articles\/best-productivity-tools\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">improve productivity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is because decision-makers don\u2019t have to read reams of text or sift through information on their own\u2014the graphics do the work for them and speed up problem-solving.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. Engages internal and external audiences<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/b2b-content-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Content marketing<\/a> is geared toward engagement<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014and that\u2019s why strong visuals that catch the eye are so important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visuals are more attractive than blocks of text\u2014and data graphics that are well-made even more so than others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is because a data story is compelling in itself\u2014numbers, percentages, relationships, and connections are all reasons for a reader to stop what they\u2019re doing and look at your graphic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, you increase traffic and views to your content and your website, all while promoting a favorable impression of your brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. Improves reporting abilities<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports are part and parcel of business life. A great data story is key to a memorable and powerful analysis, like this simple but elegant <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/finance-infographics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">finance infographic template<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-143177\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Modern-Report_Venngage-791x1024.png\" alt=\"Data storytelling improves reporting capabilities\" width=\"640\" height=\"829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Modern-Report_Venngage-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Modern-Report_Venngage-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Modern-Report_Venngage-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Modern-Report_Venngage.png 563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Venngage<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is so much data involved in creating reports\u2014if they are articulated through numbers and tables, your audience will be lost, and worse, bored.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is why great data storytelling is so important in report-making, not just to keep people interested but to tell a good story.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Wide reach<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graphics can be repurposed in multiple ways and for a variety of channels. Social media platforms like Twitter, which are chockful of information, require a strong visual to get attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That attention can be generated through data storytelling. Bite-sized visuals arrest the viewer as they\u2019re scrolling through their feed\u2014they\u2019re also easy to absorb and more shareable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visualized data makes for great content whether for social channels, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">newsletters<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, blog posts, or <a href=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/2020\/06\/22\/studying-the-anatomy-of-a-successful-high-conversion-landing-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website landing<\/a> pages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great graphic has the potential to go viral, widening the reach of your content and influence.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Data storytelling best practices<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paying heed to the importance of visualizing data means following a few best practices. You can\u2019t create visuals without having a goal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You also need to understand the subject matter and the needs of your audience so your data tells the story you want it to and engages your readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the six best practices for creating visualizations that will <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.co.uk\/blog\/customer-loyalty-innovative-customer-retention-strategies\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">boost customer retention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Create visual hierarchies<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hierarchies are necessary for people to read and interpret your data. Visual hierarchies are a key component of data storytelling because they help readers create context and patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since you don\u2019t want to write too much text to explain your graphic, hierarchies are the best way to convey context. Here are the best ways to build visual hierarchies and context:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Placement of elements from top to bottom<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grouped elements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Varying colors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Varied visual styles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing font sizes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Users will be able to deduce the relationship between data and elements using the above methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Build trust into data visuals<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of visualization are completely lost if you can\u2019t elicit trust in the people viewing your information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we put statistics together for studies at Venngage, we survey hundreds, if not thousands, of respondents before beginning the design process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is necessary to avoid cherry-picking data, which can be misleading, as this graph shows, and accidentally designing <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/bad-infographics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bad infographics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-143178\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Purple-Line-Chart-Template_Venngage.png\" alt=\"Build trust with data storytelling \" width=\"816\" height=\"792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Purple-Line-Chart-Template_Venngage.png 816w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Purple-Line-Chart-Template_Venngage-300x291.png 300w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Purple-Line-Chart-Template_Venngage-768x745.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Venngage<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is always best to compile data from trusted sources that are unbiased. Verify that data with at least two other sources so you know that the data is representative of the information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only then should you move into the design phase. When creating your visuals, avoid distortion as much as possible by following these methods:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose charts and graphs that suit your data<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your visual should include a scale to give context to the data<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baselines for data should always start at zero<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both axes should appear in the graphic and be equal in size<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use all relevant data in the visual; don\u2019t leave important data out<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Size plays a major factor in trust-building\u2014use similar-sized visual elements, like icons, that can be scaled on a graph.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Show changes in data through size and space but both should be equal between all visual elements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Keep visualizations simple<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pulling together data<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires a great deal of time and effort. It can be tempting to design visuals that express as much information as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that mindset can negate the effectiveness of visually representing data, and overwhelm your audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visualizations should be simple and easy to understand\u2014not only is this a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justcreative.com\/2020\/11\/12\/brand-design-trends-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brand design trend<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2021, but it keeps readers more engaged, like this chart we created.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-143172\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Pie-Chart-Template_Venngage.png\" alt=\"Keep visuals simple\" width=\"816\" height=\"610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Pie-Chart-Template_Venngage.png 816w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Pie-Chart-Template_Venngage-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Pie-Chart-Template_Venngage-120x90.png 120w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Data-Storytelling-Marketing-Pie-Chart-Template_Venngage-768x574.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Venngage<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a complex visualization may look sophisticated and interesting, if your audience spends too much time trying to understand it, they\u2019re going to eventually give up and move on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A badly-designed graphic, like the one below, will also give readers a negative impression of your brand and product, losing you more potential customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-143176\" src=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-1024x728.png\" alt=\"Bad example\" width=\"640\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-1024x728.png 1024w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-1536x1092.png 1536w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard-2048x1456.png 2048w, https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MLSSalaries-MLSPUDashboard.png 728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/views\/MLSSalaries\/MLSPUDashboard?%3Aembed=y&amp;%3AshowVizHome=no&amp;%3Adisplay_count=y&amp;%3Adisplay_static_image=y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data graphics should be simple enough to understand at a glance\u2014that\u2019s all the time you have to get users\u2019 attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Don\u2019t overuse text<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your data story needs more text to understand it, the visual isn\u2019t well-designed. While there needs to be some text in the graphic, it shouldn\u2019t dominate the image.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can always write a blog or social media post around your findings, but your readers shouldn\u2019t be lost without the context.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of data-driven storytelling lie in the fact that your information can be communicated through the visual medium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re relying on text to do all the talking, your graphic is lacking. Use graphic elements like icons and shapes, and break your data down into bite-sized portions so it\u2019s easy to convey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Use colors wisely in visualizations<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colors have a lot to do with the importance of data visualization storytelling\u2014they can be used to highlight key information in a graphic and augment the data story you are trying to tell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that doesn\u2019t mean you use all the colors in the palette in your graphic. Again, too many colors, like too much information, can overwhelm the audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the flip side, by using too few colors, you can mistakenly create connections between data that aren\u2019t correct.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your brand colors in your visualizations, and augment them with two or three colors. Try not to exceed five colors or five hues of a single color.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re wondering what kinds of colors work together, you can use this list to choose color combinations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use muted colors in your graphics, instead of bold ones, as that is what is on-trend at the moment and will make your visuals more relevant to audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Highlight data in visuals<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As much as you want users to understand the data as you present it to them in a visual, you aim to capture their attention as quickly as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the simplest visuals need some highlights to draw the eye and it\u2019s a great way to maintain the integrity of your data story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a highlight color to make relevant data stand out or increase the font size or icon size to do the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By spotlighting the most important information, you will be more successful in attracting attention to your visual and telling your data story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Businesses can leverage the importance of data storytelling<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve highlighted how data storytelling can make a difference in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/userp.io\/organic-business-growth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business growth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graphics share insights and correlations that audiences may have overlooked, while still being compelling tools that engage and convert customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/author\/ronitamohan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ronita Mohan<\/a> is a content marketer at the online infographic and design platform, <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Venngage<\/span><\/a>. <\/em><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ronita regularly writes about marketing, design, and small businesses.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A comprehensive guide to help you understand why data storytelling is important and what best practices you should follow<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1092,"featured_media":143182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[75,166,28085,1437,757],"content_type":[],"class_list":["post-143169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content","tag-content-2","tag-data","tag-data-storytelling","tag-data-visualization","tag-visual-content"],"acf":{"tad_independentcommercial":false,"tad_content_format":false},"post_info":{"name":"idris.nagri@blenheimchalcot.com idris.nagri@blenheimchalcot.com","title":"","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Unlocking-the-secrets-of-data-storytelling-in-2021.png","category":"Content","timeago":"5y"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1092"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143169"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=143169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}