Data Storytelling with Google Looker Studio

Book excerpt: Apply data storytelling concepts and analytical thinking to create dashboards and reports in Looker Studio to aid data-driven decision making Key FeaturesGain a solid understanding of data visualization principles and learn to apply them effectivelyGet to grips with the concepts and features of Looker Studio to create powerful data storiesExplore the end-to-end process of building dashboards with the help of practical examplesBook Description Presenting data visually makes it easier for organizations and individuals to interpret and analyze information. Looker Studio is an easy-to-use, collaborative tool that enables you to transform your data into engaging visualizations. This allows you to build and share dashboards that help monitor key performance indicators, identify patterns, and generate insights to ultimately drive decisions and actions. Data Storytelling with Looker Studio begins by laying out the foundational design principles and guidelines that are essential to creating accurate, effective, and compelling data visualizations. Next, you'll delve into features and capabilities of Looker Studio – from basic to advanced – and explore their application with examples. The subsequent chapters walk you through building dashboards with a structured three-stage process called the 3D approach using real-world examples that'll help you understand the various design and implementation considerations. This approach involves determining the objectives and needs of the dashboard, designing its key components and layout, and developing each element of the dashboard. By the end of this book, you will have a solid understanding of the storytelling approach and be able to create data stories of your own using Looker Studio. What you will learnUnderstand what storytelling with data means, and explore its various formsDiscover the 3D approach to building dashboards – determine, design, and developTest common data visualization pitfalls and learn how to mitigate themGet up and running with Looker Studio and leverage it to explore and visualize dataExplore the advanced features of Looker Studio with examplesBecome well-versed in the step-by-step process of the 3D approach using practical examplesMeasure and monitor the usage patterns of your Looker Studio reportsWho this book is for If you are a beginner or an aspiring data analyst looking to understand the core concepts of data visualization and want to use Looker Studio for creating effective dashboards, this book is for you. No specific prior knowledge is needed to understand the concepts present in this book. Experienced data analysts and business intelligence developers will also find this book useful as a detailed guide to using Looker Studio as well as a refresher of core dashboarding concepts.