Data visualization can help to increase efficiency and accuracy.
Data Visualization can be simpler than you think when you have the right tools. After collecting months or even weeks of company data, it can seem like you are staring at a black hole of data. This is why there are tools to make your big data less overwhelming and presentable for you and your team to understand. While there are so many data visualization tools to use, we have listed the top three tools to support you as a marketing professional.
What is Data Visualization?
Data visualization is defined as a visual presentation of data where it can reveal trends, patterns, and outliers in your marketing data. Data visualization can create all types of charts that make data visually pleasing.
The most significant benefit of data visualization is breaking up complex data and helping to make informed business decisions. Studies show that over 55% of our communication is visual, so people are more likely to respond to easy-to-read charts than spreadsheets of data that can be mentally draining to look at.
Lastly, data visualization portrays data in a purposeful and valuable way. Marketing is all about telling a story, and data visualization will keep them hooked while you’re telling it.
The Three Best Tools for Data Visualization
1) Tableau
Best known as the master of data visualization, Tableau can take complex data and analyze it quickly and efficiently. Tableau has a large variety of charts and maps to choose from that are customizable, including heat maps and bubble charts. This platform provides hundreds of data import options such as CSV and Google Analytics. Only the public version of Tableau is free, but companies will provide this platform for you free to use in most cases.
This easy drag and drop platform is excellent for real-time collaboration and easily sharing reports by publishing or providing an accessible link. Tableau has many options to customize and analyze your data, which means that you will have to learn a bit about how to use the software before using it to your fullest potential. But no need to worry! Tableau has numerous training courses, including free training videos, instructor-led training, and Tableau certifications. While the Tableau Fundamentals course will teach you enough to navigate the software for most marketing needs easily, a quick google search will provide simple to understand step-by-step instructions for other particular needs in Tableau.
Visit Tableau's website and become certified.
2) Qlik View
Qlik View is one of the highest-ranking tools for data visualization in terms of customer loyalty and performance. Using this platform is a simple way to answer critical questions. Qlik View does this by quickly consolidating your data to make it less challenging to work with. Their unique software is functional and accessible, which puts the user in power over their data.
A first look at Qlik View can be daunting as there are so many functions and buttons, but the quality and usability of this tool are worth learning. Qlik View is also best for large organizations that may require multifaceted software. To truly utilize Qlik View as a data visualization tool, completing the free training will give you all the necessary knowledge to navigate the platform. While the intermediate training and certification for Qlik View are not free, having this tool on your resume will set you apart from other competitors.
Learn more about Qlik View.
3) Power BI
Power BI is a software developed by Microsoft to provide data visualization to a business’s analytics and intelligence needs. The most simple of all the data visualization tools listed is because Power BI is a web-based tool that is Microsoft user-friendly. Along with Power BI being user-friendly, this software also matches your role to create high-quality visualizations.
Power BI is very versatile and can support an entire team to analyze and visualize big data with ease. Power BI is built for the common stakeholder, which is great for marketing professionals who don’t necessarily want to get into the level data analysts do with data visualization software. One of the unique things about Power BI is training accessibility. There are hundreds of training courses and certifications that will allow you to become an expert in Power BI for free.
Earn certificates and training from Microsoft Power BI.
Data visualization is one of the essential tools a marketing professional can have to have their brand stay competitive in the business world. It is encouraged to learn as many tools and certifications as possible to have the most up-to-date knowledge, however, starting with these three tools: Tableau, Qlik Views, and Power BI will give you a solid foundation to build off. With these tools, you will navigate and communicate complex data in a simple visual form.