Within the past few years, data storytelling has taken over the airwaves within the business industry. This is not only due to the increased demand for data needs and the role it plays but because storytelling is the best way you can use to communicate to your market audience. Human beings get it easy to understand stories that revolve around the environment they live in. However, data storytelling can be displayed in different ways in different instances.
Even though data storytelling is getting more popular daily, many people are still in the dark since they do not understand what it means and how it operates. Storytelling with data examples can help you understand more about data stories when presenting complex data to your audience.
What is Data Storytelling?
Data storytelling is the best format you can utilize when you want to present complex data in a simple format your audience can understand. This is the practice that incorporates skills and knowledge from different sectors such as communication, design and analysis. Storytelling is mainly practiced across different fields to address various challenges affecting their performance.
In addition, most marketers operating in the digital world are familiar with storytelling since it helps them communicate crucial messages to their respective audiences. When you hear anything about data storytelling, it simply refers to the stories in which data operates at the center point. This type of story mainly explores different data aspects and why it matters.
Since many people find it difficult to understand data storytelling, storytelling with data examples can cover their concerns. Below are examples to help you create compelling narratives for your data story.
Incorporate Good Data
To create compelling data stories, you need to ensure that the data you use comes from a reputable source. Also, the data should be collected to represent the story you intend to create. You can opt to acquire data from publicly available sources such as government entities, academic researchers, and intergovernmental organizations.
However, you should not only rely on a single source to generate credible data. You should have a series of backups in the form of data sources to help deliver reliable stories. Given that the data stories should be about what you think and backed up with credible sources that will help your readers understand what you are communicating to them.
Note that data stories differ from other kinds of stories you hear on the internet. The story should be perfectly aligned with the needs of your audience since you should focus on what your audience wants to hear. The story should be focused on helping the market audience solve their needs and learn more about some of the things that they never knew before.
Use Intentional Visuals
The term intentional may sound differently if you do not know how to utilize visuals in your data. However, this means that the graphs, pictures, and visuals you include in your data should help send the intended message in the right context. Remember that visuals play a huge role in helping your readers understand the message you are delivering. Ensure that the visuals you use are legible, well-labelled, and align with your presenting data.
Remember that a good story mainly pays attention to visuals and details to ensure that the right message has been delivered. Also, consider other aspects such as diversity and credibility. If you consider all these factors, you will be better positioned to communicate clearly to your market audience.
Invest in Data Relevancy
A data story involves content and visuals that work together to communicate an essential message. However, the visuals you apply should be relevant to the data you present. Also, it should be similar to the knowledge level of the readers to ensure that everybody understands the data message. This means that you need to have an awesome grip on your market audience to understand how you can communicate the intended message.
Note that you may have an internal or external audience with which you intend to communicate. You need to be familiar with what your audience wants to read and understand. Once you get a hint of the likes and dislikes of your audience, you will get it easier to communicate to your market audience with much ease. Remember that the best data stories communicate directly to the intended audience without further interpretation.
You should ensure that you are as specific as possible to enhance communication between your business and the prospects.
Focus on Data that Matters
By knowing your audience better, you will be in a position to understand the kind of data that matters to them. You may focus on quantitative and qualitative data based on what you intend to communicate. Remember that different audiences have different needs. This means that you need to understand the nature of your audience to understand the kind of data you can use to present the information.
In addition, if you primarily focus on the data vital to your audience, you stand a better chance of securing a good market audience for your business. Also, you will be able to attract more people from different localities within the shortest time possible.
Listen to Your Audience
Many people neglect the power of listening to their customers’ needs. However, you cannot listen to your audience if you haven’t identified your exact audience. First, you must identify your preferred market audience and allow them to express their needs. You need to research what your customers like and dislike to be able to offer exactly what they need.
After collecting information from different sources, you need to get back to the table and identify how you can use the data to communicate important insights to your audience. If you get means of communicating essential insights to your audience, ensure that it’s in a context where all your readers will enjoy reading and generating insights that can help them solve the problem.
Conclusion:
Always keep in mind that you do not need to be a data professional to be able to tell a great story. You only need to pay attention to the aspects that matter most to be able to generate an incredible data story that conveys meaning. Ensure that the visuals you use to present a data story should be interactive and unique to grab your readers’ attention to deliver a message. Also, ensure that you focus on telling stories to help your audience solve their problems and improve their lives.