How to Tell a Story With Data
- Posted on September 6, 2023
When communicating how to tell a story with data insights to non-technical audiences, it can be challenging to make the information clear and memorable. Without effective communication, key insights could go unnoticed or forgotten. The goal of data storytelling is to convey the significance of data through a narrative framework and visuals.
Unlike a traditional report, a data story starts with an introduction and ends with a call to action. This structure allows for an engaging, high-impact experience while reducing the likelihood that the audience will lose interest or jump to wrong conclusions. It’s also important to be intentional about the visuals used in data stories, especially if the audience isn’t an expert in the subject matter. It’s often helpful to use the same visuals throughout the entire data story. This way, the audience can follow along and build a mental picture of the data being presented.
Data Storytelling 101: Turning Numbers into Compelling Narratives
In addition to a beginning, middle, and end, data stories should also have an inciting action or conflict that drives the story forward. This is the motivation for your audience to invest their time and attention in your data story. For example, if your audience is a business that is struggling to meet certain performance or revenue targets, it would be in their best interests to learn how they can change their strategies to improve these metrics.
Identifying a clear, concise goal for your data story is critical to its success. This will help you decide which data points to include and how to present them. For example, if your data story includes time-series data, it may be helpful to provide a summary view of the data at the beginning and then guide the audience through each individual element in chronological order.
Spread the love When communicating how to tell a story with data insights to non-technical audiences, it can be challenging to make the information clear and memorable. Without effective communication, key insights could go unnoticed or forgotten. The goal of data storytelling is to convey the significance of data through a narrative framework and visuals.…