Despite their best intentions, many business professionals don’t know which visual analytics to apply. Thus, today’s post on the do’s and don’ts of business charts.
Why is this so important? As we have noted before, data analytics now represent a huge opportunity. For example, see: Data Analytics Can Enhance Customer Experiences. Data Analytics Can Help Predict Consumer Behavior. Thinking About a Career in Data Analytics? Ever Wondered What You Can Do with Google Analytics? And Social Media Analytics: A Tower Framework.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Business Charts
For simplicity’s sake, SlideHeroes.com devised an excellent infographic on this topic. According to the firm:
“To convince and persuade in today’s corporate world businesspeople must construct evidence-based arguments. They must demonstrate, not simply assert. Using the right chart during your presentation is essential to demonstrating your point. Even though everyone is familiar with a few basic business charts, most people aren’t adept at using charts to their fullest data-visualization potential. Whiz-bang features like animations or sequentially revealed charts are not the answer. Instead, you need to begin with an understanding of what message or point you want your data to communicate, and which type of chart best illustrates this kind of data-driven point.”
“The primary concern while making a presentation is ensuring that your audience will understand the point you are making (the answer to the question you have planted in the mind of the audience). If your audience does not understand your data or does not follow your presentation closely enough due to disengagement, you will not get your point across to them. Your job as presenter is twofold: (1) Present your data accurately, in a manner that conveys your point or message. And (2) Present your data in a way that makes it easy to understand.”
“Making effective charts goes hand in hand with being able to present those charts effectively. But specific chart types are better at presenting certain data relationships than others. It is critical to understand what data relationship you are trying to highlight, and what chart type best illustrates this type of relationship.”
The way information is presented to someone, especially with the intention of them having a call- to- action response, directly correlates with how they will react to the presentation. As a visual learner myself, I typically find it easier to understand information when it is laid out in a graphic or chart so I can examine and connect the design to the words and meaning behind it. If the information presented is squeed, however, there could be the opposite response generated from the target public and there could even be false information spread. Graphics are a great way to enhance information in a presentation, especially when large numbers or maps are involved, but they way in which they are presented design/ layout/ and color wise all make a big difference in understanding and reacting to it.
Graphic charts is a good visual way of understanding a message in the business world. Some people, like myself, actually find it a lot easier and receive a better understanding of the message with a visual representation. I believe visuals should be used a lot more as long as it validates your argument and accurately represents your data.
Charts are an important and easy way of conveying a statistics. Most of the time, the statistics with a visual aid are better presented and can be deciphered by the audience easily. As the info graph points out, different charts present different types of information are apt in distinct scenarios.
I agree with this post that charts are very important for businesses. for me, when i look at the information of the business, i usually look for the graphic charts that visualize the data clearly; the charts really help me with the interpretation of the data presented by the business.
I agree with this post that charts are very important for businesses. for me, when i look at the information of the business, i usually look for the graphic charts that visualize the data clearly; the charts really help me with the interpretation of the data presented by the business.
Knowing myself as a visual learner, graphic charts are a much better way to understand complicated things in the world of Business. I believe that it adds life to your presentation so that you aren’t just staring at words the entire time which can become so tiring. Im a firm believer in visuals being vital in presentations and should remain that way for many years to come.