What is Data Storytelling?
Data storytelling is the most effective method for leveraging data to produce new knowledge, new choices, or new actions. It is an interdisciplinary profession that incorporates knowledge and experience from several domains such as communication, analysis, and design. It is used to solve a variety of issues and is employed in a variety of areas.
The majority of marketers have some narrative experience. When we talk about data storytelling, we’re talking about stories in which data is the main focus. The narrative’s purpose is to explain the information and its importance. There are many different types of stories, and most of them can be conveyed with the help of photographs, but only a handful do.
The most important elements of data storytelling:
Data: The cornerstone of any data story is a thorough study of correct, full data. Data analysis employing descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analysis may help you comprehend the whole picture.
Narrative: A tale, also known as a verbal or written narrative, is used to express insights drawn from data, the context around it, and actions you advocate and hope to inspire in your audience.
Visualizations: Visual representations of your data and narrative may help you tell your message in a clear and memorable way. These might take the form of charts, graphs, diagrams.
The benefits of data storytelling
Data storytelling is comparable to human storytelling, but it includes deeper insights and supporting facts in the form of graphs and charts. Data storytelling simplifies complex information so that your audience can connect with your content and make key decisions more quickly and confidently.
Creating a data story that inspires others to act may be a really effective technique. People and your business may benefit from effective data storytelling. Some of the advantages of effective data storytelling include:
- Increasing the value of your data and insights;
- Interpreting difficult information and emphasising vital elements for the audience;
- Giving your data a personal touch;
- Adding value to your target audience and industry;
- Developing your reputation as an industry and issue thought leader.
What makes a great data story?
It must be meaningful
This means that the information (including copy and images) must be appropriate for the audience’s present level of understanding and must assist them in achieving some sort of goal.
Perhaps your audience is internal, such as a presentation to leadership about the need of investing in a certain strategy or method. Or they might be external, such as a campaign to get them to test your solution.
In any case, consider what is important to them. The finest stories are those that appeal directly to people, and the more particular the person, the better.
It must have accurate data
This means that the data should come from a reliable source and/or be gathered in a method that accurately depicts what is required to convey a true tale.
Data made public by government institutions, intergovernmental organizations, university researchers, and established analysts are not only more accessible, but also transparent and verified.
The facts you utilize should assist you in telling the truth. It should be relevant to the audience’s needs and assist them in understanding just what they need to know to make an important decision.
A clear narrative is crucial
When it comes to narrative, we are all accustomed to the standard three-act structure with a beginning, middle, and finish.
For data storytelling, this typically implies that you need to learn about the issue first before diving into the data. You must also finish with a particular call to action—another distinction between a data story and a basic report.
Also, if your audience is not an expert, use clear language to avoid losing them in tricky jargon or complicated acronyms.
It should incorporate deliberate graphics
It implies that your graphics, whether images, graphs, or charts, should help your audience grasp what the data means.
What are your thoughts on data storytelling?
References:
https://www.analyticssteps.com/blogs/introduction-data-storytelling
https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/data-storytelling
