Data Visualisation Best Practices: Communicating Insights Effectively

Start with a clear objective

Before diving into the world of data visualisation, it’s crucial to have a clear objective. What story are you trying to tell? What insights do you want to convey? Here at iWeb, we believe that understanding your goal is the first step to effective communication. Without a clear objective, your visualisation might end up confusing rather than enlightening your audience.

For instance, if you’re working on a project for a foodservice ecommerce website, your objective might be to show the increase in online orders over the past year. This clear goal will guide your choice of visualisation tools and techniques, ensuring that your message is both clear and impactful.

Choose the right type of visualisation

Once you have a clear objective, the next step is to choose the right type of visualisation. Different types of data require different visualisation methods. For example, bar charts are great for comparing quantities, while line charts are perfect for showing trends over time. Our talented in-house team at iWeb often uses pie charts to show proportions and scatter plots to highlight correlations.

Choosing the right visualisation type can make a huge difference. For example, if you’re working on a builders merchants ecommerce project, a heat map might be the best way to show which products are most popular in different regions. This can help you make data-driven decisions and improve your business strategy.

Keep it simple

Simplicity is key when it comes to data visualisation. Overcomplicating your visualisation with too many elements can make it hard to understand. Our expert developers at iWeb always aim to keep their visualisations as simple as possible, focusing on the most important data points.

For example, if you’re working on a Magento project revamp, you might be tempted to include every piece of data you have. But remember, less is often more. A simple, clean visualisation will be much more effective at communicating your insights.

Use colour wisely

Colour can be a powerful tool in data visualisation, but it needs to be used wisely. Too many colours can be overwhelming, while too few can make your visualisation look dull. Our talented UK team at iWeb often uses colour to highlight key data points and make their visualisations more engaging.

For example, if you’re working on a foodservice ecommerce project, you might use different colours to represent different types of food. This can make your visualisation more intuitive and easier to understand.

Provide context

Context is crucial in data visualisation. Without it, your audience might not understand what they’re looking at. Our talented team at iWeb always makes sure to provide context for their visualisations, whether it’s through labels, legends, or explanatory text.

For example, if you’re working on a B2B wholesale industry project, you might include a brief explanation of the data source and the time period covered. This can help your audience understand the context and make sense of the data.

Tell a story

Data visualisation is not just about presenting data; it’s about telling a story. A good visualisation should guide your audience through the data, highlighting key insights and leading them to a clear conclusion. Our talented in-house team at iWeb often uses storytelling techniques to make their visualisations more engaging and impactful.

For example, if you’re working on a Magento B2B wholesale solutions project, you might start by showing the overall sales trend, then zoom in on specific products or regions. This can help your audience understand the bigger picture and see the key insights.

Test and iterate

Even the best data visualisations can be improved. That’s why it’s important to test your visualisations with real users and iterate based on their feedback. Our expert developers at iWeb often use A/B testing to compare different visualisations and see which one performs better.

For example, if you’re working on a foodservice online ordering project, you might test different visualisations to see which one helps users find the information they need more quickly. This can help you create more effective and user-friendly visualisations.

Use the right tools

Finally, using the right tools can make a big difference in your data visualisation efforts. There are many tools available, from simple spreadsheet software to advanced data visualisation platforms. Our talented UK team at iWeb often uses tools like Adobe Analytics and Adobe Experience Cloud to create their visualisations.

For example, if you’re working on a Magento ecommerce hosting project, you might use Adobe Real-time CDP to gather and analyse your data, then use Adobe Experience Manager to create your visualisations. This can help you create more powerful and effective visualisations.

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If you’re looking to improve your data visualisation skills, reach out to iWeb today. Our talented team can help you create clear, impactful visualisations that communicate your insights effectively. Contact iWeb to learn more about how we can help with your digital transformation.