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Selecting the correct chart for your data is not an easy undertaking.
Or is it?
Well, selecting the suitable types of charts and graphs for your data story is daunting and can consume a lot of time. Over 70% of data visualization experts have reported experiencing this problem.
It turns out there’s a smart data visualization tool that solves this problem quickly and easily.
Yes, you read that right. This tool (which will be mentioned in a moment) helps over 15,000+ Google Sheets professionals create compelling data stories. Yes, irresistible data stories that get instant buy-in from the target audience.
We’ve rounded up a guide you should steal to use, especially when selecting the suitable types of graphs for your data story. Keep reading if you intend to take your data storytelling skills to the next level by using an awesome library.
In this blog you will learn:
Before we delve right into the visualizations that are right for your data story, let’s explore the critical distinction between graphs and charts.
Why?
The words ‘chart’ and ‘graph’ are used interchangeably by a majority of us. However, these two words mean two different things. You’ll discover the differences are pretty blurry in some instances.
Remember, to know the types of charts and graphs that are right for your data: you’ve got to learn about the distinction between the two.
Both Graphs and Charts are popular among seasoned data visualization experts.
Let’s check out the differences.
In other words, data is represented by symbols, such as the lines in a Line Chart or bars in the Bar Chart.
As a data storyteller, do you know the number of charts at your disposal?
Well, the list is quite long. But, we’ll highlight the charts that matter the most to you. Yes, we’ll highlight the types of graphs you can use to make your data story irresistible and compelling to the target audience.
As we said earlier, there’re many charts you can use to make your data story persuasive to the target audience.
You don’t want to miss this section. Keep reading.
A Bar Chart is a graph represented by spaced rectangular bars that describe the key metrics and dimensions in your data.
You can use this chart to visualize both discrete and categorical data. The horizontal axis of the chart represents categorical data. Conversely, the vertical axis of the chart defines discrete data.
Note: Although the rectangular bars in a Bar Chart are mostly placed vertically, they can also be horizontal. For horizontally placed rectangular bars, the categorical data is defined on the vertical axis. On the other hand, the horizontal axis defines the discrete data.
Take a look at the diagram below.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Bar Chart comes in different varieties to ensure you’re never short of options to visualize your data. Let’s take a look at these varieties.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Use Grouped Bar Chart if you have data with subgroups. Always remember to differentiate subgroups using high contrasting colors to make things easier for your audience.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Use Stacked Bar Graphs if your goal is to show subgroup insights in a dataset.
A Pie Chart is one of the multiple types of graphs you can use to illustrate proportion insights in a dataset. Besides, this graph is usually divided into various sectors, each representing a proportion of a whole.
Like a pizza slice, each sector in a Pie Chart represents the proportion of the key metric understudy in the data.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
A Line Chart is a type of graph that displays groups of data points joined together by a straight line.
Each of the data points describes the relationship between the horizontal and the vertical axes in the graph. A Line Chart can ascend, descend, or do both depending on the nature of your data.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
There are two types of Line Graphs, namely, Simple and Multiple Line Graphs. Let’s check them out.
A Simple Line Graph has only a curve connecting data points. The x-axis defines the independent variables (metrics), while the y-axis contains dependent variables (dimensions).
Multiple Line Graphs contain two or more lines connecting different data points across a specified period.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Area Charts are one of the many types of graphs you can use to visualize data insights.
This chart communicates insights and patterns using the colored areas between the line segment and the x-axis. In other words, an Area Chart is an extension of the Line chart.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
There’re two variants of an Area Chart, namely a Simple and Stacked Area Chart. Let’s check them out.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
A Stacked Area chart has colored segments stacked on top of each other in a way they don’t intersect.
Scatter Plots are one of the many types of graphs you can use to visualize random data points using dot-like markers.
Notice how data points are scattered across the chart area in the screenshot below.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
There’re 3 types of Scatter Plots you can use to visualize your data. These variants are grouped based on the correlation of the data points.
Let’s check them out.
Data points are positively correlated if an increase in one metric results in an increase in the other.
Data points are negatively correlated if an increase in one metric results in a decrease in the other.
No correlation arises if there’s no clear relationship between data variables.
A Radar Chart is one of the many types of graphs you can use to visualize complex data. Furthermore, it’s a two-dimensional chart you can use to visualize 2 or more metrics in your data for insights.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
A Pareto Chart combines a Bar Graph with a Line Chart to illustrate both categories and cumulative total. Use this chart to uncover the 20% metrics contributing 80% success in your marketing campaigns.
The Pareto Chart is one of the many insightful types of charts and graphs you can deploy to make your story irresistible.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Let’s talk about Google Sheets because it’s one of the most used tools for visualizing data besides Excel.
Google Sheets is a spreadsheet that comes with functions similar to Excel. This tool is easy to use and, most importantly, familiar to many.
Besides, it’s free.
You just need to open a Gmail account and you’re good to go.
It comes with limited types of charts and graphs. And this is a problem, especially if you want to create a compelling data narrative.
So you need a tool that provides you with an expansive library of visualization charts to use.
Secondly, Google Sheets grants you limited freedom to highlight the key insights you want your audience to take home. You need unlimited freedom to customize your favorite types of graphs to communicate the specifics.
So what’s the solution?
The solution is not to ditch your Google Sheets app. Supercharge it with an add-on, (which we’ll talk about in a moment).
The tool we recommend to our clients is ChartExpo because it’s amazingly easy to use.
ChartExpo comes as a Google Sheets add-on with a super user-friendly interface (UI) to ensure you don’t have to waste time visualizing complex data.
Like we said earlier, ChartExpo comes pre-loaded with 50-plus different types of graphs and charts.
You can install Google Sheet ChartExpo Add-on from here. Once it is installed you will find this library under the menu of add-on sections. Â How to install this add-on? You will find detail later in this blog. But before that let’s have an idea what you will have once you get this library in Google Sheets.
Once you open ChartExpo’s super-friendly user interface (UI), you’ll come across 6 major categories of charts and graphs, as shown.
Let’s get into the details of the categories above. Ready? Let’s go.
Sankey Charts (also known as Sankey Diagrams) visualize the flow of material, energy, cost, or any measurable resource. These diagrams draw the attention of the reader to the largest flows using different colors.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
As we said, Sankey Charts are among the types of charts and graphs you need to test, if you work with complex data.
The Sentiment Analysis Charts category is mainly composed of common text classification graphs.
Use these types of charts and graphs to visualize textual data, such as incoming calls and messages for sentimental analysis. For instance, you can use these charts to identify whether the market sentiments toward your brand are positive or negative.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
This category is made up of 6 charts.
Let’s check them out.
The Comparison Analysis Charts category is made up of 3 main charts, namely:
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Comparative Analysis Charts are amazingly easy to read and interpret, even for non-technical audiences (or readers).
As the name suggests, this category primarily deals with survey data. Yes, you read that right. Besides, you’ll never find these chart templates in Google Sheets.
If Google Sheets is your go-to tool when visualizing data: how do you extract insights from surveys?
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Well, if you’ve been using other types of charts and graphs, such as a Donut, you’re doing it wrong. Chances are, you only scratch the surface of your valuable survey data with wrong charts.
Use the following types of graphs to visualize your survey data for in-depth data.
The General Analysis Charts category is made of a whopping 31 different types of charts and graphs. Yes, you read that right.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Use these charts to compare the performance of metrics that matter to your business. Let’s check out the complete list of charts in this category.
Note: a huge chunk of the types of charts and graphs above are unavailable in Google Sheets. Imagine the insights you miss by choosing the wrong chart due to Google Sheets’ limitations.
Take a second and let that sink in.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
PPC Charts lets you visually explore insights and patterns in your Google Ads data so you can optimize quickly. Use these charts to optimize your ad campaigns for higher profits and lower cost per click (CPC).
The list of types of charts and graphs in this category is pretty massive.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
There’re are more than 20 chart templates in this category. ChartExpo has every chart tailored to ensure you optimize your ad campaigns for positive ROIs.
Let’s go through few in the list.
So how can you get started with the ChartExpo add-on for Google Sheets?
There’re 2 methods you can use to install the ChartExpo add-on into your Google Sheets.
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
Let’s take a look at an example.
Keep reading to see ChartExpo in action. You don’t want to miss this.
Imagine you want to know the number of medals each country received in the just-concluded Olympics (Japan 2020 Olympics). Assume you have data for analysis.
Let’s use the table below for our scenario.
| Countries | Medals | Period | Measures |
| United States | Silver | Current | 41 |
| United States | Gold | Current | 39 |
| United States | Bronze | Current | 33 |
| China | Silver | Current | 32 |
| China | Gold | Current | 38 |
| China | Bronze | Current | 18 |
| Japan | Silver | Current | 14 |
| Japan | Gold | Current | 27 |
| Japan | Bronze | Current | 17 |
| England | Silver | Current | 21 |
| England | Gold | Current | 22 |
| England | Bronze | Current | 22 |
| Australia | Silver | Current | 7 |
| Australia | Gold | Current | 17 |
| Australia | Bronze | Current | 22 |
| France | Silver | Current | 12 |
| France | Gold | Current | 10 |
| France | Bronze | Current | 11 |
(We’ll use a Matrix Chart because we’re dealing with multiple variables, namely, country, period, medals, and measure).
Take a look at the insightful chart below. Do you find it easy to read?
Visualization Source: ChartExpo
The 4 most popular types of charts and graphs used to visualize data are the Line, Bar, Pie and Cartesian Graphs. This is because these charts are ‘feel and look’ familiar.
Simplicity in communicating insights is one of the significant issues you should always factor in when selecting a chart.
A chart is a graphical representation of raw data. Essentially, data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a Bar Chart or lines in a Line Chart.
In other words, a chart is a diagram that organizes and represents numerical or qualitative data.
There’re many types of charts and graphs you can use for your data stories. However, this does not mean these two words, namely “charts and graphs” are similar.
Charts are used primarily to compare groups of data or discrete categories. Graphs display interrelations or connections of metrics and dimensions using distinctive lines, dots, bars, etc.
Like we said earlier, the number of types of charts and graphs you can use for your data story is incredibly massive.
You need a tool that provides a broader library of charts to test and select the best one. However, most tools come with a basic library that can barely satisfy your data visualization needs.
Avoid selling your data story short. Use tools that can provide you with a library with multiple types of graphs.
Let’s talk about Google Sheets because it’s one of the popular spreadsheet apps. Visualizing your data in Google Sheets does not have to be time-consuming or constrained by the limited number of charts available.
There’s an add-on that supercharges Google Sheets to produce charts that are easy to read and understand. And this tool is called ChartExpo.
So why do over 15,000-plus professionals love ChartExpo?
Sign up for ChartExpo today to create graphs that are easy to read and interpret.
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