Introduction
Google Data Studio is a free web-based visualization tool developed by Google. It allows users to create customizable and shareable dashboards which can be used to present necessary parameters of a business attractively. So that performance of sales and marketing of the business can be easily measured and decisions can be taken insightfully according to the trends visualized on the seamless and real-time dashboards.
It is possible to create a Google Data Studio dashboard using almost any data source. Data Sources are divided into 2 categories in Google Data Studio as follows
- Google connectors such as Google Analytics, YouTube, Google sheets, Google Adds, File Upload, My SQL, etc…
- Partner connectors such as Kaggle, Twitter, etc …
For each type of data source, there are pre-designed, really attractive templates available for the users. And the best thing is that you can customize those templates functionally and design-wise.
Procedure
1.Go to this link https://datastudio.google.com/ . Since your intention is to use a free template from the Google Data Studio, you need to assign a data source first. Simply select the “Data Sources” tab from the Google Data Studio home page and click on the “Create” icon on the top left corner. Then, from the menu select “Data Source”
Then you will see a big collection of data sources belonging to both Google connectors and Partner connectors. So that you can connect your compatible data source to the Google Data Studio Dashboard. You can even upload a CSV file directly from the computer using the “File Upload” widget, or else create your own data source connector using “Build Your Own” widget.
As a practice be always aware of the kind of template which you are going to use with your datasource, since if those two are not compatible at least to some extent, you will have to customize more functions in the visualizations. For example you will have to re provide Dimensions and Metrics for a table on your new Dashboard to visualize meaning full output.
It is also important to note that if your data source is Google Analytics, then your Google account(registered with the same email) should be the same for both Google Data Studio and Google Analytics accounts.
3. For an example, click on the “Google Analytics” widget, Since it is one of the most commonly used data sources and also comparatively there are more free templates available for Google Analytics Dashboards Then allow access to Google Data Studio to connect your Google Analytics account by clicking the “AUTHORIZE” icon. Then click on the “CONNECT” icon in the top right corner.
4. Then you will see the connected data source categorized into dimensions and metrics along with the respective Data types, default aggregation, and description. Here if you want to create your own theme, simply click on the “CREATE REPORT” icon on the top right.
5. As we intend to use a free template from the top, you will select the “Reports” tab. There you will see the templates already designed by the Google Data Studio to match different usages and data sources.
These templates are customizable both functional wise and design wise as per your needs and likings.If the purpose is to visualize information geographically, world maps and regional maps are available. If you have to compare two or more variables with each other line charts are available. If you want to visualize percentages, Pie charts are available. If you want a specific value of a variable you can use a label for that and of course the common bar charts are also available.
Templates are categorized under the data sources such as templates for Google Analytics, templates for Youtube, but you can always use many data sources in the same Google Data Studio dashboard by customising the same template.
Considering the above clarifications, select any template suit to you, which is available for free, and click the “USE TEMPLATE” icon on the top.
6. Then if you use Google Data Studio for the first time, you will have to select your preference for some Google Data Studio marketing questions about receiving emails about product updates and so on.
And then from the Dialog Box which appears, from the drop-down menu of “New Data Source” select the data source that you have already connected in the first step. Then click the copy report icon. In my case, it is “All Web Site Data”.
7. Your data will be automatically applied to the report according to the parameters assigned by the template. If you see something like below picture, you are successful. Generally, all the information in the dashboard visualizations will not appear as it was on the template. That is because the data sources are different. But there is nothing to worry since you can always customize the dashboard as per the requirement.
Free template
Thank you for learning to create a basic Data studio report with Predictea.
You might also want to check out our Predictea Free Template
Useful Links
- Go to the following link to follow Google Data Studio course designed by the Google. https://analytics.google.com/analytics/academy/course/10
- To find further information about Google Data Studio use the following URL where it is explained in a very detail manner from the beginning to new trends in 2022. https://rockcontent.com/blog/how-to-use-google-data-studio/
- Once you create a Google Data Studio report to learn about how to manipulate data use the following link. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/google-data-studio
This article was developed during collaboration with Manoj Rasika Koongahawatte, during Predictea Analytics Programme.