What is Data Storytelling & How to Use It Effectively

Data storytelling can change the way you get things done—and it’s not as intimidating as it seems. Here’s a practical guide to mastering data storytelling in your business.

What is Data Storytelling?

Data storytelling bridges the gap between dry numbers and actionable insights. It’s about turning data into a narrative that helps people understand and act on it.

The Basics

Data storytelling revolves around two simple questions:

1. What message do I want to convey?
2. Who is my audience?

When you pick a chart to show your team, you’re already halfway there. You're using data to tell a story. But to get the full benefit, you need to follow these four steps:

1. Extract Data: Pull data from your sources.
2. Organize Data: Structure it into useful sets.
3. Blend Data: Combine different datasets to find connections.
4. Present Data: Create visuals that make your point clear.

Practical Steps for Your Team

Here’s a scenario: You’re a sales and rev ops leader tasked with finding the marketing channel that leads to the most closed deals. Start early and follow these steps:

1. Identify Data Needs: Decide what data points you need to track. For example, look at the performance of leads from various marketing channels.
2. Set Up Your CRM: Ensure your CRM captures these data points. You might need to create custom fields.
3. Collect Data Continuously: Throughout the quarter, keep your data updated.
4. Analyze and Blend Data: When it’s time to review, blend the data from different sources to see the big picture.

Now, when it comes time to sort out the channel that’s closing the most leads, you have all the information you need. You can organize it into sets and blend it together to create a compelling story.

For instance, you might find that leads from events close deals at a significantly higher rate than those from SEO. With this insight, you can craft a presentation for your marketing and sales heads, showing them why events are worth the investment.

How Scoop Simplifies Data Storytelling

Most tools don’t make it easy for operations teams to handle all four steps. That’s where Scoop comes in. Our platform is designed to streamline the entire data storytelling process, making it easier for you to extract, organize, blend, and present data seamlessly.

Key Features of Scoop:

• Seamless Data Extraction: Connect all your business data sources without needing an API. If it has a report, Scoop can handle it.
• Effortless Data Organization: Use Scoop’s non-technical, Canva-like canvas to structure and categorize your data without hassle.
• Easy Data Blending: Combine data from multiple sources with the spreadsheet skills you already know.
• Professional Data Presentation: Upload your official company PowerPoint templates and present your live data in Scoop. No need to create new presentations for every weekly meeting.

Data Storytelling with Janet

Watch Janet explain how to turn raw data into impactful stories, helping leaders make data-driven decisions. From data sourcing to effective presentation, she covers the essentials in this quick video.

Creating Beautiful Data Stories and Presentations with Scoop

1. Tailored Visuals: With Scoop, you can create visuals that not only present your data clearly but also align with your brand’s aesthetic. Customize charts, graphs, and dashboards to fit your company’s style guide, ensuring a polished and professional look every time.

2. Interactive Dashboards: Scoop allows you to build interactive dashboards that stakeholders can explore in real time. Highlight key metrics, drill down into details, and let your data tell a dynamic story that evolves with your audience’s needs.

3. Seamless Integration with PowerPoint: No more starting from scratch for every presentation. Scoop integrates with your existing PowerPoint templates, allowing you to update slides with live data effortlessly. This means you can maintain consistency and accuracy across all your reports and presentations.

4. Collaborative Features: Scoop’s platform supports collaboration, making it easy for teams to work together on data projects. Share interactive reports with colleagues, gather feedback, and make data-driven decisions as a cohesive unit.

5. Automated Updates: Keep your presentations fresh with automated data updates. Scoop can pull the latest data into your visuals and reports, so you’re always presenting the most current information without manual updates.

Ready to Transform Your Data?

If you’re tired of wrestling with spreadsheets and want a straightforward way to tell compelling data stories, Scoop is here to help. Schedule a demo or start a free trial today and see how easy data storytelling can be.