Google Data Studio is the place to merge results from different sources, in an organized way, into one report. But how does this handy reporting tool work? What can you do with it? And why is Google Data Studio so useful? We explain all that to you in this blog.
What is Google Data Studio?
Google Data Studio is a free tool that allows you to build clear reports. This reporting tool is almost always used to display website statistics from Google Analytics or other external parties, for example. For example, have you deployed a marketing campaign or recently started working on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Then Google Data Studio is a handy tool for charting the progress of results.
The benefits of a dashboard
We have been using Google Data Studio for years to make all our reports insightful for clients. Together with tools such as Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager and Google Search Console, you can turn your website into a real marketing machine. To reinforce the useful features of Google Data Studio, we list some of the benefits of the reporting tool.
Data from various sources in one place
To measure is to know. We want to know everything about our website these days. How many visitors do you receive each day? How long do they stay on your website? Why are they leaving your website? All this data ensures that you have ammunition to improve your website. So it is quite possible that you are using different sources for your website statistics. For example, several open source connectors, Google Analytics and WooCommerce are among the data sources widely used by businesses. Google Data Studio allows you to combine data from various sources into one report.
Some data sources are not publicly available. For this, you have additional costs to a provider such as Supermetrics. They retrieve real-time data from sources such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
Real time and live data
If you use data sources from Google, for example, Google Data Studio is always up to date and provided with live data. The data displayed in the reporting tool are always in real time, i.e. current. That way you won’t be behind the times and you can make adjustments right away when your numbers don’t seem to be heading toward the desired goal.
Segments and filters
The many features within Google Data Studio allow you to track your data very precisely. A filter has been created for each small segment so you never mix up numbers. This way, you can be very precise and make changes in each area if necessary.
Graphs and diagrams
Picture says more than a thousand words. Google Data Studio understood that, too. Therefore, you can select statistics and put them into graphs and charts. The reporting tool has several templates with a variety of tables, graphs, charts or a geographical map. So take a leisurely look at what options are available. Do you want to put everything together yourself from scratch? Then you can use all your creativity in Google Data Studio and build your own template with graphs and charts.
Working with date range
If your campaign has already started, you want to compare the results to the time when the campaign was not yet active. That way, you can see substantiated by results whether the campaign is achieving its goal, or not. Therefore, Google Data Studio has placed a filter that sorts data by the selected date. This allows you to see differences in results monthly, weekly or even daily.
Cloud based: easy access for everyone
Google Data Studio makes it easy to share your reporting with others. As a marketer, have you created a campaign and want to justify the results to executives, colleagues or other stakeholders? Share the link from Google Data Studio and watch the same report together, on different devices.
Data insightful with Resultsmatter
Do you value the results of your website? Our proven Resultsmatter process is entirely focused on your results and improving them. When you purchase such a Resultsmatter program, you will receive monthly reports from Google Data Studio tailored to your goals. This could include the rankings of the chosen keywords, the number of backlinks obtained, the number of referring domains and the number of (organic) visitors. But do you have a work-at-home website? Then we can include figures such as number of applicants and number of requests through contact forms.
Google Data Studio becomes Looker Studio
In October 2022, Google Data Studio underwent a name change. The reporting tool goes by the name of Looker Studio from now on. The name is not the only change to this tool. There are a number of new features that will make your work even easier and are worth sharing. Are you curious about these new features? In our new blog, we update you on it. Stay tuned!
Need help creating a data studio?
Need help creating a Google Data Studio? Or do you just want to be introduced to Google Data Studio through training? Contact 2manydots. Our experienced specialists will be happy to help you with any questions about the Google Data Studio. To measure is to know!
