Using Data to Its Full Potential

Well collected and analyzed data is crucial for backing up your projects with credible evidence. But it’s equally important to put together a convincing presentation to utilize that data to its full potential. A shoddy delivery can obscure or even misrepresent your findings and undermine any analysis and recommendations you had to offer.

Follow these tips to improve the quality of your data-based presentations and persuade your audience.

Establish Objectives 

Presentation content should be aimed at achieving a focused objective. Make sure your organization and presentation tools work together to help achieve that goal.

Determine Your Narrative

If you frame your data as a story, the audience is more likely to listen carefully and agree with your conclusion. Design slides that disclose the story behind your data in an engaging way.

Provide Background 

Throwing charts and graphs on a screen without explanation will quickly confuse your audience and muddy your argument. Explain the hypothesis, methodology and results behind each piece of data in your presentation.

Avoid Data Overload

Too much data overwhelms and confuses an audience. Decide what point you want to get across, present one chart per slide and then build each argument towards achieving that main point. 

Choose the Appropriate Chart

Using the right type of chart is an essential element of data visualization. For showing trends over time, line charts and bar charts are best. Bar charts are ideal for comparison and ranking because they include values on baseline, making it easy to compare values. Scatter plots are ideal for showing correlations between two factors – but remember that correlation does not prove a relationship. 

Keep Charts Simple

Once you’ve picked the best charts to use, present your data as cleanly as possible. A simple line graph will be more effective than an extravagant 3D bar graph. Also, be sure to clearly title your charts and appropriately label each axis, trend line or other chart element.

Present Data with Context 

Never present data without indicating what it means on a larger scale. Tell viewers what your data means, what caused the results and what ensuing implications exist.

Pick Numbers Carefully

Specific numbers add credibility. A statistic of 27%, for example, seems more exact than 30%. You can also add a decimal point to make numbers appear more precise.

Follow Best Practices with Statistics

Be clear on how the information was collected and disclose who performed and paid for the work. If survey results are included, show the survey question.

Bottom Line

The ability to present data clearly and persuasively is an essential skill in any profession. These tips can help you create presentations that persuade clients and corporate executives to accept the correctness of your insights, conclusions and recommendations.

Adapted from an article written by William Comcowich, founder and CMO of CyberAlert, a media monitoring company headquartered in Connecticut.