Introduction to Data Visualization

• 24 January 2022

Data visualization is a branch of data communication that uses visual representations to convey information. A good data visualization presents information quickly and clearly. The human eye can process images more quickly than text, which creates an opportunity to increase the speed and efficiency with which data can be absorbed. You can always enhance the quality of your data visualization by adding more elements like colour, size, and shape to the graphic.

What is data visualization?

Data visualization is a form of communication that uses visual representations of data to make it more compelling and easier to understand. Data visualization is a powerful tool for businesses, especially in this day and age when consumers are bombarded with advertising and information every waking moment. Visualizing data can help you reach your target audience more effectively and make your business more efficient. It enables you to communicate complicated topics so that people can easily understand using images and graphs. Many businesses have already started using data visualization as an effective marketing strategy. Most of them use infographics, which are graphics that contain information about a specific topic.

Why does data visualization matter?

Data visualizations are a powerful way to turn data into clear and easy-to-digest insights. Data visualization is an increasingly popular form of content marketing due to its ability to create stories and share information in an engaging new way. And according to a recent survey, data visualizations are the most popular type of content shared by B2B marketers on social media. Data visualization is not just a trend but a necessity. Marketers must use data visualizations to drive actionable results.

Data Visualization Examples & Types 

Visualization is the art of presenting information in a way that is easy to understand and remember. It is one of the most essential tools for communicating data and information. This article will discuss various types of data visualization examples, the benefits of data visualization, different types of charts and graphs, etc.

Types of data visualization

The first is that most people are familiar with: a chart or graph. This is an effective way to show the relationship between two variables, such as age and income. It's easy to see how the data changes over time and how the variables relate to each other.

Map

The second type is a map. This is a great way to show where something happened or where something is located. Maps are also helpful in showing how different areas compare to each other.

Network Diagram

The third type is a network diagram. This is a great way to show how different things are connected and relate. It's beneficial for showing the relationships between different concepts, such as how different parts of a system are connected.

Timeline

The fourth type is a timeline. This is a great way to show how different things happened over time. It's beneficial for showing the sequence of events that led up to something or what happened during a particular period.

Bar Charts

A bar chart is a great way to show how different things are related to one another and also how they are not related. For example, this chart shows the ranking of countries by GDP and how much their GDP has changed from the previous year: Bar charts are a simple, clean way to show fairly straightforward data. They work best for showing comparisons between things that can be divided evenly (e.g., countries by GDP), and they can be used to show a change over time.

Pie Chart

A pie chart is a static number divided into categories that make up the individual parts. When you make use of one, you'll show numbers in percentages. If you add the different parts, they'll total 100%.

They are particularly useful in digital marketing since you can make use of them to present an overview of:

• Market shares
• Marketing expenses
• Customer demographics
• Customer device usage (for UX testing)
• Traffic sources online

Your pie chart needs to be able to differentiate between the slices. This is why it's better to restrict the categories you present.

Mekko Chart

This is one chart that you might not be acquainted with unless you're in the area of data analysis. The Mekko chart is a reference to Mari mekko chart. A Mekko chart is the same layout as a stacked bar graph, but it doesn't track the time of progression with one significant difference. The X-axis tracks an additional dimension of the data set you have.

With this layout, you can quickly evaluate the proportion of every value and examine the data distribution simultaneously.

Click here to read more about different types of data visualization

Benefits of Data Visualization

Data visualization is becoming a powerful tool for companies. Data visualization has the power to engage and persuade audiences. Many marketers are making use of data visualization because it helps them effectively communicate information to their audience in an engaging way. For example, you may want to display a large amount of information to your audience, but you don't have time to explain it all. You can display the information in an easy-to-understand graphical representation with data visualization.

One of the best examples of data visualization is infographics. Infographics are a great way to communicate information engagingly. They're also easy to share on social media, and they can be embedded into your website. However, not all infographics are created equal. This is a good infographic that has the right balance of information and design. It's not too cluttered, but it still manages to be interesting and engaging.

When to use data visualization for your business and when not to!

Visualization has a lot of benefits, but more often than not, it is overused by marketers. It's essential to know how and when to use the right visualizations for your business. Let's take a look at some of the common mistakes that businesses make regarding data visualization.

Use the right tool for the job!

It is essential to use the right tool for your data. If you are looking to visualize some complex data, you need to use a tool capable of handling the complexity. For example, if you want to show off your website's analytics, don't use a pie chart. Pie charts are great for showing simple percentages, but they are not suitable for comparing values.

You can also use data visualization to show your audience what the future might look like. If you have some complex data that shows how something is changing over time. For example, if you are a real estate agent and you want to show your clients how much their property will be worth in five years, you can use a data visualization tool to show them what the future might look like.

There are many tools to help in the visualization and analysis of data. They range from introductory to complicated, from simple to confusing. Not every tool is appropriate for every individual looking to master visualization skills, and not all tools can adapt to corporate or industrial needs.