{"id":7004,"date":"2018-06-22T17:24:47","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T21:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=7004"},"modified":"2020-05-21T11:16:20","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T15:16:20","slug":"how-to-make-the-most-out-of-tableau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-tableau","title":{"rendered":"How to Make the Most Out of Tableau"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to data analysis and visualization, few tools can compare to the Tableau platform. In fact, it is often called \u201cthe grand master of data visualization software.\u201d Given all that\u2019s possible with Tableau, how do you make the most of it?<\/span><\/p>\n

For insight into common best practices and approaches, we spoke with Dr. Jeremy Gray, BrainStation\u2019s Lead Educator for Data Science<\/a>. Here are seven tips and tricks. <\/span><\/p>\n

Concentrate on Telling a Story<\/b><\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t dash straight to your dashboard. First, spend some time with the data and think about what, exactly, you\u2019re trying to communicate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTableau is super powerful, but you need to make sure that you understand your data first,\u201d Dr. Gray said. \u201cMake sure you know what the question is you\u2019re trying to answer using your dashboard and visualization. Make sure you understand the range your data covers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, your goal is to use Tableau to tell a story \u2013 and it\u2019s hard to tell a story if you don\u2019t know what your story is about.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKnow what you\u2019re trying to do and put together a story from your data,\u201d Dr. Gray said. \u201cMake sure you know whether you\u2019re trying to drill down in a specific analysis, whether you\u2019re trying to talk about what a statistical test tells you about your customers, or whether you\u2019re trying to show differences or clusters within your data.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure you know that, and then you can use a Tableau story to drive a narrative and make sure you get the most out of your data.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Know Your Audience<\/b><\/h2>\n

Simply put, some of us have a mind for numbers and crave detail, while others would simply prefer a high-level overview.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you know whom you\u2019re speaking to, Tableau can help you produce something perfectly suited to your target audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re presenting to data scientists, you\u2019re probably presenting a lot more detail and a lot more math compared to if you\u2019re presenting to an executive crowd,\u201d Dr. Gray pointed out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Borrow From the Best<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are plenty of beautiful Tableau dashboards already out there in the world. So why not gather inspiration from the best?<\/span><\/p>\n

Tableau\u2019s website posts stunning data visualizations from across the web on an almost daily basis in its <\/span>gallery<\/span><\/a>. Every dashboard could contain a creative idea that you simply never would have thought of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, don\u2019t completely copy them,\u201d Dr. Gray warned. \u201cBut it\u2019s a great way to see what you can do with Tableau, how you can get your data in the same format, and to see what ground-breaking dashboards look like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Play With Color<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dr. Gray points out that one of the best features of Tableau is its wide range of built-in color schemes and palettes. Tableau even lets users <\/span>create a custom color palette<\/span><\/a> to ensure your dashboard aligns tidily with your company\u2019s brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tableau also has built-in colorblind capabilities, which will ensure that even the eight percent of men who have color-vision deficiency won\u2019t miss any details of your dashboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, you don\u2019t want to overdo it and turn your visualization into a rainbow eyesore (although a splash of color could really help your dashboard pop).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want it to look like a rave party,\u201d Dr. Gray recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still unsure, review Tableau\u2019s <\/span>visual best practices<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blend In<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most often, when you\u2019re combining data from different databases that you want to analyze together in a single sheet, you\u2019ll use cross-database joins. But in some situations, it\u2019s better to become comfortable using the data blending method.<\/span><\/p>\n

The technique is useful if you\u2019re combining data from different databases that won\u2019t support the use of cross-database joins, if there\u2019s a disparity in the level of detail in the two data sets, if the data needs cleaning, or if you simply have lots of data.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure how to do this, here is a <\/span>step-by-step guide<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Your Data Dance<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you want to animate your visualization, Tableau\u2019s Pages shelf will help you create an eye-catching design.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pages shelf is especially useful when you have a large amount of data you want to present in an attractive way. The shelf can be used for any field, but a common use is to place a date field there, which will then allow you to animate changes in your data over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, it\u2019s a tool that will help you scan through your data almost like a flipbook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember That Simplicity is Smart<\/b><\/h2>\n

When it comes to communicating your key performance indicators, data scientists and analysts use a rather cheeky term: Big A** Numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea is that rather than presenting an entire graph, you use just one value or statistic that tells the story \u2013 and make sure that number is big, bold, and impossible to miss.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to get comfortable with creating filters in Tableau, which will allow your users to get interactive with your dashboard and dig deeper into your data. Tableau offers <\/span>plenty of advice<\/span><\/a> to customize and configure your filters. <\/span>Spotlighting<\/span><\/a> is another technique that can help you emphasize certain key pieces of data. <\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, however, the last thing you want is a cluttered dashboard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn general, you should imagine your printer is running out of ink,\u201d Dr. Gray advised. \u201cThe idea is to use the least amount of ink on the page that tells the most amount of story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Become a Data Scientist in just 12 weeks!<\/p>\n

BrainStation’s Data Science Diploma Program<\/a> is a full-time, 12-week program that provides professionals with the skills and experience to start a new career in data.<\/p>\n

Speak to a Learning Advisor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tips and tricks for the grand master of data visualization software.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7005,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[330,343],"tags":[419,405,498],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Get the Most Out of Tableau | BrainStation Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tableau is often called \u201cthe grand master of data visualization software.\u201d Here are seven tips and tricks on how to make the most out of it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-tableau\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Get the Most Out of Tableau | BrainStation Blog\" \/>\n<meta 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