In the world of business and data, charts are a critical tool for conveying information quickly and effectively. The right chart can take a dry spreadsheet of numbers and turn it into visual gold. The wrong chart, on the other hand, can make even the most fascinating data seem boring and redundant. Creating a meaningful chart in Google Sheets that is also useful requires some planning. There are many different types of charts that you can use to visualize your data, but they all have benefits and drawbacks based on the type of information being presented. How you present that information is what makes a good Google Sheets chart great. Here’s how to create a great Google Sheets chart every time:
Choose the Right Chart Type
There are many different types of charts, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Some charts can handle a wide variety of data types and others are more limited in scope. While you can create a chart in Google Sheets for nearly any situation, it’s important to select the right type of chart for the data you are working with. Bar Charts: A bar chart is one of the most common types of charts, and is great for comparing data across categories. Column Charts: A column chart is useful for comparing values within categories and across time. Line Graphs: A line graph is useful for displaying change over time and connecting several data sets. Pie Charts: A pie chart is typically used to visualize parts of a whole or percentages in a single category. Scatter Graphs: Scatter graphs are used to show a correlation between sets of data. Stock Graphs: Stock graphs are used to display the price and volume of a specific stock. Swim Lanes: Swim lanes are used to show a breakdown of a process or project.
Select the Data That Will Feed Your Chart
After you’ve selected the type of chart you want to use, you need to choose the data that will power the chart. Google Sheets offers a wide selection of functions that can pull data from any source. You can also import data from other sources using Google Sheets’ built-in functionality. Once you’ve selected your data, you need to organize it properly to make it compatible with a chart. If the data is in a table, you can simply copy and paste it into a new row of the spreadsheet. If it is in a separate file, you can use a function to import it into Google Sheets.
Decide on a Layout
Once you have the data you want to feed your chart, you need to figure out how you want to lay out the information in the chart itself. First, decide what type of chart you want to create. Once you’ve decided on the type of chart you want to use, it is time to lay out your data. If you are using a bar chart, decide which category of data you want to appear on the X-axis and which data you want to appear on the Y-axis. Column charts are similar, but you’ll also want to decide which data appears in the bars within each column. For line graphs, you will need to decide how many data points you want to connect with the line. Do you want to connect all the data points or just the top or bottom few points? For pie charts, you will need to decide which data point percentage you want to show in the middle of the pie. Scatter graphs are most effective when you show as many data points as possible, as a correlation can be difficult to visualize without a decent sample size. Stock graphs are almost always used to display price data, so you’ll need to decide which stock you want to track and what price data to display. Swim lanes are most effective when you show a good breakdown of the specific parts that make up a process or project.
Add Labels and Titles
Once you’ve assembled the chart, add a title and any labels that might be necessary to help your audience better understand the data. If you’re using a bar chart, you might add the names of the categories to the Y-axis. If you are using a pie chart, include the percentage breakdown in the title of the chart. Labels can make or break a chart, so make sure you add them in a way that is easy to understand. If possible, try to keep the text short and sweet.
Adjust Colour, Shapes and Size
Once you’ve got the labelling and formatting of the chart down, you can adjust the colour, style and size of the chart to make it truly stand out. When deciding on a colour scheme for your chart, you want to keep in mind the message that you want to convey. For example, using green colour for a sales chart might be too on the nose. Instead, you can use a more subtle colour like purple, blue or grey to convey a message. You can also add shapes and lines within a chart to further highlight specific data points. This can help your audience zero in on a specific data point or even draw attention away from other data points that you’d prefer to downplay.
Wrapping Up
Creating a great chart in Google Sheets is all about planning and forethought. Once you’ve selected the chart type and gathered the data you want to visualize, it’s time to lay out your chart and choose the right colour and layout. From there, you can adjust the size, shape and other aspects of the chart until it is perfect.