storytelling with data is an effective way to engage your audience and convey key insights. By bringing the data to life with narration and relevant visuals, your audience will care more about your findings, allowing them to take action that can improve or sustain results.
First, think about the goal of your data storytelling. Is it to relay campaign status or convince executives to allocate more resources? A story without a clear objective can quickly lose its appeal.
Next, identify what your audience cares about. This is where you find your hook – the question or conundrum you’re trying to answer. For example, Oxfam knew that its audience cared about advancing women’s rights. So the organization created a story that demonstrated the impact of youth unemployment on young women’s lives.
Storytelling with Data: Turning Information into Insight
Once you know what your audience is interested in, it’s important to customize your storytelling approach to their level of expertise. For example, engineers will appreciate a deeper dive into technical data sets. However, executives will prefer simplified data with clear action steps and value.
Lastly, identify the conflict and characters in your data story. The conflict needs to feel genuine and realistic. It must also have a single, pertinent solution: the application of your data insights.
A data story should build intrigue, character, and action by leveraging your audience’s interests and skills. By following these best practices, your data storytelling will engage, explain, and enlighten your audience.