Got meaningful data? Share it with the world!

It is always a privilege when we find ourselves with meaningful data AND the opportunity to share significant findings with the world.  That is why we are especially thrilled to share topline findings from a recent global survey we supported for the World Lupus Federation that focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with lupus.  These findings were just released in advance of Lupus Awareness Month in May and we are honored to contribute to such important efforts.

Are you planning to share some of your own findings this spring?  If so, we hope you’ll consider applying a few tips and tricks we utilized in our recent work when communicating your meaningful data with the world.  

Identify your headlines

If you’ve been involved in data collection every step of the way, you might find yourself surrounded by data and wanting to share it ALL.  If so, this would be a perfect time to pause and get picky!  Take time to consider what is most essential or actionable.  Once identified, simplify your messaging and design headlines to really make them pop! One of our top tipsheets, Essential Questions for Data Communication, has four key questions to consider when communicating your data.  

Strike a balance between words and images

While descriptive text can be highly informative, it often isn’t enough for today’s savvy readers. Add visual balance by incorporating relevant images, such as icons or pictures. Need some help finding good ones? These days we especially love the Noun Project and Microsoft Office has a growing set of built-in icons we are quite fond of using.

Carefully choose your charts

Showcasing your data can go a long way in supporting your audience’s interpretation of the numbers you want to share.  But keep in mind that chart choosing is both an art and science!  Not sure which chart to use?  We love Depict Data Studio’s Interactive Chart Chooser.  Try taking it for a spin!

We certainly understand the challenges organizations face in trying to sift through their meaningful data to share the “right” messages. Want to talk data sharing?  We’d love to hear from you!