If you have not listened to, Looker Studio has actually changed the widely known Google Data Studio brand name.
While Google Data Studio made reporting less complicated for several marketing experts, it definitely had its restrictions.
As a brand name’s advertising approach develops and also ends up being a lot more complicated, so does the elegance of its reporting demands.
If you’re anything like me, you’re likely tired of costs hrs upgrading the exact same spread sheets monthly.
Sometimes, even more time is invested drawing a record than giving real understandings.
When this occurs, we’re doing an injustice by investing even more time “doing” and also much less time really examining the data.
There needs to be a much better method, right?
This in-depth Looker Studio guide will certainly educate you just how to produce and also tailor action-oriented records based upon your very own data.
What Happened To Google Data Studio?
Originally presented in beta mid-2016, Google Data Studio is a totally free data visualization device.
Many marketing experts have actually utilized this device for many years to combine and also picture data collections from numerous networks.
But currently, you’ll discover that Data Studio is no more referenced. Where did it go?
Google formally rebranded its Data Studio item to be called Looker Studio in October 2022.
In their authorities announcement, Google specified:
“We are unifying our business intelligence product family under the Looker umbrella, bringing together Looker, Data Studio, and core Google technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Looker Studio is still free, and has the same features as Data Studio.”
What Is Google Looker Studio?
Google Looker Studio (previously Data Studio) synchronizes every one of your data resources right into one merged reporting experience.
It allows individuals to produce useful and also aesthetic control panels that are very easy to analyze, share, and also tailor.
Essentially, Looker Studio aids surpass data visualization. It’s intended to aid marketing experts make even more data-driven choices for their customers and also brand names alike.
Currently, Looker Studio sustains over 800 various data resources, together with 600+ data ports.
Looker Studio Vs Data Studio
While Looker Studio proclaims most of the exact same attributes as the previous Data Studio, the brand-new name likewise brings brand-new attributes.
- Free variation and also Pro variation (paid).
- Different modeling approach (LookML).
- Looker assimilation with Google Sheets.
- More versatile data modeling attributes.
- Supports 50+ SQLs and also data sources.
- Merging attributes from various data resources.
One of the crucial distinctions in between Looker and also Data Studio is the method data is designed. Looker Studio utilizes LookML (Looker Modeling Language).
The 2nd crucial distinction that many marketing experts will certainly take advantage of is the brand-new and also better data combining attributes from Looker.
In Data Studio, it permitted data resources to be mixed.
However, the most significant drawback of this was that the mixing function was based upon a left external sign up with and also frequently really did not mix data in a manner that marketing experts required.
It was a tiresome procedure that left several to invest even more time by hand importing their data right into a Google Sheet, after that attaching that resource to Data Studio.
Sounds irritating, appropriate?
Looker Studio, on the various other hand, calls for SQL data sources to incorporate any type of resource. This indicates that raw data is entered a data source, making it a lot easier for Looker to merge data from various resources.
The result? A quicker, a lot more significant method to picture data from all your various advertising resources in an easy-to-digest style.
Getting Started With Looker Studio
There are a couple of crucial locations to guarantee your very first Google Looker Studio record is a success. These consist of:
- Choosing a theme or control panel.
- Connecting data resources.
- Choosing metrics that matter.
- Sharing records.
Looker Studio Templates
The very first point to do is to select a theme.
To accessibility Looker Studio, see Looker Studio utilizing your chosenGoogle Account This ought to be the account that you access your Google Analytics, Search Console, Google Ads, and so on
Looker Studio supplies a wide array of themes to obtain you began.
If you’re brand-new to Looker Studio, it is necessary to select a theme based upon the kind of data being represented.

With any type of theme, you have the capability to tailor things and also typefaces to produce an extra regular record.
The appeal of these records is that numerous web pages can be included.
Don’ t seem like your whole advertising tale requires to be revealed on one web page!
Every customer has various demands, and also their coverage needs to be no various.
The most reliable path I have actually discovered is to utilize and also fine-tune various control panels based upon that the desired target market is.
For instance, I might produce a various control panel or record web page if I’m talking with a CMO vs. aProduct Marketing Manager Why?
Depending on the function of that you’re talking with, they will certainly comprehend and also analyze data in various means.
A CMO, as an example, does not require to recognize the “in the weeds” data. They need to know what networks are functioning, what’s not, and also if they get on track to fulfill their objectives.
Connect A Data Source
Now that you have actually chosen a theme, it’s time to attach your data resources.
To include an adapter to your theme, most likely to Resource on top navigating, after that click Manage included data resources Then, you’ll click + Add A Data Source.

There are presently 24 various Google ports, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Sheets, BigQuery, and also a lot more.
However, you’re most likely utilizing various other systems like social media sites, third-party devices, CRM systems, and also a lot more.
For those non-Google ports, Looker Studio can attach over 650 various data resources from their companion ports!

By utilizing the ports, it takes the hands-on jobs and also synchronizes all data for you!
It would certainly be difficult to detail all the offered data resources right here, however a few of the major ones I have actually made use of in the previous consist of:
- Supermetrics ports for:
- Facebook + Instagram Insights.
- Microsoft Advertising
- Ad + Google Analytics Data.
- Position Tracking
- And much more.
- SEOMonitor.
- CallRail.
- Salesforce
- HubSpot.
Most of these data resources originate from third-party ports. Keep in mind that most of them:
- Additional expense.
- Can decrease records.
- Metrics are often deprecated, indicating it is essential to remain on top of any type of adjustments to your record and also restore metrics if required.
When including a data resource, you’ll be asked to license the link in between accounts.
Choosing Metrics That Matter
Speaking of metrics– they matter.
Let’s be actual, the most awful is when customers open records and also see a full data dump.
While Looker Studio is totally adjustable, this does not indicate we ought to be revealing all metrics offered.
Does your customer respect return on marketing invest (ROAS)? Be certain to consist of metrics such as invest and also earnings.
How concerning total brand name recognition? Include pre-click metrics such as impacts, clicks, CTR, sight price, and so on
By sharing the correct metrics and also understandings based upon objectives, it reveals the customer that you are paying attention to them. A win-win for everybody!
How To Edit A Report
Now that you have actually attached your data resources, it’s time to tailor that record!
Let’s testimonial this Google Ads theme as an instance.
First, you’ll wish to make certain you remain in the “Edit” setting and also not “View.”

You can begin personalizing your record by using the data area establishes on the right-hand side.
If you have actually selected a theme like the one over, the primary step is to alter the data resource for every graph you want to select.

From there, you can pick from any one of the various data areas from your selected data resource to alter any type of visualization.
Not just can you produce and also modify graphes and also tables in Looker Studio, however the capability to select the feel and look of a record is a game-changer for customers.
It offers a feeling of uniformity throughout a company.
A couple of means to individualize the design of your record consist of:
- Font and also history shade.
- Changing contrast statistics shades.
- Text extra padding to straighten either left, facility, or right.
Pro idea: If you wish to alter all scorecards or graphes simultaneously, just choose all at the exact same time prior to.
The design adjustments will relate to all choices. Another time-saver!
In this instance, I transformed the record history, scorecard shades, and also tag typefaces to produce brand name conventional uniformity:
If you’re brand-new to Looker Studio, it will certainly take some time, experimentation, and also persistence to produce a record aesthetic that satisfies your viewers’s assumptions. Don’ t obtain inhibited in the process!
Adding Report Filters
An reliable method to team numerous visualizations with each other is by including record and also web page filters.
For instance, if you desired all tables and also graphes to alter when editing and enhancing the day array, you might include a Date Range symbol and also established it to “Report Level.”
This indicates that if the record is consisted of numerous web pages, whenever the day array is upgraded, all graph data updates along with it.
For instance, if you wished to study Campaign Type efficiency, there’s a filter for that!
Simply browse to the toolbar and also select Add a control > > Drop- down checklist and also include the Control area of “Campaign type” as your filter.
This enables you to filter the data on that particular certain web page by project kind.
For instance, if you wished to demonstrate how Search executes contrasted to You Tube, you would certainly pick from the dropdown because filter.
By default, filterings system included go to a web page degree.
If you want to make the filter report-level (indicating the filter would certainly show up on each web page of your record), just right-click the filter and also select Make report-level
Create A Chart
If you have actually obtained comfy with your Looker Studio experience, allow’s study just how to produce a graph from square one.
The benefit of developing a custom-made graph is that you remain in complete control initially of imagining specifically what issues most.
The primary step is to consider that will certainly read this record. Remember to include what data is necessary to them.
Your graph needs to narrate, and also it depends on you to picture that effectively.
For instance, you might wish to include an “Overview” table that includes the major metrics or crucial efficiency signs (KPIs) that matter to them.
To produce a graph, click “Insert,” which will certainly reveal you all the various graphes to pick from. These consist of:
- Time collection.
- Bar graph.
- Pie graph.
- Tables
- Scorecards
- Bullet graphes.
- Much a lot more.
In this instance, I wish to select an easy bullet graph to contribute to my CMO Overview web page. The objective of this graph is to reveal if we satisfied our month-to-month objective of application installs.
The primary step is to select the statistics you’re gauging. In this instance, I selected “Installs.”
To make this bullet graph efficient, you require to include your target/goal. Make certain to inspect package that states “Show Target.”
Then, I input various array limitations to reveal the development.
I maintained the last array the like the target worth. You can likewise place the last array as a greater worth than your target, particularly if you surpass that target worth.
So, what does this graph claim? It depicts that our objective was 5,500 application installs for the month of November.
According to the bullet graph, they were close to striking their objective however really did not fairly make it.
Sometimes easy graphes are all you require to stand for the essential data.
Like all various other aspects of Looker Studio, you can change the design of any type of graph, table, or aspect as I did above.
Sharing Reports
The complying with choices are offered for sharing a Looker Studio record:
- Invite individuals.
- Schedule e-mail distribution.
- Get record web link.
- Embed record.
- Download record.
If you wish to welcome individuals to access the record in actual time, it is essential to inspect the share setups.
To include a person through e-mail, it has to be a Google account e-mail. They can be included as a “Viewer” or an “Editor.”
Another data precaution Looker Studio included was just how web links to the record can be shared.
You can pick from:
- Restricted. Only individuals that you have actually shared the record with can open up the web link.
- Unlisted Anyone on the web with the web link can watch (or modify– select this setup meticulously).
- Public Anyone on the web with the web link can locate and also watch (or modify– select this setup meticulously).
Another amazing function Google included is the alternative to restrict cooperating the complying with choices. In the share setups, click the “gear” symbol in the right-hand edge:
- Prevent editors from transforming accessibility and also including brand-new individuals.
- Disable downloading and install, printing, and also duplicating for visitors.
I normally advise inspecting the very first box to avoid editors from transforming accessibility or including brand-new individuals.
By doing so, it enables us to keep control of the record setups and also the honesty of record adjustments.
Get Started With Looker Studio Now
Hopefully, this intro to Google Looker Studio will certainly encourage you to really feel even more certain in developing customized records for your customers and also brand names.
More Resources:
Featured Image: RomanR/Shutterstock
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