In the previous guide – Data Studio – Advanced Data Studio Guide, we learned how to work with Google’s reporting tool, Data Studio, and an external data connection system called Supermetrics; we explained step by step how to build detailed and well-designed reports from scratch. Additionally, in the post The Most Recommended Templates for Data Studio, we prepared a list of several beautiful and highly effective templates for Data Studio. You can download the templates immediately and start working on them right away.
In this guide, I will present a list of advanced tools that can be used in Data Studio to take your reports to the next level.
1. Embedding external content - URL Embed
Within the Data Studio tool, using the URL Embed feature, you can embed Google Docs, Google Sheets, videos published on YouTube, and even web pages directly into the report. The embedded content is interactive and therefore more useful than screenshots.
To embed a link, you can click “insert” or use the shortcut located on the toolbar.
Afterwards, simply paste the address. There are endless things you can embed; in our example, you can see a Google Sheets file embedded within the report.
2. Filter by date range - Date range filter
Data Studio allows you, using a date range filter, to give the client the ability to view campaign data from different timeframes.
For example, one of your clients asks for the ability to see data from the last weekend; using this filter, you can give them access to change the report dates.
Select the page where you want to give the client control over the dates, click on Add a control, and then drag the filter into the report.
Click on the date box and select the relevant dates.
Make sure that every table in the report is set to Auto mode; if it is set to Custom, the filter will not affect the table.
3. Filter by data source - Data Source Filter
Another feature that provides full flexibility. Similar to the date range filter, this filter gives the ability to filter the report by traffic source. Not only does this save time recreating the same report for additional traffic sources, but the tool also provides the ability to control data sharing with different groups.
Click on Add a control and then click on Data Control:
Note that until now the filters were at the page level and not at the report level. To make the filters report-level, right-click on the relevant filter and then select “Make report level”.
4. Merging data sources - Blend Data
Meet one of the most powerful features in Data Studio – Blend Data. In one sentence – a feature that allows us to merge data from several different data sources and place them under one table.
To illustrate the tool, I will give you a simple example:
We have a campaign on Facebook and Google. How do I display the campaign data under one table? After all, the two types of data come from two different data sources. Blend Data was created to help us merge data from all campaigns into one table.
Before we dive into the topic – for some people this may seem too complex, I promise to simplify it, so stay with me.
How do you do it?
First, make sure that the two data sources we want to merge are connected to the report. Then, add a table to the report.
Click on Blend Data and the following window will open:
1. Choose a name for the new data source.
2. Select the data sources.
3. Choose the join key – to blend two different traffic sources, there must be one dimension that is shared between both traffic sources. If the join key exists in both sources, it will turn green; if one is missing, it will turn red. Note that the join key does not have to share the exact same name.
After selecting the join key, the rest of the process should look familiar.
4. Choose the dimensions and metrics you want to see for the first traffic source and then for the second data source.
And here is an example of Blend Data – one table showing me the amount of money spent from two different sources (Facebook and Google).
5. Calculated fields - Basic calculated field
Sometimes the system will not provide us with the exact data we need, which is why the calculated fields option was created. For example – instead of creating one column that displays leads coming from a lead form and another column that displays the number of leads coming from the website, you can create a metric that calculates the total number of leads received.
Click on Add metric and then on Create Field:
Then the following screen will open:
– Choose a name for the new metric
– Choose the calculation we want to perform; in my example, I chose to calculate how many leads came from the website and the lead form.
And this is the metric we will get:
6. CASE function
Meet one of the most powerful functions in Data Studio – the CASE function.
The CASE function returns dimensions and metrics based on existing variables. The most common use of the function is creating new groups of data. You can compare the CASE function to the IF function in Excel.
Edit the data source and then click on “Add a Field”:
Choose a name for the field and then build the function.
I open the CASE with WHEN and write the first condition, which is “Country”, then I add IN, which basically tells Data Studio what falls under the first condition. After entering the countries, I close the parentheses, add THEN, and then add the result I want to get.
This is what the final result will look like:
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Supermetrics is a company that creates products that allow you to connect to various data sources and pull data directly into Excel, Google Sheets, and Data Studio. The system is very popular and is considered a market standard today. You can integrate with Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and dozens of other data sources.
Go to the Supermetrics website and choose the plan you want to purchase. Note that each package offers a limited number of connections:
Summary
In this guide, we covered several advanced tools that the system offers to create high-level reports and save you time and effort. But it is important to note that while the guide is good, the more you practice and explore the tools in depth, the better you will master preparing reports. I highly recommend exploring the CASE function and Blend Data in depth, as each of these functions includes many possibilities.
A little about me
Guy Ben Shabbat, 26 years old, specializes in digital campaign management across a variety of digital channels.
