What Is Google Data Studio?

Google Data Studio is a tool in the Google suite that has been around since 2016. It enables customizable formatting and visualization of your cross-platform data.

What are the benefits of Google Data Studio?

Data centralization

Google Data Studio is extremely useful for centralizing your data. You can connect multiple sources within a single document. The tool supports 3 types of data sources:

19 native Google Connectors (Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Sheets, etc.)

384 Partner Connectors. Here are a few examples:

And finally, your own connectors or your own Data Studio sources. This gives the tool room to grow while giving users a great deal of flexibility.

Data formatting (ready-made or fully customizable templates)

The tool lets you transform KPIs from the source platform into dimensions and metrics that feed your dashboards and help you interpret the data. You can either use one of the default templates or build one entirely from scratch.

Google Data Studio offers a wide range of chart types to make your data as readable as possible. Here is the complete list:

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Once you've selected your chart, you can configure its data using the right-hand menu:

There you'll find your data source, dimensions, and metrics, all of which you can filter.

Several options are available depending on the table you choose, such as the number of rows, a summary row, or primary and secondary sorting.

If you want to display data that doesn't exist by default, you can create formulas by clicking:

> Add a dimension

> Create a field

> You can then configure it using the following elements

You can also create blended data by clicking:

> Resource in the top menu

> Then Manage blended data.

Ease of use

Data Studio is very intuitive to use. The tool is built on a drag and drop principle. Simply place the chart or cell of your choice onto the sheet, then configure its parameters, metrics, dimensions, and filters.

You can also add images and GIFs to dress up your document and make it more engaging.

Its dynamic nature

The data within Google Data Studio updates in line with your source data, typically within a few hours. Your reports are therefore dynamic and give you a clear, near-real-time view of your performance.

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A common practice is to add a date range selector to the document so you can view your performance over a specific period.

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You can enter dates manually or select a default range:

Automated report delivery

If you want a regular snapshot of your performance, you can schedule an automated report to be sent by email. This is particularly useful if your team or client doesn't check the document daily but wants regular updates.

What are the potential drawbacks of Data Studio?

If you're working with very complex data, Data Studio may not be up to the task. It's better suited to marketers than data scientists.

The tool obviously depends on how the data sources function. If your data source goes down, the data is no longer readable.

If you're handling confidential or sensitive information, make sure the document owner is the right person and double-check the sharing settings. Note that adding a data source transfers ownership of the document, so it must be the document owner who adds the source.

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Here's an example of a Google Data Studio report we use daily at datashake for our partners:

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Looking to get support with Google Data Studio, Google Ads, or more broadly with your digital marketing strategy? Don't hesitate to reach out!

By Ronan Lecointre