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Looker Studio Essentials Beginner Course /Google Data Studio
Rating: 4.6 out of 5(326 ratings)
4,660 students

What you'll learn

  • Use Looker Studio to Connect to, Transform, Visualize, and Share Data in Beautiful Dashboards
  • Connect to External Data Sources Like Google Analytics and Google Sheets
  • Use Built-in Chart Types in Looker Studio to Effectively Visualize Different Types of Data
  • Learn How to Use Functions to Transform, Clean up, and Blend Data From Multiple Sources
  • Learn How to Process, Clean, Group, and Categorize Data in Looker Studio using Conditional Functions

Course content

2 sections • 16 lectures • 1h 57m total length

  • 1.1. What to Expect from Looker Studio Masterclass?1:32

    Welcome to Looker Studio Masterclass

    Dive into the exciting world of Looker Studio and learn how to effectively and profitably use dashboards in your business. You're now on the second track of this program, and we're kicking things off with Looker Studio Essentials.

    This section will equip you with the foundational knowledge you need to excel in the Looker Studio.

    Looker Studio Essentials: Objectives

    Today's mission is twofold:

    1. Quickly cover the basics: We'll go over the absolute fundamentals of Looker Studio. Some of these might seem simple, but we'll move fast.

    2. High-level overview of key features: We'll introduce you to the main features of Looker Studio by creating a "Simply Commerce" dashboard from scratch.

    In just 60 to 90 minutes, we'll construct a complete dashboard side by side.

    Buckle up, and let's get started!

  • 1.2. What's Looker Studio?8:35

    Discover Looker Studio, a powerful tool that transforms your data into compelling stories and interactive dashboards. Let's explore its key features and how they come together to create beautiful, insightful reports.

    Connecting to Data

    Looker Studio connects to data using three types of connectors:

    1. Google Connectors: Free connectors for Google tools like Google Analytics and Google Ads.

    2. Partner Connectors: Connect to third-party tools like Facebook and Shopify, often for a fee.

    3. Community Connectors: Extend Looker Studio's capabilities by creating custom connectors to APIs not covered by Google or Partner connectors.

    Collecting Data

    Looker Studio collects data through controls and parameters, like checkboxes, input boxes, search boxes, sliders, dropdown menus, and date range selectors. These enable users to communicate their preferences directly within the report.

    Transforming Data

    Once connected and collected, it's time to transform your data. Looker Studio offers several transformation options:


    1. Aggregation

    2. Mathematical calculations (addition, division, multiplication, etc.)

    3. Blending data from different sources

    4. Grouping and categorizing data

    5. Processing data with functions (text and numerical)


    Visualizing Data

    With your data transformed, it's ready for visualization. Looker Studio offers built-in charts and allows you to create custom visualizations using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

    Adding Interaction

    Make your reports more dynamic by adding interactions such as:


    1. Data controls and filters

    2. Sliders

    3. Chart interactions

    4. Links and report navigation


    Sharing Your Reports

    Once your report is complete, you can share it with others in a variety of ways:


    1. Share with specific people by entering their email addresses

    2. Share a link, granting access to anyone with the link

    3. Make the report public, allowing it to be found even without a direct link

    4. Schedule emails to send a PDF version of the report on a regular basis


    Now you have a deeper understanding of Looker Studio's capabilities.

    Harness its power to create insightful, interactive, and engaging reports that drive better business decisions.

  • 1.3. Looker Studio User Interface Explained8:09

    Let's begin by exploring Looker Studio's user interface. We'll cover the basics, and then we'll create a simple e-commerce dashboard together.

    The Interface Overview

    Looker Studio's homepage has three main sections: Reports, Data Sources, and Explorer. We won't discuss Explorer today. Instead, we'll focus on Reports and Data Sources, the two essential building blocks of Looker Studio.

    • Reports: This tab displays a list of all the reports you've created or that have been shared with you. It's similar to other Google Workspace tools, like Google Docs and Google Sheets.

    • Data Sources: This tab shows all the data sources you've created. In Looker Studio, you connect to data, create a data source, add it to a report, and visualize the information.

    Creating a New Report

    To start a new report, click on the blank report icon. Looker Studio will present you with a list of connectors to add data to your report.

    Choosing a Data Connector

    There are many data connectors available, such as Google Sheets, BigQuery, Google Ads, and partner connectors for other platforms. Search for the tool you want to connect to and check if a partner connector is available.

    For this example, we'll use Google Analytics as our data connector. Click on it, select your account, and choose the property and view you want to connect to. Then, click "Add to Report."

    Exploring the Editing Interface

    Now, we're in the editing interface. This is where you create your reports. You can:

    • Name your report

    • Access menu options (undo, redo, add pages, etc.)

    • Add charts, graphs, and visualizations

    • Use community visualizations created by others

    • Add controls for interaction

    • Insert graphic elements (images, text, lines, shapes)

    • Save and modify the layout

    Sharing and Viewing Your Report

    You can share your report with others and switch between Edit Mode and View Mode. View Mode simulates what users see when they access your report.

    Understanding the Canvas and Sidebar

    The report canvas is where you build your report. Anything outside the canvas won't be visible to viewers. The sidebar is contextual and allows you to access properties and data fields depending on what you've selected.

    Customizing Theme and Layout

    You can change the report's theme and layout. Choose from pre-made themes or customize your own, and decide whether you want the header to be visible or hidden.

  • 1.4. KPI Overview - Creating an eCommerce Dashboard - Part I21:25

    With these basics covered, you're ready to start building your e-commerce dashboard. Dive in and explore the power of Looker Studio!

    Simple eCommerce Report

    Imagine a simple eCommerce report connected to Google Analytics, displaying essential KPIs like sessions, transactions, average order value, eCommerce conversion rate, and revenue for a specific time period. This report also allows you to change the date range and updates the data accordingly. It includes a map of transactions by US states, a time series chart for sessions and new users, a horizontal bar chart broken down by device category, male vs. female users, and new users and revenue from various source mediums.

    Ready to recreate this in Looker Studio? Let's start!

    Setting Up the Grid

    First, let's organize our report by setting up the grid. Head to Theme and Layout and adjust the grid size to 20 pixels.

    Adding Scorecards

    Now, let's add scorecards for our metrics. Scorecards display a single aggregated value, like a number, ratio, or currency. Add a scorecard, resize it, and snap it to the grid for a clean layout. To change the metric, search for the desired field (e.g., "sessions") and drag it onto the scorecard. You can also include comparisons to previous periods by adjusting the Default Date Range and Comparison Date Range settings.

    Time Series and Horizontal Bar Charts

    Next, let's add a time series chart for sessions and new users. After placing the chart, you can adjust the metrics by dragging and dropping or clicking and selecting the desired fields.

    For the horizontal bar chart, add it beneath the time series chart and adjust the dimension to Device Category. Change the metrics to sessions and revenue, and customize the chart's appearance as desired.

    Pie Charts: Use with Caution

    Although it's generally not recommended to use too many pie charts, they can be suitable for dimensions with only a few values (e.g., male vs. female, desktop vs. mobile vs. tablet, new vs. returning visitor). Use pie charts sparingly and thoughtfully in your reports.

    Customizing Pie Charts

    To start, add a pie chart and resize it as needed. This chart should show the gender of the user instead of device categories like desktop, mobile, and tablet. After making these changes, you'll notice some differences in the chart's appearance.

    For the first time, let's head to the Style tab. Instead of only working with data properties, dimensions, metrics, and dates, you can now change the chart's style. Increase the thickness of the donut, and move the legend from the right to the bottom. Adjust the size as needed to achieve your desired look.

    Creating a Simple Table

    Sometimes, tables are the best way to communicate values in a simple and understandable way. For this table, you'll want to show source, medium, new users, and revenue. Add the chart, place it where you want it to be, and adjust the dimensions. Drag and drop the source and medium fields.

    You'll also want to add revenue. If the revenue number is truncated, you can either change the widths of the columns or double-click on the edge of a column to automatically distribute the columns without truncation.

    Adding a Google Map

    Now, let's add a visually exciting chart: a Google Maps chart with bubbles. Choose the bubble map and adjust the size. This map should show one bubble per US state, with the size of the bubble representing the number of transactions.

    To achieve this, go to the data properties and drag and drop transactions to the size field. This will make the bubbles larger when there are more transactions. If you want to show only the US and filter out other countries, you can use a chart filter.

    Under the data tab, scroll down to the filter section. Apply a filter called "US only" and include the field "country" with the condition equal to "United States." This will remove all other data and only show values for the US.

    However, you'll notice that there is only one bubble because the location field is showing the country. Change this field to "region" to show bubbles per region, representing the number of transactions. Now your map is complete!

    With these steps, you've successfully created a pie chart, a table, and a Google Maps chart in Looker Studio. Keep experimenting and customizing your visualizations to create the perfect dashboard for your needs.

    Excluding Regions in the Map

    To exclude specific regions from the map, add another filter. In this example, we'll exclude Hawaii and Alaska. Create a new filter called "Exclude HI and AK" with the field "region" and the condition "in" followed by the names of the regions you want to exclude. Make sure to use proper capitalization, as it's case sensitive. Save the filter and apply it to the map. Now, only the remaining states will be shown.

    Under the style tab, you can remove the street view and fullscreen controls if you find them distracting. With these adjustments, the map should look similar to the example provided.

    Adding Controls, Logo, and Title

    To complete the dashboard, you'll need to add a date range selector, a logo, and a title. The date range selector allows users to interact with the report and is found under the controls menu. Add it to your report, select the default date range (e.g., "Last 14 days"), and resize it as needed.

    Next, add a logo to the dashboard by uploading an image from your computer. Resize and adjust the image as necessary. If the background isn't transparent, you can adjust the image's settings to make it so.

    Finally, add a text box for the title. In this case, call it "eCommerce Overview" and increase the font size to 28 pixels. Adjust the font and styling to match the example dashboard.

    Customizing the Dashboard Theme

    Now that the first page is complete, let's create a second page and customize the dashboard's theme. Under "Theme and Layout," select the "Constellation" theme to apply a dark theme to the dashboard. You can customize the theme further by changing the font and border radius of components.

    Remember to remove any unwanted styling elements that may have been added when the theme was applied, such as borders on images.

    Managing Dashboard Pages

    To add and manage pages in your dashboard, click the "Add Page" button. You'll see a sidebar with page navigation options. Rename the pages as desired, such as "eCommerce Overview" and "Cost and Profit." Click on each page to edit its content and layout.

    By following these steps, you've learned how to create a multi-page dashboard in Looker Studio, add various types of charts, and customize the appearance to match a given example. Experiment with the platform's features and options to create even more advanced dashboards to suit your needs.

    Exclude Specific Regions

    Now, we want to exclude certain regions to focus on the majority of the US transactions. To do this, we'll add a filter. You can either pick a pre-existing filter or create a new one.

    Name this filter something like "Exclude HI and AK" and set the condition to "in." If the region is in one of these values (case-sensitive), exclude them from the data. Save the filter, and it'll be applied to the Google map.

    Under the style tab, feel free to adjust the map settings, like removing the street view control or full screen control.

  • 1.5. Cost vs Profit - Creating an eCommerce Dashboard - Part II25:24

    On the second page of the report, we'll explore more advanced features.

    1. Copy the logo, date range selector, and e-commerce title from the first page and paste them onto the second page.

    2. Make the logo and date range selector report level components so they'll appear on all pages.

    Adding Parameters and Controls

    To allow users to adjust the average order value increase percentage, create a parameter and add a control (either an input box or slider) for it.

    1. Create a new parameter called "Average Order Value Increase Percentage" with a whole number range from 0 to 200 and a default value of 10.

    2. Add a slider control connected to the parameter, allowing users to adjust the percentage value.

    Now users can adjust the average order value increase percentage, and it's time to use this value in the report calculations.

    First, let's copy and paste another scorecard. We want to change the background to green to distinguish the one calculated based on the parameter from the rest. Reset the comparison period to none.

    Calculating Projected Average Order Value

    We can't find a field called "projected average order value" in our data. We need to create one by calculating it from our existing data. Use this formula to calculate the projected average order value:

    (1 + (parameter_value / 100)) * actual_average_order_value

    Change the field type from numeric to currency and select US dollars.

    Calculating Projected Revenue

    Copy and paste the scorecard again. Click on the fx icon to change the function to "projected revenue." We can calculate revenue by multiplying the number of transactions by the projected average order value.

    Adding Cost Data from Google Sheets

    We need cost data from Google Sheets for this part. Add the Google Sheet as a data source, and start creating scorecards with the costs. Change the data source for each scorecard to the Google Sheet, and adjust the type of the field to currency.

    Calculating Total Cost

    We don't have a "total cost" field in the data source, so we'll create one at the data source level. The formula for total cost is:

    cost_of_goods_sold + ad_management + ad_cost + fixed_overhead + shipping

    Calculating Profit and Projected Profit

    You might think we can simply subtract total cost from revenue to get profit. However, we can't directly do that because they come from two different data sources. Stay tuned for the next lesson, where we'll explore how to calculate profit and projected profit using data from different sources.

    Data Blending Basics

    Sometimes, we need to combine fields from different data sources in a single calculation. To do this, we blend the data. Let's say we need a blended data source with total cost, revenue, and projected revenue. Here's how to create it:

    1. Select the scorecards containing the metrics you want to use.

    2. Right-click and choose "Blend Data".

    3. A new scorecard appears, connected to the blended data.

    The blended data is not connected to the original data sources. Instead, it contains the chosen metrics, cross-joined together. This is just one example of data blending; there are many other possibilities and join types to explore.

    Creating Custom Fields

    With the blended data, we can now create custom fields for profit and projected profit. To do this, subtract total cost from revenue and projected revenue, respectively. The result is profit based on actual revenue and projected profit based on hypothetical revenue.

  • 1.6. Options for sharing your dashboard with others6:32

    Once the report is complete, it's time to share it with the end users. There are several ways to do this:


    1. Invite People: Share the report with specific individuals by entering their email addresses. Choose whether they can view or edit the report, and notify them by email.

    2. Create a Link: Generate a link to the report, allowing anyone with the link to view or edit it. This is less secure but doesn't require users to log in to their Google account.

    3. Schedule Emails: Set up a schedule to email the report (or specific pages) as a PDF to selected recipients. Customize the email subject and body, and choose the frequency of the emails.

    Wrapping Up

    In this lesson, we covered data blending, creating custom fields, and sharing reports in Looker Studio. We connected to different data sources, manipulated data, and shared our results with others. This is just the beginning - there's much more to learn and master in Looker Studio!

    In the upcoming Looker Studio Masterclass, we'll dive deeper into the functionalities we've covered today and explore even more features. Get ready to become a Looker Studio ninja!

Requirements

  • No prior experience needed.

Description

Looker Studio Essentials: Learn how to turn raw data into actionable insights and interactive dashboards for laser-focused decision-making.

Connecting to data is a breeze with Google Connectors, Partner Connectors, and Community Connectors. Then, it's all about controlling and refining your data using checkboxes, input boxes, sliders, and more. Take it to the next level by transforming it with aggregation, calculations, blending, and functions—preparing it for a visual masterpiece.

Craft eye-catching visualizations using built-in charts, add a dash of interactivity to your reports with filters, sliders, and links that make them come alive. Once your work of art is ready, share it with the world or just a select few, via links, public access, or scheduled PDF emails.

Create sleek multi-page dashboards and customize them to match your unique vision. Play around with Looker Studio's advanced features and options for personalized creations that cater to your specific needs. By the end of the course, you'll be a data-connecting, dashboard-building, and insight-sharing machine.

Supercharge your skills in just 60 to 90 minutes. Then, gear up for our upcoming Looker Studio Masterclass, where we'll dig even deeper into the world of Looker Studio. Your path to dashboard mastery starts now.

Ready to make your mark? Join Looker Studio Essentials and dive headfirst into the exhilarating realm of Looker Studio. Let's get this party started!


Chapter 1: Looker Studio Essentials

In the first chapter of Looker Studio Essentials, we will quickly cover the basics of Looker Studio and get familiar with the user interface and then we’ll see a high-level overview of most key features of Looker Studio through building a simple eCommerce dashboard from scratch.


Chapter 2: Chart Types Overview

In this 2nd chapter of Looker Studio Masterclass, we will learn Looker Studio’s chart toolbox to explore their key features, and find out when it’s best to use each chart in different scenarios.


Who this course is for:

  • Digital Marketers, SEO Experts, Media Buyers, Online Marketers, Web Analytics Experts, Email Marketers, Journalists, or anyone who needs to present data and information in an automated way as part of their role.

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