Think about what the data means and what message you want to convey to your audience. Then, use the data to bolster that narrative.
“Introduce the context, share the data, and finish with an actionable takeaway,” Froese suggests. She uses a caption for a resort’s Instagram post as an example: “Over 90% of our guests rated their stay as excellent — join them and discover why!”
5. Design compelling visuals
A picture says a thousand data points, right? “The brain processes visual information much faster than text — up to 60,000 times faster, as frequently cited in communication studies,” says Froese.
Using a social media editing app to craft engaging, clear visuals will ensure that your data and story is accessible. This social media graphic from Scotiabank is a great example.
Source: @scotiabank
Using effective visuals like visual displays, pie charts, and use of color (see above, red) can enhance the impact of your storytelling.
6. Cite your sources
Do we need to state the obvious? We will. “Don’t make things up,” Froese asserts. “Reference trusted and peer-reviewed data where possible to establish credibility and responsibility.”
And hey, if you’re going to all that trouble to find trusted sources, you might as well share them — that gives you an even bigger transparency boost.
If you’re not comfortable revealing your sources in your social post, ask yourself why. It might be a sign that you need to do more research before sharing the data publicly.
5 examples of successful storytelling with data
1. Impact’s stats and facts
Instagram account @impact has a feed full of successful storytelling with data. From stats on women’s sports to hard facts about the environmental harm of Black Friday, the carousel posts published by Impact often get tens of thousands of shares.
