Brent Dykes
@analyticshero.bsky.social
Author of Effective Data Storytelling
Chief Data Storyteller / Founder at AnalyticsHero, LLC
Chief Data Storyteller / Founder at AnalyticsHero, LLC
Annotations are an integral part of data storytelling. However, people often confuse them with commentary, which serves a different purpose. In this post, I review three types of annotations and contrast them with commentary.
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September 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Annotations are an integral part of data storytelling. However, people often confuse them with commentary, which serves a different purpose. In this post, I review three types of annotations and contrast them with commentary.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
With all the hype about AI agents and Agentic AI, it made me think: If you don't trust your data, how can you trust AI agents?
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
May 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
With all the hype about AI agents and Agentic AI, it made me think: If you don't trust your data, how can you trust AI agents?
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Heatmap Table vs. Bubble Matrix Chart. Both are useful options in your visual storytelling toolbox.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
May 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Heatmap Table vs. Bubble Matrix Chart. Both are useful options in your visual storytelling toolbox.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Plot twists are just something that you see in movies or TV shows. The element of surprise can be a valuable tool in data storytelling, too.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
May 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Plot twists are just something that you see in movies or TV shows. The element of surprise can be a valuable tool in data storytelling, too.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
One of my favorite analogies about the disconnect between analytics and business…
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
May 2, 2025 at 5:20 PM
One of my favorite analogies about the disconnect between analytics and business…
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Building my new Effective Data Storytelling Masterclass has been a five-year journey. I'm excited to announce it's live, and I'm offering a 25% discount (use promo code: LAUNCH25).
May 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Building my new Effective Data Storytelling Masterclass has been a five-year journey. I'm excited to announce it's live, and I'm offering a 25% discount (use promo code: LAUNCH25).
When visualizing your data, it’s tempting to think that more granularity = more insight.
But there’s a catch: as granularity increases, so does your audience’s cognitive load.
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But there’s a catch: as granularity increases, so does your audience’s cognitive load.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
When visualizing your data, it’s tempting to think that more granularity = more insight.
But there’s a catch: as granularity increases, so does your audience’s cognitive load.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
But there’s a catch: as granularity increases, so does your audience’s cognitive load.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Recently, this segmented total bar chart was touted as the best alternative to the dreaded stacked bar chart. It's actually not the upgrade everyone thinks it is.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Recently, this segmented total bar chart was touted as the best alternative to the dreaded stacked bar chart. It's actually not the upgrade everyone thinks it is.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
April 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I was watching my favorite movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, last weekend. The scene where they discovered the bad guys were digging in the wrong place reminded me of how important it is to have the right data and context in your data stories.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I was watching my favorite movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, last weekend. The scene where they discovered the bad guys were digging in the wrong place reminded me of how important it is to have the right data and context in your data stories.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
The recent tariff announcement highlights why we need better data communication in this nation.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The recent tariff announcement highlights why we need better data communication in this nation.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Many data professionals have embraced minimalism in data visualization design. However, do we sometimes take it too far? While it's fine to remove unwanted clutter, be careful not to go too far and eliminate elements that provide clarity.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 2, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Many data professionals have embraced minimalism in data visualization design. However, do we sometimes take it too far? While it's fine to remove unwanted clutter, be careful not to go too far and eliminate elements that provide clarity.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Don't underestimate the importance of having a good hook for your data story.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
April 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Don't underestimate the importance of having a good hook for your data story.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
In data storytelling, you often need to focus your audience's attention on a key takeaway. Here are four useful tactics for directing your audience's attention to your core messages.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
In data storytelling, you often need to focus your audience's attention on a key takeaway. Here are four useful tactics for directing your audience's attention to your core messages.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Knowing your audience is crucial to analytics success. I've developed this chain that's instrumental to finding and sharing meaningful information and insights. If you skip a step and break the chain, you put your data communications at risk.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Knowing your audience is crucial to analytics success. I've developed this chain that's instrumental to finding and sharing meaningful information and insights. If you skip a step and break the chain, you put your data communications at risk.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Context is important, but it's like salt. If you use too little, your insights are bland. If you use too much, they can overshadow your insights. It's crucial to use just the right amount.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Context is important, but it's like salt. If you use too little, your insights are bland. If you use too much, they can overshadow your insights. It's crucial to use just the right amount.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
March 19, 2025 at 3:03 PM
March 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
How you frame your key points matters. There's more strategy involved in #datastorytelling than just picking the right chart, highlighting the key points, and adding some annotations.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
How you frame your key points matters. There's more strategy involved in #datastorytelling than just picking the right chart, highlighting the key points, and adding some annotations.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
I thought I'd apply the Human-AI Collaboration Matrix to everyday analytics tasks. Here's what I came up with.
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
March 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I thought I'd apply the Human-AI Collaboration Matrix to everyday analytics tasks. Here's what I came up with.
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
Analytics: Are you converting your insights into touchdowns? Data storytelling can help!
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
February 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Analytics: Are you converting your insights into touchdowns? Data storytelling can help!
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...
The Dunning-Kruger Effect: A hidden threat to data-driven leadership
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February 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Dunning-Kruger Effect: A hidden threat to data-driven leadership
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www.linkedin.com/posts/brentd...