The ability to visualize your data in Mediatool is nearly limitless. So, to help get you started, we've put together this guide to Reports.
In this guide, you will learn the why, where, how, and what of data visualization within Mediatool; preparing you to create the perfect report!
Why should I spend time visualizing my data?
Mediatool's reporting capabilities enable insights that are otherwise impossible, or too time-consuming, to produce. Here is a non-exhaustive list of reasons to create reports:
Achieve an accurate and up-to-date overview of media plans across any level
Track how campaigns-in-progress stack up against budgets and other strategic targets
Monitor live-campaign performance in order to make mid-campaign adjustments
Directly compare planned estimates to actual results
If these types of insights are of interest to you, read on!
What data can I use?
There are 3 data sources that can be used when building reports:
Targets - Data is sourced from entries made in the Targets Section
Planning - Data is sourced from entries made in the Planning Sheet View
Results - Data is sourced from automated third-party integrations and manual entries made in the Results Section
Before continuing, make sure you have configured all necessary Fields and Tags. You won't be able to create reports on measures and dimensions that aren't in use.
What chart types exist?
Currently, there are 24 different chart types to choose from:
Circular: Pie Chart and Spider Web
Bars: Column, Stacked Column, Percent Column, Bar, Stacked Bar, Percent Bar
Lines: Line, Spline
Areas: Area, Area Spline, Stacked Area, Stacked Spline, Percent Area, Percent Spline
Numbers: Number, Sparkline Sum, Gauge
Tables: Table, Heatmap, Pivot Table, Multidimensional Table
Map: World View
Outside of charts, you can also visualize your planning data with the Calendar View, which is included in the Media Overview section of every account and plan.
Where can I visualize my data?
Data visualization is segmented at three different levels of observation:
Parent Level - Charts created in the Parent Account will source data from every connected client or subsidiary account
Client or Subsidiary Level - Charts created in a particular Client or Subsidiary Account will source data limited to that account
Plan Level - Charts created within a particular plan will source data limited to that plan
How do I create a Report?
To create a report:
Head to the relevant level of observation and Reports section
Give your report a name
Select whether you want your plan to be Public or Private
Select whether or not you'd like the report to be made available to users of your subsidiary organizations
Click create your first chart
Chart configuration - new Chart Builder:
The new Chart Builder is a smart tool, which builds appropriate charts for you based on the data you put into it. We will go through this step by step, but first, please familiarise yourself with the following terminology:
Data Source: choose any combination of targets, planning, or results to pull data from
Measure: the quantitative measure you're looking to capture
Dimension: the qualitative split or categorization you'd like to see for the measure(s)
Grain: the time increments in which you'd like the data to be displayed. Reminder that the date range is controlled in the calendar settings at the top right corner of the page itself
Datasets: datasets need to be added when creating charts in the reports section. This is required because you can choose to display data from three data sources.
Compare: compare with previous period which can be selected by: Week, Month, Quarter, Year or, Period. This can be displayed as a value or by percentage.
Chart date range: set the chart by a report date range or a relative fixed period
To get started, simply select your first Measure. You will see that the value of that Measure instantly appears in the chart preview on the right hand side, and "Number" has now appeared in the drop-down menu at the top, meaning this is your first available chart format:
If we now add a Dimension as well, for example Media Vehicle, you will see that several other charts (Pie Chart, Spider Web, Columns, Bars, Heat Maps, etc.) have now also become available to visualize our data:
(Note: If you're editing or creating a new chart in an already existing report, your most commonly used Measures and Dimensions for that report will already be at the top of the list!)
If we now also add a monthly Grain, we will see this list of charts grow even further, giving us even more options to choose from. As you continue to build your data set, the Chart Builder will adapt and find the best format to display your data. Feel free to play around with this and see what charts you can make!
Good to know: If a dataset has any errors, a red border will appear around it, alongside a red warning icon which will let you know what the problem is if you hover over it. Any of the following error messages may appear:
"Please select at least one measure."
"Please select at least one data source."
"Your dataset has incompatible dimensions."
If these errors should appear, there are some "helpers" in the system to clarify what needs to be done. For example, if a dataset has incompatible dimensions, (e.g. "Creative" dimension without "Results" data source selected), the dimension will be greyed out in the dataset. Look out for the helpful "tooltips" as well, represented by a little question mark icon; they will help you on your way!
Chart Date range
The default date range charts matches the report date range. Each chart can be set at a specified range selected from the following:
Fixed date - selected date range
This week
This month
This quarter
This year
This week to date
This month to date
This quarter to date
This year to date
Compare
Comparison enables you to compare your chart data against different previous periods selecting from.
Week
Month
Quarter
Year
Period
None (default)
The comparison can be displayed as a value or percentage difference.
Chart types and mixing data sources:
Filter by media data and date ranges
Date range and media data filters make Mediatool reports extremely dynamic. Watch the video above for more details on how to make use of filters.
Consider making your report available to users at the subsidiary level
Consider this time-saving feature: Reports can be made available to users at lower levels in the account hierarchy.
For example, if Acme - Global created a report at the parent account level, that same report can be made available to the various Acme - Country accounts, and all Acme media plans. When viewing the report at a lower level in the account hierarchy, the source data becomes limited to the corresponding level of observation.
This enables you to create and manage a report structure for the entire organization at one level. To enable this feature upon creation, select the checkbox that states, make this report available to users on your subsidiary organizations, whenever you are creating a new report.
How do I add a chart to an existing Report?
Click the edit button to the right of the report title
Click add chart
After configuring your chart, it will appear below all of your existing charts
Click the green Done button to save before navigating elsewhere
How do I edit, copy, or delete an existing chart?
Click the edit button to the right of the report title
At the top right corner of every chart, there are three symbols. Click on the corresponding action you'd like to take
Click the green Done button to save before navigating elsewhere
How do I re-size or rearrange a chart within a Report?
Click the edit button to the right of the report title
Click anywhere on a chart to be able to drag and drop it into another location within the report
Click on the bottom right corner of a chart to be able to drag and resize it
Click the green Done button to save before navigating elsewhere
How do I export a chart within a Report?
All charts created within a report can be exported together in bulk as a PDF by clicking on the export button shown in the GIF below.
Note that there is a checkered red-line titled "page break" that periodically runs across the edit screen of reports. If you plan on exporting your report as a PDF, make sure that this page break line does not intersect one of your charts. Charts should come before and after the line, in order to display properly when exported.
Individual charts can be exported either as a PNG, JPEG, SVG, Excel or CSV.
Different types of charts have different export capabilities. For example, Table Charts can be exported as CSV or Excel:
And other charts can be exported in the following formats:
To do so, click on the three dots to the top-right of any individual chart. Refer to the video below.
Get Support
Have questions or need help? You can reach us directly via the messenger on Mediatool.com or the contact support button located in the top right corner of the Mediatool App.
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