Think Outside the Box (or Bar)

We often advise users to start with a stacked or cluster bar chart when unsure about which type of chart would work best given the data. The bar chart may be your best bet but you don't want to get stuck in a rut by relying solely on that chart type. Next time, think about adding a second metric to your bar chart and turning it into bar mekko. For instance, if you're showing growth rates by segment, add revenue by segment as the bar width so your audience will know which segments have the biggest impact on the business. The next time you're planning to use a 100% stacked bar chart, consider using a cascade chart to build up to the total instead. This allows you to walk the audience step by step through each item included in the total.

Get more ideas about the right chart to use by reading our guide to Mastering Chart Selection.