In order to bridge the gap between data and decisions, it’s important to support your marketing intelligence with a sound framework that can help drive trends and insights that make a difference. Whether it’s too little data or too much data, marketers are frequently trapped in confusion when it comes to learning the performance of their actions. An analysis tends to be shrouded in confusion and be counterproductive to what your leadership team needs, which is crisp, actionable insights they can make a difference with. To start, here are 6 Key Pillars to Build Focus and stories that will give your audiences meaning and insightful takeaways that will influence your leadership team. Please see the entire blog post here: http://www.slideshare.net/ncifuentes/data-storytelling-6-pillars-to-organize-your-analytical-approach

1. 6 PIL LA RS TO ORGANIZE YOUR
ANALYTICA L A PPROACH
DATA STORYTELLING

2. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
In order to bridge the gap between data and
decisions, it’s important to support your marketing
intelligence with a sound framework that can help
drive trends and insights that make a difference.
!
Whether it’s too little data or too much data,
marketers are frequently trapped in confusion when
it comes to learning the performance of their
actions. Analysis tends to be shrouded in confusion
and be counterproductive to what your leadership
team needs - crisp, actionable, insights they can
make a difference with.
ORGANIZE YOUR ANALYTICAL APPROACH
Identify an approach to your analytical story by using
these six pillars to create a sound takeaway and start
turning your intelligence into action:
1. OPINIONS WITHOUT FACTS ARE JUST OPINIONS
2. ABSOLUTE NUMBERS BY THEMSELVES ARE USELESS
3. CONTINUOUSLY BREAK YOUR DATA DOWN
4. TWO SOURCES ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE
5. DEEP ANALYSIS REQUIRES THINKING TIME
6. USE CREATIVE & TACTICAL APPROACHES
6 KEY PILLARS TO BUILD FOCUS
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

3. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
ASK YOURSELF SEVERAL TIMES “SO
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN” AND
YOU’LL SEE THE OPINION TURN
INTO FACT BASED INSIGHT THAT
CAN ALIGN A TEAM TO DRIVE
ACTION
OPINIONS WITHOUT FACT
ARE JUST OPINIONS

4. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
THE “SO WHAT”
PRINCIPLE
OPINIONATSURFACE
1STSOWHAT
3RDSOWHAT
2NDSOWHAT
4THSOWHAT
5THSOWHAT
WE NEED BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF OUR STORYTELLING WEB PAGES
DEEPERFACTBASED INCREASING TRAFFIC TO STORYTELLING PAGES WILL GENERATE MORE VALUE AND BRAND EQUITY FOR THE COMPANY
Our new storytelling pages are only getting .78% CTR in the new format, compared to 1% in the older format
If we improve CTR to the new pages, we’ll increase our view-thru rate to our purchase page
If we can leverage more traffic, our overall conversion rate will improve by 37%
Increasing conversion will drive an additional $20M in projected sales over the course of the calendar year
The change would drive a more efficient marketing channel generating more sales and brand value

5. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
YOU HAVE TO GROUND DATA WITH A
COMPARISON, WHETHER THAT’S
VERSUS PRIOR PERIODS,
COMPETITORS, NORMS OR THE
CATEGORY
ABSOLUTE NUMBERS BY
THEMSELVES ARE
USELESS

6. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
THE ANALYTICAL STORY COMES TO
LIFE WHEN YOU SEE A BREAK IN THE
DATA - YOU NEED TO CONTINOUSLY
BREAK DATA POINTS DOWN TO SEE
IF THEY START TO TELL A STORY
INJECT LIFE INTO YOUR
ANALYTICAL STORY

7. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
AVOID TAKING ONE PIECE OF DATA
AND MAKING IT THE BASIS OF YOUR
ENTIRE BRAND STRATEGY - MAKE
SURE IT IS A REAL TREND YOU CAN
SUPPORT WITH ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TWO SOURCES ARE
BETTER THAN ONE

8. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
A FEW QUESTIONS CAN FORCE DEEPER,
RICHER THINKING. ASK YOURSELF
QUESTIONS LIKE “WHERE ARE WE, WHY
ARE WE HERE, WHERE COULD WE BE,
HOW CAN WE GET THERE AND WHAT DO
WE NEED TO DO TO GET THERE” TO HELP
UNLOCK MORE FOCUSED THINKING
DEEP ANALYSIS REQUIRES
THINKING TIME

9. NICK CIFUENTES 6 PILLARS OF ANALYTICAL STORY-TELLING JUNE 2014
UTLIZE TOOLS THAT CAN HELP ORGANIZE
AND FORCE DEEP THINKING, USING
CREATIVE AND TACTICAL APPROACHES
TO YOUR ANALYSIS
ORGANIZE YOUR
THOUGHTS

10. Marketing & strategic brand communications professional with a Master's degree in Marketing & Creative Writing and a B.A.
in Journalism. Over 10 years of progressive experience -- leading global cross-functional teams in the conceptualization and
implementation of data-driven marketing programs & strategy across digital and traditional media platforms.
!
Key brand experience across athletic, retail, automotive, media, entertainment and CPG segments, including key leadership
roles in strategy, analytics and social media. Strong track record of setting strategic direction for the development and
execution of targeted marketing programs to affect brand awareness, buying decisions and audience behaviors. Extensive
knowledge of marketing best practices and program evaluation and strong ability to foster internal and external relationships.
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nicholas.cifuentes@gmail.com