Custom Reporting Terminology

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Custom Reporting Terminology

Introduction

The custom reporting feature in ActiveCampaign is an essential tool for users looking to analyze and visualize their data effectively. Understanding the terminology associated with custom reporting is crucial for leveraging this functionality to its fullest extent. This article aims to define key terms related to custom reporting, providing users with a solid foundation as they create and manage custom reports. Being familiar with these terms allows users to build effective visualizations and analyses that can drive informed decisions within their marketing and sales strategies.

How to Access This Feature

To access the custom reporting feature, you need to have a compatible ActiveCampaign plan or have the Custom Reports add-on. The feature is included with the Enterprise plan, and you must have a Plus or Professional plan in order to purchase this add-on. Once you have access, navigate to the Reports section from your ActiveCampaign dashboard, where you can find options for Custom Reporting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Creating custom reports involves several steps, each using specific terminology that defines how reports are constructed and visualized.

1. **Creating a Look**:

  - A report begins with the creation of a Look. This is the foundational element of your custom report.
  - In the reporting interface, select the data dimensions and measures you want to include in your Look.

2. **Saving to a Dashboard**:

  - You have the option to save your Look to a new or an existing Dashboard.
  - A Dashboard can be thought of as a collection of Looks that allows for the application of global filters.

3. **Using Dimensions and Measures**:

  - Dimensions, such as contact name or ID, are used to define the data contained in your report.
  - Measures express metrics related to these dimensions, such as counts or unique clicks.

4. **Applying Filters**:

  - To refine the data in your Look, you can apply Filters. This restricts the results based on certain criteria.

5. **Choosing Visualizations**:

  - Once your Look is ready, select the Visualizations that best represent your data, including options like bar graphs, line graphs, or pie charts.

6. **Utilizing Table Calculations**:

  - You can enhance your Look by adding Table Calculations, which apply custom formulas to your data for derived values.

7. **Implementing Pivots**:

  - The Pivot feature allows you to rearrange your report data, enabling more meaningful data presentations.

Configuration Options and Settings

When creating custom reports, several key configuration options are available. These include:

- **Look**: Each report you create is labeled as a Look. - **Dashboard**: A collection of Looks with potential global filters. - **Dimension**: Defines what kind of data to display, such as contact details or event dates. - **Measure**: Metrics that quantify the data in your reports, such as total sales or unique opens. - **Filter**: Conditions applied to restrict which data points are displayed based on certain criteria. - **Visualization**: The graphical representation of your data, with various types available. - **Table Calculation**: Custom formulas that are added to derive insights from existing metrics. - **Pivot**: A method to rearrange data dimensions to enhance report clarity.

Best Practices and Tips

To maximize the effectiveness of your custom reporting experience, consider the following best practices:

- Familiarize yourself with each term in custom reporting to better understand how to utilize the tools. - Utilize Filters strategically to narrow down your data sets to the most relevant information. - Experiment with different Visualizations to find the most effective way to present your data narratives. - Regularly review and update your Dashboards to ensure they reflect your current reporting needs and goals. - Use Table Calculations to gain deeper insights and trend analyses that go beyond standard metrics.

Common Use Cases

Custom Reporting can be leveraged in a multitude of scenarios. Some common use cases include:

- **Sales Performance Tracking**: Creating a Look to visualize total sales by month using dimensions such as sales representative and customers. - **Email Engagement Analysis**: Using measures like unique opens and clicks to report on email campaign effectiveness. - **Customer Segmentation**: Utilizing filters based on customer attributes to generate specific reports for targeted marketing efforts. - **Automation Performance Reports**: Visualizing automations completed by filtering through automation names and their success rates.

Troubleshooting

While creating custom reports, users may encounter a few common issues:

- **Data not displaying correctly**: Ensure that your selected Dimensions and Measures are compatible and correctly configured. - **Dashboards not saving**: Verify that you have the correct permissions to save new dashboards or make edits. - **Visualizations not rendering**: This may be due to a lack of data for the specified filters. Review your filter settings to ensure they're correct.

FAQ

What is a Look?

A Look is the report that you create and save while utilizing the custom reporting feature.

How do I create a Dashboard?

You can create a Dashboard when saving a new Look by selecting the option to save it to a new Dashboard.

What are Dimensions?

Dimensions are descriptors of the data in your report, such as contact names or geographical locations.

How do Filters affect my report?

Filters allow you to restrict your report's results based on specific criteria related to a dimension, tailoring the data to your needs.

What types of Visualizations can I create?

You can create various visualization types, including Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, and Pie Charts, depending on how you wish to present your data.

What is a Table Calculation?

A Table Calculation is a custom formula applied to your data in a Look that helps derive new insights from existing measures.

What is the Pivot function?

The Pivot function allows you to rearrange data dimensions within your reports to create a more insightful visualization.

With this comprehensive guide to Custom Reporting Terminology, you'll be well on your way to effectively utilizing ActiveCampaign's custom reporting features to meet your analytics needs. ```