How to Turn Boring, Nearly Incomprehensible Spreadsheets into Interactive On-Line Graphs -- Free!
March 14, 2010
We know that a page of numbers in a spreadsheet communicate almost no information.
We know that a visual, such as a chart, conveys lots of information.
So, we we need to convert organized numbers (raw data) into information. But how?
Better yet, how to convert the graphed data into an interactive chart, where the user can pursue his interest?
Now a company offers solutions, for free. It's called Tableau Public, which is really a silly name. But it's a great service.
Here is a short Gee Whiz video that serves as a model for how to design a video that gets an individual to take a specific action . . . almost.
The company's marketing department made a huge mistake. It posted its on-site video, which is a Flash video, on YouTube. A Flash video allows you to insert a click-through box. That's a great action step: just click a box. But, when it's posted on YouTube, it isn't in Flash. So, the box is not live. The user is unable to go to the site/page. Big mistake!
The company should have produced the same video, but without the Download button. Instead, its web address should be at the end of the video. There should be a verbal explanation of the #1 benefit for going to the page.
Here is the page that the Flash video's Download button takes you to:
This video will amaze you.