Client Dashboard: What it It is and How to Make One

This process of reporting to clients can be realized effortlessly with client dashboards. This method allows for seamless and interactive communication with a client through visual data analytics. As data geeks, we are always advocating for business marketing reporting with real-time data. In this post, we will cover the most pressing questions about client dashboards:

• What they are.
• How to use them efficiently?
• How to create custom dashboards?
• How to customize an existing client dashboard template and more?

What is a client dashboard?

To put it simply, a client dashboard is an easy-to-use project management tool that allows clients to access and interact with marketing data. You can use dashboards to show data in real-time, so clients don't have to reach out and ask for the latest update all the time.

Client dashboards consolidate a lot of data sources, from marketing to SEO. They save a lot of marketer time, and engage clients with their data.

How do I create a client dashboard?

The easiest way to create a custom client dashboard is with Whatagraph. For a quick head start, simply use one of our dashboard templates. Connect your social media, Google Analytics, search engine optimization and other accounts, and you're set. Once the account is connected, your template will have all the necessary widgets to show the progress of your campaigns to your client(s).

If you want to create custom dashboards for your clients, there are vital things to consider before setting up the dashboard in Whatagraph from scratch.

1. Register with Whatagraph to start a free trial. It's the best way to test the waters and see how you can benefit from a client portal in the form of a dashboard. Also, see how your clients react to interactive reporting. The trial is valid for seven days, so you will have ample time to try out different dashboard designs.
2. Set the KPIs with your client. Marketing is measured by performance, and your clients will be thankful for seeing the situation in real time without reaching out to your team members.
3. Pick the right dashboard design. Using client dashboards should be intuitive. The best way to achieve this is to create widgets with a graphic representation of the client data. Displaying metrics like that will let your clients feel informed at a glance.
4. Add the essentials only. Consolidated client dashboards can get pretty long, which is why you have to pick carefully what you want your client to see. For example, a cross-channel marketing dashboard showcases the performance of all digital marketing channels, PPC and organic. In comparison, social media dashboard focuses on the performance of different social networks. Even visually, these dashboards can be overwhelming, so pick only the essential indicators and not the detailed information.
5. Provide client access. Unlike reports, client dashboards should be accessible to the user at all times. With Whatagraph, we can guarantee your data will always be up to date, as long as the accounts are connected. Dashboards can be linked for every client, embedded into an email, or be part of the features your landing page offers.
6. Brand your reports. Whatagraph is a white-label analytics solution for marketing agencies and professionals. This means that using this tool with YOUR branding will make it look like your reporting is done with in-house software. It's essential to keep a professional image in front of your clients. You want a professional report, not something that looks like a few freelancers cobbled it up together.

How are client dashboards different from client reports?

Client reports are usually done at a frequent time intervals and sent directly to the client. It can be in a PDF or PPT format, sent every week or every month. A dashboard with client access is usually available 24/7 and provides an instant update on marketing efforts and performance. Marketing agencies tend to use both methods to save time and gain client trust.

How do you write a client report?

There are a few essential steps in building custom reports for your clients:

1. Determine the essential KPIs that your clients rely on in their marketing efforts;
2. Choose data sources that accurately reflect the KPIs. These can be social media or Google analytics, e-commerce platforms, direct marketing performance, and other essential data;
3. Use attractive visual display options to highlight the most important information and clearly show your performance.

Once you have gone through step 1, steps 2 and 3 can be easily achieved with Whatagraph as your reporting tool. We recommend selecting one of the free report templates that we have prepared on our platform to get started right away. All you will need to do is connect your data sources and start reporting to your clients instantly.

Conclusion

In the realm of marketing, client dashboards are here to stay. It's an interactive and engaging tool that agencies can use to communicate important information to the client. It's necessary to test the capabilities of many analytics tools and make the right decision.

You or your agency should look for the ease of use, range of features, and data sources, as helpful customer service. These are all the things that Whatapgraph does best. And don't worry about the pricing - sign up today for your free trial!