Blogging Tips

A few weeks ago I was writing a blog that was chock full of data.  I quickly realized that my blog post would be more efficient if I could display some of the data in a graph instead of text.  While once upon a time I used Microsoft Excel to create charts, that was many moons ago.  However, a quick search showed me that Web 2.0 has created a wide range of charting tools that allow even a charting novice to quickly create professional quality charts for their blog.

DIY (Do It Yourself) Chart

DIY Chart is a Web-based, simple and powerful online tool to create interactive charts and graphs from static or dynamic data.  The service is free, although you registration is required.  You can upgrade to a paid service to get the ad removed and the ability to store more and larger charts.

DIY Chart offers an array of options from simple pie and bar charts to pyramid and funnel charts – 28 different charting styles in all.  The interface to create the charts is not fancy – but it provides the flexibility to control every aspect of the chart from size, to titles, to legends.  Likewise the publishing offers great options: save as a image file, generate simple HTML code that links back to the chart of their web site or create a dynamic chart.  You host the data file on your web site and if you update the data file – the chart is dynamically updated.

ChartGo

ChartGo states “Our goal is simple, allow users to create graphs online quickly. Create bar graphs, line graphs or pie charts. Simply paste your data in the graph data area and hit the create graph button.”  They have a clear goal and they achieve it – with a free and even registration-free service.  You have fewer options with ChartGo, but for the one time or maybe occasional user this service is great.  You can truly create a chart in a matter of minutes.  You can save the chart as an image file or use a URL to display the graph from their site.  If you want just the basics and know you want a pie chart you might also consider Piecolor.

Rich Chart Live

While I prefer the simple yet clear chart, Rich Chart Live will allow the non-programmer to create charts with a little more flash and then you can actually publish them in Flash or for PowerPoint.  The service is free, but if you upgrade to the paid service you can remove their advertisement. The image below is just a static image – using all the features of Rich Chart Live you can have animation – such as each of the pieces of the chart sliding in to show the chart build itself in stages.

Mind the flash – focus on clarity

As you look to add graphical presentations of data to your writing, I encourage you to consider the words of Edward Tufte, perhaps the leading expert on the art of presenting data and information, who said “And if your images aren’t on point, making them dance in color in three dimensions won’t help.”  So don’t use every bell and whistle in these tools (especially with Rich Chart Live).  If you use these tools wisely to clearly and succinctly display your data, you will help your reader understand the topic in ways that far exceed what could be done with paragraphs of text of pages of numbers.