Everybody wants to improve themselves and their businesses, but where do you start? In the era of data-driven decisions, having a personal dashboard that compiles your business and personal life data allows you to track what matters most to you so that you can improve on your metrics.
Whether you’re tracking sales metrics, time spent watching tv, daily exercise, or expenses, a dashboard puts everything at your fingertips. Here’s how you can create either a personal dashboard or a business dashboard for yourself.
Steps to Create Your Business & Personal Dashboard
Step 1: Identify What Data You Want to Track
Business Data Examples
- Sales Metrics: Track sales, revenue, and profit.
- Marketing Performance: Monitor website traffic, lead conversion rates, and social media engagement.
- Operational Insights: Inventory levels, employee performance, and other key performance indicators.
Personal Life Data Examples
- Health and Fitness: Daily exercise, nutrition, sleep quality, and other health-related metrics.
- Personal Finance: Budget tracking, investments, savings, and expenditures.
- Time Management: Daily tasks, upcoming appointments, and goals tracking.
Step 2: Select the Right Tools
Depending on your tech-savviness and budget, various tools can be employed.
- DIY Tools: Platforms like Excel or Google Sheets allow you to create custom dashboards, but they require some proficiency in data manipulation. For something free that also is a nice dashboard creation tool that connects with Google Sheets, I recommend Google Data Studio, now known as Looker Data Studio. <- Highly recommended for personal dashboards.
- Specialized Dashboard Tools: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik offer more advanced features, pre-built templates, and pre-built data integrations with various data sources.
- Fitness and Health Trackers: For personal health data, apps like MyFitnessPal or Fitbit can be integrated into your dashboard using tools like IFTTT and Zapier.
Step 3: Design and Build Your Dashboard
- Layout: Decide on the visual layout, such as charts, graphs, or tables that best represent your data.
- Integrations: Link the chosen platform to your data sources. This may involve connecting to your CRM, financial software, or health-tracking apps like FitBit & Strava.
- Customization: Tailor the dashboard to your preferences, including colors, fonts, and data refresh rates.
Step 4: Evaluate the Cost
- Free Options: Excel, Google Sheets, and Looker Data Studio are free but may require more time and expertise to get set up and integrated with your data. Many freelancers can help you build your dashboard and data connections, and you can find them on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
- Subscription-based Tools: Platforms like Tableau can range from $70/month for individuals to $840/year for businesses. This depends on the number of users you’ll need; however, if you’re building a personal dashboard, Tableau and professional business intelligence tools are a bit overkill.
- Professional Services: Hiring a professional to build a custom dashboard can range from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending on complexity.
Step 5: Consider Privacy and Security
Ensure that the tools you select comply with relevant privacy and security regulations, especially when handling sensitive business or personal information. If you’re building a personal dashboard, make sure that only people who should have access to your data will have it. If you’re going to put sensitive data into your dashboard, make sure that whatever tool you choose has excellent privacy controls for internal data sources.
Step 6: Monitor and Adjust
Regularly review your dashboard to ensure 1) data connections are still good, and 2) you’re hitting your benchmarks. Set for yourself a cadence for reviewing your dashboard and the metrics to see how you’re performing. As your goals and needs evolve, your dashboard should too.
Step 7: Hire a Virtual Assistant to Keep Your Data Updated
Inputting and keeping your data accurate is challenging, especially as a busy professional. This is why we at Global Hola would recommend that you hire a virtual assistant trained in data entry and dashboarding tools to keep your data accurate. In fact, our co-founder Nick Canfield was initially a data scientist and engineer before founding Global Hola, so he knows how to find good people in this space.
Conclusion: Empower Yourself with a Personal Dashboard
Creating a personal business and life dashboard is not just a trend but a strategic approach to integrate various aspects of your life. From tracking your business’s success to monitoring your personal well-being, a well-designed dashboard provides an instant overview.
While DIY solutions are available for the tech-savvy, professional services provide a tailored experience that aligns with your unique needs.
Investing in a dashboard is more than just a financial decision; it’s a commitment to data-driven living. Whether it’s hitting sales targets or achieving fitness goals, having a dashboard means you’re no longer flying blind but navigating with a clear vision.
Start your journey towards a more integrated and insightful life today. Create your personal dashboard, and let data be your compass.
Want Help Keeping Your Personal Dashboard Updated?
Hire a virtual assistant from Global Hola.