Before you begin: Bubble charts are available as a data widget in both Dashboards and Report Studio. A bubble chart plots three fields at once: one on the X axis, one on the Y axis, and one as the size of each bubble. This article explains how bubble charts work, the benefits of using them, and examples of field combinations to try.
To add a bubble chart, see How to Create Widgets on a Dashboard or How to Create Widgets on a Report.
Understanding Bubble Charts
A bubble chart helps you see relationships and variations across items in complex datasets. Each bubble represents one item, such as a campaign. Its position on the X axis, its position on the Y axis, and its size each represent a different field. This lets you compare multiple data points at once and spot relationships, trends, and variations in a single view.
Benefits of Using a Bubble Chart
See three fields in one view
The bubble chart presents three fields in a single, visually engaging chart. This gives you a clear and concise view of complex datasets, so you can see relationships and variances among different items and build a deeper understanding of your data.
Compare data points in depth
You can compare multiple data points across three fields, which supports in-depth examination of relationships and differences between items or categories. For example, you can analyze the sales performance of different products by comparing revenue, units sold, and profitability in a single chart.
Analyze trends over time
Bubble charts can track changes over time. Plot time on one axis, a metric on the other axis, and use bubble size for a third metric to identify growth rates, market trends, or shifts in customer behavior. This supports strategic planning and decision-making.
Evaluate campaign performance
For marketers, the bubble chart helps visualize and evaluate campaign performance. By comparing reach, conversion rates, and impact, you can prioritize campaigns, optimize spending, and allocate resources more efficiently.
Bubble Chart Examples
Impressions versus Clicks versus Conversions
This example plots Impressions on the X axis, Clicks on the Y axis, and Conversions as bubble size.
- Correlation Analysis: Compare where each item falls on the Impressions and Clicks axes against its bubble size (Conversions) to quickly identify correlations or discrepancies between the three metrics.
- Identify Outliers: Spot outliers, such as items with high impressions but low clicks or conversions, which can indicate areas to optimize.
Clicks versus Click-Through Rate versus Average Cost per Click
This example plots Clicks on the X axis, Click-Through Rate on the Y axis, and Average Cost per Click as bubble size.
- Benchmarking: Compare click-through rate (CTR) against average cost per click (CPC) across data points to assess the efficiency of your ad campaigns.
- Optimization Opportunities: Identify clusters of data points with high clicks and low CPC, or the reverse, to find opportunities to improve ad performance.
Cost versus Conversions versus Cost per Conversion
This example plots Cost on the X axis, Conversions on the Y axis, and Cost per Conversion as bubble size.
- Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis: Quickly identify where high costs yield low conversions, or where lower costs drive higher conversions, to support ROI analysis.
- Budget Allocation: Optimize budget allocation by identifying the campaigns or data points with the lowest cost per conversion.
Campaigns Count versus Conversions versus Leads
This example plots Campaigns Count on the X axis, Conversions on the Y axis, and Leads as bubble size.
- Identify High-Performing Campaigns: Spot campaigns with high conversions and leads to uncover your most successful campaign strategies.
- Resource Allocation: See which campaigns drive the most conversions and leads to inform resource allocation for future campaigns.
Engagements versus Conversions versus Cost
This example plots Engagements on the X axis, Conversions on the Y axis, and Cost as bubble size.
- Engagement Assessment: Assess the correlation between engagements and conversions to see how engagement translates into tangible results.
- Cost Efficiency: Evaluate the cost efficiency of acquiring engagements and conversions to guide budget decisions, such as budget allocation for social media advertising, as shown in the example below.