Over time we’ve compiled several resources, via our blog articles and videos that share tips and best practices when it comes to visualizing data in Excel. Now we’ve brought them all together in this one convenient place. Whether looking for tutorials on creating charts, going beyond the default outputs or adding emphasis and additional context we have you covered.
We invite you to explore the following storytelling with data Excel ‘how-tos’ for a range of resources on how to bring your data to life in Excel!
Additionally, if you’re looking to level up your PowerPoint skills, check out our specially curated on-demand learning course. Behind the Slides: good to great PowerPoint presentations will teach you how to create compelling and effective slides at your own pace with access to 5 learning modules containing 30+ video lessons to master new skills.
creating charts
BULLET CHARTS
DIVERGING BARS
DOT PLOTS
LINE CHARTS
SCATTER PLOTS
SLOPEGRAPHS
WAFFLE CHARTS
WATERFALL CHARTS
moving beyond default outputs
MOVING A
CHART AXIS
FORMATTING
THE X-AXIS
SUPER CATEGORY AXIS LABELS
EIGHT WAYS TO EDIT A LEGEND
ADJUSTING
BAR WIDTH
GRAPH ELEMENTS DIRECTLY IN CELLS
DISPLAYING A VALUE IN A RANGE
ADDING TOTALS TO STACKED BARS
DON’T TRUNCATE YOUR BARS!
COMBO CHART CHALLENGES
USE COLORBLIND FRIENDLY COLORS
ELIMINATE CLUTTER FROM GRAPHS
USE WHITE SPACE
AND ALIGNMENT
adding emphasis and additional context
EMPHASIZE A
DATA POINT
LABELING DATA
ADDING A SHADED RANGE
ADDING A
VERTICAL LINE
VISUALIZING UNCERTAINTY
ADDING SPARING DATA MARKERS
ADDING EMPHASIS TO AREA CHARTS
DISPLAY ACTUALS
& FORECASTS
FORECAST WITH A SHADED AREA
AXIS VS. DATA LABELS
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For more resources and ways to train your data storytelling muscles, join in the SWD community. To organize a storytelling with data workshop for your team, fill out this form or email inquiry@storytellingwithdata.com.
You are welcome to use these resources to learn or teach with proper attribution:
Knaflic, Cole. storytellingwithdata.com. © 2025