All month, we are going to celebrate Klipfolio's 10th year in business. Okay, so technically we reached that milestone in 2011. But 2011 was perhaps the busiest year in the company's history (what with the beta and release of Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile), so we needed some time to collect our thoughts and properly celebrate this achievement. In fact, as we closed out 2011, we got a bit of good news that puts this milestone into perspective: Klipfolio had 2.3 YoY growth in 2011!
We invite you to enjoy the celebrations with us all month long. We've got some great plans in the works, including a visual history of Klipfolio that has started today on our Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn pages.
I am excited to share the visual history of Klipfolio with you, because our products have evolved so much. We've come a long ways in addressing the challenges of data visibility and the visual history demonstrates how we've addressed this challenge over the years. For the first time, we are releasing some of the orginal drawings for Klipfolio Dashboard.
I'll leave you with a sneak-peek of one of the images we'll be sharing this month. This is actually one of the original drawings for version 1 of Klipfolio Dashboard.
Don't forget to check out these pages for the lastest Klipfolio news!
Hello fellow dashboard enthusiasts! I just wanted to give everyone a quick update about some changes we've made to Klipfolio.com.
We have decided to create a new Resources seciton. This was formerly a subsection of our About section, and includes much of the same information as it did before. This change is designed to streamline site navigation and make it easier to find exactly what you are looking for when you navigate to Klipfolio.com.
Here's an overview of the topics you can expect to find in each section:
Hopefully this makes navigating Klipfolio.com a little bit easier for everyone!
I decided that this year I would make a New Year's resolution to start building better KPIs with Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile. As an added bonus, I thought I would share my work and progress on the KlipBlog and in a new section in our Knowledge Base. I've got lots of great KPIs (key performance indicators) planned for the coming months, so make sure to check back regularly to see what's new.
This week I want to delve into Google Analytics - a topic I am certain we will revisit again (and often) in the future - and see how you can use it build web analytics KPIs in Klipfolio Dashboard. Another important aspect of working with Google Analytics is working with the XML data source to assign data to the Klip.
The topics covered in these tips and tricks articles are designed for intermediate or advanced users. Don't worry if you are still getting the hang of Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile - I'll provide you with all the resources you need to get up to speed at the beginning of each article and when we encounter tricky parts.
Google Analytics is one of the quintessential tools in the repertoire of the online marketers, especially for users looking to design a web analytics dashboard. Many users are probably already familiar with the Google Analytics reporting UI, which provides lots of great data on site visitors, traffic sources, and site content. Well, in order to plug that data into Klipfolio Dashboard you need to use the Data Feed Query Explorer to craft a query URL.
I guess that isn't entirely true, as you can export that data into CSV format and then plug it into your dashboard directly from your computer. But by doing this you will be missing out on an incredibly cool and important feature: automatic updates. By exporting the Analytics data using the Data Feed Query Explorer, you can use and reuse the query URL to get regular updates of your data. Then, whenever your data is updated, any Klips on your dashboard using that data will be automatically updated as well. That means once you are done building this KPI (assuming you are following along), then you won't need to update it ever again. Very cool, indeed!
Using the Data Feed Query Explorer can be tricky for users accustomed to the UI of the Google Analytics reporter, but it is an essential tool for crafting your URL. This is a topic that I plan to revisit in the future in more detail, but for now, I simply want to introduce the fields that are relevant to this particular KPI.
Using the Data Feed Query Explorer you will craft your URL to query the data you want from Google Analytics. Following these instructions, you will retrieve the following information: date of visit, total visitors, new visits, percentage of visits that are unique. Before starting these steps, refer to the Google Analytics how to article.
Note: The dates are going to be modified in Klipfolio Dashboard.
Note: You will be pasting this URL into Klipfolio Dashboard in a few moments, so don't lose it off your clipboard.
Remember what I said about the automating the data retrieval so all your Klips using that data source will be automatically updated? Refining the date parameters is the critical step in setting this up, as it will allow you to change the data set from a historic metric to a moving or rolling metric (check out this article to learn more about time frames and comparative metrics). By modifying the date parameters of the URL, you will be able to retrieve fresh data from your Google Analytics at a predetermined refresh rate. Again, if you find yourself lost in the progression of these steps, please refer to the Google Analytics how to article.
Note: It is formatted as YYYYMMDD.
Note: It is formatted as YYYYMMDD.
If you followed these instructions precisely, then the data source will now return a rolling metric that will always display the last 30 days worth of data up to the current date. If you are getting an error when you click the Get Resource, make sure to check the URL for any typos you may have accidently inserted.
When you use the Google Analytics explorer, the data will be exported as an XML document. XML simplifies the distribution of data and makes working with large data sets easy - that is once you get the hang of XML. I recommend that you check out the how to article on XML for more information on how to work with this data format.
Once you have your URL plugged into Klipfolio Dashboard and have created a data source, then you can begin assigning that data to a Klip. In this example, I am going to use a Table Klip because I want to see my numbers as they coincide with each day in the reporting period (see preview above).
I want to start with first column of the table, the one that will display the dates in the reporting period. This is the most challenging step in completing this Klip, because we need to change the date format so that rather than reading a string of numbers such as 20111112, it will read as Dec 12, 2011. Follow these steps closely to get set up the date formatting.
Note: This will return a numeric epoch date, which will then be returned as a formatted date at steps 11-14.
Note: This will return an epoch date or a string of numbers. Don't worry, this will be addressed in the following steps.
The date is properly formatted and will appear in descending order with the last date of the reporting period at the top of the table.
The next step is to start assigning the actual numbers to the remaining three columns. Each of the metrics we will use (ga:visitors, ga:newVisits, and ga:percentNewVisits) are assigned to columns in precisely the same way, so I will only detail these steps once, and then you can reapply them as necessary. I will start with the ga:visitors metrics.
Note: This will be a numerical value and each node associated with that path will be assigned to the table as an array, eg, in ordered rows in a single column.
This will tell Klipfolio Dashboard to only assign information associated with that specific node, eg., the one that contains the ga:visitors metric. Otherwise, each metric associated with @ value will be assigned to that column.
Repeat these steps for the remaining columns, looking instead for the ga:newVisits and ga:percentNewVisits specific @ value. Don't forget to lock the path down to return the metrics that are relevant to your query.
Once you've finished adding all the metrics to the Table Klip, you can save the Klip and add it to your Dashboard. As I stated earlier, the cool thing about this Klip is that it will automatically update to provide you with latest set of data. As well, you can use the same techniques for working with XML to create any number of Klips using this data source now that it is formatted and saved in your Library. A Sparkline or Bar chart Klip immediately comes to mind.
That's it for now, but I'll be back again soon with some more tips and tricks!
Got an idea for a future Tips and Tricks article? Then share your idea in one of these great places:
No surprises here. The launch of Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile is the top news maker for 2011. As you can tell by the volume of headlines dedicated to the launch and subsequent feature-adds, this story simply has to be #1. But it isn't just the press dedicated to this event that made it so special. It was the year-long alpha and six month beta where we worked with the largest and most security conscious organizations in the world to get Klipfolio Dashboard up to the starting line. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when our launch turned out to be a huge success. (See #2. Big wins, new customers)
The sub-plot of this story has been the ongoing development of our mobile BI dashboard. We love customer feedback, and provide an awesome forum where users can submit and vote on new ideas. This feedback drives the development of new features. Among the biggest feature-adds this year is the new Facebook connector, allowing you to access your feed and insights. Expect many more great new features coming in 2012!
Okay, so you probably already know that we really like to show off our products using video. The launch was no different, and we took the opportunity to show off what the mobile dashboard can do. If you are curious about Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile, then check out this playlist to see what Klipfolio Dashboard can do!
We like our customers big, and are very proud by the company we keep. The world's largest organizations and brands rely on Klipfolio Dashboard every day to provide a clear and accurate view of key performance indicators across their businesses.
Here is a selection I'm sure you will be familiar with: Aviva, the biggest insurance company in the UK; the world's number one silicone chip maker; the largest global restaurant company; the world's most recognized breakfast cereal brand; and Boeing, the largest aerospace manufacturer.
Aviva's Daniel Steel agreed to talk to us so that we could take a look at how his department uses Klipfolio Dashboard. It was a fascinating glimpse into the uber-busy environment of Aviva's IT Service Desk. Want to learn how Aviva reduced data aggregation costs while increasing data visibility? Check out Aviva's customer profile to learn more.
Our partner program got off to a great start this year. Klipfolio welcomed new partners Vizyx (USA), Arbit (Brazil), and MAP Team (Indonesia) to the team - each of them sporting early wins with enterprise customers. That's not all. We've got more coming in 2012, including a global online agency and representation down-under.
These key partnerships will help to ensure the smooth deployment of Klipfolio Dashboard (web-mobile and desktop) to enterprises around the world. Allan Wille, CEO and President of Klipfolio, had this to add: "Key partners like we've gained in 2011 provide us with the global reach and the feedback we need to deliver the best KPI dashboards."
Working with Vizyx, Arbit, and MAP Team has been a lot of fun so far. We've had the opportunity to talk to each of our partners to get their feedback on what new means to them.
Check out what they have to say:
With all the attention that our web and mobile offering is getting, it may appear that we've forgotten about Klipfolio Dashboard for the desktop. That couldn't be more wrong. The release of desktop dashboard 6.0 marks an important step forward in the capabilities of Klipfolio Dashboard for the desktop and Klipfolio Developer Edition.
Desktop Dashboard 6.0 brought a host of new features to our customers, including more self-serve options, making it easier for organizations to manage their KPIs. On top of that, Dashboard Manager streamlines the day-to-day management of Klipfolio Dashboard. These updates made headlines this year, and you can expect more headlines for our Desktop Dashboard next year.
Whenever we introduce new features into our dashboard we love to make a video to show you what you can expect the next time you log in. We went the extra mile in this video, so why not check it out these two videos on our YouTube channel: Klipfolio Dashboard Manager and Refine, Filter, and Find.
2011 has been an important year here at Klipfolio and we are very optimistic about the coming year. But before we take a look ahead at 2012, I thought it would be cool to look back at this past year.
If you've wandered over to our Press Room lately, then you've probably noticed this has been a year of news makers at Klipfolio. Let's take a look at Klipfolios Top 5 News Makers.
On June 22, 2011 Klipfolio announced the beta program for its web and mobile KPI dashboard. In the office, everyone collectively held their breath waiting to see if the beta would take off. After all, we were anxious to see if our hard work during the year long alpha would yield real results. In the end, the beta release proved to be a big success.
The development of Klipfolio Dashboard web and mobile has been a true-user driven process, involving the world's largest brands and some of the most conservative and security conscious organizations. Their input throughout the Alpha and Beta is baked into the DNA of our mobile KPI dashboard.
The first grainy photos of Klipfolio Dashboard released on Facebook in May 2011 hinted at the upcoming Beta. Check out the Facebook Album dedicated to this News Maker.
It's been a big year for us here at Klipfolio, and we're ending it on a high note. The latest round of updates added some important new features to the Dashboard that have been requested by our customers. I have to admit I am kind of excited about some of these cool features, and want to share them with you. I've also made a video to show off these features that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Let's take a look at the top 5 new features and how they affect the way you work in Klipfolio Dashboard:
Setting a threshold for your Klip is a great way to stay informed on the health of a given metric. A common threshold will cause your value to turn red when it falls below a predetermined number. If you are using a web accessible resource with a refresh rate, then this will happen automatically as changes are made to your source file (such as on Google Docs). The addition of new threshold conditions increases your ability to use indicators to monitor of your operational performance.
Good things come in small packages. This is a small change to your work flow, but one that I think everyone will appreciate. After you are finished building your Klip, you will be prompted to share that Klip with other people in your organization. This time-saving feature makes sharing your metrics and KPIs quick and easy. Rather than having to go back and find specific Klips to share with people in your organization, you can share those Klips right away.
Table Klips now support column border control allowing you to customize your tables by emphasizing the role of a certain column. In addition to this, new column header features provides the option to use the first row of data as your header or to exclude the header altogether.
The spreadsheet sheet selector (say that five times fast) gives you access to all the sheets on any Excel file you are using to build a Klip. This is a pretty cool feature, because it lets you select data from multiple sheets to use in a single Klip. (Check out the how to article)
The Library has received an important facelift and as a result is much more streamlined and user friendly. The new user interface provides filtering, sorting, and search functions to help you quickly find your Klips, tabs, and data sources. Also, the Library now provides additional information about each resource you can access. For example, each data source can tell you at a glance what type of resource it is (e.g. Google Docs) and the format of that data (e.g. spreadsheet).
As a contributor to Klipfolio's social media presence on Facebook, I can admit my bias when it comes to ranking this feature number one. This feature lets you access any data stored on your Facebook account, plug it into Klipfolio Dashboard as a JSON file, then use it to build a Klip.
Using the Graph API Explorer or FQL (Facebook Query Language), you can extract lots of great information from Facebook. You can use the Graph API to access your feed and plug it into a News Klip (here's the how to article). Or, you can query Facebook Insights to help you monitor the daily performance of your organization's Facebook page.
The first time you log into Klipfolio Dashboard you will be able to watch an introductory video overview of the application. If you missed the video on your dashboard, just check the help file home page to watch it for yourself or you can watch it on our YouTube channel. Another cool support feature is the guided walkthrough for getting your data into the application and using that data to build a new Klip. Learning a new application can be a challenge -- our goal is to make it as easy as possible.
After writing last month's article where we considered how different time frames impact comparative metrics, I thought it would be interesting to follow that up with a look at the period of your time frames. Just like a sine wave, these types of time frames are characterized by their repeating cycle - allowing you to compare the ebb and flow of your trend more accurately, chronologically speaking.
A commonly used measure of time in business reporting is the 30 day cycle. While the reporting periods in each cycle can be broken up in discrete chunks, a 30 day time frame, consisting of just over 4 weeks makes for poor analysis. And that all boils down to the fact that your 30 day schedule may begin on a Monday, but your last reporting day will be a Tuesday, with your next reporting cycle beginning on a Wednesday. So, in fact, the periodicity is not following a natural cycle.
Let's compare that to a 24 hour, 7 day, or 28 day reporting cycle. This consistent time frame will, for example, always begin on a Monday and end on a Sunday. The data or trendline now lends itself to comparison - consistently every reporting period.
The idea behind consistent time frames is that you break each monitoring period into discrete, equal chunks. Consistent time frames offer a more objective way to monitor and compare your metrics. Not only that, but each day in each cycle is parallel to previous cycles. Spotting patterns becomes much easier compared to the 30 day cycle, since you are essentially comparing apples to apples, Mondays to Mondays.
The answer is simple: no. Setting up time frames for your KPI dashboard is about knowing the best way to monitor your metrics in order to increase understanding and, in turn, improve your decision making. Your KPIs need to speak to your organization's goals and improve your ability to achieve those goals. Rather than advocating blind adoption of consistent reporting periods, this article is about adding another tool (or question) to your KPI tool belt.
13 months, each 28 days does seem to add up quite nicely. Food for thought!
Missed our article last month? Don't worry, here it is:
Business Reporting - Time frames and comparison metrics.
While you're here, why not check out some of these other interesting articles:
Top Ten Call Center Metrics
Top Ten Sales Metrics
Top Ten Inventory/Warehouse Metrics
