Build a report

Google Data Studio has the tools to build interactive reports. With a Two Minute Reports query config as the data source, you can build charts of your marketing data without code.

The steps in Google Data Studio use Google's own labels. Google now calls the product Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio).

Before you start

• You have at least one query config. See Create a query config.
• You know what data you want to show.
• You can use Google Data Studio. It is free with a Google account.

Create a report

Step 1: Start in the Hub

On the Google Data Studio page in the Hub, select Create report. Then choose the connector.

Step 2: Select your query config

Choose the query config that has the accounts that you want, or create one.

Step 3: Choose how to start

Select Create from scratch to start with a blank report. If the connector has templates, you can select a template instead.

Step 4: Connect in Google Data Studio

Google Data Studio opens with the Two Minute Reports connector:

• The query config that you chose is selected in Select Query Config.
• If you are in more than one team, select your team in Select your Team.
• Select Connect.

Your Two Minute Reports data is now a data source in Google Data Studio.

Add charts

Google Data Studio has many chart types:

Common chart types:

• Scorecard - Display a single metric (such as total clicks or revenue)
• Time series - Show metrics over time (daily or monthly trends)
• Bar chart - Compare metrics across categories
• Pie chart - Show composition or percentages
• Table - Display raw data in a structured format
• Map - Show geographic performance
• Gauge - Display performance against targets

Add a chart:

1. Select Insert and select your chart type
2. Position the chart on your dashboard
3. In the Data panel on the right, select:

• Data source - Your Two Minute Reports query config
• Dimension - What to show (such as categories or dates)
• Metrics - What to measure (numbers to display)

4. Customize colors, labels, and formatting
5. Select Apply to add the chart to your report

Add a date range control

Let report viewers change the date range:

Step 1: Add the control

Select Insert and select Date range control.

Step 2: Place the control

Place it prominently at the top of your report.

Step 3: Set up the control

In the control settings:

• Choose the date range type (such as single date or date range)
• Set default dates
• Name the control

Step 4: Link it to your charts

Select a chart and in its settings, link it to your date range control. Viewers can then change the dates and see the data for them.

Add filters

Filters let you focus your visualizations on specific subsets of data:

Step 1: Add a filter

Select Insert and select Filter.

Step 2: Set up the filter

• Select the dimension to filter on (such as campaign, region, or product)
• Choose the filter type (include, exclude, custom list)
• Set default values if desired
• Name the filter

Step 3: Apply it to charts

Select each chart and link it to your filter. Charts will update when the filter changes.

Style your report

Make your report visually appealing and professional:

• Colors - Use consistent brand colors across charts
• Fonts - Keep typography clean and readable
• Layout - Arrange charts logically (most important at top)
• Text - Add titles, descriptions, and context
• Branding - Add your logo and company colors

Good practice:

• Use a white or light background for clarity
• Keep font sizes readable on mobile
• Leave white space to avoid clutter
• Use color to draw attention to key metrics

Use more than one data source

You can use more than one Two Minute Reports query config in one report:

Step 1: Open the data sources

Select Resource › Manage added data sources.

Step 2: Add a data source

Select Add a data source, and select another Two Minute Reports query config.

Step 3: Use it in charts

When creating charts, switch between data sources in the Data panel.

Blend data (advanced):

Google Data Studio supports data blending to combine multiple sources in a single chart:

• Use common dimensions (like date) to blend data
• Create unified metrics from different sources
• This is useful for reports across platforms

Plan the report layout

A well-organized report shows your most important KPIs clearly:

Main parts of a report:

1. Summary - Top KPIs or scorecards
2. Trends - Line charts showing performance over time
3. Breakdowns - Bar charts or pie charts showing composition
4. Details - Tables for deeper analysis
5. Filters - Let viewers focus on specific segments

Layout tips:

• Put most important metrics at the top left
• Use scorecards for top-line numbers
• Add charts for context and trends
• Include detailed tables for deeper exploration

Share your report

When your report is ready, share it:

Step 1: Open Share

In Google Data Studio, select Share in the top right.

Step 2: Set permissions

Choose who can access your report:

• Viewer - Can view the report and interact with filters
• Editor - Can edit the report
• Owner - Has full control

Step 3: Share

• Add specific email addresses
• Generate a shareable link
• Use different sharing settings for different audiences

Email the report on a schedule

To email the report on a schedule, use Google Data Studio's own email scheduling:

In Google Data Studio, select File › Email settings to set up automated report distribution.

Maintain your reports

Keep your reports in good working order:

Check the data:

• Look for numbers that changed unexpectedly
• Compare important numbers with the platform from time to time

Update charts:

• Adjust date ranges or filters as needed
• Refresh charts if data sources change
• Remove outdated reports or charts

Check performance:

• Check if reports load slowly
• Review which visualizations are most used
• Optimize by removing unused charts

Troubleshooting

Report shows no data:

• Check that the data source is connected (look for the green checkmark)
• Ensure your date range contains data
• Check that filters aren't excluding all data
• In the Hub, check that the query config's accounts show Ready to use

Charts are loading slowly:

• Get less data in each chart
• Use filters to limit the data shown
• Simplify visualizations
• Check Google Data Studio's performance recommendations

Data looks incorrect:

• Compare with the original data source
• Check the accounts in your query config
• Verify filters and date ranges are correct
• In the Hub, check that the query config has no warning

Can't see all my metrics or dimensions:

• Not all metrics are compatible with all chart types
• Some dimensions may not be compatible with your metric
• Try a different chart type
• Check that the connector has the metric or dimension

Contact [email protected] for assistance with more complex issues.