A Scatter Plot Chart is arguably one of the recommended graphs for showing relationships in data.
Why?
It uses a series of simple, easy-to-decode dots to display insights into key data points. Also, it’s one of the most familiar charts to our eyes. To read this chart, check the trend of the dots.
For instance, if the dots move incrementally from left to right, the relationship between data points under observation is positive.
So, try a Scatter Plot Chart if your objective is to display relationships between variables.
How can you generate visually stunning and insightful Scatter Plots for analysis?
Well, Google is one of the prominent tools for the task. For starters, it’s free. And it comes with a sizable library of charts and graphs.
But it complex process ready-made and insightful Scatter Plots for data storytelling.
How to create a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets should never stress you or even consume your valuable time.
Download and install a particular third-party application (add-on) if your goal is to get ready-to-use and visually stunning Scatter Plot Charts.
Keep reading to discover more about this add-on.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Before jumping right into the how-to guide, we’ll address the following question: what is a Scatter Plot?
A Scatter Plot Chart is a visualization you can use to visualize numerical data pairs.
Each axis represents a metric under study. The chart can help you to study the relationship between the two variables.
Check out an example below.
Let’s plot data for average temperatures in a day. One variable will represent the time and the other temperature. The Scatter Plot will help you see how the time of day affects the temperature.
In this case, time will appear on the X-axis. On the other hand, the Y-axis depicts temperature.
The visualization chart displays your data by placing each point on a cartesian plane in a pattern.
One of the biggest advantages of a Scatter Diagram is mapping lots of data in a single chart. And this means you can quickly discover shifts, trends, and outliers.
So, when should you use a Scatter Plot?
There’re multiple reasons for using the chart.
And this is because it’s versatile in a way that shines even when you have varied or multiple variables.
The chart can help you to test for relationships and patterns. Yes, relationships that expand your understanding of your data.
It’s unlikely to find your data orderly and straightforward to decode.
Yes, your data is likely chaotic, varied, and challenging to understand at first glance.
This is where Scatter Plot templates come in
The name “scatter” is a clear indication that the goal of the chart is to depict data that is all over the place or sporadic.
This chart effectively displays lots of varied data due to its minimalist design. It lacks bars, sections, lines, and other objects. And this makes it easier to display many insights using limited space.
The Scatter Plot uses dots rather than representing each data point with a bar or lines.
How to create a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets should never consume a lot of time.
Keep reading to discover the secret.
Use a Scatter Plot to investigate hidden relationships between two (or sometimes more) key data points.
Essentially, you can use the chart to test data-based hypotheses.
For example, you hypothesize that high salaries make your employees more productive. Using a Scatter Plot, you can quickly test this hypothesis by comparing the salary levels to staff output.
If such a relationship exists, you can use these insights to match salaries with productivity levels better. And If the correlation fails to work, go back to the drawing board, and think of new metrics to test.
The ability of the chart to quickly assess whether a correlation exists is unmatched.
It gets better.
It doesn’t matter whether you have a large dataset, plotting each point reveals hidden patterns, correlations, and trends insights.
We almost forgot this.
You can test more than one variable in a Scatter Diagram. Adding an extra variable to your chart can help you test correlations in-depth.
A Scatter Plot is valuable even if you already know relationships in your data are present.
Visualizing your data using the chart can uncover how strong that connection is and how the connected metrics relate.
There are insights you can easily extract using the chart.
Let’s decode the meaning of the possible insights you could come across.
First, you can quickly know whether there’s a positive or negative correlation. A positive relationship means data points increase alongside one another.
In other words, increasing one of the data points causes the other to rise.
Conversely, a negative correlation implies data points move in opposite directions.
Essentially, increasing one will cause the other data point to decrease. The pattern of key variables in your data determines whether your correlation is negative or positive.
Note: negative correlation doesn’t necessarily mean that the insights are invalid.
For instance, Let’s imagine your costs are going down and your profit margins shooting up. While this is a negative relationship, it’s a desirable result.
How to create a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets should never be an Achilles’ heel to you.
In the coming section, we’ll show you the best add-on to download to access ready-to-use Scatter Plot templates.
You don’t want to miss this.
Google Sheets is one of the popular tools of visualization among business owners. However, it complex process for ready-made Scatter Plot Charts.
We’re not advising you to do away with Google Sheets.
There’s an amazingly affordable tool that comes as an add-on you can easily install in Google Sheets to access ready-to-go and easy-to-customize Scatter Plot Charts.
The application is called ChartExpo.
What is ChartExpo?
ChartExpo is an add-in you can easily install in your Google Sheets to access ready-made and visually appealing Scatter Plot Charts.
How to create a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets should never consume your time or even overwhelm you.
This section will use a Scatter Plot template to visualize the data table below.
Let’s dive in.
| Stores | Items | Share of Total Revenue | Average Growth | Total Sales |
| Sunlight Store | Grocery | 3 | 42 | 99000000 |
| Sunlight Store | Household & Pet Care | 5 | 27 | 24750000 |
| Sunlight Store | Health & Beauty | 7 | 9 | 70714286 |
| Sunlight Store | DIY & Furniture | 11 | 33 | 55000000 |
| Sunlight Store | Office Supplies | 13 | 4 | 19800000 |
| Sunlight Store | Sports & Leisure | 15 | 22 | 14142857 |
| Sunlight Store | Consumer Electronics | 18 | 18 | 82500000 |
| Sunlight Store | Entertainment | 37 | 18 | 61875000 |
| Lambda Store | Electronic | 26 | 48 | 88288808 |
| Lambda Store | Garments | 7 | 22 | 22072202 |
| Lambda Store | Cosmetic | 9 | 14 | 63063434.29 |
| Lambda Store | Toys | 13 | 27 | 14714801 |
| Lambda Store | Books | 15 | 9 | 17657762 |
| Lambda Store | Garden & Outdoor | 17 | 27 | 12612687 |
| Lambda Store | Cleaning supplies | 22 | 22 | 73574007 |
A Scatter Plot Chart is a visualization you can use to visualize numerical data pairs.
Each axis represents a metric under study. The chart can help you to study the relationship between the two variables.
The chart visualizes your data by placing each point on a cartesian plane in a pattern.
This chart effectively displays lots of varied data due to its minimalist design. It lacks bars, sections, lines, and other objects. And this makes it easier to display many insights using limited space. You can use the chart to display correlation and relationship insights.
A Scatter Plot Chart is arguably one of the recommended graphs for showing relationships in data.
The chart uses a series of simple and easy-to-decode dots to display insights into key data points. Also, it’s one of the most familiar charts to our eyes. To read this chart, check the trend of the dots.
For instance, if the dots move incrementally from left to right, the relationship between data points under observation is positive.
So, try a Scatter Plot Chart if your objective is to display relationships between variables.
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