Best Practices for Creating Effective Dashboards

Creating an effective dashboard is crucial for any business, as it provides a visual representation of key metrics and information. In this article, we will discuss the best practices for creating effective dashboards, using a template as a guide.

Introduction to Dashboards

A dashboard is a visual representation of different information and metrics of a product. It is a go-to place for users to track their metrics and is a key feature of any software as a service (SAS) platform.

Importance of Dashboards

The main goal of a dashboard is to represent visually the metrics of a product. It depends on the end-user and the product goals, and it purely depends on what the end-users want to see.

Template for a Dashboard

A dashboard template typically includes the following components:

• Side navigation bar
• Top navigation bar
• Logo
• Navigation items (e.g., dashboard, settings, integrations)
• Search bar
• Notification indicator
• User avatar

These components are essential for every dashboard, and the specific items included will depend on the product goals and user needs.

Main Part of the Dashboard

The main part of the dashboard should include key metrics, such as recurring revenue, and a visual representation of the data. The metrics should be limited to a maximum of five to avoid overwhelming the user.

Examples of Effective Dashboards

Let's look at some examples of effective dashboards:

• Subtrack: a subscription management platform that tracks recurring revenue and shows key metrics.
• Kajabi: a platform for selling online courses that uses a similar template.
• Figma: a design tool that uses a similar template.
• Jira: a task management platform that uses a similar template.
• Stripe: a payment management platform that uses a similar template.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating an effective dashboard requires careful consideration of the key metrics and information that need to be displayed. By using a template as a guide, designers can create a dashboard that is visually appealing and provides valuable insights to users.

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By following these best practices and using a template as a guide, designers can create effective dashboards that provide valuable insights to users.