Creating data connections in Octoboard Marketing Analytics product
Octoboard platform consists of three modules - Marketing Analytics (for Business and for Agencies), PPC Data Analytics and E-commerce Analytics. This tutorial covers the process of connecting to cloud platforms withing the Marketing Analytics modules. We will show you how to connect a single widget, add a dashboard and generate a report using a pre-configured reporting template.
The process of creating data connections in PPC Data Analytics and Ecommerce Analytics is covered in separate tutorials:
Application connections can be added for individual organisations (clients or teams) in the Marketing Analytics module. Individual clients (teams) will only see connections that have been added for them.
To see all connections defined per client go to LEFT MENU > CONNECTIONS.
Here you will see the list of available connected applications and their status.
To add a new Facebook Ads, Google Property or other connection, click the "CONNECT NEW APPLICATION" button visible on this screen. You will be presented with a connection Wizard that will allow you to enter login details and complete the process.
Note: Sometimes application connections expire and you will need to re-connect. Re-connecting is easy. Simply click REFRESH icon on your expired connection.
Alternatively, you can click the "ADD METRIC" button in any dashboard or report and the same wizard will walk you through the process again.
When you create your Octoboard account, you are presented with a blank dashboard and templates - for reports and dashboards (link:blank:hashtag:hash-paid-advertising:"over 200 of them are available").
Note: We recommend verifying your email at this stage - this way your data will be updated automatically.
From the above screen, you can proceed to add connections and data to Octoboard. You can use the following methods to add data to reports and dashboards in our core products.
- Adding data to dashboards: Using predefined dashboard templates
- Adding data to dashboards: Using dashboard template wizard
- Adding data to reports: Configuring sections in predefined report
- Adding data to reports: Adding templates to existing reports
Following topics will explain each method in more details.
Remember, that all dashboards, reports and connections that you create are visible to users of the same client or user group in Octoboard. You can invite as many users as you like. They will only see information that you created for them.
To find out more about how user groups, clients and users work in Octoboard, please read this tutorial.
This is the easiest option to use. At the very top of the Octoboard interface, you will see the list of available templates grouped into areas.
Go to LEFT MENU and check out DASHBOARDS section. This image shows the Web Analytics group and a set of templates.
Feel free to browse each individual area (Web Analytics, Social, Media, PPC, Call Tracking, Email Marketing and so on).
Once you select a template all you will need to do to create a dashboard using it is to enter your credential (application connection). This image shows how Twitter connection initialises a new template-based dashboard.
Once connected, you can always modify any created dashboard - add, remove and resize widgets. If you want to reset the dashboard to the initial configuration do the following:
- Click RECONNECT button at the top of the screen
- Check RESET WIDGET LAYOUT checkbox in the connection window
You can add a new template to an existing dashboard. To do that, click ADD DASHBOARD button at the bottom of the screen.
You will be presented with a simple 3-step connection wizard.
Follow the instructions to complete the wizard, which are:
- STEP 1: Select Template
- STEP 2: Connect to the App
- STEP 3: Confirm addition of the new template
Once you have clicked "SAVE AND CONTINUE" you will add a new template to your existing dashboard.
Note: you can use the same wizard to add individual widgets to existing dashboards. It is possible to combine widgets from different applications in the same dashboard (or report).
Octoboard will allow you to build custom reports or create them quickly using our templates. Marketing agencies use reports to save time and send automated updates to their clients. Businesses send reports to internal teams to update them on the progress.
This tutorial covers in detail the process of creating a report by using configurable sections as well as setting up scheduled updates.
Tutorial: How to schedule automated reports
As always, you can modify any section of the report - add, remove, resize widgets and re-set them to default states. To re-set dashboards and reports sections click RECONNECT button at the top of the screen and check the RESET WIDGET LAYOUT checkbox in the connection window:
To add a template to an existing report follow these steps.
- Click ADD SECTION button in your report
- Select FROM TEMPLATE option and pick your report
Note: you can do the same and add data based on the existing dashboard.
Created app logins, dashboards and reports are visible within Octoboard organisations (clients or teams). You can use CLONING to copy your best work (dashboards and reports) across any number of organisations. Check out our tutorial on how to clone dashboards and reports.
The process of creating data connections in Octoboard data add-ons is covered in separate tutorials:
