Looker Studio helps you create dashboards and branded reports to visualize data. Here's everything you need to know about how to use it.

If you're like most agencies, you most likely provide your clients with detailed data reports each month.
This probably means you download data from Google Analytics and other data sources, compile it into Excel, Word, or PowerPoint, and attempt to create a visually appealing report that's easy for your clients to understand.

In short, analytics can be a tough beast to wrangle, especially when data is pulled from various sources. And trying to make that data look professional and cohesive may feel impossible.

That's where Looker Studio comes in.

What is Looker Studio?

Looker Studio is a free data visualization platform that allows you to collect data from Google Connectors and Partner Connectors into one dashboard to create reports. Despite the rebranding to Looker Studio in 2022, Google has emphasized that the platform formerly known as Google Data Studio will remain free.

Google Connectors allow marketers to collect data from Google-affiliated platforms such as Google Analytics, Google Sheets, BigQuery, YouTube, etc. Google Connectors can be linked to Looker Studio for free. Looker Studio offers 20 free connectors that sync with Google-affiliated platforms.

Partner Connectors allow marketers to collect data from platforms that are built and supported by Looker Studio partners, such as TapClicks for Looker Studio, Megalytic by TapClicks for Looker Studio, and RavenTools by TapClicks for Looker Studio. Partner Connectors also allow marketers to collect advertising data from non-Google-affiliated platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Hubspot, and more.

Looker Studio offers 600 Partner Connectors that sync with non-Google-affiliated platforms and require a fee to connect.

Looker Studio allows marketers to create one-off reports for clients that explains the graphs, charts, and tables within the report. Here's what a typical report looks like in Looker Studio:

How to Use Looker Studio

Step #1: Visit https://lookerstudio.google.com/overview
Step #2: Access the dashboard using your Google account
Step #3: After your account has been set up, select Blank Report' or one of the pre-designed template options:

Step #4: You'll be asked to choose a connector which can include Google Analytics, Facebook, Instagram, etc. If you're a current or prospective TapClicks, Megalytic, or RavenTools customer, search for TapClicks,' Megalytic' or RavenTools' in the search bar and select the applicable connector under Partner Connectors':

Step #5: After selecting a connector, click Authorize' and the data will import automatically.

How to Connect Data from Non-Google-Affiliated Platforms into Looker Studio (such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Adobe, Hubspot, etc.)

TapClicks for Looker Studio
With TapClicks for Looker Studio, you can connect advertising data from 9 marketing sources, including ads from Facebook, LinkedIn, Adobe, Instagram, X (Twitter), Spotify, Google Analytics 4, Microsoft, Pinterest, and more that will be added soon. This powerful ETL tool allows marketers to collect business data from non-Google-affiliated platforms while using the Looker Studio interface to create reports.

Megalytic by TapClicks for Looker Studio
With Megalytic for Looker Studio, marketers can connect advertising data from 11 marketing sources, including MailChimp, AdRoll, Hubspot, Snapchat, and more.

Megalytic also supports significantly more metrics than alternative connectors. For example, if you need data from Facebook Ads, Megalytic's connector can import approximately 700 different Facebook metrics and dimensions, which is about 200 more metrics than other leading Partner Connectors.

RavenTools by TapClicks for Looker Studio
With RavenTools for Looker Studio, marketers can connect advertising data from 8 marketing sources, including Snapchat, Mailchimp, AdRoll, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more.

Simply put, without Partner Connectors such as TapClicks, Megalytic, or RavenTools, marketers have to export data into a Google Sheet or Excel file and then upload that CSV/GSheet into Looker Studio. This is not only time-consuming but also makes your data more prone to errors when organizing metrics into columns and rows.

Final Thoughts

If you're ready to save time, energy, and funds by streamlining your reporting process, try out TapClicks for Looker Studio, Megalytic by TapClicks for Looker Studio, and RavenTools by TapClicks for Looker Studio free for 14 days.

Alternatively, if you have found that Looker Studio has too many limitations, try our TapClicks dashboard free for 14 days to see our advanced reporting and analytics platform in action. TapClicks marketing dashboards allow you to manage all campaigns in one place and view all metrics side-by-side, eliminating the need to toggle between dashboards. TapClicks also allows you to create branded reports with your client's logo and provide clients with their own TapClicks login so they can access their dashboard and create reports on their own.