[Looker Studio] Ultimate Guide to Using Scorecard

A scorecard is a component that can display the value of a single metric. It is often used to represent important KGIs or KPIs. In this article, we will explain in detail how to use scorecards, including images. By mastering the finer settings, you can expand what can be expressed with scorecards, so please use this as a reference.

For information on how to add charts and tables to Looker Studio reports and basic configuration methods, please refer to the following article.

□ Official Help: Scorecard reference

What is the Scorecard?

In this component, you can display the value of a single metric. It is often used to show important KGIs and KPIs. For example, in GA4, it is commonly used to display sessions, the number of users, key event counts, and revenue. In addition to simply displaying numbers, you can also represent trends with sparklines, or show ratios and progress towards specific targets.

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Property Panel Settings

The configuration of the scorecard is primarily done in the properties panel. The properties panel has settings and style menus. First, we will explain the settings menu, which involves configuring the numerical settings.

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Data source

In the data source section, you can select and edit the data sources used in the scorecard.

By selecting the data source name, you can switch to other data sources. By choosing the edit icon to the left of the data source name, you can edit that data source. Calculation fields can also be edited from here. 

By selecting "Integrate Data," you can edit integrated data sources that allow you to display data from multiple data sources in a single graph. 

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Data Range Dimension

If you select a data source other than GA4 or Google Ads, the setting for the date dimension will be displayed. You can choose which date to use as the basis for the period of the displayed data. For example, if the data includes two dates, such as booking date and usage date, and you set the booking date as the date dimension, the displayed data will be based on the booking date for the specified period.

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Metric

Select the metrics you want to display in the scorecard.

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Option metrics

By setting optional metrics, you can switch the metrics displayed in the report. This allows you to display multiple metrics on a single scorecard. Enable optional metrics and add the metrics you want to display.

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When you set optional metrics on the scorecard, the icons for optional metrics will be displayed on the report's scorecard.

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Clicking on the icon allows you to select the set metrics. When you select the metrics you want to display, the metrics shown on the scorecard will be switched.

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Sparkline

By using sparklines, you can display trend lines for metrics. Sparklines allow you to specify a date dimension such as day, week, month, or year. If you specify a week, a weekly trend line will be displayed, and if you specify a month, a monthly trend line will be displayed. Additionally, sparklines cannot be used simultaneously with the comparison option's progress feature. 

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Comparison Options

By using the comparison options, you can display a comparison between the currently shown metrics and the specified target. You can adjust the display in the Comparison field under the Style section of the Properties panel. There are three types of comparison available:

• Period
• Value
• Metric

Each of these will be explained in detail.

Period

The numerical values that compare metrics with a specific period can be displayed. With other comparison options, set the comparison type to period and configure the comparison period.

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 Here, the comparison period is set to the previous year, so the change rate of impressions compared to the same period last year is displayed. For detailed instructions on how to set the comparison period, please refer to the following article.

[Looker Studio] Guide to Setting Report Date Range

Value

You can display a value that compares the indicator to a specific number. With other comparison options, you can select a value and enter any number as the target value. 

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Here, we have set the target value to 100,000, so the rate of increase or decrease compared to that value is displayed. 

Metric

You can display a value that compares the displayed metric with the value of another metric. Select the metric for comparison and choose another metric as the target metric from the other comparison options. 

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Here, the displayed metrics are the actual values, and the target indicators are set as the target values. The growth rate, in other words, the achievement rate against the target, is displayed.

Show as progress

If you check "Display as progress", bars will appear in addition to the comparison values. This feature cannot be used simultaneously with sparklines.

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Default date range

Here, you can set the period for the indicators displayed in the scorecard. For detailed instructions on how to configure the period, please refer to the following article.

[Looker Studio] Guide to Setting Report Date Range

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Filter

By using filters, you can narrow down the displayed data based on specific conditions. Please refer to the following article for instructions on how to use filters. In this case, we are narrowing down to only the numbers for a particular audience.

[Looker Studio]How to use filter

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Property Panel Style

Next, I will explain the styles of the property panel involved in the design of the scorecard.

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Chart Title

You can display a title on the scorecard.

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1. Enter the title.
2. Format the title.
3. Set the display position of the title.

Conditional formatting

You can change the background and text color of the scorecard based on specified conditions, similar to Excel or spreadsheets.

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When you select "Add," a formatting settings screen will be displayed. Set the conditions, colors, and styles, then save to apply them.

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Primary Metric

You can select the display format for the main metrics. By checking the option for number abbreviation, the values will be displayed in units of ten thousand. This allows you to simplify the display of metrics with many digits.

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 You can also set the number of decimal places by selecting the numerical precision. Here, the numerical precision is set to 3, so three decimal places are displayed.

Comparison Fields

You can change the format and design of comparison displays.

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①: By default, positive changes are indicated in green and negative changes in red, but these colors can be customized.

②: As with the main metrics mentioned earlier, you can edit the abbreviated display of comparisons and the number of decimal places.

③: If you want to display the absolute value of the change instead of the percentage change, check this box.

④: Labels can be displayed for comparisons. If you want to indicate what the comparison is with, enter the text in the comparison label.

Progress Visual 

 If you are displaying progress in the comparison options, you can edit this option. You can choose between bar charts and pie charts for visuals, with the default being bar charts.

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 Sparkline

The display format of the sparklines can be edited. You can set the line color, design, and display settings for missing data.

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Labels 

 The display format of the sparklines can be edited. You can set the line color, design, and display settings for missing data.

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Background and Border

 You can edit the formatting and design of backgrounds and borders. The configurable items are as follows:

• Background color
• Border radius (corner roundness of the border)
• Transparency
• Border color
• Border thickness
• Border style
• Border shadow

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Padding

You can precisely configure where to display labels and metrics within the scorecard frame.

Adjustable settings include:

• Row spacing
• Left padding
• Right padding
• Top padding

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Chart Header

When setting optional metrics, you can edit the display conditions and colors of the icons that switch the metrics. There are three display conditions as follows. When setting optional metrics, choose either to always display or display on hover.

• Do not display
• Always display
• Display on hover

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This concludes the setup process for Looker Studio's scorecards. You can further customize and adjust the design to create visually appealing and user-friendly reports. Please use these settings as a reference to enhance your reporting.