From Beginner to Pro: Learn Analytics like a Boss

With the rise of big data, there has never been a better time to learn analytics. But where do you start?

Firstly, it is important to understand the basics of analytics. Analytics is the process of using data to gain insights and make better decisions. This can include descriptive analytics, which looks at past data to identify patterns and trends, as well as predictive analytics, which forecasts future outcomes based on past data.

There are a plethora of tools and software available for analytics, but beginners should start with the basics. Microsoft Excel is a great tool to begin with as it allows users to analyse and visualise data without any programming skills. The key functions to learn in Excel include sorting, filtering, pivot tables and charts.

Once you have mastered Excel, the next step towards becoming an analytics pro is to learn a programming language such as Python or R. These programming languages are powerful tools for processing, analysing and visualising data. Python is particularly popular in the data science community due to its simplicity and versatility. R is also widely used in data science and has a strong focus on statistical analysis.

There are a plethora of resources available online to learn these languages, including online courses, tutorials and books. Free resources such as Codeacademy and Dataquest are great places to start for beginners.

Another important aspect of analytics is understanding the importance of data visualisation. Data visualisation involves presenting data in a visual format such as charts, graphs and maps. It is an effective way to communicate insights and trends to non-technical stakeholders. Popular data visualisation tools include Tableau and PowerBI.

Data analytics is a fast-growing field with a high demand for skilled professionals. It is important to stay up to date with the latest trends and techniques in analytics. This can be done by attending industry conferences, networking with other professionals and reading industry blogs and publications.

In conclusion, if you want to become an analytics pro, start by learning the basics of analytics and explore tools such as Excel, Python and R. Expand your skillset by learning data visualisation techniques and stay up to date with the latest trends in the industry. With a little bit of dedication and persistence, you can become an analytics boss in no time.