Let’s be real—most marketing reports are like bad online dates: way too much small talk, not enough substance, and a lot of metrics no one cares about. They’re bloated, overdesigned, and somehow say everything except what actually matters: “Did this make us money?” Good ROI reporting doesn’t drown people in data. It makes the story so clear your CFO could understand it on their third cup of coffee. Here’s how to do it without losing your soul (or your audience).

Here’s the truth: nobody—and I mean nobody—gets excited about raw spreadsheets. If your big marketing insight looks like an Excel file that needs a PhD to decode, your audience has already mentally left the room. Data is powerful, sure, but stories move people. Think of data storytelling as the difference between reading a restaurant menu and being served a perfectly plated meal. One gives you info. The other makes you hungry to take action.