What level of Data Studio expertise do I need for basic marketing reporting versus complex business intelligence?
Basic marketing reporting (Google Ads, Analytics, social media metrics) requires intermediate skills - someone who can blend data sources and create calculated fields. Complex BI with multiple databases, attribution modeling, and advanced metrics needs an advanced user who understands data architecture and can optimize for performance.
How can I tell if someone actually knows Data Studio well versus just putting it on their resume?
Ask them to explain a specific challenge they've solved, like handling data discrepancies between platforms or building calculated fields for custom metrics. Real experts can walk you through their problem-solving process and show examples of complex dashboards they've built, not just basic charts.
What can't Data Studio do that business owners often expect it to handle?
Data Studio is a visualization tool, not a data warehouse or CRM. It can't store data long-term, perform complex data transformations, or replace your analytics setup. It also has limitations on data freshness (some sources only update daily) and can't handle real-time streaming data or advanced statistical analysis.
How well does Data Studio work with tools outside the Google ecosystem?
While Data Studio has connectors for Facebook Ads, databases like MySQL, and some third-party tools, it works best with Google products. For non-Google tools, you often need third-party connectors (like Supermetrics) or manual data imports, which can limit real-time capabilities and increase complexity.
How long does it typically take to set up a comprehensive business dashboard in Data Studio?
A basic dashboard with 3-4 data sources takes 1-2 weeks including data connection setup and testing. Complex dashboards with blended data, calculated fields, and multiple business units can take 4-6 weeks. Migration from existing reporting systems adds another 2-3 weeks for validation and training.
What ongoing maintenance is needed after a Data Studio dashboard is built?
Expect monthly maintenance for connector updates, data source changes, and new metric requests. Quarterly reviews are common for optimizing performance and adding new data sources. You'll also need someone available for troubleshooting when data connections break or numbers look off - this happens more frequently than most business owners expect.