You’ve just finished a fantastic quarter. The numbers are up, engagement is soaring, and the data proves it. You present a slideshow filled with charts and graphs, but by the end, your audience looks bored and has already forgotten the key takeaways.

What went wrong?

The problem is that data doesn't speak for itself. Raw numbers lack context and emotional weight. To make data memorable and persuasive, you must wrap it in a story. A spreadsheet might show a 15% increase in user retention, but a story explains why it happened and what it means for the future.

Instead of presenting isolated data points, frame them as a classic narrative:

• The Setup (The Past): Start with the baseline. What was the problem you were trying to solve? This is the "before" picture. "Last quarter, we noticed 30% of new users were dropping off after their first week."
• The Inciting Incident (The Action): What did you do about it? Describe the strategy, the campaign, or the change you implemented. "So, we launched a new, personalised onboarding campaign to guide them through the app's key features."
• The Resolution (The Result): Now, present your key statistic as the hero of the story. "As a result, user drop-off fell from 30% to just 15%. This means we've successfully helped thousands more customers find value in our product from day one."

By framing your data this way, you transform a dry statistic into a memorable story of a problem identified, an action taken, and a victory won. The next time you have numbers to share, don't just show the data—tell its story.