Brian Graves Profile picture
Data professional w/ 15+ years exp. I write about SQL, Tableau, Excel, & Python to help data analysts earn more in their careers, side hustles, and freelancing.
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Jul 20, 2023 18 tweets 5 min read
Data analytics is the ultimate career choice if you want to earn a high salary and work from anywhere.

I thank my lucky stars that I made the jump 15+ years ago and have stuck with it for all these years.

4 simple steps I'd take if I were starting today: ⤵️ 🟢 Step 1: Start with SQL

Learning everything you need to know about data analytics all at once is impossible.

Instead, start with SQL.

Head over to (it’s free) and start working on practice problems.

Start at 30 minutes and commit to daily practice.sqlbolt.com
Mar 4, 2023 18 tweets 5 min read
Online Data Analytics Portfolio Hosting 101:

The step-by-step process to creating an awesome portfolio website in 60 minutes or less: ⤵️ Many beginner data analysts waste a lot of time trying to get their portfolios online:

• Using amateur-looking platforms like Google Sites
• Using clunky sites like Kaggle and GitHub
• Procrastinating because it’s too hard
Mar 2, 2023 16 tweets 5 min read
Data analytics is a great career choice.

I’m so happy I made the jump 15+ years ago and have stuck with it for all these years.

Here are the exact steps I would take if I were starting over in data analytics today: ⤵️ 🟢 Step 1: Start with SQL

Learning everything you need to know about data analytics all at once is impossible.

Don’t even try.

Instead, start with SQL. Head over to sqlbolt.com (it’s free) and start working on practice problems.

Start at 30 minutes. Repeat daily.
Feb 28, 2023 11 tweets 5 min read
Learning SQL is an absolute must for aspiring data analysts.

Fortunately, there are places online where you can learn this invaluable skill – without paying a penny.

Here are 8 free websites to sharpen your SQL skills:⤵️ 1) KDNuggets

Learn how to create a table, insert values, and use SQL commands to solve this case study.

Learn more: t.ly/sql-case-study
Feb 26, 2023 16 tweets 6 min read
The step-by-step process to find awesome datasets for your next data analytics portfolio project: ⤵️ Many beginner data analysts have trouble finding a usable data set for their portfolio.

The problem?

There are 86 zillion "free" data sets online, but 99% of them suck.

And if you think just Googling will help, you're dead wrong.

Here's how to find the best ones (for you):
Feb 9, 2023 14 tweets 3 min read
Data Analytics Portfolio Project Writing 101:

How to write about your data projects without being boring – even if you feel like you have nothing to say: Writing well about your projects has long-term benefits:

It shows you know how to:
• think through problems
• explain your work with ease
• structure projects from start to finish

The problem?
Feb 7, 2023 7 tweets 3 min read
Every digital marketer that wants to earn a high salary and work from anywhere should have these 4 skills:

• SQL
• Tableau
• Excel
• Python

The problem?

Most people don't know where to start.

Here are 33 cheat sheets and sites to level up your digital marketing game: ⤵️ SQL:

7 SQL cheat sheets for handy reference

• work with marketing data faster
• code examples for guidance
• quick reference guides, tips, and tricks

Feb 6, 2023 9 tweets 4 min read
My PhD professors taught me marketing analytics during my master's degree, but everything was outdated.

So I watched 100 YouTube videos to learn Python for digital marketing on my own.

94% were a total waste of time.

But these 6 taught me more than all my professors combined: 1. Optimize Marketing Campaigns (21 minutes)

Learn how to figure out which marketing strategies have the most significant effect on your sales using regression and correlation analysis.

Google Collab notebook and full dataset included:
Feb 3, 2023 8 tweets 2 min read
Python is the perfect tool for performance marketing analytics.

Here’s what I’d do if I were just starting with Python for performance marketing analytics (PMA): ✅ 1. Find one specific problem to solve

Notice I didn’t say "you need to know everything about marketing."

Examples:
1. Social media ad campaigns
2. Search engine marketing
3. Influencer marketing
4. Sponsored content
Feb 2, 2023 14 tweets 4 min read
10 Skills Employers Want To See In Your Data Analytics Portfolio: 1. Data Processing

You will spend a lot of time cleaning and preparing data.

Common tasks:
• Filling in missing values
• Blending two data sources together
• Removing duplicate records from a dataset

Including data processing projects shows you can work quickly with data.
Feb 1, 2023 13 tweets 4 min read
The typical path for most data analysts leads to frustration:

1. Read a SQL tutorial
2. Start a coding challenge
3. Work through a project or case study
4. Get burned out because there’s no end in sight

It doesn’t have to be this hard: You don’t have to torture yourself with endless projects and never feel "ready" to start interviewing.

The answer is simply bypassing the data analytics tutorial hamster wheel of death completely:
Jan 31, 2023 13 tweets 3 min read
Data analytics freelancing is a great way to earn a high salary and work from anywhere.

The problem?

Most people won't do what it takes to get started.

Here are 5 tips that worked for me ⤵️ ✅ 1. Create your data portfolio

When you're just starting out, people need to SEE what you can do. It makes it a "no-brainer" to hire you to solve their problems.

Your portfolio works online for you 24x7 so that recruiters and clients can see your work. Get one!
Jan 17, 2023 10 tweets 4 min read
Your online data analytics portfolio sends a signal:

You know how to solve real-world business problems using data.

Unfortunately, most data analysts don’t know exactly where to start.

Follow these 6 steps to get your portfolio online, working for you 24x7 while you sleep 👇 1. Focus on skills that matter

Managers have a big problem: finding qualified candidates is hard.

You can shortcut the interview process by learning the data skills employers need.

Master these 10 skills to get hired faster:
newprediction.com/data-analytics…
Jan 15, 2023 10 tweets 6 min read
Did you know that indeed․com is showing 31,318 high-paying Tableau jobs right now?

Fortunately, there are tutorials on YouTube to help you master the basics of this valuable skill – without paying a penny.

Use these 7 Tableau tutorial videos to level up your skills today: 1. Tableau Visualization by @Alex_TheAnalyst

Create a practical Tableau dashboard for your portfolio in this 52-minute tutorial.

• import data
• build visualization
• finalize the dashboard

Full guide here:
Jan 5, 2023 9 tweets 4 min read
Data Storytelling 101:

Steve Jobs said, "The most powerful person is the storyteller."

Fortunately, data storytelling is a skill you can learn.

The problem?

Most data analysts don’t know exactly where to start.

Here are 5 ways to level up your data storytelling skills now: 1. Data Storytelling Inspiration by @Pauline_Cx

These 5 examples from Pauline will inspire you to create powerful stories in your next data project.

Get inspired here:
Jan 3, 2023 15 tweets 3 min read
Performance Marketing Analytics 101:

As a performance marketing analyst, it's critical to understand where your company is headed.

Fortunately, there are 7 steps you can follow to make sure your work aligns with business goals and objectives.

The 7-Step Alignment Framework: ☎️ Step 1) Talk to the person in charge of the business, like the owner or manager.

Ask them what their goals are for the business.

These might include things like:
• increasing sales
• optimizing ad spend
• attracting new customers
• improving brand awareness
Dec 31, 2022 5 tweets 2 min read
Tomorrow is the start of 2023.

Why not start the year off right by finishing your online data analytics portfolio?

I created a complete, step-by-step guide to show you the exact steps to get yours completed in 14 days or less.

Buy now:
twtr.to/data-portfolio… What you'll learn:

• How to Avoid Tutorial Hell
• Proven Project Types
• Finding Portfolio-Ready Data Sets
• Where to Host Your Portfolio
• 4 Types of Insights That Work Best
• 10 Skills Employers Want to See
• Overcoming Inexperience
• Interview Readiness Checklist
Dec 31, 2022 7 tweets 3 min read
Every data analyst that wants to earn a high salary and work from anywhere should know these four skills:

• SQL
• Tableau
• Excel
• Python

The problem?

Most people get stuck along the way.

Here are 33 different cheat sheets and websites to help you keep moving forward: SQL:

7 SQL cheat sheets for handy reference:

• finish data projects faster
• code examples for guidance
• quick reference guides, tips, and tricks
Dec 30, 2022 4 tweets 2 min read
Including an interactive data visualization in your data analytics portfolio is a great way to get attention from recruiters and hiring managers.

Why?

It shows that you can develop insights quickly.

Here's a real-world example from my portfolio: Wind Energy Across the US:

1. Tells a story about how states across the US are investing in Wind Energy
2. Breaks down a complex topic into simpler pieces
3. Visually interesting with clean formatting
4. Interactive with filters and radio buttons
twtr.to/wind-energy-pr…
Dec 29, 2022 7 tweets 2 min read
A growing Twitter audience is an asset to anyone that wants to earn a high salary and work from anywhere.

I’ve added 6,922 followers in the past four months – a 741% increase.

Here are the four very simple things I did: 1. Set aside time to write every day.

Since August, I’ve set aside at least 1 hour every day to write – and publish – something.

While I haven’t published every single day, the consistency has paid off:
Dec 27, 2022 10 tweets 5 min read
6 Types Of Problems To Solve In Your Data Analytics Portfolio Projects:

🔮 Predict something
🔭 Understand patterns
🔀 Put things into categories
🕵️‍♀️ Uncover themes in a dataset
🧠 Make connections between ideas
💡 Draw attention to something unusual

Examples and inspiration ⇣ 🔮 Predict something

Oscar Predictions by @adamemccann

This analysis predicts who will win the Oscars in four major categories.

I wonder how the prediction model actually performed! 🤩

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