How to Make an Effective Report

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EDUCATION | 5 MIN READ

Making a report is sometimes an awful task to do for others because it’s time consuming and requires research which is boring for some. But doing reports shouldn’t feel like a workload because it can be done easily as long as you know what you are doing.

Here are a few tips in making an effective report.

1. Know what is the report and what’s it for

Reports are done for numerous reasons. To inform people, to come up with a better plan, to strategize, to persuade etc. Knowing what type of report you’re going to do and the reason for doing it are the basic info that you need to have a kick start.

2. Put your audience in mind

Your report will be viewed by specific people with different agendas towards what you are going to present them. Assume that your audience knows little or nothing regarding your topic so supply them with information that they need to know. Don’t bombard them with too many facts that in the end would be irrelevant for them. Be as clear and concise as possible.

3. Know what to include

The common mistake of people who do reports is that they dumped of their research in the whole presentation. In the end, not a single person understands his report. Remember that your report is a summary of information. YOU ONLY REPORT WHAT IS NEEDED. Research for your report’s content and from there trim down what should be included. The length of your report has nothing to do with its effectivity.

Pro Tip: Present your info in “bite-sized” form so that it’s easier to be comprehended.

4. Smooth transition from one point to another

It’s not enough that you present information that are easily understood, the way you report it matters as well. Have a logical flow in reporting so that it would make sense to whoever that views your report.  Lead your audience to the report and jumping from point to another is not the way to do it.

5. Design your report to make it more appealing

Who would be interested in a report that is all text and data? No one, right? Attach graphics like GIFS and pictures as well as videos to make you report a bit more interesting. Just make sure that you add the right amount of it because an over designed presentation looks unprofessional. Also keep in mind that you include graphics that are related to your report.

With these tips that we gave you, may you have more interest in creating reports whether for school or for work. If you liked this article or find it helpful, comment below what tip you liked the most. And don’t forget to share this article with your classmates or colleagues who might need this too.