Communicating Key Information Upfront in a Quality Report

Whether your report is on paper or the Web, the first page that users see is critical. You have just a few seconds to engage a potential user before they decide to move on. This section describes the messages and other content that you have to get across, clearly and concisely, to capture the attention of potential users.

• Give People a Reason To Look at the Report
• Provide a Framework for Understanding Quality
• Build Trust in the Report Sponsor
• Introduce the Report Contents
• Get People to the Data as Soon as Possible
• Tell a Story To Engage Users

Keep in mind that the design of your report has to be attractive and uncluttered at the same time that it provides space for these key pieces of information. To learn about design principles in the context of report cards, go to Tips on Designing a Quality Report.

Also in "Explain and Motivate"

• Why Numbers and Graphs Aren’t Enough
• Communicating Key Information Upfront
• Providing Detail for Those Who Want It
• Taking Advantage of the “Teachable Moment”
• Supporting Consumers in Using the Information