If you’re swimming in data but your team still makes decisions by gut, you’re not alone. Pulling real, bite-sized insights out of Proof and getting them in front of people (without a 40-slide deck) is harder than it should be. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of insights just sitting in dashboards. You want your team to actually do something with the info—without a week of back-and-forth.
Let’s get you exporting and sharing actionable insights from Proof in a way that actually works.
Step 1: Know What’s Actually Actionable (and Ignore the Noise)
First off, not every chart or metric in Proof is actionable. Just because you can export a pretty graph doesn’t mean you should. Before you even think about exporting, ask yourself:
- Does this answer a real question my team has?
- Can someone take action on this, or is it just “nice to know”?
- If I send this, will anyone care—or will it just crowd their inbox?
Pro Tip: If you have to explain the insight with three paragraphs of context, it’s probably not actionable (or at least not shareable yet).
What works: Small, focused exports that answer a specific question (“Did our campaign actually move the needle last week?”).
What doesn’t: Dumping the entire dashboard or sending every metric “just in case.”
Step 2: Pinpoint the Insight in Proof
Once you’ve got something worth sharing, find it in Proof. This usually means:
- Filtering the right data: Use Proof’s filters to zero in on the segment, date range, or channel that matters. Don’t just export the whole funnel if you only care about paid traffic.
- Check the visual: Is the chart or table easy to read out of context? If it’s going to look cryptic in Slack or email, tweak it.
- Add notes or context: If Proof lets you annotate or add comments, use them. A quick “Campaign A outperformed B by 15% after landing page tweak” beats a raw number any day.
What to ignore: The urge to grab as much as possible “for completeness.” You’ll just make people tune out.
Step 3: Export the Insight
Now, let’s get it out of Proof and ready to share. Here’s what actually works (and where things get funky):
3.1. Use Proof’s Built-in Export Tools
Most versions of Proof give you a few export options:
- CSV/Excel export: Good for tables, not so hot for charts. Only use if your team likes to play with data themselves.
- PDF export: Best for charts and annotated dashboards. Double-check formatting—sometimes axes or legends get clipped.
- Image (PNG/JPEG) export: Handy for pasting directly into slides, emails, or chat. Great for “just look at this” moments.
Heads-up: Some export features might be locked behind higher-tier plans. If you can’t find the option, it’s not just you—Proof sometimes buries these behind paywalls or odd menu labels. Look for “Export,” “Download,” or the little arrow/share icons.
3.2. Manual Workarounds (When Exports Suck)
If built-in exports are ugly or missing:
- Screenshot the insight. Use your OS’s screenshot tool. Crop out the nav bars and background clutter.
- Copy-paste data. For small tables, you can often highlight and copy straight from Proof to Excel or Google Sheets.
- Write a summary. Sometimes, a one-line takeaway in plain text is easier to share than a chart. Don’t overthink it.
What works: Quick screenshots for visuals, text summaries for “here’s what matters.”
What doesn’t: Wasting 20 minutes formatting a PDF that nobody wants.
Step 4: Share It Where Your Team Actually Looks
Exporting is only half the battle. Now you need to get the insight in front of people, in a way they’ll actually see (and act on).
- Slack: Drop images or short summaries in the relevant channel. Tag the folks who need to know. Avoid dumping raw files—embed images or paste in the quick takeaway.
- Email: Keep it short. Lead with the “so what?”—then attach or link the export if someone wants details.
- Meetings: If you’re presenting, use the image or PDF in your slides, but don’t just read it aloud. Use it to answer a real question.
- Docs or Wikis: For stuff that needs to be referenced later, drop exports into Notion, Confluence, or Google Docs. Add a one-liner for context.
Pro Tip: Don’t rely on Proof’s “share” links unless you’re sure everyone has access. Many teams run into permission issues or expired links. If in doubt, download and share the file or screenshot.
What works: Meeting your team where they already are (Slack, email, team docs).
What doesn’t: Forcing people to log into yet another dashboard, or sending them a generic “FYI” with no explanation.
Step 5: Make Your Insight Stick (and Spark Action)
Sharing isn’t the end goal—action is. Here’s how to give your insight a fighting chance:
- Add a clear, human summary. “We saw a 10% drop in churn among users who tried feature X. Worth digging into why?”
- Ask a question or propose a next step. “Should we run a follow-up test?” or “Can the product team look into this change?”
- Invite feedback. Sometimes your data’s wrong—let your team spot-check or push back.
- Track what happens. If nobody replies or acts, don’t be afraid to follow up or adjust how you’re sharing.
What works: Framing the insight as a conversation starter, not a data dump.
What doesn’t: Blasting out exports with no context or call to action. That’s just noise.
Troubleshooting: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Exported charts look weird or broken. Try a different browser or export format. Sometimes it’s a rendering bug.
- People can’t open the file. Stick to universal formats (PDF, PNG). Avoid weird Excel versions or proprietary Proof formats.
- Team ignores your insight. Check your timing, context, and whether you’re giving them too much (or too little) info.
- Proof’s exports are missing data. Double-check your filters and time ranges. If all else fails, screenshot the result you actually see.
Pro Tips for Sharing Insights That Get Used
- Be ruthless about relevance. One killer stat beats a 10-page export.
- Time your share. Right after a sprint review or campaign launch? Perfect. Friday at 5pm? Not so much.
- Keep a “greatest hits” folder. Save the exports that sparked action—reuse what works.
- Iterate. If nobody bites, try a different format or channel.
Keep It Simple, and Iterate
Don’t overthink it. The goal is to help your team see (and act on) what matters—not to wow them with a perfect export. Start small, share insights where people already look, and tweak your approach as you go. The best insights are the ones people actually use, not the ones that look fancy in a report.