#DataDump FAQ
Topic This Week (10th Feb): “recruiting analysts”.
I wrote this original post in late 2019 but since #DataDump is more developed I thought I’d use it as a placeholder to let people know more about #DataDump.
What is #DataDump?
#DataDump is a weekly Twitter chat focussed around Data, BI and Analytics.
When is #DataDump?
7.30pm UK Time every Monday. The times for Monday 3rd Feb are below in a few select countries.
We suggest adding a calendar appointment to your phone or work calendar to avoid missing it.
What is discussed?
Each week the topic will be shown at the top of this page, a range of topics related to using analytics and data visualisation will be covered. Got a suggestion, then please let Chris Love (ChrisLuv on Twitter) know.
How do I participate?
The initial tweets will be sent out at the starting time on the #datadump hashtag by @DataDumpChat.
You can monitor the hashtag using Twitter search or TweetDeck.
When replying to questions then you can do so in two ways, either to the original post, or start a separate post with the #datadump hashtag — perhaps by quote tweeting the question. In either case please try and use the #datadump hashtag with your reply.
Can I get notified in the initial post?
This is something we did in the early days of #DataDump but as the hashtag has grown then it has become more and more difficult.
Instead we recommend you add @DataDumpChat to your notifications so you are alerted when the post is shared.
Is #DataDump targeted at any specific communities?
We have Tableau and Alteryx users join initially but would welcome anyone from any background or using any technology.
For historical sake here’s the original post launching the project:
I’m always conscious of naming / announcing ideas and projects before they’re established and have a regular cadence. Often my projects peter out after just a few weeks. However sometimes, in order to establish some cadence, it’s necessary to commit to something ahead of time.
Therefore, in that spirit, I’ve decided to try and write up a few of the many conversations I am exposed to around Data Viz, Tableau and Alteryx on a regular basis in a weekly article.
Sounds interesting: What prompted this?
I’m lucky enough to be involved in a whole host of areas where ideas, questions and conversations develop. Many of these are restricted to a limited audience, they might be internal work discussions, private WhatsApp groups, Zen Master chats, TUGs or AUGs, or conversations such as those I follow on the Data Visualisation Society.
Opening up these conversations isn’t always practical. WhatsApp groups work well for the participants, who get almost instant advice from peers in a safe space. Likewise, work conversations need to happen in a private restricted space. However, these channels host valuable discussions that I’m keen to try and expose the conversations to a wider audience where I can (without breaking confidences). In a similar vein, there are also twitter conversations, visualisations, articles and videos I see that I’m keen to share, critique or comment on.
I was also driven to tweet while at the Tableau conference around the lack of conversations we seem to have around the product itself. I’m keen to have more conversations on different features, implementations and how people are using them. The same is true of Alteryx. In the end, I managed to have good conversations while at conference but they needed forcing — and that needs to continue if I want to have them post-conference.
Over the last couple of months I’ve found that time constraints mean that I never get around to sharing or discussing the content I come across. I have penned ideas for many blog posts, I have a list as long as my arm, but have never got around to writing them.
So #DataDump is literally just my way of sharing (dumping) interesting data-focussed content and opinions from the week in a single post (thus saving me time) and establishing a regular cadence for doing so.
So when can we expect to see it?
I’ll share these “data dumps” on Medium each Sunday evening UK-time (if all goes to plan). In my head they’ll be a slight mix of content from Tableau, Alteryx and Data Viz with a few links to follow-up detail.
In order to then have conversations (selfishly I want to chat about this stuff — it interests me) I’ll then follow up with a #datadump discussion on Twitter around 7.30pm — 9pm UK time each Monday picking up on some of the themes. I tried some periscope discussions at a similar time a few years ago and it tended to work well for getting some interesting discussions. Whether having a time-boxed themed discussion will work or peter out in the same way as the periscopes did I’m not sure, but I’m willing to give it a go and see how it works.
Right, I’m committed now! See you on Sunday.