creating-insights

Creating Insights

Quick Start

To create an insight:

1. Analyze data to identify a finding
2. Choose the appropriate insight type (SQL, Semantic, Segmentation, Funnel, Retention) or create a text-only FYI discovery
3. Preview the insight to validate
4. Create the discovery with visualization

When to Use This Skill

• Found a notable pattern or anomaly
• User asks to save or share findings
• Creating a visualization from analysis
• Surfacing automated discoveries
• Generating reports or dashboards content

Insight Types

Type	Use Case	Visualization
SQL	Custom query results	Yes
Semantic	Metrics from semantic layer	Yes
Segmentation	Event metrics over time, compared across property-based segments	Yes
Funnel	Conversion analysis	Yes
Retention	Do users come back after an event?	Yes
FYI	Informational findings	No

Core Workflow

Step 1: Identify the Finding

Before creating an insight:

• What is the key observation?
• Is it significant enough to share?
• What action should it drive?

Step 2: Choose Insight Type

Before choosing, triage through these questions:

1. Does this need a visualization? No → FYI. Yes → continue.
2. Is the metric available in the semantic layer? Yes → Semantic. Not sure → check the model first.
3. Is the finding about sequential user behavior (steps, conversion, drop-off)? Yes → Funnel.
4. Is the finding about whether users come back after a starting event? Yes → Retention.
5. Is the finding about comparing event metrics across cohorts or property breakdowns (without ordered step dependencies)? Yes → Segmentation.
6. Does it require custom joins, calculations, or raw data not covered above? Yes → SQL.

Select based on the analysis:

• Funnel Insight: Sequential steps, progression, conversion, drop-off between stages
• Retention Insight: Whether users return after a starting event (start event → returning event over time)
• Semantic Insight: Standard metrics from semantic models, trends, breakdowns
• SQL Insight: Custom query with specific logic, joins, calculations not in the semantic layer
• Segmentation Insight: Event analysis over time with breakdowns by event, user, or session properties to compare segment behavior
• FYI Discovery: Text-only observations, no visualization needed

See the deciding-actions skill for the full decision matrix and disambiguation rules.

Step 3: Preview and Validate

Always preview before creating:

• Verify data is correct
• Check visualization renders properly
• Ensure timeframe is appropriate

Step 4: Create Discovery

Create with:

• Clear, actionable title
• Concise description
• Appropriate visualization
• Relevant metadata

Discovery States

Discoveries flow through an approval workflow:

pending  -->  approved | rejected

State	Description
pending	Awaiting review
approved	Approved
rejected	Rejected

Both transitions are reversible: an approved discovery can later be rejected, and a rejected one can later be approved.

Creating SQL Insights

For custom query-based insights:

1. Write and validate SQL query
2. Preview SQL insight with the query
3. Choose appropriate visualization
4. Create discovery with insight

SQL Insight Parameters

• query: The SQL query
• connection_slug: Which connection to query
• visualization: Chart type (Line, Bar, Table, etc.)

Best Practices

• Use CTEs for readability
• Include time filters
• Limit result size for performance
• Add column aliases for display

Creating Semantic Insights

For metrics from the semantic layer:

1. Select source and measures
2. Add dimensions for grouping
3. Apply filters
4. Preview and validate
5. Create discovery

Semantic Insight Parameters

• source_slug: Semantic source to query
• measures: List of measures to aggregate
• dimensions: Dimensions for grouping
• filters: Filter conditions
• visualization: Chart type

Creating Segmentation Insights

For segment and cohort comparisons:

1. Select the events/metrics to analyze
2. Choose aggregation (count, unique users, sum, average)
3. Add breakdowns by event, user, or session properties
4. Set filters and time range
5. Preview segment results
6. Create discovery

Segmentation Parameters

• event_definitions: Which events to analyze
• aggregation_mode: How to aggregate results (count, unique users, sum, average)
• breakdowns: Properties used to compare segments
• filters: Segment/filter criteria
• timeframe: Analysis period

Creating Funnel Insights

For conversion analysis:

1. Define funnel steps (events)
2. Set conversion window
3. Choose ordering (strict/any)
4. Preview funnel metrics
5. Create discovery

Funnel Parameters

• steps: Ordered list of events
• conversion_window: Time allowed between steps
• ordering: Strict sequence or any order

Creating Retention Insights

For analyzing whether users come back after a starting event:

1. Define the start event
2. Define the returning event
3. Set time range
4. Preview retention results
5. Create discovery

Retention Parameters

• start_event: The initial event that begins the retention window
• returning_event: The event that counts as a return
• timeframe: Analysis period

Note: Retention can be previewed via the preview_insight MCP tool but is not currently exposed for creation via MCP (no create_retention_insight tool).

Creating FYI Discoveries

For informational findings without visualization:

1. Write clear title
2. Provide detailed description
3. Add supporting context
4. Create FYI discovery

FYI Use Cases

• Text-based observations
• Recommendations
• Warnings or alerts
• Context for other findings

Writing Effective Titles

Good titles are:

• Actionable: "Revenue dropped 15% last week"
• Specific: Include key metric and timeframe
• Concise: Under 100 characters

Examples

Good	Bad
"Mobile conversion rate dropped 20% in Q4"	"Conversion issue"
"New users from organic search up 3x"	"Traffic increase"
"Cart abandonment spikes on weekends"	"Weekend pattern"

Writing Descriptions

Descriptions must be 200 characters or less.

Include:

• What: The key observation
• Context: Comparison or benchmark
• Impact: Business significance
• Recommendation: Suggested action (if space permits)

Example

Mobile conversion dropped 20% (3.2% to 2.5%) last month, coinciding with the March 1st checkout redesign. Consider A/B testing the previous flow.

Visualization Selection

Data Type	Recommended
Time series	Line, Area
Comparison	Bar, BarList
Distribution	Pie, Bar
Single metric	Metric
Detailed data	Table
Funnel	Funnel (built-in)
Retention	Retention (built-in)

Common Pitfalls

• Creating insights without clear value
• Vague titles that don't convey the finding
• Missing context in descriptions
• Wrong visualization for data type
• Not previewing before creating
• Creating duplicates of existing insights

Troubleshooting Rejected Discoveries

If rejected:

• Finding may not be actionable enough
• Consider: Is the insight significant? Is timing relevant?
• Refine: strengthen the "so what" - why should they care?
• Add clearer recommendation or next step
• Parse the free-text reason on the feedback for specific issues

Common rejection reasons and fixes:

Reason	Fix
"Already known"	Search for existing insights before creating
"Not actionable"	Add specific recommendation
"Too vague"	Include concrete numbers and timeframes
"Wrong audience"	Check if insight matches user's domain
"Stale data"	Verify timeframe is current

Reference Files

• SQL insights
• Semantic insights
• Segmentation insights
• Funnel insights
• FYI discoveries