When it comes to Looker Studio, I’ve learned that creating a great report goes beyond well-designed charts and tidy filters. It’s also about how your audience consumes and interacts with that report, both inside and outside the platform. That’s where embedding comes into play.
I use two types of embedding in my workflow:
- Embedding help videos and tutorials inside a report to guide users
- Embedding the report itself onto an external platform like a website, Notion page, or intranet
Here’s how I do both, and why it makes a big difference.
Adding help videos inside Looker Studio
Even the clearest dashboard can leave some users wondering what am I looking at? Embedding help videos directly into a report solves that problem by offering guidance right where it’s needed. It’s a simple way to improve clarity, reduce confusion, and help people get more from your data.
Why I use embedded videos
- Instant support – Users don’t need to leave the report to get help
- Better understanding – Some concepts are easier explained with audio and visuals
- More polished presentation – It gives the report a more interactive, professional feel
How I embed a YouTube video
- I open the report in Edit mode
- From the toolbar, I select “URL embed” (It has this symbol < >)
- I click on the area of the report where I want the video to go
- In the Setup tab, I paste the shareable YouTube URL into the External Content URL field
- I fine-tune the frame’s size and appearance in the Style tab to match the design of the report
💡 Tip: Make sure the video is embeddable, some YouTube settings block external embedding.
My best practices for embedded help
- Placement: I position videos next to relevant charts or controls, so users get context-sensitive help
- Clarity: Each video has a clear title or description—users should know what to expect before clicking
- Accessibility: I choose videos with captions or transcripts whenever possible
- Performance: I keep it lightweight, usually one video per page to avoid slowing the report down
This small addition makes a big impact, especially for stakeholders who are less familiar with the data or the platform.
Embedding Looker Studio reports outside the platform
While embedding content into a Looker Studio report helps users while they’re inside the dashboard, embedding the report itself elsewhere makes it more accessible in your wider digital ecosystem.
I often embed dashboards into internal tools, client websites, or team documentation so that reports are easy to find and view without needing to log in or click through to another tab.
How I Embed a Report Externally
- In Looker Studio, I go to File > Embed report
- I’m given two options:
- URL – This opens the report in a full-screen view with no borders
- Embed code – This is the method I prefer for websites or content platforms
- I configure the embed settings:
- Toggle navigation controls on or off, depending on whether I want users to interact with multiple pages
- Set a fixed width (e.g. 1200 pixels) to suit the destination layout
- I copy the embed code and paste it into the platform—such as a website, Notion page, or intranet
The end result is a cleanly embedded report that feels integrated into the platform it’s living on, rather than just being linked externally.
Read my post on how to embed Looker Studio reports in other applications to learn more about it.
Final thoughts
Embedding might seem like a small detail, but it’s a powerful way to make your Looker Studio reports more useful and accessible.
- Internally, embedded videos help users understand what they’re seeing without needing to ask for help
- Externally, embedded reports bring your dashboards directly into the platforms your audience already uses
Together, these techniques help me create reports that are not just informative, but easy to access, easy to understand, and genuinely helpful.
If you’re looking to take your reports one step further, embedding is a smart place to start.