--- title: "Excel Tips and Tricks: The Secrets to Reading Spreadsheets" id: "16853" type: "post" slug: "excel-tips-and-tricks-the-secrets-to-reading-spreadsheets" published_at: "2013-04-12T22:00:22+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T20:01:34+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/12/excel-tips-and-tricks-the-secrets-to-reading-spreadsheets/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/12/excel-tips-and-tricks-the-secrets-to-reading-spreadsheets.md" excerpt: "Lose your fear of spreadsheets by speaking Excel's language. Also: how to use LinkedIn to better promote your events." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Big Data" - "Excel" - "Spreadsheets" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Employee (Non-Manager)" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Excel Tips and Tricks: The Secrets to Reading Spreadsheets Spreadsheets are no one’s first language. Data is arranged on the page in odd configurations, and it’s Greek to many people. But once you learn some basic spreadsheet conversation skills, the results can be great. Excel tips and tricks, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Data VISION > Top 10 Spreadsheet Secrets From A Nonprofit Data Nerd [http://t.co/GscPD32thH (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/GscPD32thH) > [#asae (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/asae?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#asaeyp (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/asaeyp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Nathan Victoria (he/him/his) (@NathanVictoria) [April 12, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NathanVictoria/status/322805083148525568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Do spreadsheets make your vision blur?** You’re not the only one. They’re difficult to read, but once you get the speak, they’re a lot easier on the eyes. Take it from Ann Emery, an Excel nerd, who knows [some secrets to becoming an expert in the spreadsheet program (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bethkanter.org/excel-data-nerd/) . From calculating statistics, cleaning up data, and building graphs, the tricks are endless, especially for translating data into valuable content. What kind of techniques do you use to dig into the data? *(ht [@NathanVictoria (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NathanVictoria/status/322805083148525568) )* ### LinkedIn Event Planning > Do you use LinkedIn to promote your events? Here’s 5 easy ways how: [http://t.co/MSUgAz6sYk (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/MSUgAz6sYk) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#socialmedia (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/socialmedia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Stova (@stovatech) [April 12, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/stovatech/status/322786207652265984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **If you have a profile on LinkedIn,** why not make use of it for your events? The social media network has more than 200 million members, and you can connect with them in any number of ways. Sue Pelletier offers [five ways to use LinkedIn to promote your next event (opens in a new tab)](http://meetingsnet.com/blog/5-easy-ways-promote-your-event-linkedin) . “There are plenty of paths you could follow when promoting your event on LinkedIn. You could choose to walk down them all, or be selective,” Pelletier [explains on meetingsnet.com. (opens in a new tab)](http://meetingsnet.com/blog/5-easy-ways-promote-your-event-linkedin) “It will depend on how many people you want to invite and who your target audience is.” *(ht [@etouches (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/etouches/status/322786207652265984) )* What links have you been sharing today? Let us know in the comments. [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#Big Data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/big-data/) [#Excel](https://associationsnow.com/tag/excel/) [#Spreadsheets](https://associationsnow.com/tag/spreadsheets/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyDrucker Awards BrochureFebruary 27, 2006](https://associationsnow.com/2006/02/27/drucker-awards-brochure/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F04%2F12%2Fexcel-tips-and-tricks-the-secrets-to-reading-spreadsheets%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !