Oh, Google Sheets! The go-to tool for every excel sheet fanatic like myself. Ever since I discovered Google Sheets' ability to auto-save sheets in the drive, I switched to it, and away from the hassle of saving and emailing draft files repeatedly.
As a CMO, I live on data and the insights I can derive from it. Therefore, I always have my eyes peering to make sense of the digits, information, and statistics. And with Google Sheets formulas, I found a tool that helps me derive insights from the data faster and easier than ever before.
In today's article, I want to focus on the "SEQEUENCE" function in Google Sheets. I'll put it in simple terms to make sure those that aren't entirely tech-savvy can follow along. So, buckle up, because here comes the fun part.
Simply put, the SEQUENCE formula in Google Sheets is a function that allows you to generate arrays of numbers in your spreadsheets. Whether you need to create a list of buckets for profit or loss, the SEQUENCE formula has you covered. It, therefore, means that you don’t have to spend hours typing out these figures manually.
The formula syntax is: SEQUENCE (rows, [cols], [start], [step]). It generates arrays of counts or sequences of numbering specified by the set parameters.
Here's a breakdown of the parameters in the sequence formula:
For instance, if you want to generate a sequence of numbers from 1 to 15 and increment them by two, the formula would be:
=SEQUENCE(8,,"1",2)
And voila! As if by magic, you'll get an array of numbers from one to fifteen with an increment of two. How cool is that?
Allow me to play Captain Obvious for a second. Using the SEQUENCE formula is incredibly beneficial. It comes with several advantages:
Those are just a few advantages of using the SEQUENCE formula. I could go on and on, but I'm pretty sure that by now, you are interested in how to use this formula in real-life situations.
As a marketer, there's a plethora of application of the SEQUENCE formula. But, for the sake of brevity, here are three use cases that I find most valuable:
Tracking conversions is one of the core metrics for evaluating the efficacy of different campaigns. At times, we like to sample data to make informed decisions that lead to better ROI. Using Google Sheet's SEQUENCE and RANDARRAY functions, we can generate a range of random numbers that ensure our data is unbiased.
Here's an example of how I'd generate five rows of random numbers between 1 and 10 inclusive:
=ROUND(RANDARRAY(5,1)*10)+SEQUENCE(5,1)-1
Hello there, accuracy!
Generating orders is one of the most crucial tasks in online retail. We need check orders unique to a store and ensure that we don't double-charge our clients. Using the SEQUENCE function, we can generate unique order IDs. Here is an instance:
=sequence(20,1,1000000,1)
By merging the result from the formula above with your company code value, you'd obtain unique IDs.
Charts are a crucial element in any marketing report or presentation, and I've seen folks create several charts with varying data ranges. However, the problem arises when adding new data to the spreadsheet. This disrupts the previously set graph size.
Using the SEQUENCE formula, we can expand the range of data when adding new values. The graph updates automatically, providing a seamless presentation of our data. A typical formula could be:
=A2:INDEX($A:$G, COUNTA($B:$B))
As a result, your chart will dynamically update each time a new data value is added to the sheet.
The SEQUENCE function is fantastic. When applied creatively, its usage in Google Sheets could save you a ton of time and give you the accuracy you need. From tracking sales to orders and generating employee IDs, this tool is as versatile as they come. So, the next time you're trying to generate an array or sequence of numbers or data, remember the SEQUENCE formula.
I hope this article has been informative and exciting. Go forth and excel in your data analysis using the power of Google Sheets' SEQUENCE function.
