1. **Keep Focus on Key Metrics**: Identify the primary data points and features you want to highlight. Overloading a Sankey chart with too many components can dilute the clarity and focus of the information.
2. **Consistent Orientation**: Maintain a uniform flow direction—left-to-right, top-to-bottom, or bottom-to-top, for better continuity in interpreting the chart.
3. **Scale Integers Consistently**: Ensure the scale for integers is uniform to prevent the chart from appearing inaccurately biased toward higher or lower values.
4. **Balance Information Load**: Divide the number of charted elements evenly to maintain readability and to not overwhelming the viewer with too much information.
5. **Use Consistent Color Coding**: A consistent color palette makes it easier for viewers to quickly associate data flows, and helps manage the complexity of the visualization.
6. **Define Sankey Chart Rules**: Clearly establishing the rules for what is included and what is excluded in the chart’s data helps viewers understand the boundaries of the illustration.
7. **Optimize the Scale of Flow Widths**: Adjust flow widths to represent the data’s relative importance accurately, with wider flows indicating more significant data.
8. **Choose the Right Tools and Software**: Selecting tools that allow for intuitive adjustments and manipulations is essential to create clear and accurate Sankey charts.
9. **Limit Text and Annotations**: Keep text and annotations minimal and to the point to avoid cluttering the chart and making it difficult to decipher.
10. **Test for Audience Understanding**: Before finalizing your Sankey chart, test it on a sample audience to ensure it effectively communicates the intended information and requires minimal explanation.
