Understanding the Dashboard
A complete guide to navigating your Zaplane Insights dashboard. Learn how to interpret metrics, customize views, and take action on AI recommendations.
Your Command Center
The Zaplane Insights dashboard is your central hub for monitoring advertising performance, receiving AI recommendations, and managing campaign optimizations across all connected platforms. This guide will help you understand every section and make the most of your dashboard.
What You'll Find on Your Dashboard
- • Real-time performance metrics across all platforms
- • AI-generated recommendations and optimization opportunities
- • Campaign health scores and alerts
- • Quick access to active automations and their status
- • Performance trends and forecasts
Dashboard Layout Overview
Your dashboard is organized into several key sections, each designed to give you specific insights at a glance:
Top Header Bar
Date Range Selector
Choose your time period: Today, Yesterday, Last 7/30/90 days, or Custom range. All metrics update automatically when you change the date range.
Platform Filter
View all platforms combined, or filter to see data from specific platforms (Google Ads, Meta, Amazon, etc.).
Refresh Button
Manually refresh data. Dashboard auto-updates every 15 minutes, but you can force an immediate refresh for the latest data.
Notifications Center
See alerts for important campaign changes, AI recommendations requiring approval, and system notifications.
Performance Summary Cards
Four key metric cards at the top show your most important performance indicators:
Total Spend
Your total ad spend for the selected date range across all platforms. Shows trend indicator (↑/↓) comparing to previous period.
ROAS (Return on Ad Spend)
Revenue generated divided by ad spend. Higher is better. Industry benchmarks shown for comparison (typically 2-4x for ecommerce).
Conversions
Total conversion actions (purchases, leads, sign-ups) tracked across all campaigns. Broken down by conversion type.
Cost Per Conversion
Average amount spent to generate each conversion. Lower is better. Shows trend and percentage change.
Understanding Trend Indicators
Green arrows (↑) with positive percentages are good for revenue metrics (ROAS, conversions). Red arrows (↓) are good for cost metrics (CPC, cost per conversion). The percentage shows change compared to the previous equal time period.
AI Recommendations Panel
The most important section of your dashboard - where AI-powered optimization suggestions appear:
What You'll See Here:
- Priority Level: High/Medium/Low based on potential impact
- Recommendation Type: Bid adjustment, budget reallocation, keyword addition, etc.
- Expected Impact: Projected improvement in ROAS, CPA, or other metrics
- Confidence Score: AI's certainty level (0-100%)
- Action Buttons: Approve, Decline, or Schedule for later
High Priority
Urgent opportunities or issues requiring immediate attention. Act within 24 hours.
Medium Priority
Solid optimization opportunities. Review within 3-5 days for best results.
Low Priority
Minor tweaks and experimental suggestions. Act when you have time.
Pro Tip: Use the "Simulate" Feature
Before approving any recommendation, click "Simulate" to see projected outcomes based on historical data. Our AI runs thousands of scenarios to predict results with 91% accuracy.
Campaign Health Monitor
Visual health scores for all your campaigns, color-coded by performance status:
Campaigns performing above benchmarks
Solid performance, minor tweaks recommended
Underperforming, review AI suggestions
Immediate action required, wasting budget
Health Score Factors:
Active Automations Widget
Shows all currently running automation rules and their real-time status:
What You'll See:
- •Rule Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Pause low-performing keywords")
- •Status: Active, Paused, or Scheduled
- •Last Action: When automation last ran and what it did
- •Impact: Money saved or ROAS improvement from this automation
- •Next Run: When automation will execute next
Click any automation to see detailed logs of all actions taken, including before/after performance comparisons and rollback options if needed.
Customizing Your Dashboard
Make your dashboard work for you by customizing the view, widgets, and metrics displayed:
Rearrange Widgets
Click the "Customize Layout" button in the top-right corner to enter edit mode:
- Drag and drop widgets to rearrange their position
- Resize widgets by dragging the corners
- Hide widgets you don't need by clicking the "×" icon
- Add hidden widgets back from the "Add Widget" menu
Custom Metric Cards
Choose which metrics appear in the performance summary cards:
- Click the gear icon on any metric card
- Select "Change Metric" from the dropdown
- Choose from 20+ available metrics (CTR, CPC, Impressions, Conversion Rate, etc.)
- Set custom benchmarks and alert thresholds
Save Custom Views
Create and save different dashboard configurations for different use cases:
Example Use Cases:
- "Executive View": High-level ROAS and spend metrics only
- "Performance Deep-Dive": Detailed conversion tracking and attribution
- "Google Ads Only": Filtered to show just one platform
- "Agency Client Review": White-labeled view for client meetings
Export and Schedule Reports
Turn your dashboard into shareable reports:
- Export Now: Click "Export" to download current view as PDF or CSV
- Schedule Recurring: Set up daily/weekly/monthly automated reports delivered via email
- Share Link: Generate a read-only link to share dashboard with stakeholders
Quick Actions from Dashboard
Take immediate action without leaving the dashboard:
Approve Recommendations
Click "Approve All High Priority" to instantly implement all critical AI suggestions, or review them individually with one click to see details and approve/decline.
Pause Campaigns
Emergency pause button for any campaign showing critical health scores. Instantly stops ad spend while you investigate issues.
Adjust Budgets
Quick budget adjustment sliders on each campaign card. Move budget between campaigns without leaving the dashboard or accessing platform directly.
Set Alerts
Click any metric to set custom alert thresholds. Get notified immediately when metrics cross your defined limits (email, SMS, or Slack).
Pro Tips for Power Users
💡 Keyboard Shortcuts
Press R to refresh data,D to change date range,F to open filters,? to see all shortcuts.
💡 Compare Time Periods
Enable "Compare" mode in the date picker to see current vs. previous period side-by-side. Perfect for understanding week-over-week or month-over-month trends.
💡 Mobile App Sync
Your dashboard customizations sync to the Zaplane mobile app. Check critical metrics and approve recommendations on the go.
💡 Set Daily Check-in Routine
Recommended daily routine: Check performance cards (2 min) → Review high-priority recommendations (5 min) → Scan campaign health scores (2 min). Total: ~10 minutes to stay on top of everything.
Common Questions
How often does the dashboard refresh?
The dashboard auto-refreshes every 15 minutes to show the latest data. You can also manually refresh anytime by clicking the refresh button in the top-right corner. Real-time updates for critical alerts (like budget overspend) appear immediately via push notifications.
Can I have multiple dashboard views for different team members?
Yes! Each team member can create and save their own custom dashboard views. Additionally, account administrators can create shared "Team Views" that all members can access. This is perfect for agencies managing multiple clients.
Why are some metrics showing "N/A" or dashes?
This usually means one of three things:
- The platform doesn't track that specific metric (e.g., Amazon doesn't provide CTR data)
- Not enough data yet - wait 24-48 hours after connecting a new platform
- Conversion tracking isn't set up correctly on the platform
How do I share my dashboard with stakeholders who don't have Zaplane accounts?
Click the "Share" button in the top-right, then select "Generate Public Link." This creates a read-only, password-protected URL you can share. Set expiration dates and revoke access anytime. Perfect for client reports or investor updates.
Dive Deeper
Now that you understand your dashboard, explore these topics to get even more value from Zaplane:
Dashboard Metrics Explained
Deep dive into what each metric means and how to interpret them
How the AI System Works
Understand the 5-phase AI orchestration behind your recommendations
Understanding Automation Levels
Learn when to use manual review vs. full automation
Creating Custom Reports
Build detailed reports for stakeholders and analysis
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