Matrix views — the nine presets
The Matrix ships with nine preset views. Every view consists of a row axis and a column axis. Views with a hierarchical row axis have collapsible subgroups.
Views with a time axis
Sources over time
- Rows: individual sources
- Columns: time periods (day, week, month, or quarter)
- Hierarchy: flat
The classic entry point. Shows which source was how active in which period.
Sources and channels over time
- Rows: sources with their channels as subgroups
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: two levels
Same as above, but each source can be expanded to its individual channels (LinkedIn company, LinkedIn person, YouTube, RSS, Newsletter). Shows whether a source is active on a single channel or plays across several.
Source tags over time
- Rows: source tags
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: flat
Aggregates sources by their category tags. A source with several tags is counted in every matching row. A fit when you group your tracked entities into categories like “direct competitors”, “indirect competitors”, “opinion leaders”.
Sources (grouped by categories) over time
- Rows: sources, grouped by source tag
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: two levels
Combines the detail view of Sources over time with the category structure. Sources without a tag land under “Untagged”.
Sources (grouped by topics) over time
- Rows: sources, grouped by update tag
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: two levels
Shows, per topic, which sources cover it. A source that posts on several topics appears more than once.
Topics over time
- Rows: update tags
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: flat
Thematic timeline. Which topic was relevant in the market and when? Ideal for the question “what is heating up right now?”.
Topics (grouped by source categories) over time
- Rows: update tags, grouped by source tag
- Columns: time periods
- Hierarchy: two levels
Shows the thematic timeline per category. Answers questions like “what are the direct competitors talking about, what are the opinion leaders talking about?”.
Views without a time axis
Source tags and their topics
- Rows: source tags
- Columns: update tags (topics)
- Hierarchy: flat
Cross-tabulation category × topic. Shows which topics are especially present in which category. No time context — a snapshot over the full period.
Sources (grouped by categories) and their topics
- Rows: sources, grouped by source tag
- Columns: update tags (topics)
- Hierarchy: two levels
Same as above, but with individual sources on the detail level. Shows which specific source covers which topic.
When to use which view
| Question | Recommended view |
|---|---|
| Who was how active recently? | Sources over time |
| Who plays which channels? | Sources and channels over time |
| How active are my categories? | Source tags over time |
| Which source fits which category? | Sources (grouped by categories) over time |
| Which topics are hot right now? | Topics over time |
| Which source covers which topic? | Source tags and their topics |
| Where is the thematic focus shifting? | Topics over time with “Compared to reference period” |
| Who in the market writes about what? | Sources (grouped by categories) and their topics |
Hierarchical vs. flat views
Views with two row levels (marked as Hierarchy: two levels in the tables) support the extra metric Category share — a cell’s share of its parent-category total. Flat views do not offer that option.
Details on all metrics: Matrix metrics.