I don't know excel, where should I start from

Microsoft Excel is one of the easiest and most popular tools for basic data analysis — especially when you're just starting out. You don't need to be a math genius or a programmer. Excel helps you organize numbers (and text), quickly find answers, spot patterns, and make simple charts — all with clicks and a few easy formulas.
Step 1: Get Your Data into Excel
Open Excel → new blank workbook
Type or paste your data (example: sales records)
Example simple dataset :

Step 2: Basic Cleaning & Organizing (Very Important First Step)

Remove duplicates → Select data → Data tab → Remove Duplicates
Fix empty cells → Find & Select → Go To Special → Blanks → type something or delete rows
Convert text to numbers/dates if needed (select column → Data → Text to Columns)
Make your data a Table, Select all data → Insert tab → Table → This adds filters automatically + makes formulas easier

Step 3:Quick Calculations

Excel formulas start with = sign.
Most useful beginner ones:
=SUM– Sum adds the values of selected cells
Eg, =SUM(B2:B100)
=AVERAGE- Average finds the average of selected values
Eg, =AVERAGE(B2:B100) → average
=MAX(B2:B100) / =MIN(B2:B100) → Finds the highest & lowest value
=COUNT(B2:B100) → how many numbers are there
=COUNTA(B2:B100) →How many values are there (includes numbers and text)
=COUNTIF(D2:D100, "Nairobi") → how many sales in Nairobi
Example: In a new cell type
=SUM(f2:f6)

Step 4: Sort & Filter – Find Answers Fast
Click anywhere in your table
Data tab → Sort (example: sort by Sales highest to lowest)
Or click the little arrow in column header → filter only "Phone" or sales > 50000

Step 5: The Super-Powerful PivotTable
PivotTables let you summarize hundreds/thousands of rows in seconds.
How to create one
Click anywhere in your data/table
Insert tab → PivotTable → OK (new sheet)

In the right panel drag fields:
Drag Region to Rows
Drag Sales to Values (it becomes Sum of Sales automatically)

Result: You instantly see total sales per region.
Change it to:
Average sale per region
Count of sales per product
Add Product to Columns → now you get a cross-table (pivot!)
You can also add filters (slicers) to simplify things further

Step 6: Make Simple Charts (Visuals Tell the Story Better)

Select your summary numbers (or the PivotTable)
Insert tab → Recommended Charts
Or directly: Insert → Column chart / Pie chart / Line chart
Example good charts:
Column/Bar chart → compare sales by product or region
Pie chart → show % share of regions (only if few categories)
Line chart → sales over time (if you have dates)
Finally , Visualization
Create a new blank sheet, format the sheet to fill then add the main excerpts, titles, and kpi’s , add slicers in the chart and beside the slicers, add your charts, formart colors for general aesthetics .