> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mention-me.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Build Your First Dashboard

> Build a dashboard from scratch in five minutes.

This tutorial walks you from an empty dashboard to a working one with two metric tiles and a chart. It assumes you have Reporting access.

If you want the fastest possible path, [start from a template](/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/get-started/using-templates) instead. To let AI assemble the dashboard for you, see [build with AI](/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/get-started/ai-dashboard-builder).

<Frame caption="Building a blank dashboard from scratch.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mentionme/Ty9A_E2HdZ0xj4QZ/images/knowledge-app/reporting/gifs/your-first-dashboard.gif?s=60c072b177eee137dde15fafaf554f9b" alt="Building a blank dashboard from scratch" width="800" height="531" data-path="images/knowledge-app/reporting/gifs/your-first-dashboard.gif" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Reporting">
    Go to **Referral > Reporting**. You land on the dashboards list, which shows every dashboard your team has created.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a Blank Dashboard">
    Click **New dashboard**. A dialog opens with three paths. Click **Blank dashboard** underneath the AI prompt box.

    You now have an empty dashboard with a filter bar along the top.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Your First Metric Tile">
    Click **Add tile** (or press `A`). In the tile editor:

    <Frame caption="Metric picker showing the six metric categories.">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mentionme/kgVB-NOv7qaOtEjq/images/knowledge-app/reporting/ui/metric-picker.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=kgVB-NOv7qaOtEjq&q=85&s=328c77e207827add15fc600f14d08ecc" alt="Metric picker with the six categories" width="457" height="494" data-path="images/knowledge-app/reporting/ui/metric-picker.png" />
    </Frame>

    1. Pick **Metric** as the tile type.
    2. Search or scroll for **New Customers** in the metric picker.
    3. Leave the title blank (the tile will autogenerate one) or give it your own.
    4. Click **Save**. The tile lands on the grid.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a Chart">
    Click **Add tile** again. In the tile editor:

    1. Pick **Chart** as the tile type.
    2. Keep the chart subtype as **Line**.
    3. Add **Total Referral Revenue** as the metric.
    4. Click **Save**.

    You should now see a line chart next to your New Customers metric.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Change the Time Period">
    In the dashboard filter bar at the top, open the time period dropdown. Switch from **Last 30 days** (the default) to **Last 90 days**. Both tiles update in place.

    Every tile on the dashboard now follows this time period. See [filters and time periods](/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/building-dashboards/filters-and-time-periods).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What You Just Built

A dashboard answering "how is the programme doing in the last 90 days?". Add a comparison and you'll be able to answer "is it getting better?". Add a campaign breakdown and you'll be able to answer "which campaigns are pulling their weight?".

## Where to Go Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Comparisons" icon="percent" href="/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/building-dashboards/comparisons">
    Compare the chart against last year.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Breakdowns" icon="table-columns" href="/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/building-dashboards/breakdowns">
    Split it by campaign or market.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Editing the layout" icon="sliders" href="/knowledge-app/referral/reporting/building-dashboards/editing-layout">
    Rearrange the tiles.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>