It is pretty much a given that people are visually wired. We respond to images much more than text. You need only look at Facebook data to see that posts with images usually have more views, more comments and more likes. The problem is that most companies deal in data or information, which means text, text, and more text. Not one person in twenty would want to read that much text, so many businesses are turning to infographics to deliver their data. An infographic is a visual representation of the information the company wants to present. The text is still usually there, but has been considerably reduced.
It pays to use infographics in your marketing strategy. According to HubSpot, web traffic of companies that regularly use infographics grow 12% more annually than those that don’t. Whether you have never made an infographic or if you want to refine your skills, we have 5 tips that can get you started.
- Research—Take a look at companies in your industry to see what types of infographics are published already. Your goal is to exceed their work, so make notes of what you appreciate about their image and what needs improvement.
- Narrow it Down—So many infographics are generic; intended for anyone that might read them. When you are creating the one for your business, limit the look and feel to your clientele. If you are creating one for educators, choose something familiar to them while also piquing their interest. Also tailor your verbiage to that field as well, but limit the use of jargon.
- Simplify—You do not have to put every fact you have on your infographic. In fact, as stated above, less is more. Focus your infographic data to one set of data and then take the time to make it perfect.
- Limit the Size—Designers often will create an infographic at a certain size and not consider what happens should they want to publish it on various websites. It either shrinks down to where it is unreadable or blown up to the point that the image is grainy. Neither situation encourages the reader to stay to the very last point. Keep this in mind as you are designing it to make sure that the text is readable no matter the size.
- Promote It—An infographic is only as good as its promotion. They do not automatically become viral. You must market it through social media, on your blog, and share it with others in your industry. Otherwise, it will just gather dust in the back closet of the internet.
The competition to create visually stimulating infographics is only going to get stiffer in the future. Now is the time to get a leg up by practicing your skills. Remember that an infographic is an easy way to communicate a complicated idea or turn a boring subject into an exciting one.
Do you have any ideas on how to improve infographics? Talk to us in the comments.
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