Infographics visual presentations of data, information or knowledge. Think of them as data visualization and visual thinking that use design elements to display content of complex messages, so that they are easily understood and comprehended by the viewer. I like to think of them as the "picture book" of data and information.
You can use infographics in presentations, annual reports, research content, blogs, and in your newsletters. It will keep people interested because it's telling them a story using visual elements that will keep their interest - providing them with information that can be absorbed at a glance. As consumers we want numbers and statistics to back the information that we read, but we want it to be visually appealing and not always text based. An infographic gives key takeaways that are friendly to readers. The majority of people are visual learners, so infographics benefit them and in the long run benefit you and your business.
Using infographics work great for content marketing for the following reasons:
Easy to use. Think about it an infograph is sometimes easier than writing a new blog post.
Attention getters. They have the ability to capture an audience where words alone would fail.
Increase search marketing. Infographics work great in search engines, if someone publishes your infographic and provides a link back to your website, you win.
Viral magnets. It's easy to share infographics because they are attractive and can easily be shared on social networks. This increases the chances of them going viral.
Brand awareness. Add your logo and your website address and you've increased your brand awareness.
Position you as an expert. An infographic will show your knowledge of a subject and reveal your expertise in a subject.
If you decide that using an infographic is right for you - keep the following infographic best practices:
Research facts and statistics
Reference facts in your infograph.
Develop and present a coherent story.
Keep it simple.
Decide on a color scheme.
Convey the message quickly.
Ensure that your argument hold and is relevant to your audience.
Draw conclusions.
Include your URL on your infograph so people know who made it
Now that you know the benefits, how to use infographics and best practices where does one start in creating their own infographic? Many of us don't have a graphic designer at our disposal so it's important to have you hands on the right resources that will help you in creating a stellar infographic. The following resources will help you in creating your own infographic:
Hohli- Hohli is a simple and easy to use graph and chart generator. It's perfect for making parts of larger infographs. It has several options so it's a great first-stop in creating your own infographic.
Visual.ly - I personally love Visual.ly it's known as a massive infographic resource. It also has an infographic search engine which can be a fantastic resource in providing ideas to use in your own infographic and a DIY infographic maker was also just announced at SXSW in March. Visual.ly is a great place to start.
Daytum - Daytum allows you to collect data over time and display in a variety of formats. The designs are nice and clean.
Wordle - Enter or upload a collection of words and then work them to fit into a range of different shapes. Love this!
GapMinder - A free Adobe Air application that will give you up-to-date data on world issues. The data is updated yearly and the visuals are very impressive.
Obviously besides research and statistics it's going to take some creative know-how to put together an infographic that you are proud. Don't take short cuts you may need to sink in a little cash to create an infographic that has the chances of going viral and driving traffic. It's true that infographics create brand awareness, so don't put something out there that doesn't reflect your brand at the highest level. If it's going to take a little cash to do that - get out that checkbook.
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