Infographics are a fun and quick way to
learn about any topic without any heavy reading. There are many reasons why
infographics are often better than just writing a blog post. They range from:
- Providing a
data-rich visualization of a story or thesis
- A great visual
tool to educate and inform that is easily shared
- And a great way
to build brand awareness that can be at a lower cost due to the viral sharing
opportunities.
When done right, the infographic is a bold
and fun way to present information about a subject. It's something you can
quickly scan, presenting data-rich information visually.
The best type of infographic is one that
can be shared across many websites. If you're the company that has created that
popular infographic then you should be able to benefit from increased traffic,
as users will want to learn more.
Adding an infographic to your website isn't
as complicated as you think. Start with Googling "infographic
templates." From there you'll want to follow the following tips on
creating a good infographic:
Tip
#1: Get the Right Data Source
The most important component in an
infographic is the actual "info." This means you need to find a
legitimate source for all your data points. Thanks to all the published
studies, surveys and research it shouldn't be hard to collect the data points
you need to support the purpose of your infographic. You could even borrow data
from another infographic. Just make sure that you source your data within the
content of your infographic.
Tip
#2: Get the Right Designer
Although you might find a free template for
your infographic that doesn't mean you'll have the skills to get the job done.
Instead of driving yourself crazy, look for a terrific graphic artist who has
experience creating these kinds of pieces. Yes, this is an investment but it's
no different than paying for original content. As you shop around for a graphic
artist you might find some who will do the job for a flat fee while others work
on an hourly rate. Don't hesitate to check out their portfolios before
committing to hiring them.
Tip
#3: Get the Right Wireframe
Your infographic wireframe is essentially
the outline of the story your want to tell. You have your data points. Now you
want to lay them out in an order that provides the information in a compelling
way for the viewer. Remember an infographic is vertical so build your story
with a engaging beginning, middle and conclusion. In terms of the number of data
points, six seems to be what generates the most follow-up Tweets. Make sure
your logo and website information is included at the bottom of the graphic.
Tip
#4: Get the Right Headline
All your hard work won't amount to anything
unless it gets read. That's where a strong headline comes into play. This is your
hook. Research has shown that most viewers are attracted to number headlines
like "Top Ten" or "Five Best" etc. If you can work in
numbers to your headline you'll be ahead of the game.
Tip #5: Get the Right Promotion Tools
Before you're
ready to send your infographic out into cyberspace make sure you've got embed
code that will make sharing this piece as simple as a click. You should then
search for the blogs that would appreciate the information that you're sharing.
Set up a targeted email campaign for the high PR blogs. Those blogs will be
happy to use your content to fill up their pages.
Don't believe
that? Google "Marvel vs. DC" infographic to see how many sites are
sharing this single piece about which comic book company has better box office
results. Hopefully, your infographic will have the same potential to go viral.
