Top tips for effective infographics

Infographics as a diagrammatic way to explain information have been around for years, but only recently have they come into their own as a mainstream way of communicating information.

Pairing data with clever design brings data to life and presents it in an easily digestible form.  This makes it a great tool for B2B or academic marketers who are often tasked with making difficult (or dull) topics interesting.

The key to a great infographic is simplicity; a clear, thought-out structure follows the logical flow of an argument using graphics to present nuggets of facts backing up a marketing message.

Here are some top tips to make sure your infographics work.

Decide on your topic Infographics that try to answer all the world’s questions are setting themselves up to fail.  Each infographic should only attempt to answer one question as clearly as possible.

Do your research Infographics are based on data, so if you’re going to make a strong argument you have to know your stuff.  Make sure you take a balanced approach to the topic, incorporating data from all elements.

Be concise A picture tells a thousand words.

Think visually about data Work with your designer to develop different ways to present the information.  Pie charts and bar graphs are fine, but mix it up, adhere to a colour scheme and try not to over complicate it.

Be creative Make the themes and illustrations relevant to the subject topic to capture your audience’s imagination. The more fun and engaging it is, the more likely it will be read. Also, the more creative the infographic – the more likely it is to be shared.

Include credits Don’t forget to credit all research sources to ensure credibility, and make sure your company’s contact details and logo are featured – give credit where credit’s due.