Infographics are a very effective way to visually communicate information, to share knowledge and tell a story. Infographics can easily communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner.
Here are 7 tips on how to create effective infographics
1. Collect accurate information
The first step required to prepare an infographic is to gather high-quality information from reliable sources. An infographic is only as good as its supporting information. Then the infographic can be designed to effectively tell the story.
2. Select the software
The right software tool can provide you with everything you need to create polished diagrams that beautifully and accurately represent your story, no matter how complex it may be.
3. The infographic story
Research the collected information, and determine the key points of your message. Clearly label key points and organize information flow by defining the sequence of visual events in your storyline to create an interesting story.
A visual story should have three visually separated parts: beginning, middle, and end.
Use visuals to maximize the impact of your message and reduce the time it takes to explain your ideas and concepts. These visuals may include information visualization and decorative graphic design elements such as charts, graphs, diagrams, schemes, maps, plans, clipart, etc.
4. Select relevant visuals
To determine how to visually organize the contents of your infographic story, you need to decide how the key point must be organized.
Optimize your infographics for output devices
Explore what output devices will be used by target audience to see your infographics. It may severely limit the size of your infographics and visuals used, especially in the case of smartphones and tablets. For mobile devices, use space-saving graphic design elements.
On other hand, if you plan to display your infographics onto a large display or large printout, it is best to use vector graphics for high-quality image scaling.
Select graphic design elements
You should select graphic design elements for visualization that correspond to collect information for your story.
Each visualized piece of information should explain a single, easy to understand the idea. Each graphic design element should communicate one message clearly.
Avoid repetitive visuals. Use different visuals and color labeling for different key points.
Use creative design elements to maximize the impact of your infographics. But remember, each of your visuals must be clear and should enhance your message.
5. Explain complex ideas simply
The whole story must be clear in seconds for the target audience.
You can Use:
images of story subjects as markers of visuals and text blocks.
images of well-known people, objects and things for quick recognition.
common graphical symbols and pictograms instead of words in data labels and legends.
pictorial charts instead of bar or line charts to better demonstrate quantitative data.
the background image that indicate the basic subject matter of your story.
short talking points in headlines and captions.
Minimize scrolling
To keep your story easy to digest, try to limit document length and the number of content elements.
Be sure that each content element conveys one simple idea that is easy to understand at a glance.
Choose only the most essential content elements to explain the main message of your story.
6. Show new information
If you present time-oriented data in your infographics, give the audience an impression of the newest information with the most modern design.
Label date and time
Clearly, show the dates and times in your infographic document and make sure each content element presents actual data.
Refresh infographics as source information changes
To keep your infographic current, design it so that it is easy to refresh. so you can quickly change content elements when time-sensitive source information changes. The easiest way to quickly refresh data is by using auto-refreshing graphic elements. For example auto-refreshing charts, graphic indicators for visual dashboards, or meteorological graphic indicators from weather informers.
Modern and event-driven design
For infographics that show dynamic time-sensitive information, use modern design in conjunction with events-related symbols and images to present a fresh and stylish ambiance.
7. Provide sharing
You create your infographics to present to the target audience. To access your audience, you can use the web and paper publishing, references on social networks, displays at public events and meetings, e-mail distribution, etc.
For example:
Publish your infographics on your website or blog. Add sharing features on your web page.
Publish your infographics to subject-specific e-magazines, websites, blogs, and social networking.
Create an account and subject-specific board on Pinterest.com, and submit your infographics.
Show your infographics on display boards at public events that the target audience is likely to visit.
Show your infographics at subject-specific meetings as a printed poster on a stand or as a presentation using a projector.
Proliferate your infographics using e-mail.
Announce your infographics via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, etc.
On the web pages of your website or blog,where the infographics are published, add sharing features like, “Tweet”, “Pin it”, “Share”, or “Send via email” buttons to allow readers to announce and share your infographics on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook, or via email.
Infographics and Data Visualization
The recent upswing of information graphics and data visualization is not a surprise anymore. More and more companies are using infographics to communicate their messages and reach target audiences.
In today’s busy world, nobody has the time to go over extensive publications or hard to read tables and graphs. With over 90% of the information we remember being visual, infographics are here to stay for a long time.
So what are the benefits of infographics?
Infographics allow representation of your raw data in a clear and simpler way. It gives you the opportunity to bring life to your old graphs and tables. More importantly, infographics tell stories which cannot easily be told using standard tools.
Infographics put you in control of what message you want to send and how memorable it shall be. Your audience will not remember a bar chart but with the help of infographics, they will remember what that bar chart was about.
Infographics combine interesting data with great design. You might be excited about the benefits of your or your members’ services or products but do not expect everyone else to share this.
In fact, showing a graph will not be different. However, showing infographics loaded with solid data, attention to detail and beautiful design will have a greater impact.
Infographics show great consideration and professionalism for your audience.
How to create effective infographics
1. Infographics are powerful marketing & communication tools. Poor raw data, misleading or unclear information will never deliver effective infographics.
2. For balanced infographics work with professionals both on content and design.
3. There are several infographics templates around the web free of use. It might be tempted to go for those but your infographics must be unique, customized to your needs and based on your identity.
4. Price: infographics are an investment. Effective infographics are memorable and are to be used along with your whole communication & marketing channels.