Top 5 reasons why you should use infographics
It’s likely you already know what an infographic is but for those that don’t, an infographic is a combination of images and facts
Infographics can be used to explain timelines, heavy data or how something works. They can compare countries and recall history, alongside countless other things. But what’s important about making a successful infographic is ensuring it’s designed, illustrated, animated, and communicated well to ensure your target audience walks away with new knowledge that sticks.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should use infographics in digital marketing.
1. They enhance stories
Images are processed 60,000 times more quickly in the brain than text. That doesn’t mean to say that it’s best to only have imagery, it just means that it’s best to limit the amount of text within an infographic. Your text needs to add value. Ask yourself, if I removed the text, would I still be able to understand the imagery? If yes, remove the text and ensure it supplements the visuals on the page.
2. They’re memorable
It is speculated that a human’s attention span is dwindling, so if you’re looking to keep the attention of your audience or to make the biggest impact, use infographics. In this fast-paced world, people skim read through large blocks of text or use ctrl + ‘f' to find a particular word they’re looking for, which is why using images and small amounts of text is a good way to keep people hooked on your content by keeping it interesting and easily navigable. The combination of images, bright colors and numbers are much easier to remember than 500 words!
3. They improve brand visibility
Infographics are perfect for digital users as the most popular format is portrait, perfect for scrolling on any digital device. And although there are plenty of infographics already out there, there are plenty more to be made from a unique angle. For example, if you’re a coffee shop that’s changed coffee beans to improve your carbon footprint, you might like to show your customers how much better off the world is because of this small business change. Speak to your SEO experts to ensure you get in some high-volume keywords to help your content stay visible, and your infographic is well on its way to performing.
4. They’re shareable
People love to share engaging and shocking snapshots of data as it starts a conversation with like-minded individuals. A recent infographic that has been doing the rounds on social media comes from Seaspiracy. It’s super simple and effective. The infographic communicates that last year sharks killed 12 people from around the world but in comparison, we killed 183 sharks every minute.
5. They can be repurposed for print
Print can be expensive, which is why it’s always good to see the reception your infographic gets online first. Chances are, with a carefully thought out and well-designed visual, engagement will be high and brand awareness will improve. This means you could repurpose your infographic and make posters, leaflets and billboards.
What’s great is that infographics are so versatile that they can be used on a multitude of platforms. So gauge the interest online first, share on your website, on social and as many other platforms as you like, and use an HTML to format and embed a code into your infographic to track its performance. A well-performing infographic might just be the next convincing step to taking it to print. Remember, print is still a viable form of marketing that will complement your digital strategy.
Things to remember about infographics
Be simple:
Infographics shouldn’t be too long or too text-heavy; the whole point of an infographic is that it’s snack-sized. If your infographic is too long, consider how to break your data down differently. Make sure your infographic is easy to navigate and make sure you design it carefully so your audience follows the information correctly. For example, when we read books, we know that we read from left to right, so consider the layout. And to remain simple, don’t overcrowd your infographic; it’s ok to have space and it’s ok to stick to a few colors.
Be original:
Don’t just copy a competitor's data or reuse something you’ve already seen, take a unique angle. Whether you want to talk about politics, a world crisis, or a problem your brand solves, a clever infographic is a great way to assert your authority both online and offline. With your branding colors, font, tone of voice and design, you can cleverly attract the attention of an audience.
Seek help from professionals:
At Digital Ethos, we have a talented team of creatives who are passionate about making marketing visual. Whether you have a concept or would like our team to come up with a concept for your brand, we can meticulously design and create a visually appealing and carefully researched concept that you can share and print however you’d like.