Picture Perfect: Using Infographics to Make Your Data Stand Out

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the lifeblood of every business: data. But let’s face it, trying to make sense of it all can be difficult. And arguably, not the most exciting task.

Sure, it contains all the golden information your clients need, but who wants to read through pages and pages of it? Not many people, that’s for sure. And probably not your clients either. And though some people may enjoy hours of delving through data, it’s a good idea to cater for the masses. Especially when your deliverables could be shared company-wide.

Luckily, there’s a hero in town: infographics!

Infographics are visual representations of data, making information easy to understand and remember.

When done right, infographics are a powerful tool that can communicate complex information to your audience in seconds.

To ensure you execute your infographic use correctly, here are a few things to consider:

Consider the ratio between text to graphic

Here’s a pro tip for you: The infographic should be the star of the show, with text used sparingly to provide context and explanations.

When creating an infographic, try to use text sparingly and create visuals that speak for themselves. Add too much text and you’re defeating the point of an infographic!

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a ratio of 70% graphic to 30% text. Get that ratio right, and your infographic will be a hit with your audience.

Colour choice and your company’s branding:

Your infographic needs to be visually appealing, easy on the eyes, and most importantly, it’s got to make data easy to digest.

Including your brand colours or logo is crucial to create a sense of cohesiveness across all your outputs.

If you want your infographic to look polished and put together, using your company’s branding is the way to do it.

So don’t go wild with the colours, and don’t just pick your favourites. Think about what’s going make your data easy to understand, and what’s going make your infographic look like it belongs with the rest of your company’s materials.

Choose the right infographic to represent your data

Last but most importantly: If you want to create an infographic that’s going to have an impact on your audience, you need to start by choosing the right type for your data.

There are lots of types of infographics. You’ve got data visualizations, timelines, flowcharts, comparison infographics…the list goes on. But here’s the thing: Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, and you’ve got to pick the right one to make your message stand out.

It’s like picking the right tool for the job. You wouldn’t use a hammer to fix a hole in the wall, right? The same goes for infographics. You got to use the right one to get the job done. So, take your time, think it through, and choose wisely.

There are five common types of infographics. Look at the data you have to present and choose an infographic to get the best result:

  1. Statistical infographics: These are the most common type of infographic and are used to present numerical data and statistics in a visually appealing way. Examples include bar graphs, pie charts, and line graphs.
  1. Informational infographics: These infographics are used to present information, facts, and figures about a particular topic. They may include timelines, diagrams, or maps.
  1. Process infographics: These infographics are used to visually represent a process or workflow. They often use flowcharts or step-by-step guides to explain a complex process.
  1. Comparison infographics: These infographics are used to compare two or more things. They may include side-by-side charts or images to highlight similarities and differences.
  1. Hierarchical infographics: These infographics use a hierarchical structure to present information. They often use a tree-like diagram to show how different elements are related to one another.

Creating infographics can be a time-consuming task, especially when you lack the tools to execute them. At IG, our expert team can create infographics for your next presentation, based on your data.

Simply send us your notes, and we’ll put together an easy-to-digest infographic that’ll guarantee your audience leaves feeling informed, and not overwhelmed. Get in touch here.