In today’s fast-paced, digital and mobile world, time and attention spans are limited commodities. To rise above the noise and make an impact, marketers strive to convey complex data and content quickly and efficiently — with bonus points for style. Enter: The Infographic.
What is an infographic?
An infographic is a visual image, such as a chart or diagram, used to represent information or data. It often includes fun images, color, movement and content that is both visually appealing and educational. By using images and small blurbs, you can condense large amounts of information into an easily comprehensible format. When using digital infographics, you can take the process one step further and include interactive features where users can click images to get more information on a particular topic.
The power of infographics.
The average reader retains 90 percent of information through visual impact. Using an infographic not only increases the chances of your information being remembered, but it also increases reader engagement. The more your readers are engaged, the more likely they will want to share your material with friends and family. Just think: You could go viral.
As readers share digital infographics, they are driving traffic to the website that produced it. This means when you create your own infographic, you have the opportunity to position yourself as a thought leader in your field, and increase your brand recognition and credibility. In addition to driving more website traffic, when users share an embedded infographic it creates inbound links which improve your SEO ranking. Google’s algorithm, designed to boost site’s SEO, logs instances when content linked to your site is being shared across the internet. More sharing increases your site’s ranking against the competition. Infographics are far more likely to go viral than plain-text content due to their visual appeal and simplicity, and more likely to be remembered.
Exhibit A:
The inforgraphic was designed by Joe Chernov and RIPETUNGI in reaction to an article highlighting the fact that humans kill 100 million sharks annually, and the long scroll down the page helps readers grasp just how large that number is. This infographic went viral.
An infographic is so much more than a picture — it is an alternative way of communicating a message while engaging your audience in a deeper interaction. The use of an infographic can produce increased website traffic, audience engagement, SEO rankings and brand recognition.
Still not convinced? Maybe we should put it in an infographic.