Today, “infographic” has become a generic term for all information visualizations, but the true definition of an infographic is a data visualization. They should tell a story and visually lead the audience through an organized structure of data and theories. They should also look great.
Those are just a few of the suggestions that Brian Wallace of NowSourcing, Inc. shares in an infographic his company created for Graphic Design Degree Hub. Brian explains that a great infographic offers reliable information that supports a highly focused primary message. Furthermore, that message should be communicated quickly, so the audience immediately understands the value they’ll receive from taking the time to review the infographic. Great data visualizations communicate complex data and ideas clearly and succinctly.
Take a look at The Anatomy of a Great Infographic visualization below. What makes you stop and look closely at an infographic? What makes you share an infographic with your audience?
Image source: www.graphicdesigndegreehub.com
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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Susan, great information here. Very well done. Here is a really basic questions: How do you actually create an info-graphic? Are there programs that create info-graphics? Thanks for this informative post.
Steven,
You can use a tool like Piktochart.com or Visual.ly. Or you can hire a designer to create your infographic for you. The choice you make depends on your budget, your technical ability, and how much time you have.