How to Create Infographics That Drive Social Shares
People are bombarded with a constant stream of content—text, images, videos, and more. So, how do you cut through the noise and capture attention? The answer lies in visual content, particularly infographics. Infographics are a powerful tool for business owners and corporate executives who want to convey complex information in a simple, engaging way.
But simply creating an infographic isn’t enough. If you want to drive social shares, you need to ensure your infographics are designed with purpose. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key strategies for creating infographics that don’t just look good but also encourage social sharing. Whether you’re new to infographics or looking to refine your approach, these tips will help you craft compelling visual content that resonates with your audience.
Why Infographics Are So Effective
Before diving into how to create shareable infographics, let’s first understand why they’re such a powerful tool in the first place.
1. Infographics Simplify Complex Information
One of the greatest challenges in today’s fast-paced world is information overload. We’re constantly bombarded with data, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Infographics break down complex information into easy-to-understand visuals. Instead of reading through long paragraphs, your audience can quickly grasp key points, making them more likely to engage and share.
2. Visual Content Boosts Engagement
Humans are naturally drawn to visuals. Research shows that we process visuals faster than text, and we’re more likely to remember information presented in a visual format. Infographics leverage this by using graphics, colors, and design elements to grab attention, hold it, and ensure your message sticks.
3. Infographics Are Highly Shareable
In the world of social media, content that’s easily shareable is gold. Infographics fit this mold perfectly. Their visual appeal makes them more likely to be shared, whether through social media platforms, blogs, or emails. People enjoy sharing content that they find visually compelling and that helps explain a concept or provides useful information.
Steps to Creating Infographics That Drive Social Shares
Now that we understand the power of infographics, let’s explore how to create them in a way that encourages social sharing. Here are the essential steps to designing infographics that will captivate your audience and get shared across social platforms.
1. Know Your Audience and Their Needs
The first step in creating any piece of content is understanding your audience. What information do they find valuable? What problems are they trying to solve? When it comes to infographics, knowing your audience is crucial because it guides the content you choose to feature.
- Who are you designing for? Business owners, corporate executives, or consumers?
- What are their pain points? Are they looking for ways to improve efficiency, understand a trend, or make better decisions?
- What will resonate with them? Choose topics that are relevant to their interests and needs.
For example, if you’re targeting corporate executives, an infographic showing the latest industry trends or a data-driven analysis of market performance might be a great choice.
2. Focus on a Clear, Specific Message
An infographic should never try to cover too many topics. Focus on one clear, specific message that is easy to communicate visually. Whether it’s a step-by-step process, a comparison chart, or a statistical analysis, ensure your infographic has a defined purpose.
Start by answering these questions:
- What key message do you want to convey?
- What is the most important takeaway for your audience?
The more focused your infographic is, the more likely it is to resonate with viewers and be shared.
3. Use Compelling, Easy-to-Understand Data
At the heart of any infographic is data. But simply including numbers isn’t enough. The data you use must be relevant and easy to understand.
- Choose Data That Is Relevant: Select data that is aligned with your audience’s interests and needs. For example, if you’re creating an infographic for a marketing audience, include statistics on current marketing trends or social media behaviors.
- Make it Simple: Infographics are about simplification. Don’t overwhelm your audience with too much data. Focus on key stats or insights and present them in a digestible format.
Presenting information visually using charts, graphs, and icons can make even complex data seem simple and engaging.
4. Design for Shareability
Design plays a significant role in the effectiveness of an infographic. If your infographic isn’t visually appealing, it’s unlikely to get shared. Follow these design principles to ensure your infographic is shareable:
- Use a Consistent Color Scheme: Choose colors that are aligned with your brand but also make the content easy to read. Avoid using too many colors that might distract from the message.
- Incorporate Branding: Make sure to include your logo and any other relevant branding elements. This will help your infographic maintain credibility and encourage recognition when shared.
- Keep It Clean and Organized: Don’t overcrowd the design with too many elements. White space is important to make the infographic visually appealing and easy to follow.
- Optimize for Mobile: A large portion of social shares happens on mobile devices, so make sure your infographic is mobile-friendly. The text should be large enough to read on a phone screen, and the design should scale well.
5. Add a Strong Call to Action
What do you want your audience to do after viewing your infographic? Perhaps you want them to visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, or download a free resource. Whatever your goal is, include a strong, clear call to action (CTA).
Make the CTA actionable and relevant. For example:
- “Learn more by visiting [your website].”
- “Share this infographic with your colleagues!”
- “Download our free guide now.”
A CTA will encourage engagement and, if compelling enough, drive your audience to take action, whether it’s sharing the infographic or converting to a customer.
6. Promote Your Infographics on Social Media
Once your infographic is created, it’s time to promote it. Infographics are inherently shareable, but you still need to take the necessary steps to get them in front of the right audience.
- Post on the Right Platforms: Share your infographic across the platforms that your audience frequents. For businesses, this might include LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. For a younger audience, consider platforms like Instagram or Pinterest.
- Leverage Hashtags: Hashtags can help your infographic get discovered by a wider audience. Use relevant hashtags related to your industry or the topic of your infographic.
- Encourage Sharing: Ask your followers to share your infographic with their networks. This simple ask can go a long way in boosting social shares.
- Repurpose Your Infographic: To maximize the impact of your infographic, consider repurposing it for different formats. Turn it into a series of posts, a short video, or a presentation to share across multiple channels.
Best Practices for Maximizing Social Shares
Now that you’ve created an infographic that’s visually appealing and informative, it’s important to follow a few best practices to ensure it gets shared across social media. Here are some additional tips to help maximize your infographic’s potential for social shares:
1. Incorporate Interactive Elements
Interactive infographics allow users to engage directly with the content, making them more likely to share it. Adding clickable links, hover effects, or quizzes can make your infographic even more engaging.
2. Use Infographics for Evergreen Content
Evergreen content is content that remains relevant over time. Creating an infographic on a topic that remains important to your audience will give it more staying power. The longer your infographic is relevant, the more likely it is to be shared repeatedly.
3. Collaborate with Influencers
Partnering with influencers in your industry can significantly increase the likelihood of your infographic being shared. Influencers have a wide reach and can help spread your infographic to new audiences who might otherwise never see it.
Conclusion
Infographics are one of the most effective ways to convey information, capture attention, and drive social shares. By following the strategies outlined in this post, you can create infographics that not only look visually appealing but also provide value to your audience, helping your content reach a larger audience. Whether you’re using infographics for lead generation, brand awareness, or engagement, make sure to focus on clear messaging, compelling data, and a visually engaging design.
Ready to take your infographic game to the next level? At Ikonik Digital, we specialize in creating content that resonates with your audience and drives real results. Reach out to us today at [email protected] for a consultation, strategy discussion, or inquiries about how we can help with your visual content marketing.
With these tips, you’re well on your way to creating infographics that get noticed and shared. Infographics are an incredibly powerful tool—make sure yours work hard for you!
