We all understand the persuasive power of data and graphics. However, for financial services firms, it can be tough to disseminate complex reports or data-heavy information in a way that your audience will understand and engage with.
That’s why infographics are so common in the industry.
A well-designed infographic helps you quickly and clearly communicate key messages to your clients and prospects. It breaks complex information down into manageable chunks in a logical, easy to understand fashion. And in a field that — let’s be honest here — is sometimes boring to the average person, an infographic can boost your the engagement factor.
Are you ready to embrace infographics for your financial services firm? Here’s what you need to know.
Why Use Infographics in Financial Services?
If you’re a business-to-consumer (B2C) financial services firm, your clients aren’t financial professionals. In fact, that’s exactly why they came to you in the first place. Infographics are a great way to educate this kind of audience and make your financial services firm more approachable.
But even if you’re a business-to-business (B2B) firm, infographics’ strengths can still work in your favor, as they put the most pertinent information front and center for your target audience.
When done well, they can:
- Clearly convey complex data. Instead of expecting clients to read through a dictionary-sized report, infographics can outline important information in a visually friendly way.
- Catch a reader’s eye. The human brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text. Thus, graphics, charts and other visuals can more immediately grab a reader’s attention, making it easier to get your message to the masses.
- Increase brand authority. Infographics and other content can position your firm as a thought leader. A steady flow of information also demonstrates that you value your clients’ time and are willing to work to educate them on financial matters.
- Improve engagement. Infographics are inherently engaging, and engaging content is more likely to be shared on social media, expanding your reach and increasing audience interaction.
4 Key Types of Financial Infographics
There are many types of infographics that can help financial firms communicate effectively. Here are four of the most popular:
Market Trends
An infographic focused on market trends uses visuals that can highlight key movements in the stock market or economy. Line graphs and bar charts are among the easiest ways to show changes over time.
Process Explanations
Are you trying to lead your reader though a certain process, such as purchasing a home or starting a retirement fund? An infographic that outlines every step of the way can help them feel more comfortable and informed.
Quick Tips
Your blog probably has a lot of content on specific industry topics already. Consider turning some of those posts into infographics that provide five or 10 “quick tips” in an attention grabbing, visually appealing way.
Comparison Charts
When you’re trying to show the difference between options or explain the pros and cons of one alternative versus another, nothing beats a comparison chart offering an easy-to-understand, side-by-side analysis.
5 Tips for Creating Engaging Infographics
Now that you understand the benefits of infographics and some of the key types you might want to create, here are five tips to make them as appealing, engaging, and informative as possible.
- Keep it simple. It’s best to focus each infographic on one main idea so you don’t overwhelm your audience with more information than they need.
- Use minimal text. Infographics are meant to be, well … graphic. It’s right there in the name. Keep your sentences short and rely on bullet points or brief phrases whenever possible. If you’re writing in paragraphs, you’re writing too long.
- Keep things on brand. While infographics certainly afford you some artistic license, consistency matters. Don’t stray too far from your firm’s established style guide.
- Use the right visuals for the job. The visuals you choose should support the data you’re presenting. For example, icons can help you represent different concepts, line graphs are useful for showing trends and pie charts help you communicate percentages of a whole.
- Ensure accuracy above all. Financial information needs to be correct, up-to-date and compliant with the marketing rule set forth by the SEC. Be sure you’re regularly reviewing and updating your infographics as necessary to ensure compliance.
Ready to Get Started?
Infographics work well for nearly every industry, but in finance, they can really do some heavy lifting. If you want to educate and engage with existing clients and leads, you can’t beat the power of a solid infographic!
Do you need some help getting started? Mischa Communications has our graphic design team on standby. Let’s make a plan!