When it comes to small business marketing content, your audience has a wide variety of appetites.
Some like the meat and potatoes of a video or blog post. Some want the full five-course menu found in a white paper or eBook. And some just want the bite-sized tapas plate of information, otherwise known as the infographic.
As humans, we process visual information 60,000 times faster than we process text, so it makes sense that infographics satisfy our brains in a way that other types of content can’t. But with everyone and their dog flooding the internet with easy-to-create infographics, it’s important that yours stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Here’s how to make it happen.
Stay on Topic
Your infographic needs to have a focal point, a good flow and a natural progression from start to finish. This isn’t the place for word vomit – it needs to be cohesive.
What is your main topic? If you’re writing about sports stars who have gone on to have a successful acting career, you’re naturally going to want to talk about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But when you veer off-course and start chronicling his friendship with Kevin Hart, you’ve lost the thread … and probably the reader, too.
Use the Right Layout
There are tons of templates out there, many offered for free on graphic design sites like Canva. Use the right one. If you’re doing a side-by-side comparison, you’ll likely use a template with two columns. Using a timeline? It should be linear. A flowchart? It should … well, flow.
People often mistake infographics for “lists, only prettier.” That’s not what you’re aiming for. “Info” is only half of this portmanteau; the other half, of course, is “graphic.” While some do end up being text-only, don’t neglect pictures, lines, bullet points, callout boxes, etc.
Show Your Work
For data-driven content, there is no better medium than an infographic. It’s the perfect way to showcase charts, graphs, percentages and other stats, facts and figures. Instead of requiring your audience to comb through huge walls of text, everything is right there in easy-to-digest bits and pieces.
However, just like with a blog post, it’s important to be a good internet citizen and cite your sources. Some choose to cite in the body of the infographic, but it’s not the prettiest way to do it. Instead, consider putting your source shoutouts in the footer.
Pay Attention to Colors
Colors invoke emotion in people. Want to manufacture a state of urgency or make someone hungry? Red is the way to go. Do you sell beauty products? Try purple. Are you trying to signify income and wealth? Green is your best bet.
Spend a bit of time learning about complementary and contrasting colors, tints and shades and you’re sure to create something that catches anyone’s eye!
Accentuate the Negative (Space, That Is)
Negative space (or white space) means any area where something is not – and you want to have plenty of it.
Too much “stuff” looks crowded and messy. Think before you add an element to your infographic. Is it necessary? If so, could it be scaled down? Could you increase the size of the infographic as a whole to make the negative space stand out more? As important as it is to capture someone’s eye, it’s equally important to give their peepers an occasional break.
Need More Info on Infographics?
In small business marketing, content is king – but you have plenty of different types of content at your disposal. A good infographic can help you get your message across in an entirely different way!
Are you intimidated by infographics? Not to worry! Mischa Communications can create any kind of content. Let us help make your small business superior!