While creating infographics might require more time and energy than writing a blog post, their impact on your content marketing strategy is undeniable. Their skimmable nature caters to the short attention spans of today’s digital audience, effectively simplifying complex data. Well-crafted infographics are engaging, informative, and can even serve as valuable reference points.

Image © Lunchbreath

However, designing high-quality infographics can be challenging. While a quick, amateur infographic might be tempting, it can harm your brand image. A poorly designed infographic can be detrimental, highlighting the need for quality over speed. To help you elevate your next infographic project, here are five impactful techniques:

1. Utilize Color Palettes Effectively

Understanding color theory may seem daunting, but it plays a crucial role in optimizing conversion rates. Infographics offer various color schemes, such as complementary, analogous, and triadic:

If you’re unsure about which colors to use, experiment with Paletton, a free online tool. It allows you to test different color combinations and provides the hexadecimal codes for easy designer implementation. Strategically using colors not only enhances the visual appeal of your infographic but also communicates your brand message effectively. Each color evokes specific emotions, and leading brands leverage these associations:

Carefully consider your color choices and their alignment with your infographic’s message. A well-chosen color palette is fundamental to a professional infographic.

Case Study: IL Magazine, Francesco Franchi

This exceptional infographic, designed by Francesco Franchi for IL, a prestigious Italian magazine, illustrates the complexity of Italy’s rail system, showcasing the power of color palettes.

Franchi employs a subtle complementary color scheme with muted red and blue hues. This infographic cleverly integrates geographical and population data, resulting in a visually engaging and easy-to-understand representation.

2. Divide Your Infographic into Clear Sections

When an infographic covers a wide array of topics, dividing it into distinct sections helps organize data and guide the reader. This method excels in presenting large volumes of information. By segmenting data points, you ensure clarity without sacrificing valuable information.

Case Study: ‘A Day in the Life of the UPS Fleet,’ UPS

Few subjects are as multifaceted as global logistics, UPS’s area of expertise. Condensing a day in the life of their fleet into an infographic might seem impossible, but this segmented infographic demonstrates its effectiveness.

This infographic encompasses a vast amount of data, such as daily package volume, total employees, daily flights, and tracking requests. While these data points are interconnected, presenting them without segmentation would be overwhelming. This infographic tackles this challenge with four distinct sections, each highlighting intriguing facts about UPS. The analogous color scheme further enhances the visual cohesion.

3. Vary Font Size for Emphasis

Similar to sectioning, varying font sizes within your infographic directs the reader’s attention to key data points. While this technique can segment data points, its primary function is to highlight crucial statistics. Since most people skim infographics before delving deeper, using larger fonts for important information ensures quick and effective communication.

Case Study: ‘International Technology Upgrade Week,’ Skype

Varying font size can make even mundane topics like software upgrade frequency engaging, as demonstrated by VoIP software company Skype:

Along with font size, Skype manipulates font weight to emphasize certain points. The percentage of adults surveyed is less prominent than the key takeaways, allowing readers to quickly grasp the most relevant information.

4. Compare Data Sets for Perspective

While presenting data alone can be effective, directly comparing and contrasting two data sets creates a more compelling narrative. This “versus” approach works exceptionally well in infographics as it allows for quick and easy comparisons, often tapping into people’s confirmation bias. This approach resonates because people often identify with one side of the comparison, especially with brands and popular products.

Case Study: ‘Droid vs. iOS: Battle of the Ops,’ Munch

This infographic by the former “decision engine” Hunch exemplifies this technique:

The comparison between the two mobile operating systems is intriguing, with data points revealing fascinating insights into user behavior.
To view the complete infographic, visit OSX Daily, which has hosted it in its glorious and quirky entirety archived.

5. Utilize Tiles for Diverse Data Points

When dealing with multiple data points without clear categorization, consider using tiles, inspired by Pinterest, for an organized and visually appealing presentation. Tiling allows for individual categorization of each statistic while maintaining a clean and scannable layout. Similar to Pinterest, you can nest further data points within each tile, providing comprehensive information without overwhelming the reader.

Case Study: ‘Very Pinteresting,’ Modea

This infographic about Pinterest by design firm Modea demonstrates the effectiveness of tiled infographics:

Tiles like “Age Demographics,” “Average Time Spent on Site,” and “Brands on Pinterest” showcase the concept of nesting information. This approach softens the infographic’s appearance, enhances readability, and structures data logically. Microsoft also utilizes this technique:

The image tiles make the infographic less data-heavy and reinforce Microsoft’s branding. The color palette, primarily analogous with a touch of red, enhances visual appeal.

Creating Effective Infographics

With these five techniques, you’re well-equipped to elevate your infographic game. Download our free infographic templates to get started. Keep in mind that these templates are basic starting points. The examples showcased were crafted by professional designers. For further guidance on developing compelling infographic concepts, explore our case study on how our infographic gained traction on CNN and drove significant traffic to our site. These techniques can transform your infographics from “good” to “great.” Let your creativity flourish!