How to Create an Infographic: The Definitive Guide

Graphics and visual content are essential if you want your content to go viral online. Infographics are one of those visual resources that can help you create more engaging content, because they summarize information in a simple, visual way and are very easy to share.

We all know that for something to grab our attention, it has to be eye-catching or at least somewhat pleasing to look at.

You’ve probably seen thousands of them on blogs, in advertising campaigns or in newsletters… However:

do you really know what an infographic is and how to make an attractive one that goes viral on social media?

If design isn’t your thing, don’t worry!

In this article I’ll help you get better at it by explaining:

• What an infographic is and what its benefits are
• The types that exist depending on how they are used
• Design software and online tools
• How to promote them to get the most out of them

If you want to start including this visual resource in your content, keep reading and clear up all your doubts with this complete guide to creating infographics from scratch with free or professional tools.

Do you know what an infographic is, what its elements are and how it benefits your brand?

The first thing I want to make clear is what an infographic is, and what it isn’t, because every day we see loads of visual content linked to different brands, but what exactly are they?

As well as being useful as a communication tool, they are especially recommended when the subject is too heavy and hard to understand and a visual representation would help.

Essential branding elements

Depending on the subject, infographics come in many types: informative, advertising, educational, etc.

However, they should all share the same essence, because design and style are very personal and usually tied to individual taste, and they must be in line with the brand behind the content.

Although the design may add its own nuances and the content is geared towards the goal you have set, these visual resources usually share certain branding elements that you should always include in your designs:

• Logo or signature: it should be easy to recognize the brand sharing the information
• Typography: if the brand uses a specific typeface, it makes sense to use it here too (or at least one from the same font family)
• Images: whether you use photos, icons or illustrations, they should match the brand’s style
• Colors: another element that can link visual content to a brand is the use of its corporate colors
• Tone: is the company usually friendly or formal? The infographic should use the same tone of voice as the rest of the brand’s content

You can also include many other resources, such as icons, illustrations, bullet points, diagrams or all kinds of decorative elements.

How many elements you add will always depend on the author’s taste, but I’ll always recommend not overdoing it: moderation is a virtue!

The Benefits of Infographics for Corporate Image and Personal Branding

If you put work into the design and content of this visual resource, you can enjoy a great many benefits.

One of the most valued is how easily they go viral, because they are easy to share and let you reach more people with relative ease.

Besides virality, knowing how to make an infographic online can bring your brand many benefits, such as:

• Staying in the user’s memory longer than text does
• Boosting your corporate image or personal brand
• Adding value for users
• Increasing the time users spend on a website
• Conveying large amounts of information in a small space
• Making complex topics accessible to users
• Strengthening the brand’s visual style

And don’t forget that thanks to the backlinks you’ll earn as your content goes viral, your SEO will also benefit indirectly.

Types of infographics by use

When you create content, you can do it with a one-way goal, or with the aim of interacting with users and creating a two-way channel.

Depending on your goal and how you are going to use them, you can choose between two types: static and interactive.

Shall we look at the pros and cons of each?

Static infographics

Static infographics are the most common, because they are easier to create and more viral.

This type of content is the most common on blogs, newsletters and social media.

⇒ Advantages

If you go for the simpler option, these are the advantages you’ll find:

• Design: you design a single image that summarizes all the content, so it is easier to work with
• Distribution: as they are single files, they can easily be attached to social media posts or emails
• Viewing: every browser and device can open an image, so there won’t be any compatibility problems

⇒ Disadvantages

On the other hand, this type of file has its limitations, so you’ll also find some disadvantages:

• Limited size: although you can make the image any size you want, it will always be limited to a single level
• Limited post-editing: once you publish the content, you can’t change the file that reaches users. If you want to make changes, you have to promote it all over again

Interactive infographics

Interactive infographics are less common, although they work very well for presenting extensive or complex information.

Although companies usually create them with the help of a developer (as they require more technical work), depending on the project they can be made with easy design software that anyone can use.

⇒ Advantages

They take more work than static content, and this shows in their advantages:

• Unlimited size: since you can present the information on several levels, you have all the space you want to work with, without losing sight of the goal of summarizing the information and keeping it easy to navigate
• Responsive viewing: they are apps or websites, so they can have a responsive design
• Unlimited post-editing: what goes viral in this case is the URL where the infographic is hosted, so you can update the information whenever you need to

⇒ Disadvantages

As they are not a file that can easily go viral, they also have some disadvantages:

• Distribution: what gets shared is the domain, not the file, so it can be less visual and appealing
• Development: although some software has made them easier to create, they take more time and effort
• Viewing: if you’re not careful, they may not work on some browsers or devices

How to create unforgettable infographics

Getting these visual resources right is very important for them to work and deliver all the benefits mentioned.

Designing from scratch can feel overwhelming. However, if you are clear about the steps to follow and use a good tool, it will be easier than you think.

Steps to create infographics online

When designing them, just as when you create an outline or a summary, you shouldn’t jump straight into the design software.

The design process requires thinking carefully about how to present the information, and weighing up all the options before getting into the look and feel.

These are the steps to create an infographic:

1. Choose the topic

2. Research the sector, other content, etc.

3. Choose the type and style

4. Sketch it on paper

5. Select the tools you’ll use

6. Define the text, title and keywords

7. Create the content

8. Proofread the text

9. Add images, decorative elements, illustrations, etc.

10. Review the final design

11. Create the file, review it and optimize it

Dedicated design tools and software for making an infographic

When you prepare your visual content, don’t stress about the creative side: there are many free tools for creating infographics, and paid ones designed to achieve a very professional finish.

► Dedicated online tools

Luckily, there are hundreds of design tools online, many of them built specifically for designing infographics.

Some of my favorites are:

• Piktochart: designed precisely for creating this type of content. It includes lots of templates and examples, and it’s very easy to use. It has a free version and a more complete Premium version
• Picmonkey: it can be used for all kinds of designs, and although it is a bit more complex, it includes many pre-made designs that make the final finish easier
• Canva: another of the most popular online tools, which can also be used to create other designs. It is very similar to Piktochart in terms of usability

► Professional design software

If you already have some graphic design knowledge and want to create even more customized designs (or create the elements you’ll include yourself), your best bet is design software such as:

• Adobe Illustrator: built for vector design, it works alongside the rest of Adobe’s software. It is complex to use and requires a solid design background
• InkScape: open source, focused on vector design
• Gimp: another open-source program, with lots of options for working on your designs

► Tools for creating interactive infographics

If you choose to create interactive content, the complexity of the project will determine whether you need a developer or can use a dedicated online tool.

Some of the tools available are really intuitive and let you create several levels of navigation (although with limitations).

As a good starting point, I recommend:

• Genial.ly: its strong point is the interactivity of its content. It’s easy to use and includes lots of templates and examples
• Venngage: it includes lots of templates for interactive content: maps, timelines, organizational charts, etc. They can all be combined in the same design

How to promote your infographics online and make them go viral

Once the design work is done, the next step is to promote and share the infographic to reach as many people as possible.

Reaching your target audience takes promotion across different channels, good SEO and, above all, being clear about the goal you’re pursuing.

Channels

You can use different channels to promote an infographic. They are all common in any online marketing strategy.

For example:

• Blog: if your work accompanies a fairly long post, you should include images and visual summaries to make it easier to digest
• Email marketing: if you usually send downloadable content to your followers, infographics can be a much-appreciated resource, but be careful to adapt the size to this channel
• Social media: if you go for static content, you can attach the image to your posts and increase engagement
• Google: by working on the SEO of your visual content, you can also improve your rankings and attract new users from image searches

Formats

To promote your infographics, you also need to think about the final file you are going to work with.

These are the requirements it must meet so it can be shared easily:

• Size: the file shouldn’t be too large. For images, optimize them and save them as jpg, png or gif
• File type: if you use an unusual file format, users (and even Google) may distrust the content
• File name: choose a suitable, appealing name for the final file too. This is essential for ranking images on Google

Before I sign off and wrap up this post, I wanted to share the link to an enjoyable webinar on infographics I took part in a few months ago with my friend Antonio Cambronero, an ace at blogging and digital marketing in general 🙂

Conclusion

Using visual content in marketing strategies is very positive for brands, as users increasingly value being able to interact with them.

I know that designing and creating creative content takes extra effort, but it goes viral more easily and adds value that can set you apart.

We have also seen that content must be consistent with the brand in every format, because it is one more branding element that conveys your corporate image.

Online, you have thousands of resources for creating your own designs, as well as plenty of professionals who can lend you a hand.

So don’t hesitate to create visual content: you’ll see it pay off soon!

Would you like to share your own tips on how to make an infographic online? Which tools do you find most interesting?

A well-designed infographic is one more piece of your branded content strategy.