The New Rules of Marketing

Are You Using Infographics to Benefit Your Business?

Infographics have taken the internet by storm. In our fast paced world it seems that we are more and more inclined to process data visually than through the written word. I secretly believe that the constant information bombardment and social media have trained us all to have a limited attention span.

So why use infographics to benefit your business?

There are lots of wonderful reasons why you should consider using infographics in your business. Here are some:

• They are easily scannable and visually impactful, both aspects that match up with today’s web user
• They allow you to present facts easily and in an organized manner
• They lend authority to your expertise on the given subject
• One of the best advantages of using infographics is that they can go viral, which can often bring about large traffic spikes and search engine benefits
• As an image, they are easily shared, and can make the rounds at many image sharing sites (as outlined by social media expert Dan Zarrella.
• Images get more shares and likes on Facebook than every other post type—even video)

 Here’s a fantastic example of how one online marketer is employing infographics to build his business.

Neuroscience explains why infographics are such a great marketing tool: according to research from 3M (maker of Post-its, among other things), 90% of data transmitted to the brain is visual, and visuals are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text! So some smart person somewhere invented infographics (probably Al Gore :)) to help us tell our stories. Now, smart businesses are using these visually pleasing, data-rich illustrations to educate and engage new customers.

Want to produce your own infographics?

If you want to make your own infographics, there are sites and tools that allow you to jump in and prepare breathtaking infographics. At the basic level you can create them in PowerPoint, which isn't as tough as you may think. If you’re searching for bit more advanced or polished option, you should look into a tool like Visual.ly, where you can customize existing templates to your needs, or possibly make use of a service like PiktoChart or Infogram.

What if you haven’t a design gene in you?

Simply outsource them. Often times we don’t have time, skills or patience to get the job done, particularly if you’ve never really opened Photoshop before. Not to worry, as there are top-notch designers willing to create your infographics for you,and for a reasonable fee. A few of these places include 99Designs, Elance, Odesk, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. Make sure to ask for samples of their work, set clear boundaries and expectations, and communicate clearly your vision, so there aren't any surprises come delivery time!