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July 27, 2017 (Updated: March 2, 2020)
There are multiple infographic options for marketers to choose from for engaging audiences. Some infographics are meant to educate audiences while others entertain. Quizzes typically serve the latter purpose. While many quizzes offer an educational element, they’re often shared because they’re fun, creative, and engaging.
While quiz infographics are fun, they’re not always easy to create. Keep reading to learn how you can build infographics around quizzes and why this content type is useful.
Image via Flickr by bjornmeansbear
Quiz infographics are just one of many infographic types. They are typically one vertical image that asks a series of questions leading to a result. Participants follow a path from one question to another until they reach their answer. These graphics are typically more shareable and easier to see than traditional quizzes, which require special widgets and calculate the answers at the end.
Quizzes — both the dynamic and static infographic kinds — are incredibly popular on the internet. Buzzfeed’s most popular quiz “What City Should You Actually Live In?” has more than 20 million views. Even the developers at Buzzfeed admit there aren’t any particular psychological methods for assembling quiz results, as they’re mostly based on questions made up by the creator. If you need to boost engagement without breaking your design budget, consider finding a few infographic quiz templates and developing a quiz on your own.
Many people wonder why their news feeds are constantly flooded with Harry Potter quizzes or why quiz infographics go viral so quickly over other images. The answer is quite easy: There are three main reasons online quiz infographics are so popular.
Infographic quizzes are effective because they cater to the reader’s sense of ego and identity. Everyone wants to think they’re unique and ideally better than everyone else. Instead of painting with a broad brush, quizzes provide a form of content that is specific to that person’s self, community, and company.
Another reason quizzes generate a high click-through and engagement rate is the mental break they allow throughout the day. Instead of reading through other articles or focusing on work, quizzes allow readers a brief respite to play a game and relax. Their brains aren’t focused on serious topics when they’re trying to learn what kind of pizza toppings they are.
Quizzes are at their best when they have mass appeal. Everyone needs to live somewhere, which is why Buzzfeed’s “Which City Should You Live In” is so popular. In an article for Forbes, Jordan Shapiro highlighted a few of the most popular quizzes on the web:
Most people desire to kiss other human beings, many millennials use the internet, and the vast majority of Americans eat snacks at some point during their weeks. Quizzes often go viral when they appeal to large target audiences, whether you’re trying to reach everyone in your geographical area or everyone in your industry.
While quiz infographics are popular, designers still have to be careful to create something that appeals to their audiences. The next time you decide to create a quiz infographic with the goal of increasing engagement, keep these tips in mind.
Almost 80 percent of the top quizzes on the internet are personality based and are specifically focused on personality traits. People love trying to figure out which Hogwarts House they are, which animal they’re most like, and which career they should have. As long as you tie your quiz back to the person reading the content, you can get a reaction.
For example, a B2B software company that sells a time management tool could create a quiz called “What Kind of Manager Are You?” ranging from managers who track every single minute to managers who give employees too much freedom.
You really only need four or five questions to make a point, because any more could limit your audience’s attention. Along with keeping questions short, make sure your audience is able to follow the flow of the quiz to the end. Drawing convoluted lines or failing to choose a color that contrasts with your background could confuse readers and make them bounce.
If you’re unsure about the flow of your quiz, consider testing it. You can either do this with a few volunteers in the office to get immediate feedback, or you can use eye-tracking software to see how people approach the image.
If you’re an accounting firm, then it’s unlikely that quizzes about pizza toppings or dog breeds will appeal to your audience. Try to keep your infographics relevant to your brand with a probable connection to your audience. For example, you could tweak one of these ideas and create an infographic titled, “What Do Your Favorite Pizza Toppings Say About Your Investing Style,” to touch on investment options for cautious investors (just cheese) and risk-taking clients (extra pineapple).
Before you post your infographic, make sure you set goals for the type of results you want from the design. Without these goals, you can’t track whether your content achieved its desired viral status and provided the ROI you need. Here are the top metrics to track:
Infographic quizzes are great for attracting attention and bringing people to your website. Once visitors are there, your amazing content needs to keep them on your page and make them return. With the right mixture of viral entertainment and useful information, you can grow your site traffic and your overall business.