An Inside Look into Technology Infographics
In this article…
- Industries That Benefit From Technology Infographics
- Infographics in the Technology Industry
- Technology Infographic Design
- Choosing Technology Infographic Images
- Designing Technology Infographic Visual Graphs
- Gathering Technology Data
- Edit and Review
- Market your Technology Infographic
- The Future of Technology Infographics
- Viral Marketing
Sharing technological data and concepts can be especially difficult to do in a way that is engaging to an audience. Technology infographics is a visual marketing tool used to display technological information to an audience in a way that is both interesting and easy to read.
Industries That Benefit From Technology Infographics
Image via Flickr by Nguyen Vu Hung
Technology infographics are useful in any industry that works with a lot of research data and statistics. Just a few of the industries that could benefit from the use of technology infographics include app developers, web designers, banking institutions, information technology, medical research, financial services, healthcare, and logistics departments.
The one component that each of these industries has in common is the need to display large amounts of data in order to market a product or to gain authority in their industry. Infographics can achieve this purpose by displaying the information in a way that highlights the work of the researchers, yet is also easily understandable by the reader. The infographic can also be used in a way that makes analytical information engaging. These industries can take advantage of technology infographics to increase their brand credibility, engage potential consumers, and convert readers to a sale.
Infographics in the Technology Industry
Unless you are involved daily in the tech industry, you might find some of the terms to be confusing or overwhelming. Because infographics are highly visual, they are a great way to highlight the most important information in a way that the average reader can easily understand. The technology infographic design sets the tone and the reader process by directing them to the most important statistics and images. From there, the infographic directs the reader through a process, pulling together the most important information along the way.
Technology infographics are great at educating the general population too. About 65% of humans process information in a visual manner. Because infographics are primarily visual and are designed with optimal visual aesthetics in mind, they tend to appeal to a larger group of people. Additionally, displaying analytical data in a visual way is a great way to display statistics in a way that is memorable. The purpose of the infographic is to educate and eventually convert the reader into a customer.
Technology Infographic Design
Designing any type of infographic requires careful attention to detail, relevant content, and a good selection of supportive images. Displaying technological information in a visual infographic can be even more challenging. The technology infographic requires a careful balance of images, text, and negative space. Although hiring a professional graphic designer is not necessary to create a successful technology infographic, it is important to pay attention to the design ratios.
Most infographics are displayed in a vertical manner, but this component is not as important to the design as the images and text to negative space ratio. Aim to create a completed product that is visually engaging but not overwhelming. The goal is to encourage an interactive process and navigate the reader from a starting point or topic introduction to an endpoint. An infographic design with too little of negative space or too much text can lose the reader along the way.
Using a contrasting color scheme can help with the visual flow of the infographic. Use alternating colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. If you combine colors that are too similar in the same sections, you can confuse the reader and it will be difficult to make important data points stand out. It is best to stick with a maximum of two to three font types throughout the entire technology infographic.
Additionally, keep page limitations in mind during the design process. Text and images might fit nicely within the infographic on your screen, but users on other devices might see an image with cut off corners or improperly scaled text. As a general rule of thumb, keep at least a 20-pixel margin around the exterior of the entire infographic.
Choosing Technology Infographic Images
The specific images used in a technology infographic are an important part of the design process. Because technology industries often use numerical data, choosing images that appeal to the visual side of the reader can reach a wider audience. There are many sites on the internet that you can download free or low-cost stock images from. A few of these sites are Pexels, Flickr, Pixabay, and iStock.
When choosing images, make sure you select ones that are of high resolution and that are relevant to the technical data you are sharing. It is also important to credit the image source when required. Just as you would credit a study that you are using as a source, it is necessary to credit any images used in marketing materials.
Always aim for a responsive design when creating a technology infographic. The concept of responsive design is often used in web design, but the same visual advantages also apply when creating a technology infographic. The idea behind responsive design is to create a product that is compatible with all devices. While many infographics are viewed on the internet, you cannot dictate the specific device that your reader will use. Creating an infographic with responsive design in mind will cater to the majority of internet users.
Market research can also help you better target which devices your intended audience uses most often. If your research concludes that many of your users are accessing your sites via a mobile device then you can optimize for mobile use. If your target market is primarily on a desktop, you will create a design that is best used there. You will also want to consider where you will primarily market your completed technology infographic. If you find that you have audiences in multiple settings, it is possible to create separate versions of your technology infographic.
Designing Technology Infographic Visual Graphs
Graphs are a great way to visually display data when creating technology infographics. There are many different types of infographic graphs you can choose from to display data. The specific one that you choose will likely depend on the type of data that you are sharing with the reader. When creating a graph, the goal is to design the graph so that it speaks for itself.
While you can add text and headers that display interesting information, the reader should be able to get this information themselves from the graph. Avoid using graphs that are too busy or that are not relevant to the purpose of the technology infographic.
Comparison charts use highlighted date to compare multiple concepts or theories. Comparison charts are ideal for two or three topics. Distribution graphs are especially useful in the technology industries. Correlation and causation are often considered in technology fields and distribution graphs can display multiple values that evaluate these facts. Using line histograms in a distribution graph also gives you the ability to include large amounts of individual data.
Scatter plots are another useful graph type commonly used in the tech industries. Scatter plots create a visual image comparing two theories and their relation to one another. These data plots can be displayed with either scattered points or by using colorful bubble charts.
Other useful infographic types for displaying technology information include top list charts, line charts, pie charts, and column charts. Consider the type of information that you want to display and then choose a display chart that best highlights this data without losing sight of the overall design. You can also play around with different charts and see which one fits well within your technology infographic. You can create infographic charts using free online programs including Canva, Piktochart, PowerPoint, and Infogram.
Gathering Technology Data
Technology is an ever-changing industry making it difficult to ensure your technology infographic includes the latest and most accurate data. If your technology infographic includes statistics from external sources, make sure the sources used are trusted and credible. You can pull technology data for your infographics from sites like The Verge, Tech Crunch, and Tech News. Be sure to cite the source of the data somewhere in your infographic. It is also important to check the accuracy and date of previously published studies.
Some technology companies also create infographics to display their own research results. If you are pulling data from your own research, it is important to include your research process as well as links to where the readers can find additional information.
Edit and Review
One of the last steps of the technology infographic design process is editing and reviewing. Because there is no universal resolution requirement across all infographics, it is best to view the completed product in different browsers. In addition to editing the technology infographic for grammar and sentence structure, you will also need to edit it for accuracy. Technology infographics often include a lot of data, and it can be easy to overlook minor research errors. Hiring an editor can help you identify any content errors as well as update sources of information.
Market your Technology Infographic
Technology infographics can be marketed in a few different methods. They are a great way to display large quantities of information in business presentations. Business meetings and sales meetings are often time-sensitive and the infographic can highlight the most important parts of the proposal. Technology infographics are a great way to quickly display business plans to decision makers without overwhelming them with irrelevant information.
Technology infographics can also be used to increase brand awareness and to establish an authoritative role within a specific industry. A great way to do this is by sharing the infographic with other industry professionals that are likely to find it relevant and useful. You can swap links with other businesses by guest blogging and driving traffic back to your site. Not only will this assist with SEO, but it will also increase the trustworthiness and awareness of your website.
Finally, you can take advantage of social media platforms to market your infographic. Some technology professionals remain hesitant of social media. However, with the right type of marketing, technology infographics can do well on social media platforms. LinkedIn is one platform that is suitable for technology businesses.
The Future of Technology Infographics
Because infographics have so much potential and value for technology businesses, marketing professionals continue to come up with new ways to take them into the next era of technology. The technology industry has an advantage over other industries because they are already familiar with the latest technological abilities. A great example of how the technology industry is influencing content marketing and infographics is with animated technology.
Animated technology infographics allow readers to interact with them in a way that they cannot do with other forms of marketing. Animated infographics are similar to the traditional infographic except that they are displayed in a scrolling image format. Sometimes, the information is further highlighted with audio effects. The purpose of the animated technology is similar to that of an infographic, except that the designer or presenter has even more control over the engagement of the user experience.
Viral Marketing
Viral marketing is a marketing attempt at encouraging readers to share your technology infographic. While you cannot guarantee that a well-designed infographic will go viral, you can ensure that it has high-quality images, a relevant concept, and an overall design that is visually appealing. These factors often lead to higher share rates and to greater attention on the internet.
You can further improve your chances of sharable technology content with a design that is search engine optimized (SEO), has a strong social media marketing strategy, and a digital marketing plan to put it in front of those that are most likely to resonate with the topic. Provide your readers with information that is useful to their industry and you are likely to notice an increase in shares and, ultimately, conversions.
Technology infographics are a useful marketing tool for taking highly-analytical data and presenting it in a way that is engaging, relevant, and educational. These tips will help you design the ideal technology-based infographic for your business needs.
CopyPress writer
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