Information + Graphics = Infographics?

When I saw the word infographic on my strategic communications writing syllabus last semester, I was kind of dumbfounded at first. Info what? I immediately polled my friends and family to see if we were in the same uninformed boat. I soon realized that we all knew what an infographic looked like, we just didn’t know that these pictures, numbers, and words woven together were called infographics.

You can make an infographic out of anything. Let’s start with a simple one. How about famous movie quotes?

Infographics are a great way to share statistics and numerical values.

With a little precision, more complex statistics can also be displayed through various charts and graphs.

There is a method to the madness when visually representing information in an infographic. Just because you put graphics and information together on one page doesn’t mean you’ve created a vehicle that relays its content effectively.

So how do you relay this information to your audience successfully? How many times have you looked at an infographic that seems to have no beginning or end? Your eyes roam around the page looking for something, anything, to catch your attention and show you where to begin. This brings to mind the law of thirds in photography. What can you do to draw the eye of your audience? Visualization starts here.

The Law of Thirds: Example #1

Example #2

Example #3

Using infographics for content marketing has been around for a few years now, but some of us are still catching up . If we start with what draws the eye, we can move on to find the most effective way to organize and structure the infographic that’s right for you.

Lists are a great way to organize information, while giving the reader a path to follow. This was my first attempt at an infographic for my parents’ business, Indiana Caverns.

Using a comparison layout is also an effective way to construct infographics.

Why is it more fun to read about pandas when the words are shaped like an actual panda? This is called a typography infographic.

Flow charts help engage your audience. They allow the viewer to choose their own path and come to their own conclusion. It’s like a choose your own adventure book– just a bit shorter.

These are only a few ideas to get you brainstorming for your next infographic project. The possibilities are literally endless! For more resources on infographic layouts:

• http://www.orphicpixel.com/10-types-of-infographics-to-perfectly-visualize-money-matters/
• http://www.bitrebels.com/design/8-types-of-infographics-use-when/
• http://neomam.com/infographics/the-8-types-of-infographic/

Infographics are a medium, so amazing content makes an amazing infographic. Emotional appeal, concrete visuals, credible data points, and in the end, amazing art work, all go into an excellent infographic. – Dave Snyder

Take Care,

Amanda

The Basics of Strategic Planning with Social Media

Because social media and new collaborative technologies are constantly changing the way we communicate, we’re all students learning together, whether you’re just beginning in PR or you’ve been practicing for many years. –Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communications

Strategic planning is the backbone of social media for businesses. As a student who is obviously still learning, I find Ms. Breakenridge’s statement to be a comfort. When beginning the process of deciding what the strategic social media plan should be for a company, I always feel a little overwhelmed. Where should I begin? It’s not as daunting as it seems.

I included the infographic, 9 step plan for a Simple & Successful Pinterest Social Media Strategy, because it is an uncomplicated breakdown of where your team should begin the brainstorming process. Obviously this infographic is specifically dealing with Pinterest, but you can follow similar guidelines with any social media platform. Many companies get stuck in the trial phase of social media when they launch headfirst into this world without help. They may know it’s important to create a presence in today’s digital world, but not be quite savvy enough to execute their ideas alone. Without campaigns implemented by a professional, many social media accounts are left to languish and eventually die a digital death.

So let’s talk about specifics, beginning with a SWOT analysis where the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the business are directly in the spotlight. Identifying these internal and external sectors of the organization will help you find some positives about the company you are working with, along with information regarding their competition. For example, an internal weakness of your client may be that their budget is already tied up in traditional media outlets. On the other hand, an external opportunity may be that the company’s customer base is broadening to a younger generation that is more accustomed to social media.

Here are a few more steps to completing your strategic planning session that I will briefly go over:

• Set objectives and budgets for your plan.
• Find your target audience or audiences and find out how they participate in social media communities.
• Decide on your social media mix or your platforms.
• Select a creative message strategy.
• Create a timeline for your campaign.
• Follow through with your plan and analyze the outcomes.

Don’t forget the importance of creating a social media policy for your client’s employees. This will explain the company’s polices regarding social media for employees at home and in the office, so to speak.

I hope this overview will help you stay on task when starting a social media campaign without getting overwhelmed.

Thanks for Reading,

Amanda