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Whether you’re a marketer looking to make your content more engaging, or a manager looking to communicate more effectively with your team, infographics can be a handy visual tool. Show
But if you’re new to designing infographics, you might not be sure how to visualize your information effectively. That’s where this guide can help you. CREATE AN INFOGRAPHIC FOR FREE How do you pick the best infographic style for your information?Short answer: it depends on the goal of your infographic and type of information you’re visualizing. We have categorized the infographics in the Venngage templates library into nine different types of infographics. 9 of the most popular types of infographics are:
This guide will explain what the 9 types of infographics are, and what the best infographic to use is depending on your information. TRY VENNGAGE Confused about what an infographic is and why you’d want to use one? Our guide to What is an Infographic? is the best place to start. Now, let’s dive into each type of infographic in more detail. 1. Statistical infographic templatesIf you want to visualize survey results, present data from multiple sources, or backup an argument with relevant data, then a statistical infographic is the best infographic to do that. A statistical infographic puts the focus on your data. The layout and visuals will help you tell the story behind your data. Related: How to Best Communicate Raw Numbers in Infographics Your storytelling devices can include charts, icons, images and eye-catching fonts. For example, this infographic uses an icon to illustrate each statistic: USE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE And this statistical infographic template uses a combination of bold fonts and colorful icons to draw attention to each statistic: CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Another example of a statistical infographic that visualizes data is from this local SEO study report: Related: Infographics: Your Local SEO Strategy for Backlinks [Case Study] Meanwhile, this statistical infographic template takes a more varied approach. The design combines pie charts, icons, and a timeline: CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE If you have a few key statistics that you want to emphasize, you can also opt for a more unconventional design. A bubble or cloud layout will can help each statistic stand out while also creating a hierarchy of information. Simply put your most important statistic in the largest bubble, then decrease the bubbles in size: USE THIS TEMPLATE Learn more about some other types of statistical infographics:
Best practices for creating a statistical infographic:
Want more statistical infographic templates and design tips? Read our guide to creating statistical infographics. SAVE MY SPOT 2. Informational infographic templatesAn informational infographic template is the best infographic for clearly communicating a new or specialized concept, or to give an overview of a topic. Typically, an informational infographic is divided into sections with descriptive headers. Numbering each section will help your infographic design flow. Plus, we’ve found that people tend to like infographics with numbers in the title. This informational infographic template is one of our most popular by far. It keeps the information brief with five points. Descriptive headers and illustrative icons help communicate each point clearly: MAKE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE But you don’t have to follow a chronological order. If you have a collection of tips or facts that have no order, then you could opt for a circular layout: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE CREATE AN INFOGRAPHIC Use design tricks like switching up color and direction to keep people engaged with your infographic. For example, this informational infographic template alternates between three different background colors for each section: CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Adding decorative borders around each section can also add a bit of flair to an otherwise simple design. For example, this infographic template strikes a balance between decorative and functional: USE THIS TEMPLATE Best practices for designing informational infographics:
Learn more about how to summarize content, such as a blog post or report, and present it visually as an infographic. 3. Timeline infographic templatesTimeline infographics are the best type of infographic for visualizing the history of something, highlighting important dates, or giving an overview of events (for example, a project timeline). Because humans tend to make sense of time spatially, a visual like a timeline infographic can help create a clearer picture of a timeframe. Visuals aids like lines, icons, photos, and labels all help to highlight and explain points in time. For example, this simple timeline template emphasizes each year using a larger font. Each point in time is illustrated using a colorful icon: CREATE THIS TIMELINE TEMPLATE While icons of the same style represent different events in this timeline infographic: CREATE A TIMELINE A visual trick to show time progression is to use a color gradient. Take a look at how the progression of color in this timeline template helps create the impression of movement from past to present. The darker color on the left draws the eye to the beginning of the timeline: USE THIS TEMPLATE Alternating between different colors for each point in time can also help draw the reader’s eyes down along the timeline: USE THIS TEMPLATE Timeline infographic design best practices:
Looking for more timeline templates, examples and design tips? Read our guide to creating timeline infographics and our post with 20 timeline template examples. 4. Process infographic templatesWhile a timeline infographic will highlight points in time, a process infographic is the best infographic for providing a summary or overview of the steps in a process. Process infographics will allow you to simplify and clarify each step. Most process infographics follow a straightforward top-to-bottom or left-to-right flow. Numbering the steps will make your process easy to follow. For example, this process infographic template uses a different color for the headers of each step. Notice how the colors of numbered icons on the right side of the infographic correspond with the headers. USE THIS PROCESS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE To help your information flow, use directional cues like arrows, lines and other shapes that point the eyes in a certain direction. For example, this process infographic template uses arrows to visualize the order of each step. This simple process summary is perfect for including in a presentation or video: USE THIS TEMPLATE If you have many steps to fit into one process infographic, try using a “snake” layout. Basically, your steps will wind back and forth across the page in an S-shape. This will help you save space: USE THIS PROCESS TEMPLATE Best practices for creating a process infographic:
Want more process infographic templates and process visualization tips? Check out our guide to creating process infographics and our recommended step infographics, circle infographics and roadmap infographics you can customize immediately. 5. Geographic infographic templatesDo you want to visualize location-based data, demographic data or large quantities of data? In those cases, a geographic infographic is your best bet. Geographic infographics use map charts as the focus visual. Different types of map charts work better for different types of data. For example, this geographic infographic template uses a heat map to show regions hierarchically: USE THIS TEMPLATE But if you want to simply point out locations on a map, use icons and brief labels: USE THIS TEMPLATE Geographic infographic templates can also be used to compare data by region or demographic. You can do this by placing several maps side by side. For example, this geographic infographic template uses maps of different countries to help compare a breakdown of the population of America by race: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE Geographic infographic design best practices:
Want more geographic infographic templates, examples and design tips? We’ve got a map infographic design guide. 6. Comparison infographic templatesA lot of people have trouble picking between multiple options. Whether you want to compare options in an unbiased way, or you want to make one option seem better, a comparison infographic is the best infographic to do that. Typically, comparison infographic are split down the middle vertically or horizontally, with one option on each side. For example, this comparison infographic template offers an unbiased comparison of two phones. The phone specs are listed down the middle of the infographic, making it easy to compare both options: USE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Use contrasting colors to set two options apart. You can also use a brighter, more eye-catching color to emphasize the option you want readers to pick. This comparison infographic template uses contrasting colors to emphasize the difference between both options: USE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE If you want to compare more than two things, then simply dividing your infographic in half won’t work. Instead, you can divide your infographic into multiple columns. CREATE THIS TEMPLATE Best practices for creating a comparison infographic template:
For over 20 comparison infographic templates and design tips, read our comparison infographic design guide. 7. Hierarchical infographic templatesA hierarchical infographic can organize information from greatest to least. One famous example of this is the pyramid visualizing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Humanity’s most important needs are at the base of the pyramid, ascending to humanity’s least important needs in the smallest segment at the top. You can use a similar pyramid chart for a wide variety of hierarchical information. For example, this hierarchical infographic template depicts the most effective learning methods, with the highest retention method at the base: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE To visualize a chain of command, or to show how something is broken down into parts, use an organization flow chart. For example, this hierarchical infographic template uses two organizational flow charts to show the chain of command at a company: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE Click the template above to enter our online organizational chart maker tool. Edit the template to your liking—no design experience needed. 8. List infographic templatesIf you want to share a collection of tips, or a list of resources, or a list of examples, then why not create…a list infographic! List infographic templates are generally straightforward—the goal is to make them more eye-catching than a basic list. Visuals like icons can replace bullet points, and creative fonts and colors can make each item stand out. Numbering the points in your list will help your information flow. This list infographic template uses different colored circle icons to help each number pop from the page: CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Just because your content is a list, doesn’t mean you have to follow the basic top-to-bottom layout. For example, this list infographic follows no particular order. Instead, the points circle around the main topic, with different background colors to make each point stand out: USE THIS TEMPLATE Look for creative ways to lay out the points in your list. Play with your audience’s expectations and include eye-catching design elements to give their eyes a break. For example, this list infographic template uses an S-shape layout to keep your eyes moving back and forth across the page. The brightly colored icons contrast with the blue background, making the design exciting: CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Best practices for creating a list infographic:
9. Infographic resume templatesWith the current job market being so saturated, job seekers need to find creative ways to set themselves apart. That’s why infographic resumes have gained a lot of popularity in recent years. Infographic resumes won’t be able to entirely replace a traditional resume in most cases. But they’re a great visual document to bring to an interview, to publish on your portfolio site, or to include in an email application. For example, this infographic resume template has a muted, minimal color scheme. Simple icons and a sidebar add some subtle embellishments to the design: CREATE THIS RESUME TEMPLATE Design a resume header that reflects your skills and experience. For example, this infographic resume template uses a simple mind map with illustrative icons to visualize the job candidate’s experience: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE Related: 20+ Best Resume Fonts For Free in 2021 Give your infographic resume a decorative border that reflects your personality or personal brand. For example, the leafy border gives this infographic resume template a calming, friendly feel. Perfect for a customer service advisor: CREATE THIS RESUME TEMPLATE Infographic resume design best practices:
Looking for a more in-depth guide to creating an infographic resume? Click here. Or check out our roundup of 20+ infographic resume templates. BONUS: Infographic chartsOnce you’ve picked a layout for your infographic, the next step will be to figure out how to visualize your data using charts. Depending on your data and the goal of your infographic, you may want to change a pre-existing chart in a template to something better fitting. At Venngage, we use the ICCOR method to pick the best charts. The types of charts you choose should depend on the goal of your chart. ICCOR stands for:
This infographic summarizes how to pick the right chart depending on your goals: CREATE THIS TEMPLATE What are the best infographics for marketers?Marketers use infographics to repurpose their text content into engaging visuals. For example, marketers can use information infographics to summarize key points from a blog post: In fact, that’s exactly how Lease Ref used Venngage to increase their blog traffic and online visibility. They used infographics to improve audience engagement, and creative blog headers to drive clicks to their posts—without design experience! Want to learn how they did it? Check out the Lease Ref Case Study. SEE THE CASE STUDYRelated: 10+ Case Study Infographic Templates That Convert Content can also be repurposed into social media infographics, like instagraphics: TRY THIS TEMPLATE (By the way, you can read this blog post about common symbols and meaning here.) Marketing consultants can also use infographics to explain processes to their clients. For example, this marketing infographic walks readers through how to increase landing page conversions: TRY THIS TEMPLATE For more marketing infographic examples, check out our guide here. What are the best infographics for teachers?Infographics are the perfect tool for visualizing information in the classroom. They can make boring and technical information fun! Teachers can create informational infographic posters to hang up around their classroom: TRY THIS TEMPLATE Teachers can also create infographic lesson plans to share with their teachers, or post online: TRY THIS TEMPLATE Many teachers also have their students create infographics. Data visualization is a useful skill that can be applied to many types of careers. Learn more about how to use infographics in the classroom in this guide. What are the best infographics for Human Resources?Human Resources specialists need to communicate a lot of dry information to teams…and have them pay attention. HR infographics can make information more digestible and attention-grabbing. For example, HR teams can use infographics to communicate processes to management: TRY THIS TEMPLATE HR team members can also create an infographic company FAQ sheet to share on their site & company social media profiles: TRY THIS TEMPLATE HR specialists looking to grow their thought leadership can also share statistical infographics and list infographics sharing HR trends: TRY THIS TEMPLATE What are the best infographics for real estate agents?Real estate agents know that a big part of their job is communicating processes to clients. A process infographic can help alleviate some of the stress and mystery around the property-buying process. TRY THIS TEMPLATE Statistical infographics are also perfect for sharing real estate trends on your social media channels, to grow thought leadership: TRY THIS TEMPLATE For more real estate infographic examples, read our guide here. What are the best infographics for nonprofits?Infographics can be a powerful storytelling tool for nonprofits. A statistics infographic can make numbers more concrete. TRY THIS TEMPLATE An infographic can also make complex problems seem more approachable and solvable. Organizations can share their campaigns in a visual, easy-to-understand format. Marketing collateral like infographics can be instrumental increasing exposure and attracting donors. They also make compelling visuals for your nonprofit website. TRY THIS TEMPLATE TRY THIS TEMPLATE With these nine essential types of infographics, you will be equipped to visualize most types of information. Ready to start designing an infographic? This short video will show you how to make an infographic in five steps: What is a special type of search tool that compiles the search results from multiple search engines into a single search results list?A metasearch engine (or search aggregator) is an online information retrieval tool that uses the data of a web search engine to produce its own results. Metasearch engines take input from a user and immediately query search engines for results. Sufficient data is gathered, ranked, and presented to the users.
Are descriptive keywords coded into a web page's HTML that are readable by a Web crawler?Descriptive keywords coded into the Web page's HTML that are readable by the Web crawler but invisible to the user. A special type of search tool that compiles the search results from multiple search engines into a single search results list.
What is a question that defines the information you seek?A research question is a specific inquiry which the research seeks to provide a response to. It resides at the core of systematic investigation and it helps you to clearly define a path for the research process. A research question is usually the first step in any research project.
When searching for a phrase most search tools allow you to surround the keywords with parentheses?Use parentheses to separate keywords when you are using more than one operator and three or more keywords. (For best results, always enclose OR statements in parentheses.) The NEAR operator allows you to search for terms situated within a specified distance of each other in any order.
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