Would you like to utilise infographics within your marketing strategy? Want to learn how to create infographics using PowerPoint or Keynote?
BD Ventures share their tips for success in this infographic.
Here’s a quick summary:
- Choose topic and collect content
- Create and resize a blank presentation
- Wireframe each section using shapes
- Choose a colour and typography palette
- Add in your content, charts and visuals
- Export, optimise and upload
- Go viral with strategic promotion
Check out the infographic for more detail.
Infographics are a powerful content marketing tool that condense complex information into easily digestible visuals. They engage viewers, increase shareability, and are widely used on websites, social media, and blogs. With the right strategy, an infographic can go viral, gaining traction and visibility across platforms. Fortunately, you don’t need expensive design software to create stunning infographics. Both PowerPoint and Keynote are fantastic tools for creating professional-quality graphics, and the best part? They’re user-friendly and accessible.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the 7 essential steps to create a viral infographic using PowerPoint or Keynote. Whether you’re an experienced designer or a complete beginner, these steps will help you create an infographic that grabs attention and encourages sharing.
Choose a Topic and Collect Content
Choosing the right topic and collecting relevant content are two of the most critical steps in creating a successful infographic. The topic you select will determine your infographic’s effectiveness, while the content you collect will drive its message. For small businesses, this stage is even more important, as it lays the foundation for creating an infographic that resonates with your target audience and enhances your brand’s presence.
Here’s a deeper dive into how small businesses can strategically choose a topic and collect content for their infographics:
1.1. Understand Your Audience
Before you pick a topic, it’s crucial to understand your audience’s needs, interests, and pain points. Infographics are most effective when they address something the viewer is genuinely curious about or looking to solve.
Steps to better understand your audience:
- Conduct audience research: Use tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, or customer surveys to gather information on your target audience. What are they searching for? What topics are trending in your industry? What type of content are they engaging with the most?
- Monitor competitors: Look at what your competitors are doing, especially in terms of content that gets the most engagement. Take note of the subjects they cover and the style in which they present the information.
- Use feedback and inquiries: Pay attention to the questions your customers ask most frequently. Are there common problems they face or specific aspects of your products or services that they need clarification on? These can be great sources for infographics.
By aligning your topic with what your audience cares about, you increase the likelihood that your infographic will resonate, engage, and drive traffic.
1.2. Pick a Relevant, Shareable Topic
The topic of your infographic needs to strike the right balance between relevance to your business and shareability. Infographics that are highly shareable often tap into trending topics, provide value, or simplify complex subjects in a way that makes them easy for people to understand and share with their networks.
Choosing the right topic:
- Solve a problem or answer a question: Infographics that provide solutions or answer common questions tend to perform well. For instance, if you’re a small business offering web design services, an infographic explaining how to improve a website’s user experience can be highly valuable. Solve problems in a way that’s easy to understand at a glance.
- Present statistics and data: Data-driven topics are often highly shareable. Infographics based on statistics (e.g., industry trends, consumer behavior insights, or case studies) are excellent because they provide value in a concise and visually engaging format.
- Trend-based topics: If there’s a new trend or buzz around your industry, capitalize on it. For example, if there’s a surge in interest around sustainable practices or a new tool that benefits your audience, use this information to create timely and share-worthy infographics.
- Educational content: Create infographics that teach something useful or interesting, such as how-to guides, step-by-step processes, or industry “cheat sheets.” Small business owners often prefer infographics that give them actionable takeaways or insider knowledge they can apply directly.
Infographics are more likely to be shared when the content is valuable, easy to understand, and immediately actionable for your audience.
1.3. Focus on Data and Facts
Data-driven content often attracts more engagement, as it provides concrete evidence to back up claims or information. Small businesses should focus on collecting accurate, relevant data that supports the infographic’s topic and helps tell a compelling story.
Where to find data:
- Industry reports and studies: Research publications, case studies, and whitepapers from industry leaders can be rich sources of data. Websites like Statista, Pew Research Center, or industry-specific journals often provide free or paid access to comprehensive statistics.
- Surveys and customer feedback: If you have your own customer base, consider conducting surveys or analyzing past customer interactions to gather data specific to your business. Platforms like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms make it easy to collect responses from your audience.
- Government and public databases: Many government websites and public organizations offer free access to data sets on various industries. For example, the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or international bodies like the World Bank offer robust data that can inform infographics.
- Social media insights and analytics: Social media platforms provide valuable data on audience engagement, interests, and behaviors. Use this data to gather insights into what type of content resonates with your followers.
When selecting data, ensure it is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date. Incorporating solid data into your infographics not only boosts their credibility but also increases their shareability because people trust fact-based information.
1.4. Create a Story or Narrative
Infographics are most effective when they tell a clear and compelling story. Rather than just listing facts or statistics, use the collected content to create a narrative that guides the viewer through the information. This will make the content easier to understand and more engaging.
Building a narrative:
- Start with a hook: Start your infographic with an attention-grabbing introduction or question. For example, a statistic or bold statement can pique curiosity and draw viewers in.
- Present the problem or challenge: Once you have the viewer’s attention, present the problem or challenge that your infographic is addressing. This sets the stage for the information that follows.
- Offer solutions or insights: Follow up by offering solutions or insights. This is where the bulk of your infographic’s data and visuals will be presented. Organize the information logically and sequentially so the viewer can follow the narrative.
- End with a call to action (CTA): Conclude your infographic with a strong CTA, encouraging the viewer to take the next step. This could be visiting your website, following your social media channels, or signing up for a newsletter.
Infographics that tell a story tend to be more memorable, as they provide context around the information. This helps your audience relate to the content and increases the chance of them sharing it.
1.5. Keep It Simple and Focused
Infographics should be visually appealing and concise. As you collect content, it’s important to focus on the most important points and avoid overwhelming the viewer with too much information. Small businesses often make the mistake of cramming too much data into an infographic, which can lead to visual clutter and decreased engagement.
How to simplify your content:
- Prioritize key points: Focus on the most relevant data and insights for your audience. You don’t need to cover every aspect of the topic—just the elements that will resonate most.
- Break it down into bite-sized pieces: If your topic includes a lot of information, break it down into smaller, digestible sections. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make the content easier to follow.
- Avoid too much text: Infographics are visual tools, so make sure the text complements the visuals rather than overshadowing them. Use concise language and rely on visuals (charts, icons, illustrations) to communicate the message.
By keeping the content simple and focused, you ensure that your infographic is easy to consume, which increases the chances that people will share it with others.
1.6. Be Authentic and Aligned with Your Brand
Lastly, make sure the topic and content you choose reflect your business’s values, voice, and overall messaging. Infographics are an extension of your brand, so it’s essential to maintain consistency across all your marketing materials.
Aligning with your brand:
- Use your brand’s voice: Whether your brand is professional, fun, or casual, make sure the tone of the infographic aligns with how you communicate with your audience.
- Stay true to your niche: Infographics should reflect the expertise of your business. Choose a topic that you’re knowledgeable about and can speak authoritatively on.
- Incorporate your branding elements: Make your infographic instantly recognizable by using your company colors, logo, and fonts. This will help increase brand awareness and make the infographic feel like a natural extension of your business.
Being authentic and aligned with your brand ensures that your infographic is more than just a promotional tool—it becomes an authentic piece of content that builds trust with your audience.
Conclusion
Choosing the right topic and gathering valuable content are essential steps in creating an infographic that will engage, inform, and ultimately go viral. For small businesses, the key is to focus on your audience’s needs, use data-driven content, and maintain brand authenticity throughout the process. By carefully selecting your topic and curating your content, you set the stage for an impactful and shareable infographic that will boost your business’s visibility and credibility.
Create and Resize a Blank Presentation
When it comes to creating an infographic, the presentation software you choose is your canvas, and it’s crucial to set up that canvas properly. PowerPoint and Keynote are both powerful tools that, when used correctly, can help you create visually striking infographics. However, before diving into the design process, you need to first create and resize your blank presentation to ensure it fits the specific requirements for an effective, shareable infographic.
In this section, we’ll explore why resizing matters, how to create the ideal presentation size, and tips to optimize the blank canvas for your infographic design.
2.1. Why Resizing Matters
The standard slide size in PowerPoint and Keynote is designed for presentations that will be viewed on a screen in a horizontal (landscape) format. However, infographics, particularly those designed for online sharing, work better when they are vertical. Resizing your presentation to a vertical layout ensures that your infographic will have a more intuitive flow, fitting better on social media platforms, blogs, or print materials.
Additionally, resizing your canvas helps you avoid overcrowding your design. A well-resized layout gives you more space to incorporate visuals, data, and text in a clean, readable manner. When you design with the right dimensions, you set yourself up for a more professional and effective end product.
2.2. PowerPoint: How to Resize Your Canvas
Step-by-step instructions to resize your PowerPoint presentation for an infographic:
- Open PowerPoint and create a new presentation:
- Start by opening PowerPoint and creating a blank presentation. You’ll want to remove any default text boxes on the first slide so that you have a completely blank slate.
- Navigate to the Slide Size Settings:
- On the Design tab at the top of the screen, click on Slide Size (usually on the far right of the toolbar). In the drop-down menu, select Custom Slide Size.
- Select Custom Dimensions:
- In the Slide Size window, you’ll be given two fields: Width and Height.
- For vertical infographics, set the dimensions to Width: 8.5 inches and Height: 22 inches for an easy-to-print layout or Width: 800 pixels and Height: 2000 pixels for digital use (adjust as needed based on your design needs). You can always experiment with these dimensions to see what works best for your design.
- In the Slide Size window, you’ll be given two fields: Width and Height.
- Adjust Orientation and Apply:
- Make sure to set the orientation to Portrait for a vertical layout. After selecting your dimensions, click OK to apply the changes.
- Resize and Position Elements:
- Once you’ve resized the canvas, start designing your infographic. With a larger, vertical space, you’ll have ample room for your data and visuals. Ensure that elements are spaced out evenly and that there is plenty of white space, which makes the content easier to read and engage with.
2.3. Keynote: How to Resize Your Canvas
The process for resizing a presentation in Keynote is similar, though the terminology and navigation may differ slightly. Here’s how to resize your Keynote presentation for an infographic:
- Open Keynote and create a new presentation:
- Start by opening Keynote and selecting the option to create a new blank presentation. Once open, delete any pre-existing content or text boxes from the first slide.
- Navigate to the Document Settings:
- In the Document pane on the right side of the screen, locate the Slide Size section.
- Select Custom Dimensions:
- Click on the Custom Slide Size button. Here, you’ll be prompted to enter your dimensions:
- For vertical infographics, set Width: 8.5 inches and Height: 22 inches for print-friendly dimensions or Width: 800 pixels and Height: 2000 pixels for digital use.
- Click on the Custom Slide Size button. Here, you’ll be prompted to enter your dimensions:
- Apply Changes:
- After entering your custom dimensions, click OK to apply the new size.
- Adjust Layout and Elements:
- With the resized canvas, you can now begin designing your infographic. The larger canvas allows you to experiment with the layout, ensuring that visuals and text are organized clearly.
2.4. Tips for Resizing and Setting Up the Canvas Effectively
Optimize for Shareability and Engagement
- Vertical Layout for Sharing: Infographics that are vertically aligned tend to perform better on platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Vertical infographics fit well into the user’s scrolling experience and are more likely to grab attention.
- Mobile-Friendly Format: Keep in mind that many of your audience will view your infographic on mobile devices. Ensuring that the design fits well within mobile screens (particularly for Instagram stories, Twitter feeds, or Facebook posts) will help increase its shareability.
Consider Your Infographic’s Purpose
- Print Use: If your goal is to print the infographic, choose print-appropriate dimensions like 8.5” x 22”. This is a common size for vertical brochures or posters, which could also work well for physical distribution at trade shows or in-store displays.
- Web Use: For online purposes, you may want to optimize the infographic for quick loading times. Reducing the size of the file (while maintaining quality) helps ensure that your infographic loads quickly on websites and social media platforms.
Maintain Consistency in Layout
- Use the Same Layout for Every Section: Even with a custom-sized canvas, be mindful of consistent spacing and alignment. The design of your infographic should flow logically from top to bottom. A uniform layout ensures that each section has room to breathe and remains visually appealing.
- Gridlines for Better Structure: Some design software tools, including PowerPoint and Keynote, allow you to show gridlines. These can help guide the placement of text, charts, and visuals, ensuring that everything is aligned properly. In PowerPoint, you can toggle gridlines from the View tab by selecting Grid and Guides. In Keynote, the gridlines appear automatically, but you can adjust the settings for better precision.
Leave Plenty of White Space
- Avoid overcrowding your infographic with too much information. Leaving enough white space between different elements (headings, visuals, and text) helps guide the viewer’s eye smoothly from one section to the next. It also ensures that the information is not overwhelming or hard to digest.
2.5. Set Up Multiple Slides for Complex Infographics
If your infographic requires multiple sections with detailed information, don’t hesitate to create multiple slides. PowerPoint and Keynote both allow you to add additional slides within the same presentation file. This is especially useful if:
- Your infographic covers different themes or categories that require separate focus.
- You want to break up long blocks of text and make the content more digestible.
- You have too many visuals and need extra space to lay them out properly.
While it’s best to stick to a single vertical format for the overall infographic, breaking the content into logical chunks across multiple slides can help maintain clarity.
2.6. Double-Check Your Dimensions Before Finalizing
Before you move on to the design phase, double-check your slide dimensions. Small businesses often overlook this step, which can lead to frustrations down the line. If you start designing without proper sizing, your content may appear cramped, or you might have to resize the entire design, which can distort the quality of your visuals. Verify that the aspect ratio and dimensions are correct, and preview your design to ensure everything fits as intended.
Conclusion
Creating and resizing a blank presentation is an essential step in building an infographic that is both visually engaging and optimized for sharing. Whether you’re using PowerPoint or Keynote, adjusting the slide size to fit a vertical layout allows you to create an infographic that’s mobile-friendly and perfect for online platforms. By following these steps and tips, you’ll set the stage for an eye-catching, professional-looking infographic that delivers the right message and resonates with your audience. For small businesses, this is an opportunity to make your brand’s voice heard in a visually compelling way while enhancing the reach of your content.
Wireframe Each Section Using Shapes
Wireframing is the blueprint of your infographic—it’s the stage where you lay out the basic structure of your design without getting into the nitty-gritty details. Think of it as sketching the framework of a house before you start adding colors and furniture. For small businesses, this step is essential for creating a clear, organized, and logical flow in your infographic. Using shapes effectively allows you to outline where content, visuals, and data will be placed, which helps maintain a clean, professional look while avoiding visual clutter.
In this section, we’ll explore why wireframing is important, how to use shapes to map out your design, and tips for small businesses to create effective wireframes in PowerPoint or Keynote.
3.1. Why Wireframing is Important
Wireframing serves as a visual guide for your infographic’s layout. This process is crucial because it allows you to:
- Establish a Clear Flow: Wireframing helps you visualize the order in which information will appear. This ensures that your content flows logically, making it easier for your audience to digest.
- Prioritize Content: Using shapes to wireframe allows you to allocate space to each section of your infographic. By doing so, you can prioritize the most important information, such as your key message or main statistics, ensuring they stand out.
- Identify Design Gaps: Wireframes help you identify potential gaps or areas that may look too crowded. You can make adjustments at this stage without worrying about graphic design details, which saves time in the long run.
- Streamline Collaboration: If you are working with a team or collaborating with a designer, a wireframe is a great way to communicate your vision. It provides a clear structure for everyone to follow, ensuring consistency in the design process.
- Improve Efficiency: Once the wireframe is set, you can quickly start adding content, charts, and visuals, knowing exactly where everything will go. This helps streamline the design process and allows you to work more efficiently.
3.2. Using Shapes to Wireframe Your Infographic
Both PowerPoint and Keynote offer simple yet powerful tools for creating wireframes using basic shapes. The goal is not to create a fully fleshed-out design but to outline where key components of your infographic will live. Here’s how you can use shapes effectively to wireframe each section of your infographic.
- Start with Basic Shapes:
- Rectangles: Use rectangles for large blocks of text, titles, or sections of content. This helps create clear sections within your infographic, breaking it up into manageable pieces.
- Circles: Use circles for highlighting key points, statistics, or other important elements. Circles can help draw the viewer’s eye and add emphasis to key details.
- Lines and Arrows: Use lines or arrows to indicate flow and connection between different sections of the infographic. Arrows can also represent processes or steps in a sequence.
- Text Boxes: While not strictly shapes, text boxes are crucial for labeling each section of the wireframe. Label your sections with simple titles such as “Introduction,” “Key Statistics,” “Call to Action,” etc., to clarify their purpose.
- Define Layout with Grids:
- Grid Layout: Both PowerPoint and Keynote allow you to use a grid to structure your wireframe. The grid ensures everything stays aligned, which is essential for a professional design. You can create a grid by enabling the “Gridlines” option under the View menu (PowerPoint) or by adjusting the Rulers and Guides in Keynote.
- Columns and Rows: Break your infographic into several columns or rows depending on the information. For example, if your infographic has multiple sections with equal importance (like charts or statistics), consider using a multi-column grid to distribute these elements evenly.
- Map Out Your Sections:
- Header: Begin by wireframing your header, which should include the title of the infographic. Use a large rectangle or shape at the top of the page to define the space for your title. You can also include a subheading if necessary, using a smaller rectangle.
- Content Blocks: Use rectangular shapes to map out where each section of content will go. Each block should represent one section of your infographic (e.g., introduction, key facts, data visualization, and conclusion).
- Charts and Visuals: Wireframe areas where charts, graphs, or images will appear. You can use simple placeholder shapes (like rectangles or circles) to represent these visuals. Be sure to leave enough space for these elements, as they are often the most visually compelling parts of the infographic.
- Indicate Flow and Hierarchy:
- Hierarchy of Information: Wireframing helps you establish a visual hierarchy in your infographic. Larger shapes at the top can represent primary information, while smaller blocks can be used for supporting details or secondary points. For example, place your most important statistics in larger rectangles and supporting text or explanations in smaller shapes underneath.
- Arrows for Flow: Use arrows to indicate how information will flow. For example, if your infographic shows a process or a series of steps, arrows will help guide the viewer from one step to the next.
3.3. Tips for Wireframing Effectively in PowerPoint and Keynote
- Keep it Simple
- The purpose of wireframing is to create an organized structure. Don’t overcomplicate this stage with too much detail. Stick to basic shapes and placeholders for content. The goal is to get a rough layout of where everything will go, not to design the final product just yet.
- Use Proportional Spacing
- Ensure that the shapes are spaced evenly to maintain balance. Consistent padding and margin space between shapes give your infographic a more professional look. Avoid overcrowding any section by ensuring that your shapes are not too close together. If you have lots of content, consider breaking it up into more sections or increasing the vertical space.
- Think About Mobile and Social Media Formats
- Many infographics are shared on social media platforms and viewed on mobile devices. Keep this in mind when wireframing by using vertical shapes and blocks that are easier to view on smaller screens. You may want to limit the number of sections to avoid scrolling fatigue or ensure that the most important elements are visible without zooming in.
- Use Layering to Create Depth
- In both PowerPoint and Keynote, you can layer shapes on top of each other. Use this feature to indicate which sections or elements will overlap and which will remain in the background. Layering can create a sense of depth and separation in your wireframe.
- Test Different Layouts
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different layouts during the wireframing stage. This is the time to move things around, resize shapes, and adjust the structure. Test multiple layouts to see which one flows best and highlights your key messages most effectively.
- Use Color Sparingly in Wireframes
- While wireframing, it’s best to use neutral colors (grays, light blues, or whites) for your shapes and content placeholders. This allows you to focus on structure and layout without getting distracted by colors. Once the wireframe is set, you can apply colors, fonts, and branding elements.
- Iterate and Refine
- Wireframing is an iterative process. Start simple, and then refine your design as you move through each stage. As you add content and visuals later on, you may find that some sections need to be adjusted to better accommodate the new elements.
3.4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcrowding the Wireframe: Avoid trying to fit too much information into a small space. Infographics are designed to convey information quickly and clearly. If the wireframe is too crowded, your final design will be hard to follow. Keep things simple, and break your content into smaller, digestible sections.
- Ignoring the Flow of Information: Ensure that the wireframe follows a logical flow. Information should be presented in a way that leads the viewer naturally from one point to the next. Without proper flow, your audience may get confused about the message you’re trying to convey.
- Neglecting White Space: Don’t fill every inch of the space with shapes or text. White space is critical to an infographic’s readability. It helps separate sections, enhances clarity, and makes the design less overwhelming.
Conclusion
Wireframing is a critical step in creating a successful infographic. For small businesses, it’s essential to have a clear structure before diving into the details of design. By using basic shapes and placeholders, you can map out the layout, prioritize key information, and ensure that the flow of the infographic is logical and easy to follow. With a well-organized wireframe in place, you’ll be ready to move on to the next steps—adding content, visuals, and finishing touches—while maintaining a professional and effective design.
Choose a Colour and Typography Palette
When designing an infographic, your choice of colour and typography plays a pivotal role in conveying the message clearly, creating a cohesive design, and enhancing the overall user experience. Small businesses may feel overwhelmed by the number of options available, but by focusing on a few key principles, you can create a visually appealing infographic that resonates with your target audience and strengthens your brand identity.
In this section, we’ll explore why colour and typography matter in infographics, offer in-depth tips for choosing the right palette, and guide small businesses on how to make the best choices for their infographics using PowerPoint or Keynote.
4.1. Why Colour and Typography Matter
- Brand Identity and Consistency:
- Colour and typography are integral parts of your brand’s identity. If your business already has established brand colours and fonts (for example, from your logo or website), your infographic should reflect that. Consistent use of colour and typography helps reinforce your brand’s visual identity, making your materials instantly recognizable to your audience.
- Psychological Impact:
- Colours have psychological effects that can influence how your audience perceives the information. For instance, blue often conveys trust and professionalism, while red evokes energy and urgency. Typography also has its own impact—serif fonts are often perceived as formal and authoritative, while sans-serif fonts are clean, modern, and easier to read on screens.
- Legibility and Readability:
- An infographic is meant to be easily digestible. Poor choices in colour and typography can make your content hard to read or overwhelming to process. Contrast, text size, and font styles all influence how quickly and effectively someone can consume your content.
- Visual Hierarchy:
- Colour and typography are powerful tools for creating a visual hierarchy. By using different font weights, sizes, and colours, you can emphasize important information, making sure key points stand out. This helps guide the viewer’s eye to the most crucial elements of the infographic first, improving comprehension and retention.
4.2. Choosing a Colour Palette
A well-chosen colour palette not only makes your infographic visually appealing but also supports the messaging of your content. Below are some strategies to help you choose an effective colour palette for your infographic:
- Start with Your Brand Colours:
- If your business already has brand colours, use them to create cohesion between your infographic and your other marketing materials. This reinforces your brand identity and builds trust with your audience. Use your primary brand colour for headings and key elements, while complementary colours can be used for supporting content.
- For businesses without established colours, consider choosing two to three colours that are aligned with the tone of your brand. Choose one dominant colour and two accent colours for secondary elements.
- Use the Colour Wheel:
- Understanding the colour wheel can help you create harmonious colour combinations. There are a few colour schemes you can choose from:
- Complementary Colours: These are colours that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel (e.g., blue and orange). This creates a high-contrast combination that is visually striking.
- Analogous Colours: These are colours next to each other on the wheel (e.g., blue, blue-green, and green). These combinations are more harmonious and create a sense of unity.
- Monochromatic Colours: This scheme uses various shades, tints, and tones of one colour. It creates a minimalist, clean design but may need some contrast to keep it visually interesting.
- Understanding the colour wheel can help you create harmonious colour combinations. There are a few colour schemes you can choose from:
- Consider Contrast and Accessibility:
- High contrast between the text and background is essential for readability. For example, if you use a dark background, make sure the text is light enough to stand out, and vice versa.
- Consider accessibility standards—ensure that your colours are distinguishable for those with color blindness. Tools like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker can help you test contrast ratios and ensure your design is accessible to everyone.
- Limit Your Palette:
- While it might be tempting to use a rainbow of colours, it’s best to limit your palette to three to five colours. Too many colours can make the infographic look chaotic and detract from the message.
- Stick with one or two primary colours, with additional secondary colours used for emphasis or to distinguish different sections.
- Use Colour Psychology to Enhance Your Message:
- Different colours evoke different emotions and perceptions. Here are some common associations:
- Blue: Trustworthy, professional, calm
- Red: Energy, urgency, excitement
- Green: Growth, health, environmental
- Yellow: Optimism, attention-grabbing, happiness
- Orange: Creativity, enthusiasm, fun
- Purple: Luxury, creativity, wisdom
- Black/Grey: Sophistication, neutrality, professionalism
- Different colours evoke different emotions and perceptions. Here are some common associations:
Choose colours that align with the message or feeling you want to convey in your infographic. For example, a financial business infographic might benefit from blue and grey tones for a professional look, while an environmental business could use green to emphasize sustainability.
4.3. Choosing a Typography Palette
Typography is just as important as colour in creating an effective infographic. It affects readability, hierarchy, and the overall tone of your design. Here are key principles for selecting the right fonts for your infographic:
- Choose Legible Fonts:
- Sans-serif fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, or Open Sans) are generally the best choice for infographics, as they are clean and easy to read on both desktop and mobile screens. They work well for body text and headings.
- Serif fonts (like Times New Roman or Georgia) are often used in more traditional or academic settings, but they can also work for creating a sense of authority or elegance when used sparingly.
- Display fonts (creative fonts with unique, ornamental styles) can be used for headers or specific callouts, but they should be used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the reader.
- Use Font Pairing Wisely:
- Typically, you’ll want to use two or three complementary fonts in your infographic. A good combination includes:
- A bold, readable font for headings (such as sans-serif bold fonts like Montserrat or Arial Black).
- A clean, simple font for body text (such as Open Sans, Lato, or Roboto).
- A decorative or contrasting font for emphasis or smaller design elements (e.g., for callouts or quotes).
- Be sure that your chosen fonts don’t clash. Websites like Google Fonts and Font Pair can help you find good font combinations.
- Typically, you’ll want to use two or three complementary fonts in your infographic. A good combination includes:
- Maintain Consistency:
- Consistency in font size, weight, and style helps maintain the visual flow of the infographic. Avoid using too many font sizes or styles. Stick to one size for headings and one for body text, and use bold or italics for emphasis.
- Your typography choices should reflect the tone of your brand and the message of the infographic. For example, a corporate infographic would use clean, modern fonts, while a playful business might use rounded or whimsical fonts.
- Set Hierarchy with Typography:
- Typography is a powerful tool for establishing visual hierarchy. Use larger, bolder fonts for key headings, and smaller, lighter fonts for supporting text.
- Consider breaking up long sections of text with bullet points, different font sizes, and bold or italicized phrases to draw attention to the most important information.
- Use Readable Font Sizes:
- Ensure that the font size is large enough to be readable on mobile devices. A good rule of thumb is to make the body text at least 12 pt or 14 pt. For headings, use larger font sizes (24 pt or above, depending on the length and importance of the text).
- Keep in mind that your infographic will be viewed on different screen sizes, so test readability on both desktop and mobile devices.
4.4. Tips for Implementing Colour and Typography in PowerPoint and Keynote
- Use Pre-made Colour Palettes:
- PowerPoint and Keynote both offer pre-made colour schemes that can save you time when selecting colours. These colour palettes are designed to work together and can help ensure that your design looks cohesive. However, don’t be afraid to tweak them to match your brand or to add contrast.
- Use the ‘Format Painter’ Tool:
- PowerPoint’s Format Painter (and Keynote’s equivalent) is a powerful tool that allows you to quickly copy your chosen colour and font styles to other elements, ensuring consistency across your infographic.
- Test on Different Backgrounds:
- Test your colour and typography choices on both light and dark backgrounds to ensure legibility. Sometimes, a colour scheme that works on a white background may not be as effective on a dark background and vice versa.
- Maintain Simplicity:
- Don’t overload your infographic with too many colours or font styles. Instead, focus on clarity and creating a cohesive, professional look.
Conclusion
Choosing the right colour and typography palette is essential for creating a visually appealing and effective infographic. By aligning these choices with your brand identity, using colour psychology to convey emotion, and ensuring that your typography is legible and well-structured, you can significantly enhance the impact of your infographic. Remember, simplicity and consistency are key—by following these guidelines, small businesses can create infographics that not only look great but also communicate their message effectively and make a lasting impression on their audience.
Add in Your Content, Charts, and Visuals
After laying the foundation of your infographic with a clear structure, color palette, and typography, it’s time to fill in the crucial elements: the content, charts, and visuals. These components transform your infographic from a blank canvas into a powerful communication tool, conveying complex information in a digestible and visually engaging format. This section will guide small businesses through best practices for integrating content, selecting the right charts, and using visuals that enhance the message of your infographic.
5.1. Organizing and Adding Your Content
The key to a successful infographic is clarity and simplicity. While an infographic is designed to be visually engaging, it still needs to communicate valuable and actionable information. Here’s how to approach adding content in an organized, effective manner:
- Craft Concise, Actionable Content:
- Brevity is key: Infographics work best when content is concise and to the point. Rather than overwhelming viewers with long paragraphs, break down the content into bite-sized pieces, using bullet points, short sentences, or even keywords.
- Focus on the message: Define the core message of your infographic. Ask yourself, “What do I want my audience to learn or take away from this?” Every section, graphic, and piece of content should be aligned with this purpose.
- Use hierarchical structure: This means presenting the most important information first. If there are multiple steps or sections, break them down clearly so that viewers can follow along easily. Consider using headings and subheadings to group content and maintain a logical flow.
- Be Strategic with Text:
- Limit text per section: Infographics are visual tools, so keep the text minimal. Each section should provide only essential information. Focus on one main idea per section, and use succinct wording to avoid clutter.
- Use short bullet points: Bullet points are an excellent way to present lists or key takeaways. They make it easier for people to scan through the information quickly, which is especially important since most viewers skim rather than read in detail.
- Consider tone and style: Your tone should match your brand’s voice. If your business has a friendly, conversational tone, use informal language. If you’re offering technical information, keep the language clear and professional.
- Maintain Consistency:
- Consistent phrasing, formatting, and structure across all sections of the infographic will make your content easier to read and understand. Stick with the same type of font for body text and limit font size variations. This helps maintain a cohesive design and improves readability.
5.2. Incorporating Charts and Data Visualizations
Charts, graphs, and data visualizations are critical for infographics, especially when presenting complex data or statistics. The visual nature of charts makes it easier for viewers to grasp large sets of data quickly, which is the core strength of infographics. Here are tips for effectively incorporating charts and data:
- Choose the Right Type of Chart:
- Bar and Column Charts: These are perfect for showing comparisons between different items or categories. Use these when comparing quantities, percentages, or different time periods.
- Pie Charts: Ideal for displaying proportional relationships or part-to-whole comparisons. However, avoid using too many slices in a pie chart, as it can confuse viewers. Limit it to five or six segments.
- Line Charts: Best for showing trends over time or continuous data. These are helpful for displaying changes, such as growth rates or stock prices.
- Flowcharts: Flowcharts are great for illustrating processes, workflows, or decision trees. If your infographic explains a process or a set of actions, a flowchart will guide the viewer through it logically.
- Icons and Symbols: Sometimes, icons or simple visuals can act as an effective data point (e.g., a shopping cart icon for e-commerce statistics). Use these when you want to simplify the message and make it more visually appealing.
- Ensure Clarity with Labels and Legends:
- Each chart or graph should have clear labels. Ensure that each axis, segment, and data point is labeled properly so viewers understand what they represent.
- If using a pie chart or a complex visual, include a legend or color key to clarify what each color or symbol represents.
- Visualize Data in Context:
- Data needs to be contextualized to be meaningful. For example, if your infographic includes sales data, make sure you highlight why the data is important or what it signifies for your audience. Don’t just present numbers—help the viewer understand what the numbers mean.
- Adding simple comparisons or benchmarks can help make the data relatable. For example, if you are presenting a sales growth chart, you could compare the current year’s data with the previous year to highlight the progress.
- Limit the Use of Complex Graphs:
- Infographics are meant to simplify complex information, so avoid overly complicated graphs or visuals that require too much effort to interpret. Keep things as simple as possible while still conveying the necessary data.
- Use Data Consistently:
- If you’re presenting multiple data points or charts, ensure they are consistent in format. For instance, if one chart is presented in percentages, ensure that others follow the same format. This helps to prevent confusion and keeps the infographic visually cohesive.
5.3. Selecting and Using Visuals and Graphics
Adding images, icons, illustrations, and other visual elements can make your infographic stand out and make complex ideas easier to understand. These visuals help engage the audience and support the content, enhancing the overall impact of the design.
- Choose Visuals that Support the Content:
- Every visual element should have a purpose. Avoid adding random images or graphics just to fill space. Instead, use visuals that reinforce your message or explain your content.
- For example, if you are discussing customer satisfaction, use icons or illustrations of happy customers or feedback forms. If you’re explaining a process, use flow diagrams or arrows to indicate the movement of steps.
- Leverage Icons for Quick Understanding:
- Icons are fantastic for simplifying content. They can symbolize concepts, actions, or data points in a way that’s easy for viewers to recognize and understand. For instance, a dollar sign icon might represent revenue, while a calendar icon could indicate scheduling or timeframes.
- Use simple, consistent icons across the entire infographic. Avoid cluttering the design with too many intricate or different styles of icons. Consistency in icon style ensures that the infographic looks clean and professional.
- Use Illustrations to Add Visual Appeal:
- Well-designed illustrations can elevate your infographic by adding visual interest and personality. You can use illustrations to explain concepts, make abstract ideas more tangible, or give the infographic a more custom, branded feel.
- Be sure that illustrations don’t detract from the main message. They should complement the content and add to the clarity, not make it more complicated.
- Optimize for Visual Flow:
- Your visuals should guide the viewer’s eye from one section to the next. Use visual cues like arrows, lines, or steps that lead the viewer through the infographic in a natural flow. The aim is to help people navigate the content intuitively.
- Ensure there’s enough white space around visuals to keep the design clean. Crowding too many visuals together will make the infographic feel cluttered and overwhelming.
- Maintain Brand Consistency:
- Use visuals that align with your brand identity. If your business has a particular illustration style or type of iconography that is consistent with your branding, integrate that into the infographic design. This helps maintain a professional and cohesive look that reflects your business values and aesthetics.
5.4. Integrating Interactive Elements (Optional)
For more advanced infographics, consider integrating interactive elements (especially if your infographic will be shared online). Interactive elements such as clickable links, animations, or hover-over effects can engage your audience and make the experience more dynamic. While PowerPoint and Keynote are not as advanced in this area as web-based tools, you can still add simple animations to key elements to draw attention to them.
Conclusion
Adding content, charts, and visuals to your infographic is the stage where your ideas come to life. By keeping the content concise and focused, choosing the right types of charts to display data clearly, and selecting visuals that enhance understanding, you’ll create a powerful, effective infographic. Remember, simplicity, clarity, and visual appeal are paramount in creating a successful infographic. Whether you’re aiming to inform, educate, or entertain your audience, these elements will work together to ensure your message is conveyed with impact and style.
Export, Optimise, and Upload
Once you’ve successfully designed your infographic, it’s time to export it, optimize it for various platforms, and upload it for distribution. This step is critical because how you export and optimize the file can influence both the performance of the infographic and how effectively it reaches your audience. Whether you’re using PowerPoint or Keynote, understanding the best practices for this process will ensure that your infographic remains high-quality, accessible, and easy to share.
Here are the key steps to follow for exporting, optimizing, and uploading your infographic:
6.1. Exporting the Infographic
The first step in this process is to export the infographic from PowerPoint or Keynote into a file format that is universally accessible and preserves your design’s quality. Different platforms and uses require different file types, so it’s essential to choose the right one.
- Choose the Right File Format:
- JPEG or PNG (For Image-Based Sharing): The most common file formats for infographics are JPEG and PNG. JPEG files are typically smaller in size, making them suitable for web use, while PNG files offer higher quality and support transparency (which is useful for logos or design elements that may need to blend seamlessly with various backgrounds).
- Use PNG if you need higher quality or transparency (e.g., logos, icons, etc.).
- Use JPEG for general use, especially when file size is important, such as for social media sharing.
- PDF (For High-Quality Printing or Downloads): If you want to make your infographic available for print or downloadable as a high-quality document, exporting it as a PDF is a good choice. PDFs maintain the resolution and layout exactly as designed, making them ideal for printed marketing materials or professional distribution.
- SVG (For Web Usage with Scalability): If you’re aiming to display the infographic on your website and need it to scale well on various screen sizes without losing resolution, consider exporting the infographic as an SVG file. SVG files are vector-based and thus scalable without losing quality, though they tend to be more complex in design.
- JPEG or PNG (For Image-Based Sharing): The most common file formats for infographics are JPEG and PNG. JPEG files are typically smaller in size, making them suitable for web use, while PNG files offer higher quality and support transparency (which is useful for logos or design elements that may need to blend seamlessly with various backgrounds).
- Set the Correct Dimensions:
- Ensure that your infographic’s dimensions are appropriately set based on how it will be displayed. For instance, infographics shared on social media may need different dimensions than those meant for websites or print.
- For social media sharing: Most platforms require specific dimensions (e.g., 1200 x 628 pixels for Facebook).
- For website embedding: You may want your infographic to be responsive, meaning it adjusts its size to fit various screen sizes.
- For printing: If you plan to print your infographic, ensure that your resolution is set to at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) to ensure high-quality printing. Use dimensions that match the paper size you intend to print on (e.g., 8.5 x 11 inches for a standard letter-size document).
- Ensure that your infographic’s dimensions are appropriately set based on how it will be displayed. For instance, infographics shared on social media may need different dimensions than those meant for websites or print.
6.2. Optimizing the Infographic
Before uploading your infographic, it’s crucial to optimize it so that it loads quickly and displays well on all devices. Optimization helps reduce the file size, making it easier to share on social media, load on websites, or email to customers.
- Reduce the File Size Without Compromising Quality:
- Compress images: Large images can slow down loading times. Tools like TinyPNG or JPEG-Optimizer allow you to reduce file size without significantly affecting image quality.
- Use PowerPoint/Keynote’s built-in export options: Both PowerPoint and Keynote have built-in settings to optimize images for web or screen. When exporting as a PNG or JPEG, check the export options to make sure they’re optimized for web use (e.g., medium resolution).
- Keep the resolution appropriate: For web use, 72 DPI is generally sufficient, but for printed infographics, you may need to keep the DPI higher (e.g., 300 DPI) for crisp, clear prints.
- Avoid overloading the infographic with heavy visual elements: If your infographic includes too many high-resolution images or heavy graphic elements, try to simplify the design or reduce the file size by converting complex elements into simpler graphics.
- Test for Mobile and Desktop Display:
- Since many users will view your infographic on mobile devices, it’s essential to test its readability and display across different screen sizes. Ensure that your text is legible, your charts are clear, and the overall design scales well on smaller screens.
- Use responsive design principles: When embedding your infographic on a website, use responsive design techniques that ensure the infographic adjusts to different screen sizes.
- SEO Optimization (For Web Uploads):
- Add descriptive alt text: If you’re uploading the infographic to your website, include alternative text (alt text) that describes the content of the infographic. This improves SEO (search engine optimization) and helps with accessibility for people using screen readers.
- Use a descriptive filename: Instead of using a generic filename like “infographic1.jpg,” use a descriptive, keyword-rich name such as “small-business-marketing-strategy-infographic.jpg.” This improves searchability.
- Incorporate relevant keywords: Ensure the title and alt text of your infographic contain keywords related to your business or the content of the infographic, helping it rank better in search engines.
6.3. Uploading the Infographic
After exporting and optimizing your infographic, you are ready to upload it to the platform(s) where you plan to share or display it. The process of uploading may differ depending on the platform, but there are several key considerations that apply across the board.
- Choosing the Right Platform for Upload:
- Social Media: Infographics perform well on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Each platform has its optimal image dimensions and posting strategies:
- Instagram: Square or vertical infographics (1080 x 1350 pixels) work best for Instagram, and they often perform well as a carousel (multi-slide) post.
- Facebook and LinkedIn: Horizontal infographics (1200 x 628 pixels) are ideal for sharing on Facebook and LinkedIn, as these platforms prefer landscape-oriented images.
- Pinterest: Since Pinterest is a visual platform, tall, vertical infographics (e.g., 600 x 1200 pixels) perform well. Pinterest also supports infographics that link back to your website or blog.
- Website or Blog: If you’re uploading the infographic to your website or blog, ensure it’s properly embedded with an SEO-optimized file name and alt text. Depending on your website’s design, you may also want to make the infographic downloadable as a PDF for users who wish to keep it for reference.
- Social Media: Infographics perform well on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Each platform has its optimal image dimensions and posting strategies:
- Consider File Hosting Options:
- If you’re uploading the infographic to your website, decide whether you want to host it directly on your server or use a content delivery network (CDN) for faster loading times. Hosting through a CDN can speed up access time for visitors around the world.
- If you’re sharing the infographic through email, consider hosting it on a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox and sharing a link to it. This avoids email file size limitations.
- Check for Mobile Optimization:
- If you plan to share the infographic on mobile apps (e.g., Instagram, Facebook), ensure it displays properly by checking how it looks on both mobile and desktop devices. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook automatically optimize images for mobile viewing, but you should double-check.
6.4. Monitor Engagement and Performance
Once you’ve uploaded your infographic, it’s important to monitor how it performs. Tracking engagement can give you valuable insights into how effective your infographic is at reaching your target audience and driving action.
- Use Analytics Tools:
- Most social media platforms offer built-in analytics tools that allow you to track how your infographic is performing (e.g., likes, shares, comments, clicks). Use these insights to refine your future content.
- On your website, tools like Google Analytics allow you to see how visitors interact with the infographic, how long they stay on the page, and whether they share or download it.
- Encourage Sharing:
- Make it easy for your audience to share your infographic by including social sharing buttons on your website or blog. Also, consider including a call-to-action (CTA) in your social media posts asking followers to share the infographic if they find it useful.
- Engage with Your Audience:
- Respond to comments and questions on social media or in your blog post. This helps build engagement and can extend the life of your infographic by encouraging more people to view and share it.
Conclusion
Exporting, optimizing, and uploading your infographic properly ensures that it performs well across different platforms and reaches your audience efficiently. By selecting the right file format, optimizing for quick loading, and considering SEO best practices, you can ensure that your infographic is accessible, shareable, and impactful. Whether you’re sharing it on social media, embedding it on your website, or using it in email marketing, taking the time to follow these steps will maximize your infographic’s effectiveness and help you achieve your marketing goals.
Go Viral with Strategic Promotion
Creating a stunning, well-designed infographic is only half the battle. To truly make an impact, you need to promote your infographic strategically to increase its visibility, engagement, and likelihood of going viral. Going viral means reaching a broad audience quickly, creating widespread engagement, and encouraging sharing across multiple platforms.
For small businesses, achieving viral success isn’t about chance; it’s about implementing targeted promotion tactics, using the right platforms, and leveraging relationships and networks to amplify your infographic. Here are in-depth tips and guidance to help you promote your infographic effectively:
7.1. Leverage Social Media Channels
Social media is a powerhouse for promoting visual content like infographics. Different platforms have their unique features and audiences, so understanding where your target demographic hangs out is key to maximizing your infographic’s reach.
- Facebook:
- Post in Groups: Facebook groups are often filled with niche communities that have high engagement rates. Find and join groups that are related to your business, industry, or niche. Share your infographic there with a call to action (CTA) encouraging members to comment, share, or ask questions.
- Use Facebook Ads: If you have a budget, consider using Facebook Ads to promote your infographic. Facebook’s targeting features allow you to reach very specific audiences based on location, interests, and behaviors. Promote your infographic to boost brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.
- Create Polls or Quizzes: To increase engagement, you can create a poll or quiz that ties into the infographic’s topic. For instance, if your infographic is about marketing strategies, create a poll asking your audience about the strategies they use and encourage them to download or share the infographic for further insights.
- Instagram:
- Use Stories and Posts: Instagram’s visual-first platform is ideal for infographics. Share your infographic as a post, but also consider using Instagram Stories to tease the content. Stories are more ephemeral and can create urgency. You can include a “Swipe Up” link to direct people to your full infographic on your website (for accounts with over 10,000 followers).
- Hashtags: Use relevant and trending hashtags to extend your reach beyond your current followers. Tools like Hashtagify can help you find the best hashtags for your content. Consider creating a unique branded hashtag for your infographic, encouraging followers to share their own content using that hashtag.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Collaborating with influencers in your niche can significantly increase your infographic’s visibility. Reach out to micro-influencers with a relevant following and offer them access to the infographic in exchange for a mention or share.
- LinkedIn:
- Post on Your Personal and Company Profile: LinkedIn is a business-centric platform where professionals and decision-makers gather. Share your infographic on your company profile and encourage employees to share it too. A company-wide sharing initiative can significantly amplify reach.
- Participate in LinkedIn Groups: Like Facebook, LinkedIn also has groups. Find groups that cater to professionals in your industry and share your infographic with a personalized message that encourages discussion.
- Long-Form Posts: If your infographic is part of a larger discussion or blog post, consider turning the infographic into a long-form LinkedIn article where you can provide additional context. Embed the infographic in your article to drive more engagement and shares.
- Twitter:
- Create Engaging Tweets: Twitter’s fast-paced nature means you need to catch attention quickly. Post your infographic with an engaging tweet that sparks conversation. Ask questions, add polls, or even include a call to action, such as “Retweet this if you agree!”
- Leverage Twitter Threads: Use Twitter threads to break down the infographic’s key points. For example, you can post individual pieces of data or insights from the infographic as a series of tweets with links to the full infographic.
- Use Trending Hashtags: Similar to Instagram, Twitter relies heavily on hashtags. If your infographic touches on a trending topic or is relevant to a current event, using popular hashtags will help increase visibility.
- Pinterest:
- Pin the Infographic: Pinterest is known for being a highly visual platform, making it an ideal place to share your infographic. Upload your infographic to your Pinterest boards, optimize the description with relevant keywords, and ensure it’s linked back to your website or blog for further engagement.
- Create Multiple Pins: Don’t just upload your infographic once. Create several pins from different angles or focus on different sections of the infographic. For example, you could break your infographic down into key points and create multiple posts to reach various audiences.
7.2. Collaborate with Influencers and Partners
Influencer and partner collaborations can exponentially increase the chances of your infographic going viral. By leveraging the audiences of other brands, thought leaders, or influencers, you can reach a broader group of people who might otherwise not come across your content.
- Partner with Industry Experts: Reach out to experts in your industry to see if they would be interested in sharing your infographic on their channels or contributing a piece to a blog post or video that features your infographic. This type of partnership can be beneficial for both parties and lead to increased exposure.
- Co-Create Content: Collaborate with influencers or other small businesses to co-create content that incorporates your infographic. By doing so, both brands can share the content with their followers, which increases the chances of your infographic going viral.
- Engage Micro-Influencers: Micro-influencers typically have smaller but highly engaged followings. Rather than targeting influencers with millions of followers, reach out to micro-influencers who have a dedicated and passionate audience. They are often more willing to collaborate and can drive significant engagement for a smaller investment.
- Offer Incentives for Sharing: Encourage influencers and partners to share your infographic by offering them incentives such as exclusive access to your products, services, or content. This approach creates a win-win situation where both parties benefit from the collaboration.
7.3. Implement Paid Promotion (If Possible)
If you have the budget, implementing paid promotion can help get your infographic in front of a larger and more targeted audience. Social media platforms, search engines, and even content discovery networks all offer paid promotion options that can boost your content’s reach.
- Facebook and Instagram Ads:
- Target Specific Audiences: Use Facebook and Instagram Ads to target audiences based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and location. Promoting your infographic to people who have already engaged with similar content increases the likelihood of them sharing it.
- Use Carousel Ads: For visual platforms like Instagram and Facebook, carousel ads allow you to display multiple images (or sections of your infographic) within a single post. This is ideal for infographics that have multiple sections or key takeaways.
- Sponsored Content on LinkedIn:
- Promote to Professionals: LinkedIn Ads allow you to target professionals by industry, job title, company size, and more. This makes LinkedIn a valuable platform for promoting infographics that are educational or geared toward professionals.
- Sponsored InMail: Sponsored InMail allows you to send personalized messages directly to LinkedIn members’ inboxes. This is a highly targeted and personal way to share your infographic with potential leads.
- Display Ads on Relevant Websites:
- Use Display Networks: Google Display Network allows you to place your infographic on websites that are part of Google’s network. You can target specific websites or blogs related to your industry, which helps you reach a highly relevant audience.
7.4. Encourage Sharing and Engagement
One of the most important tactics for going viral is encouraging sharing and engagement. The more people interact with and share your infographic, the more likely it is to be seen by a broader audience.
- Make It Easy to Share:
- Embed Social Sharing Buttons: Ensure your infographic has easy-to-use social sharing buttons on your website, landing page, or blog post. Make sure users can share the content across various platforms without leaving the page.
- Offer Social Sharing Incentives: Run a contest or promotion where participants can share your infographic for a chance to win a prize. This encourages users to engage and increases the chances of your infographic going viral.
- Ask for Feedback:
- Create Polls or Surveys: After sharing your infographic, ask your audience for feedback. Use polls or surveys to gather opinions and create a dialogue around your infographic. This helps boost engagement and may encourage people to share their thoughts on social media, further amplifying the content.
- Start a Discussion: Encourage followers to comment on your social media posts and share their thoughts or experiences related to the infographic’s content. Responding to comments and fostering a conversation can make your infographic go further.
- Monitor Performance and Amplify:
- Track Shares and Mentions: Use tools like Google Analytics, BuzzSumo, or Mention to track how your infographic is being shared and mentioned across the web. Monitor what platforms are driving the most traffic and focus on those.
- Repurpose and Re-share: If your infographic is performing well on one platform, consider repurposing it for other platforms or formats. For example, you can turn a popular infographic into a blog post, video, or interactive web element to extend its life and reach.
Conclusion
Going viral with your infographic isn’t a matter of luck; it’s about using strategic promotion techniques to get your content in front of the right audience and encouraging them to engage with and share it. By leveraging social media platforms, collaborating with influencers, using paid promotion, and encouraging engagement, your infographic can reach a much wider audience and gain the kind of exposure that can significantly boost brand awareness, drive traffic, and ultimately help grow your business.
Conclusion
Creating a viral infographic using PowerPoint or Keynote is an achievable task with the right approach. By following these 7 steps—choosing a relevant topic, wireframing your content, designing with care, optimizing your image, and strategically promoting it—you can create a compelling, visually appealing infographic that has the potential to go viral. With a little creativity and smart marketing, your infographic can attract shares, boost engagement, and expand your reach across the web. Happy designing!

Author:
Mark Ford
10 Content Marketing Trends for 2026: The Ideas Redefining Quality, Creativity & Reach
Are you looking to understand which content trends will matter most as the landscape becomes more competitive and AI-driven? Want to learn how to create deeper, more original content that stands out and delivers measurable results? […]
How to Unlock ChatGPT’s Full Potential: A Practical Guide to Its Most Powerful Features
Are you looking for simple ways to get more out of ChatGPT without learning anything complicated? Want to understand the core features that can help you work faster, think clearer, and stay organised every day? […]


![7 Steps to Create a Viral Infographic Using PowerPoint or Keynote [Infographic]](https://red-website-design.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/7-Steps-to-Create-a-Viral-Infographic-Using-PowerPoint-or-Keynote.jpg)



