Infographics are highly effective when it comes to increasing engagement and capturing your audience’s attention. Whether you’re adding them as you create a website or using them in an email marketing campaign, they’re a great asset to your business strategy.
Below, I’ve created a list of the best types of infographics to include across your various marketing assets. For each infographic discussed, you’ll find a detailed description, along with helpful infographic examples to guide you.
8 types of infographics
01. List infographics
As you can see, there are several different types of infographics. The first one I’d like to share with you—which is also one of the most popular—is the list infographic.
What is a list infographic?
A list infographic is an informational graphic that uses a written list to get a message across. It’s full of written copy, but it’s also highly visual. Like other kinds of graphics, it’s eye-catching and typically includes a wide range of design elements.
When should you use a list infographic?
A list infographic comes in handy when you want to list several items. It allows you to convey information using data-rich text without compromising on visuals.
When creating a list blog post, include this type of infographic alongside your main points to increase both readability and shareability. This helps break up large blocks of text and add visual texture to your article. It also generates engagement on social media sites like Facebook or Pinterest.
Contextualizing information with visuals makes it easier to read and makes the statistics more memorable. For a powerful list infographic, use icons to represent your various items. You can also try formatting each point in a staggered zigzag to break up the monotony of the list.
02. Statistical Infographics
The statistical infographic is another infographic type that you can use to enhance your content strategy and engage with your audience.
What is a statistical infographic?
A statistical infographic is an infographic that includes pie charts, bar graphs, and any other visual representations of data.
When should you use a statistical infographic?
As its name implies, the role of statistical infographics is to present data and stats. You might use a statistical infographic to present survey results or research.
Let’s say, for instance, that you’re writing a blog post about project management statistics. If you were to decide to explain them with only words, chances are that your readers would feel overwhelmed.
However, supplementing the numbers with graphic design—such as in the example below—helps your readers absorb your content without having to struggle to focus and understand your points. Put another way, a statistical infographic facilitates visual communication when there's a need for presenting statistics.
If you have a data-rich blog post that might otherwise be dry or difficult for readers to digest, try using a statistical infographic to represent the information in a visual way. Include percentage radials alongside branded illustrations to grab the audience’s attention and reel them into reading the information.
03. How-to infographics
Another type of infographic you may have seen before is the how-to infographic.
What is a how-to infographic?
A how-to infographic explains how to do something, like how to solve a problem or perform a task.
It’s a fantastic alternative to long pieces of text that describe a step-by-process, like proper hand washing or workplace setup, without bombarding the viewer with information. Compared to a paragraph or written list, the how-to infographic makes each step of the process easier to absorb.
When should you use a how-to infographic?
A how-to infographic helps people digest concepts that may seem dry when presented in the form of text. This helps people process detailed instructions or tips, particularly when they are technical, complex or require visualization.
When it comes to marketing your brand, you can use how-to infographics to address common pain points among your target audience—and then offer your product as the solution.
Try accompanying each of your tips with a visual illustration. Then, add numbered labels to various parts of the illustration to guide readers through the steps and help them conceptualize each point.
04. Timeline infographics
The timeline infographic is not only useful and informative, but it’s also visually appealing.
What is a timeline infographic?
A timeline infographic is an infographic that displays events in chronological order.
When should you use a timeline infographic?
Timeline infographics are one of the most diverse in terms of their use. Typically, marketing professionals will use them to:
Show the historical development of a person or item
Explain the evolution of a product or trend within their niche
Demonstrate how a particular practice has evolved over time
When creating this type of infographic, be sure to use icons and illustrations along the full length of the timeline to represent each point. This transforms historical information into a fun and easily digestible format, and makes it easier for readers to remember all the facts.
05. Comparison Infographics
The comparison infographic couldn’t be missing from this list of the best types of infographics.
What is a comparison infographic?
A comparison infographic is a visual way to compare and contrast different options. By presenting two or more alternatives side-by-side, this type of infographic helps readers understand the distinction between various concepts and, in many cases, choose which option is best for them.
When should you use a comparison infographic?
In marketing, comparison infographics are used to showcase how your product or service has an advantage over that of your competitors. They typically make use of a chart or table format, with icons or illustrations to help readers visualize the similarities and differences. This type of infographic is particularly powerful when placed within a blog post.
If you’re writing content that compares and contrasts different options, use this type of infographic to supplement your analysis. By highlighting your main points, it will make your article easier to scan and will help readers make an informed decision about their approach.
06. Map or location infographics
An infographic that’s used extensively by many companies and organizations is the map or location infographic.
What is a map or location infographic?
A location infographic, as you may have guessed already, is a graphic that visually communicates information in relation to a geographic area. It’s usually presented in the form of a map, whether it’s a world map or a map depicting a specific country or region.
When should you use a map or location infographic?
Map infographics can be used for a variety of purposes. People tend to use them when they want to communicate demographic data or other location-specific information. As a marketing professional or small business owner, you can use a map infographic to highlight insights about your user base or target audience.
If you’re aiming to share statistics about different countries, use a map infographic. This invites viewers to look closely at the numbers, and it also helps them compare and contrast the data between various places around the world.
07. Flowchart infographics
Another type of infographic that should be a part of your content marketing strategy is the flowchart infographic.
What is a flowchart infographic?
A flowchart infographic is a graphical representation of an information stream, such as a sequence of different steps or actions.
When should you use a flowchart infographic?
A flowchart can be used by marketing professionals of any industry. It helps walk people through a process, and often asks people yes or no questions and then points them to the next step based on their responses.
This type of infographic boosts engagement while giving users a very clear idea of what the process is about. Because it guides people individually through the various steps, it feels more personal and tends to resonate closely with potential customers. You can even use it to steer potential customers toward choosing your product as the solution to their needs.
Flowchart infographics are also useful for internal purposes, especially when onboarding new employees, explaining how to use company tools, or troubleshooting common problems. When used internally by business, they help teams understand vital concepts, such as how to create marketing campaigns or how to follow up with leads.
08. Process description infographics
The last type of infographic I’m going to cover is the process description graphic.
What is a process description infographic?
A process description infographic visually describes the main elements, actions, and steps of a process.
When should you use a process description infographic?
You might consider using a process description infographic to communicate technical information or a complex series of actions. It can also help you emphasize the fundamentals of using your product, thereby offering value to your customers.
It’s useful because it highlights the most important steps, and simplifies complex ideas by breaking them down and then grouping them by category. Not only does this teach people how to use your product, but it also markets your product’s features to generate interest in your brand.
Incorporating infographics into your marketing strategy
There you have it - a list of the eight best types of infographics to enhance your marketing strategy. We hope these examples have inspired you, and that you’ll keep them in mind as you learn how to make infographics of your own.
Beautiful infographics are easy to create, and they can be distributed on different platforms and channels to help you capture the attention of your audience. Building engagement online is a big part of any company’s marketing efforts, and compelling visuals can help you achieve success.
How do you choose between all the infographic types?
Choosing the right infographic type for your content depends on the specific goal you want to achieve and the type of information you want to convey. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make the best decision:
Define your goal: Clearly identify what you want your infographic to accomplish. Are you aiming to inform, educate, persuade or simply present data in an engaging way?
Consider your audience: Who are you trying to reach with your infographic? What is their level of knowledge and interest in the topic? Tailor your choice of infographic type to their preferences and understanding.
Evaluate the data: What type of data do you have to showcase? Is it numerical, categorical, sequential or a combination of these? Choose an infographic type that effectively visualizes your data.
Explore infographic types: Familiarize yourself with the various infographic types available, such as statistical infographics, informational infographics, timeline infographics, process infographics, comparison infographics, map infographics and flowchart infographics.
Match data to type: Align the type of data you have with the strengths of each infographic type. For instance, statistical infographics excel at presenting numerical data, while timeline infographics are ideal for showcasing chronological events.
Consider storytelling: If your goal is to narrate a story or convey a process, consider using an infographic type that facilitates storytelling, such as timeline infographics or process infographics.
Assess engagement: If you want to capture attention and drive engagement, consider using visually impactful infographic types like comparison infographics or map infographics.
Seek feedback: Consult with colleagues, friends or potential viewers to get their feedback on the suitability of your chosen infographic type.
Test and refine: If possible, create mockups or prototypes of different infographic types to test their effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.
Prioritize clarity and simplicity: Regardless of the infographic type you choose, ensure that the overall design is clear, concise and easy to understand.
By following these steps, you can make an informed decision about the best infographic type for your content, ensuring that your message is communicated effectively and engagingly.
Types of infographics FAQ
What does a good infographic look like?
A good infographic is visually appealing, easy to understand and conveys information in a way that is both informative and engaging. Some of the key characteristics of a good infographic include:
Clear and concise text: The text should be easy to read and understand, and it should be used sparingly.
Effective use of visuals: The visuals should be relevant to the topic and should be used to help convey the information.
Consistent design: The infographic should have a consistent color scheme, layout and font style.
Strong hierarchy: The most important information should be presented most prominently.
Call to action: The infographic should have a clear call to action that tells the viewer what you want them to do next.