Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Viral Infographics
By Justin Beegel, CEO and Founder of Infographic World and Author of “Infographics for Dummies” Set to Launch in May
According to Google, searches for infographics have increased 800% in the last two years. As more companies than ever use infographics as a tool to grow their brands, the elusive question of how to go viral remains.
The fact is, even the savviest experts can’t always predict what will catch fire. That is why it is critical to avoid common mistakes that have proven to immediately turn off media and consumers alike.
At Infographic World, we have done campaigns for more than 30 Fortune 500 companies and I have identified the top five mistakes companies make when creating infographic campaigns.
Top Five Mistakes to Avoid:
1. Make it About a Topic, Not the Company: The number one turn off is having too strong a company presence on the infographic. It is only natural for brands that pay money to create a campaign to want as much exposure as possible. However, they must ask themselves whether you would rather have 10 logos on a graphic that only lives on their homepage, or one well-placed logo on an impactful graphic that is being shared around the world?
2. Playing it Too Safe: As social media gaffes steal headlines and damage careers, companies are very careful about what they put out, and they absolutely should be. At the same time, when constructing an infographic you have the opportunity to walk the fine line on controversial issues. Smart and controlled depictions of issues will spur debate and kick start a viral campaign. Make sure to consult with the experts before releasing anything that could be damaging.
3. Overcrowding: Cramming too many facts and angles into your infographic is a recipe for disaster. The beauty of infographics is that they take complex subjects and visually tell the story in a succinct way. In the new 140 character world, we must keep it short or loss the reader. Keep is simple.
4. Being Inaccurate and Outdated: If even one statistic is wrong or outdated, media outlets and readers alike will dismiss the graphic and create a bad taste about the brand in general. Getting it right is crucial. Citing stats from 2009 when we are heading towards 2014 will make visitors close out, not forward.
5. Poor Planning: As Thanksgiving approaches, a light bulb may go off about a great infographic that ties into turkey day. Great, right!? In theory, but the problem is that infographics will require sound research, creativity, editing and approvals. Scrambling to create something last minute will not give you appropriate lead time to promote it and let it go viral. Nobody wants to run the Thanksgiving graphic after the last bite of turkey. It is crucial to plan ahead and allow the infographic time to pick up speed.
By identifying and mitigating these five common faux pas, you will be closer to producing a flawlessly produced infographic that has the opportunity to go viral and create a huge splash for your business.
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About Infographic World:
Infographic World is a leading information graphics company based in New York City. The company, which launched in 2009, made $1.5 million in revenue in 2013 and is experiencing triple digit annual revenue growth. Infographic World’s long list of world-class clients includes 30 Fortune 500 companies who represent $1.88 trillion in revenue, such as Google, Intel, ESPN, P&G, Discovery, McGraw Hill, Pepsi, Intuit, and McCann. The company has a proven track record of creating graphics that go viral – reaching hundreds of thousands of websites as well as creating highly engaging visual communications for brands across the world. For more information please visit www.infographicworld.com.
About Justin Beegel:
Justin is the 28 year old Founder of Infographic World, a leading information graphics company based in New York City. The company, which launched in 2009, is projected to make $1.75 million in revenue in 2013 and is experiencing triple digit annual revenue growth. Justin attended Binghamton University where he earned his undergraduate degree and his MBA in entrepreneurship and marketing. Before starting Infographic World, he was the Social Media Marketing Manager for Hachette Filipacchi Media, which was the publisher for Elle, Car and Driver, and Woman’s Day, among others. He was charged with driving traffic to their websites and displayed a unique ability for creating content that went viral and increased traffic.
Justin is also the author of Infographics for Dummies, a Wiley publication, set to be launched in March 2014.
Thumbnail Image: http://tinyurl.com/nmo5rym
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