The annual report is like a report card of a company, detailing its financial health and share records to its shareholders, investors and media. Also, employees get a glimpse of the company’s financial condition. Several viewing and absorbing of data occur when the report is presented. So why not turn our text-only annual reports into something visual for easy understanding! Why not try annual report infographic for a change?
Since annual reports are mainly about graphs, charts, percentages and numbers, plain texts don’t bring out that desired impact on the target audience. Lengthy reports give the viewers a visual fatigue and they tend to give it just a half-hearted read.
But with the gradual shift from written annual reports to digital ones, integrating engaging visuals is the best way to retain the viewers. When the charts and graphs are presented through catchy visuals and illustrations, it creates a zing. And since pictures are more effective missive than plain texts and numbers, the information becomes more understandable.
Infographics, when incorporated into a report can augment the appearance of it and make it more acceptable in the community. And infographics are highly shareable, link worthy and attract new traffic. Annual report infographic can rake in more views than you usually get. As the stats say, image-rich contents get a whopping 94% more views than their text counterpart.
1. Two or Three Critical Data Points are Enough
Just focus on the information you want to convey to your target audience. Is it the number of shares your company has, or is it the yearly turnover and revenue. Or is it the ROI you want to display as your USP to your prospective investors?
Just focus on the most significant data and convert that piece of data into an infographic. You can either create a whole infographic report. Or can incorporate short graphics or illustrations supporting a relevant data.
2. Compelling Graphics go a Long Way
Detailed annual reports contain statistics and stuff like that. Supporting graphics make the stats more understandable, as well as visually engaging. When the onlookers look at both the two things side by side, the impact generated is immense.
Graphics changes the look and feel of an annual report. Of course, that amplifies their aesthetic quotient.
3. Leverage the Power of Icons and Illustrations
Leverage the power of icons and illustrations to help your audience take a data-driven decision. Infographics are all about convincing icons and graphics that improve the likelihood of engagement and comprehension.
With the fading attention span we all have now, infographics are perfect. The audience can just scan through the document and get the necessary information through the icons.
4. Finding Right Narrative is the Key
An annual report is a serious business. The conversion must be diligent enough not to hamper its seriousness. Convincing visual narratives provide an apprehensive communication to everyone.
Any spikes of stats you want to highlight? Any data you want to emphasize? Or what are the major events that took place in your company in the last year worth mentioning? Find the narrative and convert it into an eyecandy infographic.
5. A Subtle Touch of Humor
Infographics are bright data visualizations that have a pinch of humor in them. A recurring motif or a visual metaphor can be applied to an infographic that makes it all the more fascinating.
This is exactly what a business person must turn to while creating an infographic style annual report. The design gets more accessible and generates a collective interest.
6. Align with Your Brand Identity
A business is a brand overall. And a brand has a brand identity. If you want to create a robust visual impact with your annual infographic report, abide by the brand identity. Because the more you upheld your brand, the more power you give it.
Focus on the fonts, color scheme and other design elements that make your report a marketing collateral.
7. Incorporate Interactive Features
Infographics add depth and nuance to a generic report. And when interactivity is added to it, that takes the design to the next level. With interactive functionality, you can make your audience interact with the report and feed on the necessary information.
Heavy data-driven reports can be toned down with interactive features for the audience to drill down on information. This is considered to be a great user experience altogether. This small move can get you the accolade of creating the best annual report design in your fraternity.
8. Lay your Information out on a Timeline
If you have a number of notable things happened in your company last year? You might showcase all of them through a timeline design. Be it a static design or an interactive, timeline layout catches attention to a great extent.
Because the linear structure in which the information is laid out is coherent and digestible by the onlooker. Infographic annual report, when presented in a timeline layout works great to display a series of big-league events in a company.
9. Flat Designs are Professional
Flat designs give a professional look to your design thus making it acceptable to your audience. Flat designs are minimal and are devoid of extra drop shadows and unnecessary styling. This works best when presenting your annual report to your investors and shareholders.
10. The Right Metrics create the Right Impact
Collect some key metrics from the previous year. These metrics would establish your business in front of your investors and shareholders. Also finding relevant metrics will help in designing the report. For eg, if the revenue percentage has grown, or how many social media posts have been done, all these can be shown through compelling graphics.
11. Typography
Work upon the typography. Engage bold and big letters if you don’t have enough images or statistics. Apt typographical measures can at least make your information seen and read by others. They are also a critical element for any design, typefaces being effectual in the creation of bold character formations.
With the right color and right typography, you can wow your audience with your brilliantly crafted annual report infographic.
12. Financials are the Showstoppers
The prime function of an annual report is to indicate the financials of your company to the interested parties. Seeing the monetary figures, the investors gauge the stability of the company. So don’t ever ignore the financials. These are your KPIs that must be given the maximal emphasis in the design.
Marketing annual reports can be used for sales pitch as well. Circle the numbers, increase the font size, lay out with a graph/chart that best displays the where your revenue came from and where have you invested it.
13. A Professional is a Professional after all
There are numerous free online software that would get you your infographic annual report within minutes. But if you give importance to quality and precision, you better choose a professional graphic designing company for the task. What makes the difference between a generic template and a professional agency is the quality of work, as well as greater creativity.
An infographic report template or a freelancer can limit your creative thoughts to a certain extent. But an agency lets your thoughts fly high. With custom design, you can meet your specific needs. And annual reports vary from one company to the other, so there’s no one-size-fits-all concept working in this case. Many DIY templates won’t ever allow backlink to your website which can adversely affect your integrity.
The Final Takeaway
Does the list raise your eyebrows? Peace out!Going creative is not pricey, it’s just about investing time and attention to the right details. With these annual report design tips, break away from the traditional yearly reports and come up with something that easily engages your team members, your investors and shareholders alike.
With this yearly document, you can make a bold statement. So don’t let the opportunity fly and create a stellar infographic style annual report that maximizes the impact you always craved for. Who knows, your efforts might be considered as annual report design inspiration within your niche.
