The human brain is wired to take in visual information.
One glance, and in milliseconds, your mind has captured and processed the detail. That’s just one reason why infographics gained popularity, and remain as useful today. As the old saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words.
But what makes a good infographic? Clear visuals and useful information are the key but using stats in an infographic help readers to connect with the data. In this guide, we’re going to explain the hows and whys of statistical infographics.
Why Use Statistics Terms in An Infographic?
Mark Twain may have said that ‘there are lies, damned lies, and statistics,’ but when you want to make a point, there’s no doubt about the power of numbers. Including facts in your writing is one of the best ways to make it persuasive. Here lies the importance of statistics.
Infographics are usually used to persuade viewers of a particular point of view, often to support the use of a product or service. The right infographic numbers will support your argument and lead the viewer to share your conclusion.
Types of Infographics
Something becomes an infographic when the information plays a key role in the reason and design of the image. There are at least eight different types of infographics that are distinctly different, but often the boundaries are blurred to get the point across effectively.
These types are:
- Statistical — Numbers heavy, these are used to get across a lot of mathematical information in an easy to understand format.
- Informational — This type tends to use brief phrases to convey meaning.
- Timeline — If you need to show the order of events, this one is for you.
- Process — Showing a customer how their order will be handled from beginning to end, for example.
- Comparison — To details two possibilities side by side, and show the difference. You’ll often see these when subscribing to a service to convince you to upgrade.
- Hierarchical — Organisational charts are an example of this, as are family trees. They convey interactions and responsibilities easily.
- Mini — Petite versions of an infographic, these bite-size chunks of information are growing in popularity.
All of these have the potential to include quotes & statistics for the audience so that they can be
If you’re not sure which type you need, take a look at examples in our portfolio.
You can use statistics in your infographics for the following reason: Bar too many words
Today’s audience hates texty information. Even if the text is used, make it look interesting by accompanying them with realistic and relevant figures in the form of quotes & statistics that layout the current and past trends of the market. Of course, the information has to be relevant or else any out of the context reference will throw away the attention leaving your business hanging on the edge.
Adding statistics also give a new shape to your conventional infographics design. The amalgamation of texts and colorful graphics will get a creative and exciting twist- by providing the numbers that reflect the information with more realistic fold.
Since statistics are referred to in numbers, it is very much challenging to forge with them or present them without any link or source. This will make your infographic more reliable to the audience.
How to Use Statistic Infographic?
Using statistics in any form of communication makes it more compelling, but there are some key considerations you should keep in mind.
- Understand the statistics. Don’t skim read what you’re quoting, or just copy and paste from another source. Find the original study or paper, and make sure that the stats really do say what you think they do.
- Humanize the statistics. There is a difference between saying, 25 percent of people and 1 in 4 Americans, although they mean exactly the same thing.
- People weigh the negative more heavily. You could describe your service as having a 90 percent success rate, or a 10 percent failure rate and still be accurate. But if you use the latter phrase, readers will focus on the negative message.
- Make sure that you cite your sources so readers can verify them if they want to.
Keep the underlying purpose of your infographic in mind, and use the statistics that best support that.
Using quotes in the infographic content
Famous quotations and sayings by popular individuals have always served as inspiration for us to be determined in anything we work. Using quotations in infographic is actually an informal approach because the primary function or objective is to send an inspiring message to the people. In formal contexts, this strategy is seldom used by the companies.
Using quotes & statistics in infographic is a great way to create contents that are used to protrude an ethical message to the target consumers. These two are what makes a useful infographic.
Get Your Message Across
Infographics are a great way to communicate quite complex information simply and attractively.
Using quotes & statistics in infographics is the mortar that makes the information solid. And don’t forget to include information on how to cite an infographic, when you use one on your website so if it gets shared, it drives traffic back to you.
We believe in the power of infographics. If you’d like us to design one for you, then you can request a quote today.
