In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the visual appeal and ease of understanding content are critical. Infographics, especially vertical ones for social media stories, have become increasingly popular for conveying complex information in an accessible, visually engaging way. Vertical infographics are particularly suited for social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, where users typically engage with content on their smartphones in portrait mode.
This guide provides a step-by-step process on how to design vertical infographics that are not only informative but also optimized for engagement on social media platforms.
1. Understanding the Power of Infographics in Social Media Stories
Infographics combine visual elements such as graphics, charts, and icons with text to present data or information. When formatted correctly, they are highly shareable and can significantly increase audience engagement. On platforms like Instagram Stories, vertical content is king, and an infographic designed in a vertical format (1080px x 1920px) can captivate users more effectively than other types of content.
Key Benefits of Infographics:
- Engagement: Infographics are visually appealing, making them more likely to be shared, liked, and commented on.
- Clarity: Complex data can be broken down into digestible pieces, making it easier for the audience to understand.
- Brand Awareness: Creative infographics with brand colors, fonts, and styles can help reinforce brand identity.
2. Know Your Platform Specifications
Before diving into the design process, it’s crucial to understand the specifications of the social media platform you’re designing for. Each platform has its own preferred dimensions and technical requirements. For Instagram Stories, the ideal aspect ratio is 9:16, and the recommended resolution is 1080px x 1920px.
3. The Anatomy of a Vertical Infographic
A well-designed infographic is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Here are the key elements you should focus on:
i. Headline and Title
The headline should grab attention immediately. It must be bold and concise, summarizing the infographic’s purpose. Use large, legible fonts that stand out against the background. The title should be the first thing people see when they open the story.
- Tip: Use contrasting colors to make the title pop.
ii. Visual Hierarchy
The design should follow a clear visual hierarchy to guide the viewer’s eyes through the content. Use font size, color, and layout to establish a flow that makes the information easy to follow.
- Tip: Bold or larger fonts should represent key points or titles, while smaller text can be used for supplementary information.
iii. Branding Elements
Incorporate your brand’s colors, fonts, and logos. Branding helps create consistency and makes your content easily recognizable to your audience.
- Tip: Keep your branding subtle but visible. Too much branding can feel intrusive.
iv. Graphics and Icons
Using visuals like icons, charts, and illustrations can make your infographic easier to understand. The key is to use simple, clear, and relevant visuals that support the text rather than overwhelm the viewer.
- Tip: Use custom illustrations or icons that align with your brand identity. Tools like Canva and Adobe Illustrator offer customizable templates and icons.
v. Text and Data
The purpose of the infographic is to communicate information quickly. Use bullet points, short phrases, or data-driven facts that can be easily scanned. Avoid using large paragraphs.
- Tip: Keep text minimal—focus on the key takeaways and insights.
vi. Call to Action (CTA)
A CTA encourages users to take action, such as visiting a website, following your account, or purchasing a product. It should be clear and compelling.
- Tip: Use verbs like “Learn More,” “Swipe Up,” or “Shop Now” for effective CTAs.
4. Design Process for Vertical Infographics
i. Conceptualize the Message
Before you start designing, identify the core message of the infographic. What do you want your audience to learn, feel, or do?
- Tip: Keep it simple—focus on one idea per infographic to avoid clutter.
ii. Choose the Right Layout
Vertical infographics often follow a single-column layout, but depending on the complexity, you can incorporate multiple sections. These might include:
- Introduction
- Data/Statistics
- Key Insights
- Conclusion/CTA
Arrange these elements in a logical order so that users can naturally flow from one piece of information to the next.
- Tip: Divide the content into distinct sections to avoid overwhelming the viewer.
iii. Color Scheme
Colors play a pivotal role in the design. They should align with your brand’s visual identity, but also be used strategically to highlight key information and create contrast.
- Tip: Use 2-3 primary colors to maintain consistency. Complement these with secondary shades for accents.
For a more dynamic design, you can play with gradients and shades to make sections stand out.
iv. Typography
Typography needs to be legible and consistent. Choose one or two fonts for the entire infographic—one for headers and another for body text. Avoid using more than three font styles in a single infographic to keep things unified.
- Tip: Use bold or italicized fonts to highlight important information or quotes.
v. Incorporate Visual Elements
Now it’s time to bring in charts, graphs, and icons that represent your data visually. Infographics that include visual elements tend to get higher engagement.
- Tip: Use pie charts for percentages, bar charts for comparisons, and icons for lists or steps. Use arrows or lines to guide the viewer’s eye through the content.
vi.,Optimize for Readability
Since infographics are often viewed on mobile devices, they need to be optimized for small screens. Make sure text is large enough to be readable on a phone screen. Space out the text and visuals for easy scanning.
- Tip: Avoid dense blocks of text—use bullet points or short sentences.
5. Tools for Creating Vertical Infographics
There are a number of online tools and software that can make the design process easier. Some of the most popular include:
- Canva: A user-friendly design platform that offers customizable templates for infographics.
- Adobe Illustrator: For more advanced users, Illustrator provides greater control over custom designs.
- Venngage: An infographic creation tool with various templates for easy design.
- Piktochart: Offers templates and easy-to-use design tools, especially for creating data-driven infographics.
Each of these tools provides pre-made templates, icons, charts, and other design elements that can speed up the infographic creation process.
6. Best Practices for Designing Vertical Infographics
i. Limit Text
Less is more when it comes to text in infographics. Your audience should be able to grasp the information in a few seconds. Use concise and clear language.
ii. Consistency in Design
Keep your design consistent throughout the infographic. This includes consistent font choices, color scheme, and layout.
iii. Mobile Optimization
Since social media stories are typically viewed on mobile devices, ensure that all text is legible on smaller screens. Avoid overly intricate details that won’t translate well on a phone.
iv. Create a Flow
Design your infographic in a way that guides the viewer’s eyes from top to bottom (or left to right, depending on the design). Use directional arrows or visual cues to help guide the flow of information.
v. Test Your Design
Before finalizing your infographic, test it on various devices to ensure it’s optimized for both desktop and mobile views. You want to make sure all text and visuals are clear and readable.
7. Examples of Vertical Infographics on Social Media Stories
i. Step-by-Step Tutorials
A great example of an infographic for social media stories is a tutorial on how to use a product or service. Use visuals to illustrate each step and make the process simple for the audience.
ii. Statistics and Data Visualizations
For businesses or organizations that rely on data, infographics are an excellent way to present statistics. Bar charts, pie charts, and graphs are great tools for visualizing data in a way that is easy to understand at a glance.
iii. Event Announcements
You can use infographics to promote upcoming events. List the date, time, location, and key speakers in a visually engaging way, using icons and colors to emphasize the most important details.
iv. Promotional Offers
Use infographics to display limited-time offers, discounts, or promotions. Highlight the benefits of the offer, such as a percentage discount, and add a clear CTA like “Swipe Up to Shop Now.”
Conclusion
Vertical infographics for social media stories are an incredibly effective way to engage your audience, convey complex information, and drive action. By following best design practices, understanding the specifications of each platform, and leveraging design tools, you can create infographics that are visually stunning and highly shareable.
Remember to keep your design simple, clear, and aligned with your brand’s identity. With the right combination of typography, visuals, and layout, your vertical infographics can elevate your social media strategy and drive better engagement.