Infographics are a powerful tool in digital marketing, providing a visually appealing way to convey complex information quickly and engagingly. In a world filled with overwhelming amounts of data, infographics stand out because they are easy to understand, shareable, and highly effective at driving traffic to your website. If leveraged correctly, infographics can boost your content marketing strategy, improve user engagement, and enhance your site’s SEO performance. This guide will explore how you can use infographics to drive traffic to your website, from creation to promotion.
1. Why Infographics Matter in Driving Traffic
Before diving into the practical steps, it’s important to understand why infographics are such an effective traffic-driving tool.
i. Visual Appeal
Humans are visual creatures. We process images far faster than text, which makes visual content like infographics highly effective in capturing attention. Studies show that people remember 80% of what they see, as opposed to just 20% of what they read. This makes infographics a great way to leave a lasting impression.
ii. Easy to Share
One of the biggest advantages of infographics is their shareability. Infographics are often shared on social media platforms, blogs, and email newsletters, providing a way to reach wider audiences. When people find infographics that are useful or informative, they’re more likely to share them, giving your website more exposure and driving traffic back to your site.
iii. Increased Engagement
Infographics can drive higher levels of engagement, whether it’s through likes, shares, comments, or backlinks. When your audience finds your content valuable and visually engaging, they are more likely to interact with it and share it with their networks.
iv. Boost SEO
Search engines love fresh, high-quality content. Infographics that are embedded on websites can earn backlinks from other sites that refer to your infographic as a source of useful information. These backlinks not only increase your site’s visibility but also improve its search engine rankings. Additionally, infographics can encourage organic sharing, which drives more traffic and further improves SEO.
v. Simplifies Complex Information
Infographics are perfect for breaking down complicated topics. Whether you’re explaining a process, showcasing statistics, or comparing multiple variables, an infographic simplifies it in a way that’s easy for your audience to digest. This can lead to higher engagement and longer time spent on your website, both of which are factors that search engines take into account when ranking your pages.
2. Steps to Create Infographics That Drive Traffic
To maximize the effectiveness of infographics in driving traffic, it’s essential to create them with purpose. Here are the steps to follow:
i. Choose a Relevant Topic
The first step in creating an infographic is choosing a topic that resonates with your target audience. Consider the following factors when selecting your topic:
- Audience Needs: What information does your audience need that can be presented visually? For example, if your website focuses on digital marketing, you could create an infographic explaining the evolution of SEO or social media marketing trends.
- Relevance to Your Business: The infographic should tie into your products or services. For example, a fitness website could create an infographic on “10 Quick Workouts for Busy People.”
- Trending Topics: Infographics related to current trends or news can garner more attention. For example, an infographic on the impact of AI on marketing could attract traffic from those interested in the subject.
ii. Design for Shareability
To make your infographic as shareable as possible, you need to design it with ease of sharing in mind. Keep the following tips in mind:
- Clear Branding: Your infographic should prominently feature your brand’s logo, website URL, and any other relevant branding elements. This will help ensure that when it is shared, people can trace it back to your website.
- Engaging Colors and Typography: Use bold, attention-grabbing colors and legible fonts. Ensure the design is professional, but also visually appealing and easy to follow.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Given the rise of mobile browsing, ensure that your infographic is optimized for mobile devices. This will help ensure that people can easily view and share it on social media, regardless of the platform.
iii. Create High-Quality, Informative Content
The content within the infographic should be highly informative and accurate. Use data-driven insights, statistics, and facts to provide value to your audience. Make sure that the information is easy to read and understand at a glance.
- Keep it Concise: Infographics should simplify complex information, but without overwhelming the viewer. Stick to the most important points and present them in a clear, structured format.
- Source Your Data: Whenever possible, provide sources for the data used in your infographic. This boosts your credibility and helps avoid any concerns over misinformation.
iv. Use a Call to Action (CTA)
Your infographic should include a clear call to action (CTA). A CTA invites the viewer to take the next step, whether it’s visiting your website, signing up for a newsletter, or following you on social media. The CTA should be visually distinct and simple. For example:
- “Visit [Your Website] for More Information”
- “Click Here to Download Our Full Report”
- “Follow Us for More Insights on [Topic]”
By including a CTA, you guide users toward engaging with your brand beyond just the infographic itself.
v. Ensure Proper Sizing
Size your infographic to fit different platforms. A long, vertical infographic is great for websites, blogs, and Pinterest, while a more square or horizontal format might be better suited for Twitter or Instagram. Be mindful of each platform’s limitations to ensure that your infographic looks good no matter where it appears.
3. Ways to Promote Infographics for Maximum Traffic
Creating an infographic is only half the battle. To drive traffic, you need to effectively promote it. Here are some ways to get your infographic in front of the right people:
i. Share on Social Media
Social media is one of the easiest ways to share infographics. Platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are perfect for visually-driven content.
- Pinterest: Infographics are extremely popular on Pinterest, so it’s important to create a pinnable version. Make sure the image is long and vertical, which is more engaging for Pinterest users.
- Twitter & Facebook: Post your infographic with an engaging caption and hashtags related to your target audience. Encourage sharing by asking questions or inviting discussion.
- LinkedIn: Share infographics on LinkedIn with a professional tone, particularly if the infographic is business or industry-related.
ii. Embed Infographics on Your Blog and Website
Infographics can significantly improve the user experience on your blog or website. By embedding them within relevant blog posts, you can increase the time users spend on your site and encourage them to explore other content. You can also optimize the post around your infographic to improve SEO.
- Make sure your blog post or website page includes a description of the infographic and how it adds value. Include relevant keywords in the post to optimize for search engines.
iii. Email Newsletters
Incorporate infographics into your email marketing campaigns. Infographics are highly engaging and can drive more click-throughs than plain text or traditional images. Share your latest infographic in your newsletter, along with a brief explanation and a CTA linking to your website.
iv. Submit to Infographic Directories
There are numerous infographic submission directories like Visual.ly and Infographic Journal where you can submit your infographic for greater exposure. These directories often have a large following and provide opportunities for backlinks, which can improve your SEO.
v. Collaborate with Influencers and Bloggers
Reach out to influencers, bloggers, or industry experts who might be interested in sharing your infographic. An endorsement or mention from a well-known figure can lead to an increase in shares, backlinks, and traffic.
vi. Leverage Paid Advertising
If you have the budget, you can use paid advertising to promote your infographic. Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram offer paid advertising options that allow you to target your audience specifically. A well-targeted ad campaign can lead to significant traffic growth.
vii. Pitch to Media and Journalists
If your infographic covers a newsworthy or trending topic, pitch it to media outlets or journalists. Many websites are looking for new, engaging content, and a compelling infographic could get picked up and shared with their audience.
viii. Get Backlinks
Backlinks are essential for SEO, and infographics are an excellent way to earn them. Reach out to bloggers or industry websites and offer your infographic as a resource that they can embed in their own posts, giving you credit and a link back to your website.
4. Track Performance and Refine Strategy
Once you’ve created and promoted your infographic, it’s important to track its performance. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor how much traffic your infographic is driving to your website. Pay attention to metrics like:
- Click-through Rate (CTR): How many people clicked the link in the infographic back to your website.
- Engagement Rate: How many people interacted with the infographic (likes, shares, comments).
- Backlinks: Track the number of backlinks your infographic earns.
- Bounce Rate: Analyze whether users who come to your website from the infographic stay or leave quickly.
Based on the data, refine your strategy for future infographics to improve their performance.
Conclusion
Infographics are a valuable tool in driving traffic to your website. By creating visually appealing, informative, and shareable content, you can increase user engagement, improve SEO, and boost brand awareness. The key is to combine high-quality design and relevant, valuable information with a solid promotion strategy. If executed correctly, infographics can be a game-changer in your overall digital marketing strategy, leading to increased traffic, conversions, and business growth.