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Introduction

We are living in the age of information. Outside of work, a person consumes on average 100,500 words a day. Due to this high level of consumption, many people have low motivation to finish a long blog post on a website. One way to motivate readers and guide them through an article is with the addition of graphic design.


Why include graphics in your blog?

The eye is naturally drawn to images. Kids choose books with pictures because it activates their imagination. Adults do not lose this attraction with age. Wharton School of Business studied two groups listening to the same content. One group listened to a verbal presentation while the other group was shown visuals along with the presentation. Within the first group, only about half of the people were persuaded by the speaker’s points, while 67% of the second group was persuaded. The researchers claim it is due to the presence of visuals.

Not only do graphics draw attention, but they also make an impression. On average people remember something they see more than something they hear or read. People remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see. When a blog’s message can be associated with visuals, the reader is far more likely to remember the intended message.


5 Types of Graphics

 

1. Infographics

Infographics are a catch-all type of graphic. They are graphics that visualize information such as statistics and concepts. Generally, a single infographic will serve to answer a broader question. It can include things like maps, icons, diagrams, and comparisons, all of which support the overarching claim.

Using an infographic can boost a blog post’s “share-ability”. Since it represents the message of the blog in a visual form, people are more likely to share the infographic on various platforms. This, in turn, brings in more traffic to a blog. In addition to appealing to more readers, infographics guide the reader through the points made in the post. The very nature of an infographic catches the reader’s eye while driving home the blog’s message.

2. Data Visualization

Presenting data in a blog can become bland. One way to combat that is through the integration of charts. Charts are infographics that aid in the conceptualization of data or ideas. A blog with a chart is 258% more likely to be revisited by the reader than a blog without. People like to be able to interpret data, and a chart provides them with the ability to do so.

There are a variety of charts to choose from. Choosing a chart is a matter of understanding what data is a priority for your blog. A Venn Diagram or a T-chart can help the reader see differences between two factors. These can be beneficial when writing a comparison blog. Plots, pie charts, bar charts, and the like present data sets in an interpretable way, limiting long paragraphs full of numbers.

In a blog full of data, charts can be the key to understanding for the reader. The summarization of data will get them past the details and on to the main point of the post.

3. Typographic

People fill entire Pinterest boards with inspiring quotes. Why not give them one that ties them to your blog? In a sea of words, calling out one phrase can increase mindfulness for the reader. A typographic graphic is the easiest to achieve and will increase viewer engagement with a blog. They catch the eye and ease it into reading further.

Typographic images need to be simple, eye-catching, and aid in the overarching point. These graphics can be a great tool to connect different paragraphs within your blog. To optimize the use of typographic graphics, it is important to pull buzz words from your content. This can look like a block quote that you want to highlight or even just two or three words that help you get your message across.

4. Step By Step

When describing a process, it can be easy to lose your reader in the details. Creating a visualization of a process or timeline can provide the reader with clarity. Giving them steps in the order in which they should be accomplished will especially help visual learners.

5. Animated Gifs

GIFs are everywhere. Graphics can no longer stay static and stand out amidst the movement. In a blog post, animated GIFs can boost the amount of time the reader is willing to spend on the page.

Animated GIFs can take many forms. Just like infographics they can serve many purposes. You can animate graphs to show fluctuation in data points. Moving word pictures can aid in getting a key point across and will make the typography stand out. If your blog’s aim is to motivate another action on your website, an animated arrow or something similar can provide the necessary motivation.


Conclusion

In the age of information overload, graphics can motivate readers to make it through a blog from beginning to end. Since our minds are naturally drawn to visuals, integrating thoughtful graphics into your future blog posts can maintain the attention span of your readers and make sure your message is being heard.


Sources

https://blog.hubspot.com/agency/science-brains-crave-infographics
https://www.siegemedia.com/creation/infographics
https://smartblogger.com/blog-graphics/
https://www.quicksprout.com/types-of-images-you-should-use-within-your-blog-posts/