Using Infographics for Business Reporting

Last week we looked at Big Data, and how important analytical and communications skills are to businesses trying to turn numbers into useful information. A current trend is the use of Infographics, a visual communication method that represents key facts with statistics and graphic images to tell a story or make a point.

David Beckman, Executive Director, Pisces Foundation, in writing about Infographics said;

"It is hard to miss the rise of the infographic as a form of communication. Infographics are part of a broader trend toward greater data visualization, which has many forms connected by a shared desire to translate data into usable information that can be digested quickly. They are all over the place. Virtually all major news outlets use them. They are the subject of blogs, including one devoted to "cool" infographics and one that features a new infographic every day, titled not unsurprisingly, The Daily Infographic. There is even a website that uses an infographic to chart the rise and use of, you guessed it, infographics."

Certainly governments use Infographics, newspapers and special interests groups, but don't be surprised to see them turn up in the boardroom. Brenda Van Camp, International Head of Marketing Strategy & Client Insight, Christie's, commented, "Breaking away from the standard presentation tools we have used in the past really helps everyone engage with, and be excited about what we are doing."

One idea is to use an Infographic at the beginning of a report instead of an Executive Summary. Make sure the graphics you choose are suitable for your corporate culture, otherwise you may reduce the impact of your presentation.  Here is a blog about DYI Infographics if you decide to design in-house.

Learn more about using Infographics in Business - SlideShare presentation below by Zabisco - it may give you some ideas on using Infographics to communicate your business data or proposal.

Infographics - A Business Tool, by Marcus Marritt, Zabisco from Zabisco Digital


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