Unlocking the secrets and techniques of knowledge storytelling in 2021

We’re seeing the rising significance of storytelling with information in 2021—primarily due to the quantity of knowledge being shared with audiences over the previous 12 months.

However information must make sense to folks if it’s to result in higher engagement and elevated conversions. That’s the place visualization is available in.

In accordance with Venngage’s current research, information storytelling has turn into a preferred instrument in a corporation’s arsenal, with 48 p.c of entrepreneurs creating information visualizations weekly.

Supply: Venngage

On this article, we’ll share why companies are turning to information storytelling to inform their model tales and to seize the creativeness of their clients.

Why is storytelling with information necessary?

Knowledge-driven storytelling combines information and graphics to inform a compelling story. It additionally offers the info extra context so audiences can perceive it higher.

The visible illustration of knowledge lies can present readers patterns and connections they might not have deduced on their very own.

That’s what makes them such a essential instrument in a small enterprise’ arsenal—information graphics may also help companies observe their efficiency and set objectives.

Varieties of knowledge visualizations for storytelling

There are quite a few visible instruments obtainable to render information—they spotlight why information visualization is necessary.

A few of the varieties of knowledge visualizations for storytelling embrace:

• Bar Graphs
• Bubble Charts
• Histograms
• Infographics
• Line Charts
• Maps
• Pie Charts
• Scatter Plots

Every visualization method serves a objective. Bar graphs and charts are perfect for creating comparisons, whereas line charts present linear relationships.

Maps present geographical information, like this instance concerning the languages of the world.

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Pie charts share information in line with set classes, whereas scatter plots present relationships between a number of variables.

To grasp which charts and graphs to make use of to inform your information story, you may seek advice from the under infographic.

Supply: Venngage

5 benefits of knowledge storytelling

What benefits can companies anticipate when storytelling via information?

These are the questions that entrepreneurs and designers ask themselves earlier than enterprise such a design-heavy challenge.

However there are a number of makes use of for information graphics that make them value investing effort and time into.

1. Gives deeper evaluation into info

Should you take a look at the kinds of visualizations described above, you may see how they supply better perception into info.

A textual content publish or report can do the identical work however would require far more labor from the reader—growing the probabilities of them leaving your web page for shorter content material. 

A graphic, however, tells the reader the identical info in a a lot shorter time. This improves engagement charges and conversions.

Visuals can even convey patterns simply permitting the reader to research info shortly by connecting the dots themselves.

2. Promotes problem-solving

Knowledge tales are succinct supplies that enhance the problem-solving course of and enhance productiveness.

It’s because decision-makers don’t should learn reams of textual content or sift via info on their very own—the graphics do the work for them and pace up problem-solving.

3. Engages inner and exterior audiences

Content material advertising is geared towards engagement—and that’s why robust visuals that catch the attention are so necessary. 

Visuals are extra engaging than blocks of textual content—and information graphics which can be well-made much more so than others.

It’s because an information story is compelling in itself—numbers, percentages, relationships, and connections are all causes for a reader to cease what they’re doing and take a look at your graphic.

In consequence, you improve visitors and views to your content material and your web site, all whereas selling a good impression of your model. 

4. Improves reporting talents

Studies are half and parcel of enterprise life. An ideal information story is vital to a memorable and highly effective evaluation, like this straightforward however elegant finance infographic template.

Supply: Venngage

There’s a lot information concerned in creating experiences—if they’re articulated via numbers and tables, your viewers can be misplaced, and worse, bored.

That’s the reason nice information storytelling is so necessary in report-making, not simply to maintain folks however to inform story.

5. Broad attain

Graphics will be repurposed in a number of methods and for quite a lot of channels. Social media platforms like Twitter, that are chockful of knowledge, require a robust visible to get consideration.

That spotlight will be generated via information storytelling. Chew-sized visuals arrest the viewer as they’re scrolling via their feed—they’re additionally simple to soak up and extra shareable.

Visualized information makes for nice content material whether or not for social channels, newsletters, weblog posts, or web site touchdown pages.

An ideal graphic has the potential to go viral, widening the attain of your content material and affect.

Knowledge storytelling greatest practices

Paying heed to the significance of visualizing information means following just a few greatest practices. You may’t create visuals with out having a objective. 

You additionally want to know the subject material and the wants of your viewers so your information tells the story you need it to and engages your readers.

Listed here are the six greatest practices for creating visualizations that can enhance buyer retention.

Create visible hierarchies

Hierarchies are essential for folks to learn and interpret your information. Visible hierarchies are a key element of knowledge storytelling as a result of they assist readers create context and patterns.

Because you don’t wish to write an excessive amount of textual content to elucidate your graphic, hierarchies are the easiest way to convey context. Listed here are the perfect methods to construct visible hierarchies and context:

• Placement of components from prime to backside
• Grouped components
• Various colours
• Various visible kinds
• Rising font sizes

Customers will be capable of deduce the connection between information and components utilizing the above strategies.

Construct belief into information visuals

The advantages of visualization are fully misplaced when you can’t elicit belief within the folks viewing your info.

After we put statistics collectively for research at Venngage, we survey a whole bunch, if not hundreds, of respondents earlier than starting the design course of.

That is essential to keep away from cherry-picking information, which will be deceptive, as this graph reveals, and unintentionally designing dangerous infographics.

Supply: Venngage

It’s at all times greatest to compile information from trusted sources which can be unbiased. Confirm that information with no less than two different sources so you realize that the info is consultant of the knowledge.

Solely then must you transfer into the design part. When creating your visuals, keep away from distortion as a lot as attainable by following these strategies:

• Select charts and graphs that fit your information
• Your visible ought to embrace a scale to provide context to the info
• Baselines for information ought to at all times begin at zero
• Each axes ought to seem within the graphic and be equal in measurement
• Use all related information within the visible; don’t depart necessary information out

Measurement performs a significant component in trust-building—use similar-sized visible components, like icons, that may be scaled on a graph. 

Present modifications in information via measurement and area however each ought to be equal between all visible components.

Hold visualizations easy

Pulling collectively information requires an excessive amount of effort and time. It may be tempting to design visuals that specific as a lot info as attainable.

However that mindset can negate the effectiveness of visually representing information, and overwhelm your viewers.

Visualizations ought to be easy and straightforward to know—not solely is that this a model design development in 2021, but it surely retains readers extra engaged, like this chart we created.

Supply: Venngage

Whereas a fancy visualization could look refined and attention-grabbing, in case your viewers spends an excessive amount of time attempting to know it, they’re going to finally hand over and transfer on.

A badly-designed graphic, just like the one under, may also give readers a damaging impression of your model and product, dropping you extra potential clients.

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Knowledge graphics ought to be easy sufficient to know at a look—that’s on a regular basis you need to get customers’ consideration.

Don’t overuse textual content

In case your information story wants extra textual content to know it, the visible isn’t well-designed. Whereas there must be some textual content within the graphic, it shouldn’t dominate the picture.

You may at all times write a weblog or social media publish round your findings, however your readers shouldn’t be misplaced with out the context.

The advantages of data-driven storytelling lie in the truth that your info will be communicated via the visible medium.

Should you’re counting on textual content to do all of the speaking, your graphic is missing. Use graphic components like icons and shapes, and break your information down into bite-sized parts so it’s simple to convey.

Use colours correctly in visualizations

Colours have so much to do with the significance of knowledge visualization storytelling—they can be utilized to spotlight key info in a graphic and increase the info story you are attempting to inform.

However that doesn’t imply you utilize all the colours within the palette in your graphic. Once more, too many colours, like an excessive amount of info, can overwhelm the viewers.

On the flip facet, through the use of too few colours, you may mistakenly create connections between information that aren’t right.

Use your model colours in your visualizations, and increase them with two or three colours. Strive to not exceed 5 colours or 5 hues of a single colour. 

Should you’re questioning what varieties of colours work collectively, you should use this record to decide on colour combos.

Use muted colours in your graphics, as a substitute of daring ones, as that’s what is on-trend in the intervening time and can make your visuals extra related to audiences.

Spotlight information in visuals

As a lot as you need customers to know the info as you current it to them in a visible, you goal to seize their consideration as shortly as attainable.

Even the only visuals want some highlights to attract the attention and it’s a good way to keep up the integrity of your information story.

Use a spotlight colour to make related information stand out or improve the font measurement or icon measurement to do the identical.

By spotlighting crucial info, you may be extra profitable in attracting consideration to your visible and telling your information story. 

Companies can leverage the significance of knowledge storytelling

We’ve highlighted how information storytelling could make a distinction in enterprise development in 2021.

Graphics share insights and correlations that audiences could have ignored, whereas nonetheless being compelling instruments that have interaction and convert clients.

Ronita Mohan is a content material marketer on the on-line infographic and design platform, Venngage. Ronita frequently writes about advertising, design, and small companies.