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Ryan Robinson: How to be a Marketing One-Man-Band
Some marketers work in teams, and some take a more solo approach. Entrepreneur and content marketer Ryan Robinson presents slick, personable, and engaging content directed towards an audience of budding entrepreneurs and small startups. This infographic walks freelancers through how to calculate their hourly rate. It drills down deep into the process of freelancing. It also guides readers through the intricacies of breaking out on their own in a visually engaging way.Datapine: Exposing the Use and Abuse of Data Visualization
Using data visualization doesn’t mean you have to create the data visuals yourself. Datapine is database software that helps users analyze data without the need for being a genius number cruncher. Their blog features a data visualization strand where they dive into the world of data presentation. Furthermore, they consider how it can be efficiently used, what it means, and even how it can be misused. Their blog also makes a good trade-in “Top 10” infographics. Also, it uses a simple word cloud in chalkboard format, adding interest to what is, after all, a blog about data. No offense intended; we love data too!Slate: Turning Confusion into Clarity
Online current affairs magazine Slate knows how to use data visualization to weave a compelling story. Their infographic on the complex web of relationships in the Syrian conflict was a great way of simplifying an eye-watering complicated affair.Podio: Great Minds Don’t Think Alike
This infographic from Podio nailed it. We are all fascinated by how famous creative artists from history produced such fantastic work. They color-coded the daily routines of great artists into a handy reference grid. By doing so, it is easy to compare the routines of figures as diverse as Mozart, Dickens, and Benjamin Franklin.Austria Solar: Illuminating Data
This example shows that when it comes to data visualization, the sky is the limit. Or, more specifically, the sun’s the limit. Energy research organization Austria Solar drew on their own USP to create a data visualization video that would be viewed over 100,000 views on Vimeo.Conclusion
What do these examples tell us about how to boost our storytelling prowess through data visualizations?It’s All About the Execution
If we look at the Ryan Robinson example, it’s the level of thought and detail that went into his freelancer rate calculation infographic that knocked it out of the park. After carefully breaking down the steps involved in calculating earnings, he set about presenting them in a visually engaging way. Furthermore, his use of beautiful artwork helped turn his points into something tangible (and shareable). Also, you should consider using a free infographic creation tool like Visme or Canva to transform your content into a compelling visual story.Contextualize the Data
Datapine creates engaging stories by diving deep into the fascinating world of data presentation and drawing out the stories that help us make sense of our information-drenched age. They show that you don’t have to create visuals yourself to use them in your storytelling. However, by contextualizing existing data visualizations, you can create greater engagement with your audience.Clarify Any Complexity
Slate took a famously complex subject (the Syrian civil war) with a high level of media interest and found an innovative way to offer insights for readers. The grid system they used to show political relations worked similarly to Podio’s creative routines graphics. Also, they used visual referencing to expose the relationships that exist in complex data. If you want to illuminate complex data in such a way, consider hiring a designer to do the heavy lifting for you. Then, publish it on your blog with accompanying copy. Sites like Fiverr and People Per Hour offer you affordable creatives who can get the job done creatively and efficiently. We hope these tips and examples have demonstrated how data visualizations can craft compelling stories that take your marketing to the next level. The point is not to copy these examples but to use them as a jumping-off point for your content. Ultimately, success in marketing is about the unique stories you tell. Data visualization is a powerful way to make those stories come alive.- Guest Author – Nabeena Mali, Head of Marketing at AppInstitute, a DIY app builder for small businesses.