A fabulous infographic by Voltier Digital.  I just could resist posting this.  And if this really knocks youir socks off, at the end it gives directons on how to create youir own!  Enjoy!

Another reason why inbound marketing is winning is because it costs less than traditional marketing. Why try to buy your way in when consumers aren’t even paying attention? Here are some stats from the infographic below.

• 44% of direct mail is never opened. That’s a waste of time, postage and paper.
• 86% of people skip through television commercials.
• 84% of 25 to 34 year olds have clicked out of a website because of an “irrelevant or intrusive ad.”
• The cost per lead in outbound marketing is more than for inbound marketing.

Inbound marketing focuses on earning, not buying, a person’s attention, which is done through social media and engaging content, such as blogs, podcasts and white papers. This content is interesting, informative and adds value, creating a positive connection in the eyes of the consumer, thus making him more likely to engage your brand and buy the product. So it costs less and has better a ROI.

This infographic from Voltier Digital highlights the differences between the two kinds of marketing. Let us know your opinions in the comments below.

Infographic courtesy of Voltier Digital

The How 2′s

by justinebarratt

10 tips for better infographics ( IG’s )

The use of infographics to communicate complex information simply and quickly picked up momentum in 2005 with the popularity of Digg, Reddit and other social media aggregators. It’s become almost too-popular as a way for bloggers to liven up posts, media to add impact to news stories and for content marketing experts to generate viral content.

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Effective PR Newswire IG shows more multimedia = more views, up to +77%

1. Keep it simple: if there was ever a need for the KISS principle, IGs are it. Complex or over-complicated visuals are never effective.
2. Check your facts: incorrect info decreases your credibility. Always fact check and proofread.
3. Design counts: simplicity is a virtue when it comes to effective visual communication and bad design is… well… bad. Good design, strong headlines, choice of type, effective layout and use of white space are all essential.
4. Color works: use color for maximum impact but don’t use it just to be colorful. Know which emotions colors convey but, most important, trust your gut instinct and first impressions.
5. Numbers must add up: surprisingly, the numbers are occasionally wrong or don’t communicate what you want to say. Too many numbers can also be confusing. Check them carefully.
6. Enhance narrative: make sure the visual adds to your narrative. Just like TV, a good story is even better with a great visual.
7. Keep text brief: the best visual presentations use only essential text. Stick to the minimum number of words to tell the story compellingly.
8. Size matters: keep the size of your file to the smallest possible for fast downloads but retain the quality of your image for best impact.
9. Don’t overdo it: use visuals sparingly and don’t use an IG in every post or on every page. Like most things, too much of a good thing… is a bad thing.
10. Credit where credit is due: respect copyright and always credit your IG sources. It’s the right thing to do.