Brand & messaging
How to Make an Infographic: Step-by-Step Guide with Examples
A plain-English definition, seven types with small business examples, a 6-step method built on a 5-block structure, the contrast and mobile test we ran on our own colors, and how to use it to earn links.
Learning how to make an infographic comes down to one idea, written before it's designed, laid out in a clear reading order and tested on a phone. A good infographic turns one data point into a story people get in seconds, save, share and act on.
We analyzed Google's first page and asked ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini. They cover steps and tools, but almost none talk about color contrast, how it looks on a phone or how to describe it for people who can't see it. That's what you get here, with a test we ran on our own brand colors.
On this page
What is an infographic (and what it isn't)
An infographic is a way to show with visuals what would take a long paragraph to explain with words.
An infographic is a visual representation that combines short text, data and graphic elements (icons, illustrations, charts and maps) to explain a topic quickly and in order. It works on its own, without a separate text to explain it, and follows a clear reading path, top to bottom or left to right.
What it isn't: a pretty poster or a standalone chart. A bar chart shows data; an infographic arranges it to tell something. And it isn't a brochure: if you need three topics, that's three infographics. It's one of the most shareable formats in our branding guides, as long as it says one thing well.
Types of infographics, with small business examples
Choose among the types of infographics by what you want to say: a number, a process, a comparison or a change over time.
| Type | What it's for | Small business example |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical | Make a number land | An online store: results of its customer survey |
| Informational | Explain a concept | A bike shop: which frame size fits your height |
| Process | Show steps | A hair salon: caring for color in 4 steps |
| Timeline | Put dates in order | A CPA firm: the quarter's tax calendar |
| Comparison | Choose between options | A realtor: renting vs. buying, cost by cost |
| Geographic | Show data by area | A tour company: routes by region |
| List | Share tips | A career coach: 7 job interview mistakes |
These infographic examples have one thing in common: each answers a question the customer already asks. That's the difference between an infographic people save and one they scroll past, and it's where good infographic ideas come from.
Infographic examples: 3 classics and what to copy from each
The best infographic examples to study are the old ones, because they work with no templates, no stock icons and no design tricks.
| Example | What it showed | What to copy |
|---|---|---|
| John Snow's cholera map (1854) | Each cholera death in Soho marked on a street map, clustered around a public water pump on Broad Street | One question, one picture: the map answers "where?" in seconds |
| Florence Nightingale's diagram (1858) | Causes of death among British soldiers in the Crimean War: most died of disease, not wounds | One color per category and one clear contrast, made for politicians who didn't read statistical reports |
| Charles Minard's map of Napoleon in Russia (1869) | Army size, distance, temperature, location, direction and dates in a single image | Edward Tufte considers it probably the best statistical graphic ever drawn: copy its discipline, not its complexity |
Notice what none of them has: decoration or filler text. Each one answers a question, uses color to separate things and puts the main point where the eye lands first. That's the 5-block structure above, built without a computer.
For your business, the equivalent might be a map of where your customers live, a before-and-after with two bars or a line with three key dates.
How to make an infographic in 6 steps
To create an infographic that works, pick a single idea, write the copy before designing, arrange it in five blocks and check it on a phone. This is how to create an infographic without starting from a random template.
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Pick one data point or question
One idea per infographic. Write it in a sentence, the way you would in a creative brief: who it's for, what they need to understand and what they should do next.
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Write the copy before you design
Headline, one line of context, 3 to 5 short blocks, the call to action and the source. If it runs past about 200 words, cut it or split it.
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Choose the type and the format
Process, comparison, timeline or list, depending on the content. Vertical at 800 pixels wide for your site, or a 1080 × 1350 carousel for social media.
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Set a palette with real contrast
Two or three brand colors, one of them very dark for text. Check the contrast of every pairing before you use it.
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Design with hierarchy
Headline biggest, numbers in your accent color, body text at 24 pixels or more on an 800-pixel canvas. Leave space between blocks and use icons that explain, not decorate. That's most of what good infographic design is.
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Publish it with alt text
Upload it to your site with short alt text and the full content as text below it. That way Google, AI assistants and screen reader users can all read it.
What are the parts of an infographic?
The parts of an infographic are five: a headline with the data point or promise, one line of context, a body of 3 to 5 blocks, the call to action and the source with your brand. If a part doesn't fit, the idea is too big for one piece.
How to make an infographic in Canva?
For how to make an infographic in Canva, search "infographic" in the editor, pick a template by its structure and swap in your copy, colors and icons. Download it as PNG for the web and social media, or as PDF for print. If it's going on a wall, follow the same rules as poster design: few words and type you can read from across the room.
Marketing infographic: turn one data point into a story
A marketing infographic doesn't inform for the sake of it: it starts with a number, explains why it matters and ends by saying what to do.
The formula is data, consequence, action. "[X]% of our customers book from their phone," with the number pulled from your own analytics, is the data. "So your menu has to read on a 6-inch screen" is the consequence. "Get your mobile-ready menu" is the action. Without the third part, you have a fact sheet, not a marketing piece.
Can an infographic earn backlinks?
Yes, if it gives people something worth citing: your own data, a visual guide that doesn't exist yet or a sharp comparison. Publish it on your site, offer an embed code with a link to your page and send it to people who write about the topic; that's how you earn real backlinks. Skip the old trick, though: Google's spam policies flag keyword-rich links hidden in widgets that get distributed across many sites.
AI infographic generator or prompts? Copy-paste prompts
An AI infographic generator saves time on structure and copy; the final design and every number are yours to check.
Act as an information designer. I want an infographic for [business] aimed at [customer]. The idea is: [data point or question, with its source]. Write the copy in 5 blocks (headline with the data point, one line of context, 3 to 5 points of 15 words max, call to action and source) and tell me which type fits best: process, comparison, timeline or list.
Here's the copy of my infographic: [copy]. Write a one-sentence alt text and a long description of 80 to 120 words that tells the same story to someone who can't see the image. Then tell me which block you'd cut if it had to fit in one 1080 × 1350 image.
For the long description, follow the W3C's complex images tutorial: a short alt text that identifies the image and a full description right next to it. A ready infographic template won't do that part for you.
Can ChatGPT make infographics? What to check before you post one
Yes, ChatGPT can make infographics now, but you still have to check every number and finish the design in an editor.
In TidBITS' May 2026 test of ChatGPT Images 2.0, the tool turned an article into an infographic with correct figures and correct text. The same test caught a pie chart that misled by leaving out other products, plus a label that was too long and projections in the wrong place.
The bigger catch is editing. TidBITS reports that fixing one detail regenerates the whole image, and each extra try can degrade other parts. Its workaround was to ask for a layout sketch, convert it to an editable format such as SVG or HTML and CSS, and make the changes there.
A workflow that holds up:
- Write the 5 blocks of copy yourself, with sources, or use the first prompt above.
- Ask ChatGPT for a layout draft, not for the final art.
- Check each number against your source, one by one.
- Rebuild the final version in an editor, so you can change a word without touching the rest.
- Add alt text and the text version below the image.
Test your pairings in our color palette generator before you design, so you pick colors that stand apart and stay readable.
Frequently asked questions about infographics
Is there an infographic template in Word?
Yes, but Word isn't the easiest place for it. You can build a simple infographic in Word with SmartArt graphics, shapes and icons, and Microsoft's template site has some infographic designs, though most of them are made for PowerPoint. In practice, PowerPoint or Google Slides with a vertical slide works better, because moving blocks around is much easier. Export the result as PNG for the web or PDF for print.
How can I create an infographic for free?
You can create an infographic for free in Canva, Adobe Express, Piktochart, Venngage or Genially, which all offer free plans with limits on templates, downloads or watermarks. Google Slides and PowerPoint work too if you set a tall vertical canvas. For most small businesses, Canva's free plan is enough. Before you design, check that the free plan lets you download a high-quality file without the tool's branding on top.
What is the best program to create infographics?
The best program to create infographics depends on what you're making. For a static image for your site or social media, Canva or Adobe Express are the fastest. For interactive pieces people click through, Genially fits better. For charts built from a spreadsheet, data tools like Flourish or Infogram do the math for you. Pick by the final format, not by the number of templates.
What is a good infographic template?
A good infographic template matches the structure of your story, not your colors: a numbered flow for steps, two columns for a comparison, a vertical line for a timeline. It leaves room for a headline, three to five blocks and a source line, and it uses big text. Swap every color, icon and photo for your own; an untouched template is easy to spot and makes your brand look borrowed.
What size should an infographic be?
An infographic for a blog is usually about 800 pixels wide, with the height the content needs, often 1,500 to 2,000 pixels. For social media, split it into a carousel of vertical 1080 × 1350 images. The canvas matters less than the type size, though: on an 800-pixel infographic, body text should be at least 24 pixels so it's still readable on a phone.
How do I share an infographic on social media?
Don't post a tall infographic as one image on social media: it gets shrunk until nobody can read it. Split it into a carousel of three to five 1080 × 1350 slides on Instagram or LinkedIn, with the headline and the key number on the first slide. Put the full version on your website and link to it in the caption or comments. That way social media brings the views and your site gets the visit.