Infographics are popping up all over blogs, social media, and even news sites. While most people look at them and learn shocking statistics, or about the top ten craziest sex laws in the United States, few know what their real purpose is. To better understand the purpose, we will look at the definition. How do you define infographics? A combination of the words “Information” and “Graphics,” infographics essentially give visual representation to data in a way that makes complex subjects understood more easily.

Believe it or not, but there is a second popular way to visualize data, known as a data visualization. But what is data visualization in comparison to an infographic? Data visualizations excel in showing a series of data, such as statistical distributions, time series, hierarchies, maps, and networking, in a visual manner. The best data visualizations are interactive, and allow you to dynamically see how different data points are related, as opposed to an infographic which will show you some complex topic, like bankruptcy, and break it down into numbers, text, and related pictures.

Whichever infographic you choose to make, you can easily find online free infographic makers. Anyone these days can make a cool infographic, but it is not all so simple as using a template and punching in some text and some pie charts. Of course, the free infographic maker gives you all the free infographic tools you need, but they do not tell you how to make infographics so that they are useful. Creating an infographic that is actually worth reading takes some skill.

1. Have a point, a story, or a conclusion to make.

This is more applicable to infographics than data visualizations, but if your purpose is to explain something complex, the audience should be clear on why something is being explained to them. For example, if you want to explain bankruptcy, keep in mind that you could be driving towards a point that bankruptcy is growing more common, that it poses a serious social problem, or that you really want a lawyer when you file. Use data and pictures to support your point.

2. Make it easy to see and read.

Your free infographic maker will have a lot of tools, but it is up to you to choose colors that are easy to see, big clear fonts, and to give it a vertical orientation so it is easier to view. It is estimated that visual learners make up 65% of the population, as opposed to people who learn better through auditory or kinesthetic means.

3. Make it perfect with sources, proofreading, and your name.

Infographics get taken more seriously when they show their sources, are free of spelling errors, and can be linked back to a particular person or company. Do not leave these elements out of your infographic.

Did you know that 50% of our brains are dedicated solely to our visual functions? Naturally, images will get processed much faster than any text. Infographics and data visualizations are excellent tools for delivering a complex message, or confusing data, in a way that most people will understand. It is up to you to make that message as clear as possible.