It’s Like a Map

It’s true, a picture is worth a thousand words. But infographics often include words, and even need them to tell a story. That’s because an infographic is more of an information map, helping the viewer understand a frame of logic, a concept, a process, and the significance of information. By using eye-catching graphics with minimal words, infographics engage our brain’s ability to see patterns and trends. While developers lack patience for infographic overuse, they will respond to judicious use. Increase your technical content ROI by finding an image you can create that is more impactful than just words.

Why?

There are really two parts to that answer. The first part has to do with your audience. So, you know that part where you want developer engagement? Peer-to-peer influence? You have to give people something cool to share. Sure, it can link to a white paper that goes into the details, but offer up an image with that white paper that can be shared — something that adds value, but also looks sick — something that gives your brand that slap of “fresh” that makes it fun to share information.

The second part has to do with you or your company. Nothing forces you to understand why something is important or how to do it better than having to represent it visually. The simplicity of the form forces the conversations that lead to high-clarity communication, which everyone just LOVES (including developers).

How?

Generally speaking, developers like content that adds value. So take a concept from your technical content that is important, and the crux of the entire piece. Simplify it graphically, and it will add power. If the concept is complex, it will also make it more digestible. However, the real impact of creating an infographic is that it infuses the concept with significance by both highlighting it and putting it into context.

What?

Suitable topics rely on content that could be found anywhere in your content campaign. Consider what you can repurpose visually by taking a look at:

  • Technology white papers.  Repurpose content visually to show how your tool or API fits an ecosystem. Your infographic could rely on content from a technology white paper and point to that content for those who want to take a deeper dive. It can be one entry point into a landing page or even your developer portal.
  • Thought leadership articles.  Start the conversation about an important problem that you need to make developers aware of in order to build demand for your solution. Elevate this using an infographic based on a thought leadership article, then point to that article.
  • Public documentation. Create a visual navigation tool based on the public documentation you offer that can literally be used as a map of your product’s application space and its support.
  • Technical blogs. Elevate a blog post’s main takeaway with a visual depiction of the main point in the context of the particular story that was told in the blog.
  • How-to’s and tutorials. Show your audience the value of the information with graphics, highlighting what developers will be able to do once they’ve consumed your more detailed content, or why the information is important to know. Then link to the actual content.

Check out some examples of infographics for developers here.

For the Road

Your content is a big investment. Maximize it by literally giving it a fresh look. Images are incredibly impactful to the human brain. Get your technical audience’s attention by appealing to their eyes, then their brains. Done properly, it will pique interest that leads to engagement with the more detailed content behind the infographic.