There’s a common misconception that data visualizations are time-consuming to make.
Following on from this mistaken belief is another misconception that says creating data visualizations for social media isn’t worth the effort.
Both of these beliefs couldn’t be further from the truth.
For starters, it’s never been easier and quicker to create attractive data visualizations and social media charts and graphs by using tools like Canva and Vizzu.
And it is definitely worth the effort, as a well-known study showed 65% of people recalled visual information after three days, compared to just 10 to 20% who consumed spoken or written content.
In the short-attention span world of social media, using data visualizations can stand out and is more memorable than plain data.
In this guide, we’re going to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of creating and preparing data visualizations for sharing on social media, as well as guiding you to tools that can help along the way.
The simple answer is – yes, you should share data visualizations on social media. They often make for share-worthy posts that drive up engagement.
When creating social media data visualizations there’s a golden rule to follow:
Keep the social media user in mind. Put yourself in their shoes.
Ask yourself – what would make you stop scrolling and pay attention? A bland, lifeless post or a colorful interactive data visualization?
As people’s attention spans get shorter, quick, easy-to-understand data insights will become more attractive to users. So, be sure to give them what they want!
Having said that, you also need to pay close attention to data integrity. In today’s world of fake news and misinformation, even an honest mistake can cause big problems. In other words, never set out to mislead people. Social media charts and graphs that are designed to trick people will damage your brand if you’re not careful.
If you know your audience well, you can tailor data visualizations to meet their exact needs and interests, without being misleading. For instance, if your audience is mostly health and fitness enthusiasts, presenting data visualizations on workout trends or nutrition could be a winner.
Similarly, if your audience includes businesspeople, visualizations of market trends, economic indicators, or performance metrics are particularly effective. These need to be precise and to the point, using clear labels and conservative color schemes to maintain professionalism and clarity.
Data visualizations are a great way to break through the noise on social media. Here's a breakdown of exactly why they're a smart addition to your social media content strategy:
For social media visualizations, it’s best to keep things simple and uncluttered. Think simple colors, clear labels, and a focus on the core message. Remember, most people will be glancing at this on a small phone screen, so make it count!
In terms of color, start with a black and white base for clarity. Then, use 1-2 accent colors to highlight key data points or trends. For complex visualizations, consider using well-designed color palettes.
The secret to a good data visualization for social media is knowing what makes your audience tick.
Basically, make sure you tailor your visualizations to grab their interest and make the data relevant to them.
Square or vertical images work well on Instagram. LinkedIn favors horizontal layouts for more in-depth charts. Twitter is flexible, but always check how your visualization previews before posting.
Ensure your files are in the formats supported by each platform (JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.) and keep file sizes as small as possible for quick loading.
Interactive features bring your data visualizations to life, so wherever possible, incorporate elements like these:
Vizzu specializes in animation and interactive elements, making it ideal for social media visualizations.
A data visualization can do more than simply present facts and figures. Turn your visualization into a mini-narrative:
For a more detailed look at data storytelling, click here.
Animated data visualizations are a fun way to share data stories on social media. Video content does well on platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
The example shown below shares stats related to Super Bowl LVIII. Rather than just talking about the data, the animation showed how the 49ers were poised to get 6 wins and join the Patriots and the Steelers in that particular hall of fame. It also speculated whether Mahomes would secure a third victory. As it turned out, Kansas City Chiefs beat the 49ers, and Mahomes threw a walk-off touchdown to Hardman in overtime.
Twitter or X is a great place to share short, engaging animated data visualizations. Videos or GIFs work well, as they entice people to click and engage, and are ideal for data storytelling. The Twitter (X) post shown below is an entertaining look at Vizzu’s coffee break stats.
Another eye-catching animated data visualization, this one charts the growth of Vizzu CEO and Co-Founder, Peter Vidos, on LinkedIn. He recently reached 3000 followers on the platform, and rather than sharing a standard celebratory post, he created a cool data story using Vizzu, which you can check out below.
If you’re looking for a great example of a data story told through an engaging animated data visualization, then look no further than this one about the Oscars on Vizzu’s Youtube channel. It reveals how the highest grossing movies of the past 30 years, don’t often tally with the best picture winner at the Oscars.
See how traffic stops can be turned into a mesmerizing mandala, with this strangely beautiful animated data visualization from Vizzu’s Twitter (X) feed.
On social media – if in doubt, use humor. People typically scroll through social media to be entertained. So give them what they want with humorous data visualizations like the pie chart post below.
Vizzu is the perfect tool for turning dry data into social media-ready stories.
The last thing you want to do on social media is bore people with static social media charts and graphs. Vizzu makes it easier than ever to create dynamic and interactive data visualizations. The drag-and-drop interface and intelligent chart suggestions let you create engaging posts within minutes.
You can easily add smooth animated transitions that guide people through the data and highlight key insights. The colorful eye-catching data visualizations are ideal for stopping people in their tracks when scrolling through their social feeds.
As well as being an easy-to-use and flexible tool, Vizzu is also supported by a large community of users and developers. This means it is continuously improving and adding new features and tools to make it even better.
Data is abundant. Attention is scarce.
It’s no secret that people’s attention spans are dropping in the internet age. That’s why you need to use storytelling if you want to make a point on social media platforms.
But it’s no good just saying “The data says this…” or “We discovered this…”
Interactive or animated data visualizations tell the story in a much more engaging way. Vizzu is a nifty tool that makes it easy to make attention-grabbing data visualizations for social media.
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