Infographics are AWESOME! Here's How to Create Them.

• My client has requested that we try to put together some infographics for them. These look difficult. Is there a method to putting them together or, absent that, can you provide some recommendations to firms who do these professionally?

Answer: Infographics (short for information graphics) are a very effective AND very under-utilized link baiting and social media signals generating tool. A detailed, graphically pleasing infographic can spice up even the most boring data and look good doing it!

Who would have thought that dry subjects like the history of the food blender or the genealogy of automobile companies or even payroll and tax deductions could be made interesting simply through visual graphic representation? That's the power of a well-designed infographic.

Your client clearly understands that even the most boring or confusing data can be given a new life when visually fleshed out like the examples above. However, you are correct: infographics are not easy to create. They require a great idea, strong research and fact curation, great conceptual visualization, and a capable graphic artist to bring it all together.

Fortunately, there is a GREAT infographic put forth by noted design firm BlueGlass that outlines a DIY Infographic Process that's a must-read in this area. The graphic explains the process in detail but briefly, involves the following content design steps:

• Step #1 - Ideation: Research & select an...