Tips on Creating a Good Infographic

Infographics are a fun and quick way to learn about any topic without any heavy reading. There are many reasons why infographics are often better than just writing a blog post. They range from:

- Providing a data-rich visualization of a story or   thesis

- A great visual tool to educate and inform that is easily shared

- And a great way to build brand awareness that can be at a lower cost due to the viral sharing opportunities.

When done right, the infographic is a bold and fun way to present information about a subject. It's something you can quickly scan, presenting data-rich information visually.

The best type of infographic is one that can be shared across many websites. If you're the company that has created that popular infographic then you should be able to benefit from increased traffic, as users will want to learn more.

Adding an infographic to your website isn't as complicated as you think. Start with Googling "infographic templates." From there you'll want to follow the following tips on creating a good infographic:

Tip #1: Get the Right Data Source

The most important component in an infographic is the actual "info." This means you need to find a legitimate source for all your data points. Thanks to all the published studies, surveys and research it shouldn't be hard to collect the data points you need to support the purpose of your infographic. You could even borrow data from another infographic. Just make sure that you source your data within the content of your infographic.

Tip #2: Get the Right Designer

Although you might find a free template for your infographic that doesn't mean you'll have the skills to get the job done. Instead of driving yourself crazy, look for a terrific graphic artist who has experience creating these kinds of pieces. Yes, this is an investment but it's no different than paying for original content. As you shop around for a graphic artist you might find some who will do the job for a flat fee while others work on an hourly rate. Don't hesitate to check out their portfolios before committing to hiring them.

Tip #3: Get the Right Wireframe

Your infographic wireframe is essentially the outline of the story your want to tell. You have your data points. Now you want to lay them out in an order that provides the information in a compelling way for the viewer. Remember an infographic is vertical so build your story with a engaging beginning, middle and conclusion. In terms of the number of data points, six seems to be what generates the most follow-up Tweets. Make sure your logo and website information is included at the bottom of the graphic.

Tip #4: Get the Right Headline

All your hard work won't amount to anything unless it gets read. That's where a strong headline comes into play. This is your hook. Research has shown that most viewers are attracted to number headlines like "Top Ten" or "Five Best" etc. If you can work in numbers to your headline you'll be ahead of the game.

Tip #5: Get the Right Promotion Tools

Before you're ready to send your infographic out into cyberspace make sure you've got embed code that will make sharing this piece as simple as a click. You should then search for the blogs that would appreciate the information that you're sharing. Set up a targeted email campaign for the high PR blogs. Those blogs will be happy to use your content to fill up their pages.

Don't believe that? Google "Marvel vs. DC" infographic to see how many sites are sharing this single piece about which comic book company has better box office results. Hopefully, your infographic will have the same potential to go viral. 

Areas of Potential Liability for Website Owners

When was the last time you read the fine print on the terms and conditions of a website? Most of us don’t take the time to read them, finding the legalese too boring. We just click "I accept" so we can get to the good stuff.

However, as a business owner you don't have the luxury of skipping over that fine print. In fact, those terms and conditions might actually become your strongest defense against frivolous litigation.

This is why companies invest in experienced legal counsel to craft liability language. This will make sure your business is protected even from the casual visitor who might have "issues" with your website content. The goal is to reduce the possibility of a lawsuit.  

Here are some things to consider adding to your own terms and conditions to afford any potential liability claims.

Protect your data. If you intend to sell your email list to a third party (it can be a good source of revenue) then you need to be protected with a strong "personal information" provision that spells out your intentions. Even if you don't plan to use that information you still want to be protected in the likelihood that the data is compromised.

Errors and omissions. This is a clause that is include in most business contracts but should also be included on your website. Suppose you post content with facts or figures that prove to be inaccurate or become out of date? Hopefully, you can correct that when notified but until then you shouldn't be held as negligent for a simple oversight.

Unknown malware. There is no telling if or when your website could be attacked by an outside entity until it is too late. If a visitor picks up a "virus" by visiting your site should you be held responsible? Not if you have the right kind of language in your terms and conditions.

Transmission problems. If your server goes down and a customer's own business or service is interrupted, you shouldn't be held liable. Crashes will happen and you'll need to be protected especially when the loss of data could occur.

Copyright infringement. You should do your best not to engage in any copyright infringement but that doesn't mean it can't occur. Suppose you have a forum where a user posts something that is protected. Are you liable? What if someone considers material as defamatory? You can't predict everyone's reaction to all that you'll be posting but you can protect yourself from those reactions.

Confiscation of data. There may be instances where a user's personal information is subjected to foreign government control. In the U.S. there are many heated discussions about this very issue as it pertains to investigations sanctioned by the Patriot Act. You can let your users know they might be subjected to these types of date mining through no fault of your company.

Fortunately, businesses have worked out many of these issues in their own terms and conditions language. You can take advantage of that by obtaining boilerplates of these provisions. You'll still need a lawyer to review them before you post on your website but using boilerplate language can reduce the costs of writing up this liability protection. 

Should Your Accounting Go Into the Cloud?

Are you up in the cloud yet? We're not talking about daydreaming your afternoon away, but instead about cloud data storage. The simple way of thinking about cloud data storage would be like having an extra attic added onto your home that you can go up to from time to time to add and takeaway stuff. Best of all this "attic" doesn't clutter up the rest of your home.

Cloud storage allows you to park huge amounts of data and software programs, which can free up valuable storage space on your computer. This is vital for a company that is dealing with massive amounts of accounting data. There is still a kind of hesitancy with some companies who feel like they are "letting go" of their data. Should your accounting go into the cloud? Consider these potential benefits of having your accounting software delivered by way of the cloud:

Real Time Updates

If you have an accounting program on your computer, you'll be notified when an update is available and then you'll have to allow your computer to install that update. Often this requires you to reboot your computer. Do you have time for all of that? Up in the cloud, any programming updates are installed automatically. You'll only notice when you see the new features added to your software.

Ability to Expand

Cloud storage is 100% scalable. This means you can add large amounts of extra data at very little extra cost. The alternative would be expanding your memory in your computer. You can also take away data with the same ease and pay for just what you use.

Instant Access

A cloud-based accounting program grants you instant access from applicable devices anywhere there is an internet connection. This means you can work on a plane, at the beach or your favorite java joint.

Ease of Use

Stepping into the cloud is easy to use. You'll also be getting the added bonus of your software provider managing storage space, security and all your backups without you having to stress out over that. In other words, peace of mind knowing that your accounting needs are being met.

Affordable Options

The cloud accounting software you'll be utilizing will be running as a service. Translation: you'll pay a small subscription fee as opposed to a huge purchase price. You also won't have to worry about paying for upgrades when they are available. All for one low price. 

It's The Wave of The Future 

Cloud technology is improving by leaps and bounds every day. As a user you'll be benefiting from all of those upgrades as they happen. It would be like having the latest iPhone delivered to you every time there is a change as opposed to standing in line for hours at the Apple Store.   

Market Research Leads to Business Success

Every small business starts with an idea. Whether it’s an idea to sell a product or provide a service, that first notion sets the wheels in motion. The very next step should be some type of market research.

Suppose you had the idea to open a franchise ice cream shop business but wanted to find out how successful will it be in your neighborhood? A short drive through your prospective neighborhood will show you if there are any other businesses like the one you want to invest in. It can also give you an indication of the kind of foot traffic you might be able to expect. This is a form of market research at its simplest level.

There are other benefits of market research that you should be thinking about to help your business.

What the customer wants

For a business to grow and become successful there needs to be some form of market research going on. Not only is this important to size up your competition but it can go a long way towards understanding what your customer wants.

If you open up that ice cream shop and feature a chocolate dip special in a neighborhood that is dominated by vanilla lovers then you’re not going to make a lot of sales. That’s an extreme example but if you take the time to do a decent market research survey, it can reveal information that you may have not known.

It could be the specific type of items that a customer would be interested in, whether that’s special offers, different varieties or a better shopping experience. Having a market research project reveal those types of issues can allow you to adjust your business and bring in more customers.

Types of market research

Just because you are a small business with a limited start-up budget doesn’t mean you can’t engage in a market research strategy. There are many forms of market research that you can tap into. At the high end is a market research firm dedicated to delivering you a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of your business. This is accomplished by a combination of phone polling, focus groups and online surveys.

Conducting an online survey is probably one of the most affordable options when it comes to market research. With this type of campaign you can ask visitors to your website to take a survey or send out the survey to a list of customers who have signed up for an email.

Always remember that you’re inviting them to share their opinions to make your business stronger. In other words, empower them to share their opinions.

As you gather your market research data, only you can decide whether or not to act on that information. However, if the numbers provide you with clues as to why your business might be stumbling, then it’s easy to see that using market research can turn your business around and point it towards a more profitable future.