How to Design Infographics That Go Viral

June 17, 2025
smith
smith
smith
smith
13 mins read

In the age of visual overload, simply creating an infographic isn’t enough. If you want your infographic to stand out and actually get shared, it needs to be strategically designed and promoted.

Many marketers create beautiful visuals that nobody ever sees because they forget one key thing:

Infographics must be designed with the audience and platform in mind.

This article walks you through how to design infographics that actually get shared—on social media, websites, and beyond.


📈 Why Shareability Matters

When people share your infographic:

  • Your brand awareness increases

  • Your website can gain high-quality backlinks

  • You get free promotion without paying for ads

  • You reach new audiences across platforms

In other words, creating “viral” or shareable infographics is not just a design challenge—it’s a growth strategy.


🎯 Step 1: Choose a Highly Shareable Topic

Before you open a design tool, you must choose a topic that people want to share. Think about:

  • Trendy topics in your niche

  • How-to guides that solve a specific problem

  • Surprising statistics or research findings

  • Listicles (e.g., “10 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid”)

  • Comparisons (e.g., AI vs Human Design)

Tools like Google Trends, BuzzSumo, and Reddit can help identify hot topics.

✅ Pro Tip: Make sure your content educates, entertains, or empowers.


🧱 Step 2: Structure Your Infographic Effectively

People won’t share something they can’t follow easily. A good infographic has:

  1. Headline – Short, bold, and benefit-driven

  2. Intro Paragraph – A 1–2 sentence summary

  3. Main Sections – Use icons and headings to separate ideas

  4. Visual Data – Graphs, charts, percentages

  5. Call-to-Action – Website link, social handles, or hashtag

  6. Branding – Add your logo or watermark without overpowering the content

Use a vertical layout (especially for Pinterest and mobile), and keep the flow logical.


🎨 Step 3: Design for Attention and Clarity

Shareable infographics follow these key design rules:

✅ Use Consistent Color Schemes

Stick to 2–3 main colors that match your brand or topic. Too many colors confuse the viewer.

✅ Keep Fonts Readable

Avoid fancy or script fonts. Use bold headings and smaller paragraph text. Recommended fonts: Montserrat, Open Sans, Lato.

✅ Use Icons and Illustrations

Visual icons help explain points faster than text. Use tools like Flaticon, Noun Project, or Canva Elements.

✅ Use White Space

Don’t cram everything together. Spacing makes your design breathable and easier to scan.

✅ Limit Text

This is not a blog post. Keep text short and let visuals do the talking.


💡 Step 4: Add a Hook or Element of Surprise

The most-shared infographics include something unexpected, like:

  • A bold statement or shocking statistic

  • A humorous comparison or meme element

  • A powerful quote

  • A step most people overlook

This surprise element makes people stop, smile, and want to show others.


📲 Step 5: Optimize for Each Platform

Not all platforms prefer the same size or format. Customize for:

  • Pinterest: Long and vertical (1000px x 2500px is ideal)

  • Instagram: Carousel posts using infographic segments

  • Facebook: Mid-size, readable on mobile

  • LinkedIn: Professional tone, ideal for industry stats

  • Twitter/X: Cropped preview with a link to full image or blog

  • Email: Shrink width to fit in email clients (~600px wide)


🚀 Step 6: Promote the Infographic Smartly

Your infographic is designed—now get it seen.

  • Post it on your blog with a short article

  • Share on all social platforms at the best times

  • Submit to infographic directories like Visual.ly and Infographic Journal

  • Reach out to bloggers in your niche to include it in roundup posts

  • Include an embed code so others can share it easily

  • Run a small ad campaign to give it an initial boost


📊 Bonus: Measure What Gets Shared

Track your infographic's performance using:

  • Google Analytics (page traffic)

  • Social shares and saves

  • Backlinks generated

  • Time spent on page

  • Comments or replies (social engagement)

These insights will guide your next design toward even better results.


✨ Final Thoughts

Great infographics are more than just good-looking—they are clear, useful, and worth sharing.

If you choose the right topic, design with simplicity, and promote it smartly, your infographic could reach thousands or even millions—organically.

So don’t just create something that looks pretty.
Design with purpose. Design for shareability.

Your next viral piece could be just one infographic away.

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