Graphic Design
Infographic Design Checklist: From Template to Results
We review infographics before they go live, for our own clients and for businesses that bring us drafts. This guide is for owners checking an infographic before publishing it. It covers choosing a template or custom design, fixing common problems and measuring impact. Use it as your final check, so every infographic is clear, accurate and worth the effort.
Templates or custom design?
Templates offer a quick starting point, while custom designs fit your brand and message exactly. Each option suits different situations. The right choice depends on your budget, timeline and how important the infographic is. Compare them on these points.
- Templates from tools such as Canva suit quick, low-cost social graphics.
- Custom designs suit reports, campaigns and content you want others to share.
- Templates often look similar to other businesses' graphics.
- Custom designs apply your brand colours, fonts and style consistently.
- A designer can create reusable templates for your team to update later.
Many businesses use both approaches. A designer creates branded templates, and the team adds new content. That keeps quality high while saving time.
Common infographic problems and fixes
Most weak infographics fail for the same few reasons. Each problem has a straightforward fix. A short review before publishing catches them. Check for these problems.
- Too much information: cut everything that does not support the main message.
- No clear reading order: number sections or use arrows to guide the eye.
- Misleading charts: start axes at zero where appropriate and keep scales consistent.
- Missing sources: add a source line for every figure.
- Text too small on phones: increase sizes or split the graphic into several images.
Ask someone unfamiliar with the topic to read the draft. If they cannot state the main message in a sentence, simplify it. Our infographic design guide covers planning in more detail.
How to measure an infographic's impact
Measuring impact shows whether infographics are worth repeating. Results depend on where the infographic appears and what it aims to achieve. Track a few relevant metrics rather than every number. Use these measures.
- Page views and time on page where the infographic is published.
- Shares, saves and comments on social media.
- Links from other websites, found in Google Search Console.
- Enquiries or downloads from the page that hosts it.
- Mentions in press or industry content.
Record results for each infographic in a simple sheet. Patterns soon show which topics and formats perform best. Our guide to SEO metrics explains the search figures in more detail.
Infographic final checklist
Use this checklist before you publish any infographic. Each item covers design, accuracy or measurement. Tick every line before it goes live.
- Single main message clear at a glance
- Template or custom approach chosen deliberately
- Clear reading order
- Charts accurate and consistently scaled
- Source shown for every figure
- Text readable on a phone
- Text summary added to the host page
- Measurement plan in place
Good to know
Infographic checklist FAQs
Are infographic templates worth using?+
Templates suit quick social graphics and internal materials. They save time but often look similar to other businesses' content. Branded templates created by a designer give you speed and consistency. Use custom designs for important campaigns.
How do I check an infographic is accurate?+
Check every figure against its original source. Confirm chart scales and labels match the data. Ask a second person to review the numbers. Show each source clearly on the graphic.
How do I know if an infographic worked?+
Compare results against the goal you set before publishing. Shares and views show reach, while links and enquiries show deeper impact. Track results for a few months, as links often build slowly. Use what you learn to plan the next one.
Keep this checklist with your design files and publishing plan. Share it with anyone who creates or approves infographics. So you can publish infographics that are clear, accurate and worth the effort.
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