Infographic Link Building: 12 Expert Methods That Work

65% of B2B marketers now use infographic link building to attract high-quality backlinks to their websites. As blog posts with infographics attract 178% more backlinks than articles without them. While written content still matters, infographics have proven themselves as exceptional link magnets.

Similarly, social media posts with visual content receive 650% higher engagement than text-only posts. Even more impressive? Readers are 30 times more likely to read an entire infographic than an article or blog post. It's human psychology that 65% of people are visual learners, naturally drawn to graphical information over walls of text. 

Infographics work so well for SEO because they transform complex data into digestible, shareable visual stories that get noticed in crowded inboxes. Also, when HubSpot optimized the alt text of their images in 2018, their image traffic increased by 779% in less than 12 months. This blog covers the exact methods to create, optimize, and promote infographic link building that naturally attract quality backlinks to your website. 

Why Infographic Link Building Works

Infographic link building has become one of the most powerful link acquisition strategies available to marketers. The visual nature of infographics attracts humans to process information, creating content that naturally attracts valuable backlinks.

Infographics vs. traditional content

Traditional text-based content can't compete with infographics when it comes to engagement and retention. 

How visuals attract backlinks

The shareability of infographics directly translates to more backlink opportunities. Research shows that infographics are shared on social media 3 times more frequently than any other content type. This increased sharing happens for two key reasons:

• Visual appeal: Their format makes complex information digestible and easy to understand

• Content enhancement: Content creators actively seek visual assets to enhance their own articles, especially when those visuals contain valuable data or statistics

SEO Benefits of Infographic Links

The SEO advantages of infographic link building extend far beyond just acquiring backlinks:

• Improved search rankings: Each quality backlink signals to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative

• Enhanced user engagement: Visitors spend more time on pages with infographics, reducing bounce rates and improving dwell time metrics

• Increased traffic: Articles featuring infographics attract approximately 12% more traffic to your website

• Better link quality: Infographics typically generate backlinks from relevant, high-quality websites within your industry, providing stronger SEO value

Infographic link building creates a powerful cycle. As your infographic gets shared across platforms, it generates referral traffic, social signals, and valuable backlinks, all of which contribute to improved search engine rankings. Unlike text content that may quickly become outdated, a well-designed infographic can remain relevant and continue generating backlinks for years.

12 Tips to Plan Your Infographic Link Building 

The success of your infographic link building campaign depends on what happens before you ever open design software. Smart planning allows your visual content to attract quality backlinks rather than collecting digital dust.

1. Pick a topic that solves a problem

Random topics don't generate backlinks. Whereas high-performing infographics solve specific problems or answer questions your target audience actively searches for online. Start by identifying high-volume keywords in your niche using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs. Then examine the search engine results pages (SERPs) to find content gaps you can fill.

One powerful approach is to repurpose your existing successful content. Focus on blog posts already ranking in positions 5-20, as adding infographics can boost their performance. You can also analyze what infographic topics generate links for competitors by examining their backlink profiles.

2. Research your audience and competitors

Before you create anything, you need to understand who you're creating it for. Go beyond basic demographics to understand their challenges, values, consumption habits, and preferred communication styles. This deep understanding lets you tailor every element of your infographic to appeal directly to them.

For competitor analysis, use tools like Ahrefs Site Explorer to identify what types of visual content earn backlinks in your industry. Search specifically for backlinks to image files (.jpg, .svg, .png) and analyze patterns among successful infographics.

3. Choose the right infographic type

Different information needs different visual presentations. The most effective types for infographic link building include:

1. Statistical infographics: Present numerical data visually, ideal for research findings

2. Process infographics: Show step-by-step procedures, perfect for tutorials

3. Comparison infographics: Juxtapose options side-by-side, highlighting differences

4. Timeline infographics: Display chronological progression of events

5. Geographic infographics: Visualize location-based data using maps

4. Design tips for clarity and engagement

The foundation of a successful infographic link building lies in its visual clarity. Use a consistent color scheme that complements your brand identity, yet remains easy on the eyes. Balance each element to enhance understanding without overwhelming the viewer. Create visual hierarchy by using contrasting font sizes and colors to emphasize important sections. 

Don't fear white space. It helps direct attention to key elements and prevents your infographic from feeling cluttered. Moreover, keep text concise and legible. Avoid small fonts or lengthy paragraphs that kill readability on mobile devices. Remember, if people can't read it easily, they won't share it.

5. Use of data and storytelling

Great infographics combine factual accuracy with narrative flow. Ground your design in well-researched, accurate information to boost credibility. Instead of dumping data, tell a story by organizing content with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Structure your infographic with descriptive subheadings that break information into digestible chunks. 

Use storytelling techniques to make complex data relatable and memorable; infographics are 3x more likely to be shared than traditional content. Make sure every visual element serves your overall message rather than just decorating the page. Each chart, icon, and graphic should move your story forward.

6. SEO optimization: file name, alt text, and meta

Start with an optimized file name that incorporates your target keyword. Avoid generic names like "infographic1.jpg". Instead, use descriptive terms separated by hyphens like "infographic-link-building-guide.png".

Always include descriptive alt text containing your focus keyphrase; Google places high value on alt text when determining image relevance. Similarly, when HubSpot focused on optimizing alternative texts for their images, they saw a 779% increase in image traffic in less than a year.

Finally, support your infographic with surrounding text that includes relevant keywords. Search engines can't "see" images the way humans do. This textual context helps search engines understand your visual content and rank it properly.

7. Promote Your Infographic for Backlinks

Creating your infographic is just the beginning. The real work starts with getting it in front of the right people who will actually link to it. Even the most visually stunning infographics need strategic promotion to attract quality links and maximize their SEO potential.

8. Build a list of outreach targets

Start by identifying websites that would genuinely benefit from your infographic. Use Ahrefs to analyze competitors' successful infographics and export their backlink profiles. Look specifically for content related to your topic that lacks effective visuals; these represent prime opportunities. Here's what to look for:

• Industry blogs that regularly publish similar content 

• Influencers and thought leaders who share visual content with their audiences 

• Websites that have linked to similar infographics in the past 

• Publications that frequently cite statistics in your niche

9. Write a personalized outreach email

Effective outreach emails follow a simple formula. Keep your messages concise, ideally four sentences that clearly state who you are, why you're reaching out, why they should care, and what you want. 

Focus on how your infographic benefits their readers rather than promoting yourself. The key is personalization. Generic emails get deleted. Whereas relevant, helpful emails get responses. Below is a template structure that works:

• Brief introduction

• Reference to their previous content

• Preview link to your infographic

• Offer to provide exclusive text to accompany it

10. Submit to infographic directories

Expand your reach by submitting to high-authority infographic directories. Sites like Visual.ly (DA 85), SlideShare (DA 92), Behance (DA 94), and Pinterest (DA 94) can generate quality backlinks while increasing visibility.

Focus on directories relevant to your industry with domain authority scores above 50 to avoid Google penalties.

11. Use social media and communities

Share your infographic across multiple social platforms, but adapt your approach for each one. Pinterest works exceptionally well for infographics due to its vertical design format. For professional audiences, SlideShare offers ideal distribution opportunities.

Consider breaking your infographic into smaller sections for platforms like Facebook that favor horizontal layouts. Identify relevant online communities and forums where your target audience gathers.

12. Track backlinks and follow up

Monitor your infographic link building success using tools like Ahrefs, Google Search Console, or SEMrush to track new backlinks. This identifies which strategies work best and reveals opportunities for follow-up. Always send at least one follow-up email; this can increase response rates by 65%. 

If you discover websites using your infographic without attribution, politely request a backlink. Remember, building relationships takes time. The websites that ignore your first email might respond to your second or third outreach attempt.

Conclusion 

Infographic link building delivers results for websites of all sizes. Be strategic to make sure your infographic solves problems and design it in a way to make complex information digestible and shareable. You need to research your audience, design with purpose, and actively promote your work. 

But the payoff is worth it; infographics continue generating backlinks and traffic long after you publish them. Pick a topic your audience struggles with, gather your data, and begin designing your first link-worthy infographic. The backlinks and improved rankings will follow.