When creating content for a blog, social media, or online business, you will often hear the terms infographic and screenshot. Both are useful visuals, but they serve very different purposes. Beginners sometimes confuse the two, which can affect how effectively they present information on their websites.
In this guide, we will break down the difference between infographic and screenshot, show how and when to use them, and explain how these visuals can improve your blog’s SEO and engagement.
Why Visuals Are Important in Blogging
Before we dive into the differences, it’s important to understand why images like infographics and screenshots matter.
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Improve engagement – Posts with images get more clicks and shares.
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Boost SEO – When you add alt text to images, search engines can understand your content better.
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Enhance understanding – Visuals simplify complex topics for readers.
If you’re struggling with how to use visuals correctly in blog posts, check out our detailed guide on how to use images effectively in blog posts (internal link example).
What Is an Infographic?
An infographic is a visual representation of information, data, or knowledge. Instead of presenting plain text, infographics use design elements like icons, charts, colors, and typography to explain an idea in an easy-to-understand way.
Key Features of Infographics
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Combination of text + visuals
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Designed to summarize or simplify complex data
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Eye-catching and often colorful
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Useful for social sharing and attracting backlinks
Example Use Cases
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Showing statistics about blogging trends
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Explaining a step-by-step process
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Comparing two or more options
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Creating educational visuals for social media
For example, instead of writing long paragraphs about the steps to fix sitemap submission errors, you could turn them into an infographic. Readers will quickly understand the process.
What Is a Screenshot?
A screenshot is a direct image capture of whatever is currently displayed on your device’s screen. Unlike infographics, screenshots are not designed graphics—they are simply snapshots of your computer, phone, or tablet screen.
Key Features of Screenshots
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Captures exactly what is on the screen
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Usually used for tutorials or proofs
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Simple, no design needed
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Can include annotations like arrows or highlights
Example Use Cases
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Showing how to submit a sitemap in Google Search Console
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Demonstrating how to format a KDP book in Word
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Proving a payment receipt or earnings dashboard
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Creating step-by-step tutorials
For instance, if you are explaining how to fix Blogger indexing problems, adding screenshots of your Google Search Console dashboard makes the post clearer.
Difference Between Infographic and Screenshot
Here is a simple breakdown of the differences:
| Feature | Infographic | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To simplify or visualize information | To show exact screen content |
| Design | Professionally designed with graphics, text, and icons | Raw capture of a screen |
| Use Case | Education, marketing, storytelling | Tutorials, proofs, technical guides |
| SEO Value | Can attract backlinks and social shares | Useful for step-by-step content |
| Tools Needed | Canva, Photoshop, Piktochart | Device screenshot tool, Snipping Tool |
When Should You Use Infographics?
Infographics are best when you need to:
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Summarize a large set of data
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Make your post more shareable on Pinterest or Instagram
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Add visual appeal to long blog articles
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Educate your audience in a fun and simple way
Example: If you are writing about profitable KDP niches that sell fast, you could create an infographic listing the top 10 niches.
When Should You Use Screenshots?
Screenshots are best when you need to:
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Create a step-by-step tutorial
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Show a real-life example or proof
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Provide visual instructions
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Help beginners navigate technical processes
Example: In a guide about KDP keyword research, screenshots of the Amazon search bar and keyword tools will help readers understand faster.
SEO Benefits of Using Infographics and Screenshots
Both visuals can improve your blog’s ranking if used correctly.
SEO Benefits of Infographics
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Increase backlinks when others share your infographic
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Attract more social shares
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Improve time-on-page because visuals keep readers engaged
SEO Benefits of Screenshots
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Boost clarity of tutorials (Google values user experience)
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Provide trust signals (real screenshots prove authenticity)
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Help Google index your visuals if optimized with alt text
How to Optimize Infographics for SEO
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Add Alt Text – Describe the infographic briefly with your keyword.
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Compress the Image – Use tools like TinyPNG to reduce size.
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Use Proper File Names – Example:
kdp-niches-infographic.png. -
Embed in Blog Posts – Don’t just upload; explain it in text.
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Promote on Social Media – Especially on Pinterest and LinkedIn.
How to Optimize Screenshots for SEO
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Name the File Correctly – Example:
blogger-sitemap-error-fix.png. -
Add Alt Text – Describe the step (e.g., “Google Search Console sitemap submission screenshot”).
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Use Captions – Add short text below explaining the screenshot.
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Highlight Important Areas – Use arrows, circles, or highlights.
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Keep Image Size Small – Avoid slowing down your site.
Tools for Creating Infographics
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Canva – Beginner-friendly, free, and full of templates.
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Piktochart – Great for creating data-driven visuals.
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Venngage – Useful for infographics and reports.
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Visme – Ideal for interactive infographics.
Tools for Taking Screenshots
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Snipping Tool (Windows)
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Command + Shift + 4 (Mac)
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Print Screen (Keyboard Shortcut)
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Lightshot – Free tool for quick annotated screenshots
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Loom – For screen recording + screenshots
Common Mistakes to Avoid
With Infographics
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Adding too much text
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Using very large file sizes
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Forgetting to brand them with your blog name
With Screenshots
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Uploading without editing (crop unnecessary parts)
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Not adding alt text
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Using blurry or unclear captures
Conclusion
Both infographics and screenshots play important roles in blogging.
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Use infographics when you want to educate and attract attention.
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Use screenshots when you want to guide and prove authenticity.
By understanding the difference, you can combine them to make your blog posts more powerful, engaging, and SEO-friendly.
If you’re looking to improve your content further, check out our post on optimizing blog images for SEO to make your visuals work better for search engines.
