Visualized content is popping up all over the web lately, and it's no surprise. Visual content is pleasing to the eye, stimulating, entertaining, and much more interesting than plain old text. Haven't you noticed how much more frequently infographics seem to be making their way onto blogs and websites lately? There's a very reasonable explanation: people love visual content.

But does every piece of visual content you produce have to be as complex as a full-blown infographic? No way. And does every piece of visual content even have to highlight data? Negative. Sometimes the concept you're trying to explain just lends itself to a more visual representation, and these types of portrayals can often make the concept much easier to follow and understand by your audience. And the benefits of visual content are huge -- because it tends to be much more shareable and interesting, visual content often gets spread more virally, allowing you to extend the reach and effectiveness of your content.

There are many ways you can make your content more visually appealing and effective. Some are simple, and some are more complex. Either way, visualized content is hot. Here are some awesome examples of content visualization to motivate you to start thinking more with your eyes.

1. Restaurant Social Media & Word of Mouth by Spork Media

2. The Journey of a Tweet by Next Generation Online

3. Social Media Strategy Transit Map by Intersection Consulting

4. Real Estate Website Linking Matrix by Brad Carroll

5. Functions of the Brain by 50 Watts

6. Completed Transactions by Industry by SecondMarket

7. Strategic Defaults on Upside-Down Homes (Men vs. Women) by Trulia & RealtyTrac

8. SEO Speed Chart by Bruce Clay

9. The Six G's of Social Media Marketing by Nonprofit Marketing Guide

10. Customer Service Is the New Marketing by Intersection Consulting

11. Can't Pay the Mortgage? by Trulia & RealtyTrac

12. Demand by Industry by SecondMarket

13. Traditional Societal "Push" Model by Zachary Jean Paradis

14. 10 Levels of Intimacy in Today's Communication by Emilie Ogez

15. Social Media Brand Influence by Eyeflow Internet Marketing

16. SEO Process by Parampaul Madra

17. Tablet Data by HubSpot

What do you think of these content visualization examples? Have they inspired you to start experimenting with visual content on your website, blog, and in social media?

Image Credit: Mikleman