30+ Flowchart Examples (With Guide, Tips And Templates) - Visme

One tried-and-true visual format for dissecting complicated processes is the flowchart. You've probably seen all types of these, from humorous ones to those used in technical fields such as computer programming and engineering.

Flowcharts are diagrams that graphically represent a step-by-step progression through a procedure or system, and they’re extremely useful for demonstrating how things progress and explaining a subject or giving directions.

A flowchart done right can be a useful and entertaining tool; a flowchart gone wrong, not so much. We’ve compiled a list of flowchart examples for making important decisions in different fields, with helpful tips on how to create your own.

If you're eager to get started, watch this video below to see how you can make amazing flowcharts and diagrams in only two minutes.

What is a Flowchart?

A flowchart is a graphical representation of a process. It’s a diagram that illustrates the workflow required to complete a task or a set of tasks with the help of symbols, lines and shapes.

Below are two examples of a flowchart:

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Flowcharts are used to study, improve and communicate processes in various fields. They are excellent tools for breaking down information and making it easy to understand and follow.

From sales, marketing, project management and HR to computer programming, administrative and service processes, flowcharts can help explain processes across all industries.

Here are some of the major types of flowcharts that businesses use:

• Process Flow Diagrams: this illustrates the general flow of a process and the relationships between the major components.
• Data Flow Diagrams: this visualizes how data is processed in an information system from input to output.
• Workflow Diagrams: this illustrate the steps involved to complete a task or execute a process in an efficient way.
• Swimlane Flowcharts: this visualizes multiple flows of information or categories to help clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Yes/No Flowcharts: Also known as dichotomous keys, yes/no process maps  make it easy to visualize different paths based on yes/no decisions.

Remember, flowcharts aren't the only type of charts and graphs you need for your business. Scatter plots, bubble charts, Gantt charts, bar charts and line charts also have various applications.

Your Guide to Flowchart Symbols

Before you start creating your flowchart, you need to familiarize yourself with the different flowchart symbols and shapes.

Knowing what each shape means can help to create something universally understandable and prevent any confusion in interpretation.

Some of the most common flowchart shapes are:

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• Oval: An oval shape is also called a terminator. It symbolizes the start or end of a process, which is why it is often used at the two end points of a process map.
• Arrow: An arrow shows the direction of the process flow. For example, if your information is flowing from the left to right, you can use an arrow to depict it. You can also use two arrows pointing in opposite directions if the information is flowing in both directions.
• Rectangle: A rectangle shape usually depicts a task, operation or process. This is what you’ll use for most of your chart is depicting a process with various tasks.
• Parallelogram: This shape represents input or output of data or information. Parallelograms are mostly used in data flow diagrams.
• Diamond: A diamond shape represents a decision in a flowchart, and is mostly used in yes/no  process map or dichotomous keys.

30+ Flowchart Examples to Inspire You

Need to create your own chart, but have no idea where to start? Don’t worry — making a flowchart doesn’t have to be complicated.

First, we’ve got a 7-step guide on how to make a flowchart. Second, we’ve got over 30 unique flowchart examples to help you get those creative juices flowing.

Once you’ve found the perfect flowchart example, you can recreate your own version using Visme’s flowchart maker.

#1. Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?

A flowchart is the perfect decision-making tool, helping you to navigate through complex questions or concepts. Here, we have a question asking Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is the name for the feeling that one isn’t good enough at something, or feeling like a fraud at a job you’ve been assigned, even when (or especially when) you do know what you’re doing and are actually quite good at your job.

Helping people to pinpoint if they have impostor syndrome can help them work to overcome it, hence this example.

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This flowchart not only helps people determine if they have impostor syndrome, but at the bottom, it has personality types based on each person’s answers throughout the flowchart.

See if you can come up with your own version of this in order to engage your audience. Lead them through the chart until they have an answer/explanation for their responses at the end.

#2. How to Reach Your Audience

While this is an older example, it still showcases a great way to design your own flowchart.

The same old arrows and lines can get boring. To make your chart much more interesting, try getting creative with your paths. This chart is a great example of this — the arrows are free-flowing and weave around and over each other, creating a unique vibe.

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Moreover, the arrows serve a functional purpose, guiding the eye more freely toward their destinations. Experiment with different path types, from a free-flowing style such as this, to using items other than traditional arrows and lines, and see what works for you.

#3. Site Map Flowchart

Flowcharts have a lot of really practical uses, including to pinpoint the proper flow of your website in a visual sitemap.

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Taking notes from the flowchart example above, you can easily create your own sitemap based on your website’s navigation and how each of the pages should be laid out. Use a different shape for different page layouts or page types to differentiate them.

#4. Will This Content Format Work For You?

Is your team just starting out with a new content marketing strategy? If so, this example is perfect for you.

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This flowchart example is simple and to the point, and can be easily replicated. We also love how each blurb is more than just text, incorporating icons and visuals to make the overall flowchart more eye-catching.

#5. Mobile SEO

Sometimes it helps to have additional information. However, adding too much to your chart can clutter it. Therefore, if you want to give a little more information, try including some notes at the end.

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This flowchart on mobile SEO is a good example — it includes “key takeaways” at the end, helping to reinforce and flesh out the information already given.

A word of caution: Adding too much can cause as much clutter as including the information within the chart, so pick and choose what’s most important.

#6. Is It Time to Rethink Your Website?

Another important aspect of a comprehensive flowchart is your color combinations. Having a coherent color scheme is a wonderful way to unite your chart.

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This example on re-imagining your website uses blue, yellow and tan predominantly throughout, which goes a long way to create structure. The color choices also give a calming, professional feel. 

Experiment with colors and see which ones work best for your subject. Or to make it simple, consider just using your brand colors as a way to strengthen your overall brand recognition.

#7. The Reality of My Creative Process

Not every flowchart has a variety of different branches. Some follow a singular linear process from start to finish, like we see in this example.

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Consider how you could reuse an example or template like this to either outline your own creative process or come up with something entirely different to visualize.

#8. Shoe Shopping Customer Journey

We love this example that is creating an eye-opening flow of how a customer would navigate through their website. In this case, it’s...not that great of a flow.

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However, it’s a great idea to create your own to help map out how customers would use your website to shop for products or sign up for services. Make sure there’s no feeling of disappointment or frustration throughout the process.

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