What is Pinterest?
- Social network allowing users to visually curate, share & discover interests by posting images & video
- Can upload from your computer or ‘pin’ things you find on the web
- Can “like,” “repin” or “comment” on items other users have pinned
- Members are encouraged to interact with content by reposting it, sharing it on Facebook & Twitter, emailing it and embedding pins to your website
Why does Pinterest Matter?
- Drives traffic to your site. A lot of recent reports show that Pinterest has the capacity to send your site more visitors than other social media sites, including Facebook
- Links. By using the “Pin It” button on your website, the content from your site that gets pinned by users creates a link back to the source (i.e. you site). This allows users to more easily find your website with a single click.
- Leads. Pinterest creates lead generation through online exposure.
- Social sharing. Pinterest is linked to Facebook, Twitter and email via easy “share” mechanisms which expand a user’s reach to multiple social networks.
Setting Up Your Business Account: Under the “Settings” tab…
- Set up name as your business name
- Add logo
- Use the “About” section thoughtfully ~ has an SEO benefit!
- Make sure to turn “Hide your Pinterest profile from search engines” turned OFF
- Add your other social networks
How to Begin Building a Following:
- Create the best boards on a specific topic
- Make it a fantastic resource based on a few keywords you’re already targeting
- Be ready to promote other users’ to enhance your collection
- Promote your boards through other channels
- Add Pinterest “follow” and “pin it” buttons to your website
- Promote your pins and boards on other social networks including Facebook
- Engage with other users
- Follow users you feel you’d want to have follow you back
What to Pin When Using Pinterest for Marketing:
- Visual content you already have (event photos, fundraisers, management & staff, etc.)
- Visual content from your blog articles (begin pinning blog photos to your Pinterest boards)
- Infographics and Data Charts.
- Your company’s videos on YouTube
Tips to Optimize Your Pins
- Change the links in your pins to go where you want them to go
- Even if re-pinning from another source
- After pinning, choose “Edit” and update the link
- Use keywords in your captions
- Using the “#” will make your keywords searchable
- Give users something to pin!
- Infographics work incredibly well for this
- Use TALL images when possible
- Take up more real estate on the screen and stand out
- Pin useful and educational information
- Make your boards a resource
- Use visual content to drive people to your blog
- Use headlines and descriptions such as “How To…”
- Add links to the descriptions of your pins
- Pinterest will automatically BOLD these
- Create a video gallery
- End up in the “video” category in addition to just your boards
Some Brand Using Pinterest Effectively
- Chobani~ Yogurt
- Features not only products, but recipes & nutrition information as well
- Photos from their presence around the world
- “We Would Like To Eat With You” board features photos of spoons
- Oreck~ Vacuum and Cleaning
- Create boards that are interactive and not just about their products
- Subtle reminders about typical cleaning situations without becoming an advertisement
- Mashable~ Digital Culture News
- Heavy use of infographics (great resource for others to use)
- Fun, “nerdy” boards make the company seem very personable
- Etsy~ Online Shopping Website
- Boards created for shopping categories on site (i.e. jewelry, fashion, kids, etc.)
- Gives customers shopping ideas & helpful options
