I’m sure you’ve heard that Pinterest is simply women, “ooh-ing” and “aah-ing” over items like recipes and wedding ideas. This is partially true and hard to ignore when 75 percent of users are women, according to Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound. However, many people are finding effective ways to use it for their businesses.
Here are some suggestions and tips for getting started:
Don’t be scared! Take it from us; it’s really just a collection of beautiful bulletin boards, arranged by category and filled with images, which link back to webpages. If organized well, boards can provide your customers with important information not just about your company and its expertise, but also about the industry you’re in and your personal expertise.
Pinterest allows you to share your own content and raise awareness of your brand. For example, blogs and updates to your website can be shared as long as they are optimized for Pinterest (they must have a dominant image on the page). This is a great inbound marketing exercise that can drive relevant traffic to your website. Just don’t abuse it, like with any social network; no one wants to hear you talk about yourself all day.
Is there someone you really would like to have as a client? Connect to them using Pinterest by first following them and then showing them you understand and have read their content by “re-pinning” it. What if your potential clients aren’t on Pinterest yet? With over 3 million estimated page views a month, they probably aren’t far behind, and when they get there you will have already established yourself as a credible source.
It’s simple to use, too. I’m sure you read many articles throughout the day on several different subjects. These can all be pinned, as long as they have a dominant image, using the simple “Pin It” tool you can place in your Bookmark Bar. Set some time each day to explore what others are posting on Pinterest and “re-pin” items that are relative to you and your business or something you think your followers will enjoy. There are a lot of funny and cute things on Pinterest that your followers may get a kick out of and “re-pin,” which could potentially get you more followers. It’s really that simple.
Pinterest is currently one of the top ten social networks on the web, so what are you waiting for? Get your business or organization on Pinterest right away. Establish your organization on the outlet, even if others in your market haven’t done so yet. You can set the pace for your industry, and when you do, don’t forget to follow our boards as well!
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Emma Walter is an account executive for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @emmasreallytall.
