Article Contributed by Danielle
Pinterest is the hottest new social networking platform, and is quickly becoming a great way to connect with friends as well as customers. If you are not familiar with the Pinterest concept, it’s easy. Users can “pin” websites as they browse, which creates a virtual bulletin board of interesting ideas they can share with friends on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.
Pinterest is mainly used to gather inspiration such as recipes, craft projects, fashion ideas and even decorating tips. Recipes and projects are a natural choice because when people try something like this, they want to share their successes with friends and family. Fashion ideas are pinned when users find a “must have” garment or just want to build a look book and browse all the pretty clothes. Grandiose home interiors and decorating ideas are popular. People pin thousands of DIY décor tips or photos of impressive homes with high ceilings, unique paintings, pool tables and pools.
So, the question that may come to your mind is, “How can Pinterest be used to promote my business?” Unlike Facebook or Twitter where businesses actively advertise to followers, Pinterest is a bit sneakier. The first way to use Pinterest to your benefit is add a “Pin it” button on your page. This is very similar to adding a “like” or “tweet” button. It encourages your traffic to add your content to their boards. But remember that Pinterest is highly visual, so if you want content to be shared it must have an intriguing picture.
Make your website pin-worthy. This may mean adding additional content. Generally Pinterest users are looking for things they can DO, which is what makes it such an interesting networking tool. By adding dynamic content such as recipes or projects, you are more likely to get pinned, and bring in new people to your website who will check out your preexisting content.
No matter what topic is the focus of your website, from poolside fun to pool tables and beyond, you can likely find a way to make it relevant to the Pinterest community. Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you enjoy the Pinterest network you may wish to become friends with many of your customers and website readers. This way they’ll see when you pin — a great way to encourage repeat visitors. Take time to check out what’s available and learn more about this popular new phenomenon which has web users talking and pinning up a storm.
About the Author
Danielle, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, found her new favorite recipe (Starbucks Frappuccino Cupcakes) on Pinterest. She was also found by her newest client on Pinterest by pinning photos of her product offerings. Read her work at suitsandladders.co.uk.