What exactly is Pinterest? That is a question you might find yourself asking. Simply put, Pinterest is a social networking platform, similar to Twitter and Facebook in that regards. However, that’s where the similarities end. Pinterest is primarily a visual medium, using images and designs to inspire and engage.
If you are wondering just how popular Pinterest is, then look at these statistics:
- 80% of users are women
- 1.5 million users daily
- 3rd most popular social site after Facebook and Twitter
- Pinterest users who also shop online follow a third more retailers than users of Facebook.
So, in a nutshell, it’s popular, and it got that way very fast. It should come as no surprise then, that from a business viewpoint, Pinterest can prove to be a very powerful and productive tool. Read our post about why small businesses should use Pinterest. Although this is only touching on some things you can do to utilise Pinterest effectively, they are definitely things you can build on to increase brand recognition and revenue.
Name and Connections
First of all, the name of your company should be the name of your Pinterest Boards. This name should permeate every facet of your Pinterest account, from the name of the boards as mentioned, to featuring as your username and profile name.
It seems so logical, but it’s amazing how many businesses don’t regard Facebook and Twitter as viable sources of revenue. Link your Pinterest account to these accounts and you are extending the potential exposure of your business. Remember to add the web address (URL) of your business wherever you can too.
Word Power
Although Pinterest relies heavily on visual stimulus, your business can still benefit from how you use the written word. Your boards can have a 500 word description. Use every word. By adding text and using keywords in descriptions, you greatly increase the likelihood of your boards appearing in searches, both on Pinterest and on search engines.
Regularity
Any business needs to keep current if they want to stay viable. Businesses using Pinterest need to update their pages on a regular basis. Although you don’t want a constant stream of new content, which may annoy your followers by clogging up with update stream, you should add or alter your pages 2-3 times a week. This will prove beneficial as new users are constantly joining and by keeping things fresh, you maintain interest.
Engagement/Community/Following/Pinning
Probably the most effective way to use Pinterest for driving customers to your business is to let them advertise for you. By engaging with visitors to your boards, you create a feeling of community and trust. This can be your most effective tool as people will start to recommend your boards when they realise you actually are more than just a faceless company.
Following other businesses and boards that have similar interests to your own is another great way to increase visitors to your own pages. Pinning and repining other images and boards that inspire your own is a great way to actively engage and promote your own brand without a lot of sales pressure. When people are talking about and sharing your business, you’ll soon see the benefits of ‘selling without selling.’
If you are still not convinced why you should use Pinterest, then read - 5 Reasons why you should use Pinterest.
