Simplifying Social Media: Pinterest

Pinterest is the latest and hottest social media platform. It's not as large as giants Facebook and Twitter, but it is quickly gaining ground - especially with the female demographic.

Quite simply, Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. As the site explains:

"Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. 

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests." 

You can also upload your own photos to Pinterest for others to view and share.

There are many great advantages to utilizing Pinterest:

1. You Can Show Off Your Work 

Are you a photographer, web designer, or artist? Pinterest is a great way to showcase and share your work - especially considering the platform's sleek layout.

Just be sure your Pinterest page isn't 100% about you. The focus of Pinterest is to share and organize inspirational ideas, so a profile that is completely self-serving can be a turn-off. Have pinboards that share images of useful tips or tricks. Or simply share works of others that inspire you. Just make sure your profile isn't all about you.



2. You Can Sell Your Products

By adding an item's price to a photo, you can direct visitors to your website's online store. At the same time, the item will be automatically listed in Pinterest's "Gifts" section. The bulk of Pinterest users are interested in hand-crafted items, photography, fashion accessories, and the like. So if your business falls into one of these categories, Pinterest would be a natural fit for you. Even Etsy is using it to showcase items from its website.

3. It Can Drive Traffic to Your Website

Points #1 and #2 above can obviously create traffic to your website. But your Pinterest profile also includes links to your website and other social media accounts. So if people are drawn to your products or images, they can easily visit your Facebook page or online store.

4. Make Your Business Stand Out

The old saying is true - an image is worth a thousand words. That means a visually-based social platform can give you a lot of power, beyond just sharing your products. For example, give visitors a special glimpse into your business, whether it be an artsy design studio or creative outdoor office. Let people connect with who you are - not just what you do.

5. You Can Find Inspirational Ideas for Your Own Business

Pinterest can help build your business, not just promote it. Redecorating the office? Need an updated business wardrobe? Planning an upcoming event? Pinterest is a simple and easy way to find and organize ideas, making that overwhelming task much more manageable and pleasant. Since Pinterest is online, you can also access those ideas from whenever you are!


Action Step: Watch the tutorial below to gain a better understanding of how Pinterest works. Then, consider your business, Pinterest's advantages and demographics, and decide whether the platform would be useful for your business. If so, place a checkmark on your Social Media Strategy Guide next to the Pinterest icon.

Pinterest Tutorial:



Helpful Links:

About Pinterest (official page)

Pinterest: Getting Started (official page)

Helpful Books:

The Quick and Easy Guide to Branding Your Business and Creating Massive Sales with Pinterest(Kindle)