It’s hard to browse the web these days and not run into a site that links, in one way or another, to Pinterest.
True, it’s not Facebook or Twitter, that is — not yet. Still, Pinterest has grabbed the attention of the social media world. In fact, as of January of this year, it was the fastest site in history to pass the 10 millions original user mark.
Impressive, right?
Now, while Pinterest is fun to browse and can be very useful as far as PR goes, it’s important to remember that Pinterest should only be a slice in your over-all marketing pie. After all, you should never put all your pies in one…basket.
Getting Started
Before you and your business dive head first into Pinterest there are a few preliminary steps you need to take, the first of which is to start thinking in pictures.
Pinterest is an image sharing based site which means if you can’t find a way to represent your company with pictures, you should point your browser somewhere else during office hours.
For those image savvy businesses out there, your first step would be to add a “Pin” button to your site. The easier you make it for people to start pinning your content to their pinboards the more likely they are to do so. Plus, once you have a Pinterest account, you can search Pinterest to see which images from your site are getting pinned and which aren’t, giving you an inside hint as to the types of images people respond to most.
Think Outside The Box
Yes, the obvious move is to use your pinboards to showcase your products. If you design clothes then you have models, if you’re a baker then you pin photos of your latest cake. That strategy isn’t wrong, but I bet you can do better than that.
The most successful Pinterest users use their pinboards in a more broad, creative way. Try an inspiration-themed pinboard where you pin photos of the things that get your creative motor going. When choosing your pinboards, think about how you can make your product seem universal. A cake will always be a cake, but a wedding cake is something different.
Using The Industry
Want to get people involved with your Pinterest page? Of course you do. Luckily, the easiest people to win over are the people within your own industry. All you have to do is include them.
Chances are you keep up with all the goings on within your specific niche in your chosen profession. When something interesting or news worthy happens that relates to your business – pin it. It’s as simple as that. These tidbits could be anything from a blog post about your company to an article about someone else who has been successful in your field. Remember, broad strokes are what bring people in.
Get Involved
Just like blogs, the success of your Pinterest page depends on your participation within the world of Pinterest. So get in there. Leave comments on your photos and respond to the people that leave you comments in return. Initiating a conversation is the first step to starting a relationship.
Hashtags
Just like Twitter and Instagram, Pinterest supports hashtags, to make to #tag all your photos. You never know when someone may stumble on your Pinterest page thanks to a well placed hashtag.
