Pinterest is easy to learn and quick to use. The visual interface is stimulating to the brain and it invokes almost an addictive response in users. This is appealing to both the art crowd and to general users. The power of Pinterest and why use it is not only to connect interesting things and people, it is also helpful for your business.
According to ExperianHitwise, Pinterest is now the #3 social media site behind Facebook and Twitter. It is also the #16th most visited site in the USA, so it is not something you should ignore.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a bookmarking tool aimed at changing the social bookmarking industry into something better than it’s ever been. Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website which allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as images, events, interests, hobbies and more. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, ‘re-pin’ images to their own collections and or ‘like’ photos. Pinterest’s mission is to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting” via a global platform of inspiration and idea sharing.”
Why is Pinterest different?
Pinterest is an excellent site for inspiration and ideas and it is also a very cool community filled with artistic souls. ‘So what?’ you might be thinking, I already belong to ten of those and I don’t have time to read all the blogs and articles as it is… so here are four reasons why Pinterest is different:
- Pinterest uses a new type of social interface to drive traffic and it is linked to Facebook and Twitter.
- Pinterest appeals to both the general public and to the art & design crowd
- Pinterest is an excellent marketing tool
- Pinterest is the first of similar sites and it signals a shift in Internet marketing, viewing and usage.
- Pinterest challenges most social media and current computer trends. It’s fast, beautiful, visual and easy to use. Just as so many sites are opting for utility over beauty, Pinterest invites users to think visually and appreciate beautiful things every time they enter the site. Most importantly, it saves you time especially when researching.
Who uses Pinterest & why?
Pinterest is easy to learn and quick to use. The visual interface is stimulating to the brain and it invokes almost an addictive response in users. This is appealing to both the art crowd and to general users. The power of Pinterest and why use it is not only to connect interesting things and people, it is also helpful for your business. When you pin an image, it links back to the original image…hence it can be linked back to your website. Start building your Pinterest presence by creating a personal account first and then a business account. This will allow you to experience it as a consumer and help you determine what will be best for your business imaging.
Pinterest Search
A quick search for ‘dogs’ and a compilation of dog-related pins appears…
What is a pin?
A pin is an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be a dded from a website using the Pin It button, or you can upload images from your computer. Each pin added using the Pin It button links back to the site it came from.
What makes for a popular ‘pin’?
Clients looking for pins by the community should have several excellent photos available for pinning on every page of their site, keeping in mind that great photos, logos, infographics and memes are the most popular pins.
Tips & Pin Optimization
Pins that generate comments and are physically longer, dominate the Pinterest site. The five-column format naturally favours vertical orientation of both photos and memes. The majority of both in the most popular section are vertically oriented. Comments and lengthy text increase the page space accompanied by any pin making it more likely to be repined and shared by other viewers. Consequently, adopting and using vertical formats into web designs, where pinning is desired, makes sense.
Even though ads make up only a small percentage of the most popular pins, many were presented as logos. For example, Trader Joes’s logo is one of the most popular pins on the site. Each time the logo is pinned it is an endorsement not only for the store but also for the designer of the logo – if it is credited by the pinner.
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