4 Tips to Get the Most Out of Pinterest for Business
July 2, 2013
In my last blog post I discussed the possible benefits of four unconventional social media platforms for businesses. Among those platforms was Pinterest, the social network that allows users to pin various images and videos to their virtual bulletin boards.
Known as a “fun” network predominately used by women, Pinterest is gaining immense traction amongst various businesses. Companies are now using the platform to drive in traffic to their website, blog or microsite with very little effort.
With Pinterest’s growing popularity amongst a much more diverse crowd many businesses will jump on the bandwagon and start pinning. With little guidance out there about how Pinterest should be utilized from a business standpoint, I have listed some tips below that businesses should follow.
4 Tips to Get the Most Out of Pinterest for Business
1) Being Visual is an Absolute Must
Pinterest revolves around visual content. Therefore when it comes to developing your business’s presence on Pinterest, you need to get visual.
- Try pinning visual content that your company already has, such as photos from company events. These images can be pinned to a board dedicated to displaying your company’s culture.
- Promote blog posts on Pinterest by making sure to include images in the actual posts. An eye-catching visual is a must when you go to pin.
- Pictures of your ebooks or visuals from any reports, case studies, or white papers your company has produced also make for great pins.
- Any data that can be turned into a visual is also perfect for pinning. For example, infographics and data charts are great visuals to post to an educational board of some sort.
- When captioning your pin keep it simple, creative & short. Focus on the visual.
2) Be Creative & Make It Fun
Remember that Pinterest is a site for sharing and discussing things people love. Avoid self-promotion and be creative with your pins. Nobody goes on to Pinterest to directly look at your products or services, they go on Pinterest for fun and interesting content.
A good way to approach Pinterest is to realize who your audience is and then create pins tailored to their interests. For instance, if your business is in the tech industry, don’t post a picture of your boring piece of technology, rather post a technology meme or some sort of tech humor piece that your audience would enjoy. Being creative and fun with your pins will lead to Pinterest success.
3) Gain Followers & Create a Pinterest Community
- Follow accounts that relate to your company. Find out who is pinning in your industry.
- Re-pin, like, and comment on relevant pins.
- Interaction is key for creating a strong Pinterest presence.
4) Don’t Waste Time Pinning
If you’re in charge of your company’s social media presence you might not want to put a lot of time and effort into Pinterest unless you’ve collected data/results confirming your audience is active there and there is significant ROI.
Typically, it’s not at the heavy-hitter level of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Prioritize your channels and don’t spend a ton of time on Pinterest. Add the Pin-IT Button to your bookmark toolbar for easy pinning on the go. This button allows you to pin quickly with little effort, definitely a must for busy marketers.
Bottom Line
Having a Pinterest account is definitely worth it. Setting up your account and creating various boards does not take that much time and you can pin nearly effortlessly throughout the work day. If done effectively, you can create your own Pinterest community and drive traffic to your sites. Start pinning and be a pioneer for using Pinterest for business.
Check out our Pinterest page: OpenView Venture Partners Pinterest Page