By now everyone has at least heard of Pinterest. It’s the fastest growing social platform and has become an extremely popular 
channel for brands of all shapes and sizes:
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.
If your business is hoping to catch the eyes of social users then Pinterest is a platform you should be considering. Here are my Top Ten Tips for business looking to use this exciting new channel:
1- Read and Understand Pinterests Rules:
Probably the number reason why brands/organizations/businesses avoid Pinterest is due to Intellectual Property concerns. There are definitely some serious legal concerns that cannot be ignored when using Pinterest. Before you even consider building boards and pining images be sure to carefully read the Terms and Conditions and have your in-house counsel review as well.
2- Use the Space Correctly:
As with all other social platforms clearly understanding the spaces etiquette is key. If you want your messages to be well received, are hoping for participation and positive responses you MUST act appropriately within the space. Pinterest provides etiquette guidance so check it out HERE.
3- Learn from Others:
One of my favorite ways to find success quickly is to learn from those who are already doing it well. I wrote a Top Ten on this several weeks ago but I am sure if you look there are many new and innovative campaigns on Pinterst.
4- Do It:
Before you can run you must walk. After you’ve done your research, understand the terms and conditions and how you should be using the space start doing it. While it might feel strange, new and in the beginning slow you must start somewhere.
5- Be Organized:
As with all other social channels organization and ease of use for your community is key. Have several boards with clear and concise purposes, pin strategically and keep on message. Don’t overload your community by pining everything at once. Be sure your strategy is set and that you’re following it.
6- Add Value:
Simply pining images of your products that link to where it can be purchased on your website won’t work. Pinterest is a community that shares tips, advice and valuable information. Be sure your boards are adding value to the community.
7- Tag, Tag, Tag:
Just like Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest offers many opportunities to increase SEO, draw attention to your messages and build powerful communities. Use hashtags (#) to your pins to Pinterest keyword searches and @tag to let draw attention to potential shares. Don’t forget the point is to engage!
8- Share:
Be sure to add your Pinterest icon to your businesses web page and blog. Encourage your other social communities to engage with your brand on Pinterest. Ask readers to “Pin it” and build fun campaigns around your Pinterest presence to grow, grow, grow your community.
9- Pin Interesting Images:
The better the image the more likely it will be repinned by others. The more repins you receive the more visibility your brand gets. If your images are boring, low quality or simply add no value don’t expect others to pin it on their boards.
10- Continue to Learn:
Pinterest grows and changes daily. Continue to research fun and exciting ways to use it and push your creativity to the next level. These platforms offer so many ways to build brand loyalty, visibility and revenue so take advantage!
Check out some of our upcoming Social Media Strategies Summits and enter our Sweepstakes to win an All Access Pass:
Miami: June 12-14
Denver: August 22nd -23rd
San Francisco: September 25th & 26th
Minneapolis: October 3rd & 4th (website coming soon!)
Boston: October 23rd -25th
London: November 6th-8th
