What the heck is Pinterest ?
I was inspired to write this after running a workshop on social media for some creative business start-ups at the Bay Business Centre last month where I was asked again.. What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a fairly new, but increasingly popular visual site. Put simply it’s an online pin board for you to pin all your favourite images. It’s certainly a lot of fun and is very likeable. But beware, it’s very easy to waste an hour on there!
You have to request an invite to join Pinterest , then just create your profile, decided on your board categories and enjoy!
You can like, comment or repin images that you enjoy, in the same way as you do on facebook.
I use it to get ideas for images for blogs, or topical issues, and to just see what’s new, but, it’s real strength is for businesses that produce visually attractive items. So ideal for crafty folk, restaurants and photographers etc, but if you have a creative streak then you can play and get most anything turned into a good visual as you can with Youtube.
Savvy charities recognising how popular it is are also getting in there. UNICEF has recently got clever and turned the mass consumerism on its head with a Pinterest board that shows the life – and belongings – of a little girl in Sierra Leone . Check it out.
Think about the ways in which your business could communicate with visuals – if you can find a way to offer something compelling, unusual, and attractive, then even the most ordinary objects can be a success on Pinterest.
If your business isn’t using visual images yet this might just help to inspire you. Remember people take in information in many different ways and the written word doesn’t suit everyone. We already know from facebook, Youtube and the growth of infographics that images are increasingly popular.
Enjoy!
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