Pinterest is an exciting platform with immense potential for promoting your business. However, it can be a challenge to keep up with its ever-evolving best practices. If you're new to Pinterest, you might be wondering how and why to use it as a marketing tool for your business.
In this guide, we'll delve into "What is Pinterest?" and, more importantly, "How can you harness Pinterest's power for your business?"
Understanding the Purpose of Pinterest:
Pinterest originally emulated online corkboards where people pinned images and ideas they wanted to save or revisit. While many aspects of Pinterest have evolved, this core idea remains unchanged. People use Pinterest to "discover new ideas and find inspiration."
Pinterest by the Numbers:
Founded in March 2010
Monthly users: 250 million (as of 9/10/2018)
81% of Pinterest users are female
In one study, 93% of users reported using Pinterest to plan purchases
The remarkable half-life of a Pinterest pin is 3 ½ months, which far exceeds other major social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Pinterest pins continue to engage and drive traffic to your website for an extended period, making Pinterest a potent marketing tool for businesses.
Is Pinterest a Social Media Platform?
Pinterest blurs the lines between a social media platform and a search engine. While content is often discovered through search or users' home feeds, social engagement, such as saving and commenting on pins, also plays a role.
Pinterest has oscillated between being labeled as social media and, more recently, introduced features like the "Following" feed to enhance the social aspect. It can be considered a visual search engine with a social component.
How Pinterest Works for People and Businesses:
People use Pinterest to discover and save ideas, such as products, activities, and inspirations, by creating pins and organizing them into boards.
For businesses, Pinterest offers an opportunity to provide these ideas. If you learn to leverage Pinterest's search functionality, users will discover your content when searching for related ideas, expanding your potential audience. This is especially valuable for solopreneurs, as Pinterest can be a robust source of free website traffic.
Pinterest Basics:
To use Pinterest effectively, you should understand some fundamental concepts:
What is a Pinterest pin? It's an image with a description and a link to a website.
What is a Pinterest board? It's a curated collection of pins, typically organized by topics.
What can be found on Pinterest? Virtually any topic or category, from animals to fashion, DIY, and travel.
What is a Pinterest profile? It's your corner on Pinterest, displaying your boards and pins, and providing information about your business.
How do followers and following work? Users can follow other users, boards, and topics, which influences the content they see in their home feeds.
Getting Started with Pinterest for Your Business:
To start using Pinterest for your business, ensure you have a Pinterest business account. Business accounts provide more features, including analytics and advertising options.
Pinterest is free to use, and while there's much to learn about using it for business, some essential tips include creating a mix of broad and niche boards, using the right keywords, and creating attention-grabbing, mobile-friendly pin images.
Pinterest can be a powerful marketing tool for your business, offering long-term results, but it's essential to start using it now and learn as you go.
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