How to Use Pinterest

By Pat Smith

Recently, there's been a lot of talk about how to use Pinterest to market a business. Many owners are uncertain of how this virtual bulletin board can be used to strengthen brand recognition or boost website traffic.

Those who are confused about how to use Pinterest can rest assured it is one of the easier online marketing strategies. Just like other forms of social media, Pinterest lets people share their own content, as well as content published by others. In this case, the content is pictures.

Business owners can create bulletin boards to showcase their products, recipes, how-to information, fashion styles, do-it-yourself projects, gardening tips, and just about anything else they offer. They can also connect with industry professionals, Pinterest users, and consumers.

One of the main attractions of using Pinterest is it lets companies have a higher level of customer engagement. Businesses can enhance their brand by creating interesting boards and engaging with users.

Many business owners are unaware how quickly Pinterest is growing. The site boasts over 5 million users and attracts over 1.5 million unique visitors each day. What's even more astonishing is this hidden marketing gem is responsible for driving higher levels of traffic to websites than all the major players combined, including Google and YouTube.

Companies who aren't making use of Pinterest are missing the boat for gaining targeted traffic. Even more so, they are missing out on opportunities to develop strong brand awareness.

Another benefit of Pinterest is its ability to enhance link building strategies. Owners can include a link to their website and blog in their user profile. They can also link to social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Since photographs are the marketing medium used at Pinterest, the content needs to be SEO'd. Pictures should be optimized by including keywords and company name or website URL.

The simplest way to pin content is to include images on every website page and blog post. This makes is easy to get the post shared throughout the Pinterest community. Keep in mind there is a substantial amount of beautiful photographs shared on bulletin boards. It's advisable to strive for quality images so others will want to repin.

Another way to broaden brand recognition and protect photographs is to include a watermark image with the website address or business name and copyright symbol. Additionally, when pinning pictures from web pages, a URL can be added in the description. All of these measures help to build links which in turn boost search engine ranking.

One thing that Pinterest users must understand is this site should never be used to only promote their personal brand. It is an interactive community that thrives by repining other people's pins. It's all about variety, not only showcasing one specific company.

Just like other social networks, business owners need to be active within the community. Those who create quality pins, comment on other user's boards, repin content, and take time to nurture relationships can excel in this creative community.

Owners will want to take advantage of available apps, widgets, and buttons provided by Pinterest. Buttons can be added to websites, blogs, and individual posts so others can easily pin content. Widgets make sharing content fast and easy, while apps make it easy to access boards whether in the office or on the go.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for harnessing the marketing power of Pinterest. As the company grows and more people use the service there is certain to be continued improvements. With that said, Pinterest is not a match for every company.

For now, the primary demographics are women and popular topics include recipes, crafts, gardening, fashion, and DIY projects. Companies that sell power tools or involved in construction industries probably won't fare well in this forum.

If you're a small business owner who is ready to incorporate social media marketing, but uncertain where to start, Online Marketing DNA is here to help. We specialize in developing personalized marketing programs to help owners expand their online presence. Click here to learn more about available services.

Tags: , , , , ,

Published on May 10, 2013

| Printer friendly Printer friendly