Are you addicted yet?
I’m referring to the Palo Alto- based social networking and visual bookmarking site, Pinterest. Co-founded by Ben Silberman, Paul Sciarra, and Evan Sharp, relatively unknown entrepreneurs (until now), the three founders have managed to secure financial backing from Silicon Valley and $27 million in venture capital to date.
Not too shabby for a company that has been hailed as the next big thing in social media. Rumor even has it that the site, developed in late 2009, is driving more referral traffic than Google+.
Vision Boards for the Early Adopter Masses
Pinterest has taken an old concept––vision boarding––and made it new. Now your interests are accessible to the early adopter masses in an aesthetically pleasing format. And if you own a small business and find the need to express yourself, what better way to do it than by pinning it up on your virtual wall for the world to see.
But before you spend too much time pinning for pleasure, here are five simple ways you can unleash your “pinning purpose” and boost your business using Pinterest.
1. Repurpose and curate your best online content
There’s no need to spend hours recreating the wheel. Repurpose your online website content and pin it up on Pinterest. Utilize Google Analytics to decipher your top ranked content. Then, pin your most popular products on boards and share your company blog content with a world of potential prospects.
2. Stay organized and targeted
Create targeted and niche boards using industry-related keywords. As you pin, post relevant content to each board and write a brief description (using keywords). You get the point, targeted is better. Make it easy for online searchers to locate and share your vision.
3. Curate industry-related content
Believe it or not, social media is not all about your business. I know, it’s a large pill to swallow, but in order to invoke thought leadership you should keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry and share it with your Pinterest followers. Create an individual board that links to trends and integrate your logo branded forecasts as well.
4. Develop metrics accountability with every pin
Pin with a purpose and utilize tools to track key performance metrics (KPI’s) and drive accountability. Your social media manager or team, shouldn’t spend their day pinning to pass time.
Create trackable links using Google’s URL Builder and build a URL that can be separately tracked in Google Analytics. Each time another Pinner clicks on your link Google Analytics will automatically track it. Log-in to your analytics account and checkout Traffic Sources, inside Campaigns, to find your referrals.
Use this simple and proven technique to find out the type of content that resonates best with your Pinterest fans.
5. Follow other Pinners and repin their content
Pinterest is an interesting amalgamation of social networking and visual bookmarking – so don’t forget that while your pinning up your greatest hits, the conversational element is just as important. Showcase your favorite Pinners in a dedicated board and repin often.
Do you use Pinterest as an online marketing tool for your small business? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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