How Pinterest can benefit businesses

14/01/13

Since it launched in 2010, Pinterest has had more than 10 million unique users a month. On the site you can set up a pin board where you can pin any image from the web.

But what does this have to do with you?

Pinterest is based around people’s likes and interests, and it encourages a connection with buying. You can include a link showing where to buy something with your pin.

How can yet another social media site benefit you?

Over a third of worldwide brands have an active presence on Pinterest. It is a huge opportunity to market your products and raise awareness for your brand.

Below are five top tips that have been adapted from one of the eMarketer reports available in our Business & IP Centre.

1. Don’t be too self-absorbed

Try and incorporate other brands on your board to show people your own interests and that you aren’t just trying to sell a product. It is also important to follow people back and reply to their comments, it highlights the difference between you and the big brands!

2. Make sharing simple

Add the Pinterest link to your website. This will make it easy for people to pin directly from your website.

3. Tell your customers about Pinterest through email

Promote your connection with Pinterest through their emails. Facebook and Twitter are saturated with brand marketing. Pinterest does not send marketing email as much as Facebook, but regardless of this it receives much higher open and click rates.

4. Avoid the hard sell

Do not cover your page in price tags. Not only does a lack of listed price encourage users to click through to your website to discover prices, but it is also important to remember that Pinterest is about sharing images.

5. More isn’t always better

Quality over quantity! The majority of traffic comes from people sharing your content.

If, like many people, you’re nervous about using a new social network, our British Library’s Business & IP Centre has a series of Web in Feb activities to help you.

Written by our Creative Industries Marketing Assistant and Intern Olivia Fine.

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