This is a short version of my Top 10 Tips For Small Businesses to get the most out of Pinterest. My emphasis is on keeping true to yourself, and remembering that it's less about promoting your products (although this is important too), and more about using the platform to get to know other like-minded people and possibly form special connections that might be impossible otherwise.
I could literally talk for hours about Pinterest and I'm happy to continue the conversation in the comments below. I am particularly interested in how you are using Pinterest, and what you are gaining from it. Please share!
Your boards represent your personal brand. Imagine that a talent scout is following you; what would you pin to truly represent your aesthetics?
Your followers will feel as though they are being marketed to if they are only presented with your products.
Increase the chances of your pins being found through Pinterest Search, by creating useful descriptions with keywords, hash tags and searchable terms.
Make sure that all your boards are categorised so that the pins on each board appear in Pinterest's overall category pages.
Use pinterest.com/source/yourwebsite address/ to find pins from your website. You can thank the pinner by commenting, “liking” and re-pinning to your own boards.
Write thoughtful, value-added comments, and possibly form an authentic connection with industry leaders, media and bloggers and people you admire.
Lead by example. Use your brand name (and link to your website) and credit the photographer.
Your reputation is created from every interaction, including the images you pin, or re-pin, and the comments that you make. Keep those comments positive and value-added.
Make your Pinterest boards work hard for you by sharing your Pinterest URL with your clients, on your website, your email signature, and your newsletters.
Reinforce your brand and engage with clients by following their boards. Comment on their pins where appropriate, and use the @username feature to share pins of interest with them directly.
Let your clients, friends, contacts and online buddies know you care, and there's a good chance you could deepen your relationships (and that's a good thing).
P.S. Come and follow me over on Pinterest, and let me know so I can follow you too :)
by Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville
Taking some of your advice now and working on my boards' descriptions and categories! Thanks - great tips! I've followed you - come check us out at Boyosaur - lots of fun stuff for boys!
ReplyDeleteThese are really great tips. It is so quick and easy to repin, thanks for reminding me to spend a little extra time building relationships too.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing your pins - here are my boards http://pinterest.com/curlybirds/
Great post Steph - very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI've been spending some time thinking about how I can use Pinterest, so I appreciate this post, Steph. I recently created a board of images showing various steps in my Quiltmaking process, and another showing sketches from my journal - I'm figuring that's a more subtle and enjoyable way of sharing what I do than simply 'here's my artwork - please buy it'. I'm also hoping people enjoy the glimpses into the stories behind my artworks. My board 'The Making of a Quilt' is here: http://pinterest.com/ruthdevos/the-making-of-a-quilt-ruth-de-vos/
ReplyDeleteSuch great suggestions - I especially have to work on my pin descriptions. Since I do pin what I love, I tend to use the word "love" in most descriptions! I've been excited to learn of the many ways Pinterest is able to help small business people - for the longest time I've simply pinned because it's fun, but felt like I ought to lay off pinning to do other social media-esque things. You've basically given me permission to pin to my hearts desire :) Now off to check out your boards, here are mine - http://pinterest.com/AisGladToBeHere/
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