302.382.0410
302.382.0410
Pinterest.com was the fastest growing social media website in history!
Recently, its numbers have not been so impressive, but it’s still a force to be reckoned with. If you are not familiar with how it works, Pinterest operates like a virtual pin board. The user can create a variety of board categories, and start adding images of products, places, and people who interest them.
You’ll have to check it out for yourself in order to get the full feel of its addictive qualities. Utilizing Pinterest to promote your business is just another weapon to add to your online marketing arsenal.
Here are 6 ways to promote your business using Pinterest.com
Just like your Facebook profile, Pinterest gives you the opportunity to let your customers know what you are all about. When building your account profile, be sure to be very descriptive, and take advantage of every space available. Do not leave any portion of your profile blank. Be sure to insert keywords that best define what it is that your business does. Include the products you offer, and the service you provide. Include your website address within the “About me” section. By linking your website to your Pinterest profile, you are creating just another footprint on a reputable site that helps with search engine optimization (getting found on Google).
Click here for more on SEO…in a nutshell!
Create several board categories that really define you as an individual. I like to use titles like Stuff I Love, Must See Videos, Favorite Blog Posts, or Motivational. Using the search bar in the top left corner of the home page, start searching for stuff that interests you. The unique thing about Pinterest, is that it only displays images. The site was created based on the massive popularity of picture sharing. The images that pop-up as a result of your search will link to the webpage they originated from. The picture attracts the attention of the user, and directs them to the website. I’ll talk about using images in your site’s content later in the post, but keep in mind that the entire Pinterest website is all about attractive images.
Pinterest allows you to link your Facebook and Twitter accounts to your profile. When you pin an image to your boards, Pinterest gives you the option to share your pin with the rest of your online followers. This is huge in the world of online marketing! It’s like killing several birds with one stone. You can successfully share content with thousands of your fans using one click of the mouse. Ease of use is very important, and Pinterest has hit a home run. Keep your audience in mind when selecting your pins. Your message needs to be congruent.
So here comes the importance of incorporating pictures into your existing website. You can upload URL’s (web addresses) to your Pinterest profile. In order for your upload to successfully appear on Pinterest, there must be an image linked to the page. So if you author a blog, and don’t include an image in your post, Pinterest will notify you that an image could not be found, and your content will not show up as a pin. For example, say you own a travel agency and you just wrote an awesome post about the Top 10 Items You Need to Pack for Any Vacation. A smart move would be to attach an image of a packed suitcase to your post. That way when you upload your blog’s address on Pinterest, the image of the packed suitcase will create a pin, and will link to your blog post. If your image is engaging, and your pin title includes keywords that describe your content, you are opening your stuff up to be pinned on some else’s board. That’s the magic of Pinterest!
That sounds confusing, but the rule is simple. If you post a pin that includes a picture of a fresh, out of the oven apple pie, don’t have the image link to an article on financial management. Pinterest will view that as spamming, and can terminate your profile. Just like with any new social site that can be used to promote businesses, it didn’t take long for the spammers to taint the purity of Pinterest. Today, it’s hard to search for anything and not come across a few pins that either lead to nowhere, or take you to a sleazy sales page. That being said, Pinterest has done a great job of weeding out the trouble makers. It’s still a solid online marketing investment. Take advantage of it!
Be sure to “follow” others. It works just like Facebook and Twitter. You need to reach out, and engage with other people in order to increase your own followers. Comment on their pins. Be real, and don’t just slap your web address in the comment section of a thousand different pins. Share pins you see on different pages. They will be notified that you “repinned” their image. After they see that you shared their interest, the chances are pretty good that they will reciprocate the favor. Your content will spread, and your popularity will grow.
Images are still the number one most shared form of content online. Videos are coming in at a close second. The cool part is, you can share videos on Pinterest as well! That’s an entirely different blog post, and I’ll save that for another time. Just know that if you want to build a profile on Pinterest, you have to maintain, update, and share it. Don’t leave it stagnant. Be sure to take full advantage of everything it has to offer!
Click here to create you own Pinterest page today!
If you have questions, and you want to schedule a FREE consultation, start by giving me a ring at 815.441.2219. I’d be happy to let you in on a few of my closely guarded marketing secrets. That’s if you are ready to increase profits, and take your business to the next level. No pressure!
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