Pinterest is an image centric social network that is rapidly gaining market share due to its high engagement levels. On Pinterest you can pin your photos, videos, blog posts, websites etc.. When someone sees your pins and if they like it they will pin it to their board, which in turn is visible to their followers and they can even re-pin them if they like them. This creates virality and reach for your pinned post on social media.
The simplicity of this system does not lend itself to obvious marketing strategies, but there are a number of ways that you can use this growing social network to promote your business:
1. Share Your Products on Pinterest
The most obvious way to use Pinterest for your business is to pin your own products to share with other users. There are a few ways that you can leverage this strategy for the most benefit. Since you can create several boards, it is best to group your pins into categories. Doing so creates a virtual product catalog of interest to these consumers or for gift ideas for these groups. You can also create a “best of” board, showing off your most popular products.
2. Sell Your Products
When you create an entry for your pins, you can add a price tag. When you select this option, you can then add a link, pointing back to your Website. Items added in this way are automatically included as a virtual catalog of gift ideas. Be sure to select your best photos for pinning, and include an evocative description.
Share some love by Checking My Pinterest Board and pin what you like!
3. Highlight Services
Not every business sells products. Pinterest is still a useful marketing tool for these businesses. If you provide a service, you can create a kind of visual resume with Pinterest. For example, if you design Websites, you can pin a screenshot of a home page. If you are an (info)graphic designer, you can pin samples of your work. If you offer other services, such as consulting or writing work, you can use Pinterest to share photos that inspire or that share a message about your work. For example, financial consultants could pin to photos that represent client goals, such as financial independence or financing education. Non-profit groups can share photos of the clients they are helping.
4. Bloggers Can Feature Blog Posts
Bloggers can use Pinterest to highlight their blog posts, and create visual directories of content they publish. In order to do this, you need to use photos or other graphics on your blog so Pinterest has the right image to pull in when your post is pinned.
Simple Ways to Start a Blog! | Be a Selfpreneur!
5. Share Videos
Video promotion works exactly the same as a blog promotion, except you can embed your videos right into Pinterest. We all know that online videos can be very powerful for small business owners, so this is the perfect way to use Pinterest for many.
6. Expand Your Website
Your activity on Pinterest doesn’t have to be self-contained. You can use Pinterest to build on other online marketing activities you’re doing in your business. One idea is to create visual versions of the static content you already have on your company website. You can create an “About Us” board, testimonials, and even document the history of your business in photos.
7. Maximize SEO Efforts with Pinterest
When you pin your products, you have an opportunity to maximize your SEO strategy and to drive traffic back to your site. You create quality backlinks whenever you or other users link to your products. When you write descriptions, you can use your targeted keywords, which will attract your target customers and encourage them to visit your site. You can share your pins on other social networks like Facebook and Twitter, encouraging more links to your products. All of these efforts will help to drive more traffic to your site and increase your search-engine ranking.
8. Offer Exclusive Content
Encourage users to interact with you on Pinterest and to visit your Web site by offering exclusive content. You can hold contests by asking users to re-pin your items for each “entry.” The more items are re-pinned, the more buzz you will build around your products and your site. You can also offer exclusive discounts or other promotions by using a QR code or other tactics.
Pinterest Marketing Boards You Must Follow
9. Engage with Pinterest Users
Pinterest is a social network, so take the time to form relationships with other users and to build a community around your brand. When you see that users have re-pinned your items, comment and thank them. Follow other users, and this will encourage them to follow you in return. Ask for customer feedback by encouraging them to re-pin their favorite products in your catalog. The more you can do to encourage customer interaction, the better relationship you will have with them.
With the number of Pinterest users growing rapidly — as much as 4,000 percent in the last six months — the site is quickly becoming a dominant player in the social-networking field. Finding ways to leverage this site to promote your business is important to your overall marketing strategy.