Think your company needs to establish a presence on Pinterest? Or, has your boss developed a pinning obsession, leaving you wondering why? This free Pinterest resource, created by Geben Communication, includes a general overview, recent statistics, and links to resources and brands succeeding on Pinterest. Whether you're a Pinterest newbie ... or a seasoned pinner looking for ways to strengthen your brand's visual storytelling, this document is for you. Until next time, happy pinning!

1. An Introduction to Pinterest!
By now, you’ve surely heard about that pin-teresting little image-based bookmarking site that’s
shot past the competition to claim the title as the third most popular social network in the
United States, right up on the heels of Facebook and Twitter. That’s right, with traffic up a
whopping 50 percent between January and February, Pinterest wins the bronze in the social
media popularity contest—beating out big-name players that include Tumblr, LinkedIn, and
Google+.
Pinterest is being dubbed THE social network of 2012. Here’s a few more numbers that may
more clearly illustrate why:
• 21.5 million. That’s the total visits to Pinterest during the week ending on January
28—which is also 30 times the number of total visits just six months ago.
• 89 minutes. That’s the average time per month a user spends on the site.
• 60 percent. Nearly two-thirds of Pinterest users are women, with 55 percent of them
being between the ages of 25 and 44.
• 17.8 million. The number of unique U.S. visitors to Pinterest in February.
What’s so special about Pinterest, a network launched just two years ago that’s now blowing
veteran social networks out of the water? First, it’s important to understand what Pinterest is
and how it works.
The network calls itself a virtual pinboard. It’s a photo-sharing website where users can
create themed “boards” and “pin” photos to them. Think of it like tacking photos on a bulletin
board, except online. Users can also browse and follow boards created by others. Planning a
wedding, a holiday meal or looking for DIY home projects? Pinterest may be your new best
friend. Not to mention brands are flocking it to showcase their products and services. To see
some examples, check out the 10 most-followed brands on Pinterest.
Even if you’re an avid pinner, you may be asking just what is it that is making audiences swarm
to the site and just what is it that makes Pinterest so addictive. There are a few reasons, which
are further illustrated in this infographic:
• Exclusivity. Pinterest is invite-only. Although getting access usually doesn’t take too
long, not just anyone can join – yet, at least.
• Design. It’s all about the visuals. Pinterest’s clean, simple, image-centric design lets
users scroll through pages of content with minimal effort and distraction. Even text, like
comments and “likes,” are only visible when they are scrolled over.
heather [at] gebencommunication.com • @prTini
www.GebenCommunication.com

2. • Critical mass. Pinterest is the perfect platform for hoarding unique content. There are
boards devoted to almost anything. Also, the site relies on user-generated content – the
most pins, the more visitors, it’s as simple as that.
• Refuge. Pinterest has become a meeting place for disgruntled Facebook/Twitter users
who are tired of the constant barrage of personal information and want to feel free to
post updates without worrying about personal content or privacy questions. While
Facebook and Twitter focus on what a person is doing, Pinterest reveals what that
individual likes.
• Accessibility. There’s an app for it, and a browser plugin – giving pinners multiple
ways to share and repin content. See something you like? Just hit the “Pin-it” button on
your browser and select an image to pin. Pinterest does the rest.
• Popularity. Pins get you noticed! All new pins are featured on the front page of
Pinterest. Also, find fellow pinners by automatically connecting to your Facebook, or
searching for boards aligned with your interests.
Pinterest is in its infancy, which means features and functionality continue to evolve. A few
notable changes took place in March, such as:
• No selling content. Pinterest’s original Terms of Service stated that, by posting
content to Pinterest, users gave the site the right to sell their content. Pinterest said
selling content was never its intention, so the terms were updated.
• No harmful pins. The Acceptable Use Policy was updated to say Pinterest would no
longer allow pins that explicitly encourage self-harm or self-abuse. Also, simpler tools
were introduced to report alleged copyright or trademark infringements.
• New features. Language was added to pave the way for new features, such as a
Pinterest API and Private Pinboards.
To see how others are using Pinterest, get some ideas and inspiration and to learn more about
how to use it effectively, check out these 10 recent articles:
1. Still not quite sure where to begin on Pinterest? Never fear, you’ll be a pinner in no time after
reading this get-started guide.
2. Is Pinterest the real-deal for brands? These stats say yes.
3. According to the New York Times, a marketer’s new BFF may be Pinterest. Retailers such as
Whole Foods, West Elm and L.L. Bean and magazines like Better Homes & Gardens and Real
Simple are discovering the magic of the social media start-up for showcasing products and
reaching whole new segments of customers and followers.
4. Instead on focusing on who has the most followers on Pinterest, let’s take a peek at nine
examples of Pinterest creativity.
heather [at] gebencommunication.com • @prTini
www.GebenCommunication.com

3. 5. For even more pin-spiration, check out these three smart marketing campaigns – and don’t
skip over the Kotex blogger outreach effort.
6. How can Pinterest be used for business? Here are 26 ways to get you thinking.
7. As you may have noticed, Pinterest isn’t just for the big guys. Small businesses can greatly
benefit from Pinterest, too – in big ways by simply following these tips.
8. So, just what are people pinning? Well, Hasselback Garlic Cheesy Bread Recipe got more
than 91,000 re-pins, making it one of the 15 most popular pins or all time.
9. Of course, the most popular pins could change tomorrow. Keep up by using Repinly, an app
that makes it easy to find interesting people to follow, and discover the most popular pins,
boards and topics.
10. Don’t stop at just being a normal pinner. Take the next step and strive to be a Pinterest
master by following these five tips.
Pinterest’s race to the top isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon, as thousands of new pins and
pinners are being added daily. Here at Geben, we’ll keep you up on the latest developments. In
the meantime, feel free to contact us (heather@gebencommunication.com) with questions as
new changes and features are rolled out.
Until next time, Happy Pinning!
heather [at] gebencommunication.com • @prTini
www.GebenCommunication.com