Pinterest is a social network based on interests where users can follow people with similar interests and curate collections of pins that they find interesting. It is driving more traffic to websites than other social networks like YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn. Businesses that sell photogenic products are well-suited for Pinterest because they can create pinboards to showcase their products and services and drive traffic back to their websites. To get started, businesses should create boards related to their products and interests, regularly pin engaging images with descriptions linking back to their website, and engage with other Pinterest users.

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2. What is Pinterest?

3. Hint:
Pin + Interest = ________
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4. It’s a social network based
on interests.

5. Pinterest
• Follow people much like you would on Facebook or Twitter.
• Pick and choose specific collections you’re interested in.
• You don’t need to get toddler updates from your cousin in
Tallahassee (unless you want them)!
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6. Why are people so excited
about Pinterest?
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8. Pinterest is driving more traffic to
company websites and blogs than
YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn
combined, according to a recent report
from Cambridge, Mass.-based content-sharing
site Shareaholic.

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10. Time spent on network in January 2012:
Facebook: 405 minutes
Pinterest: 89 minutes
Twitter: 21 minutes
LinkedIn: 17
MySpace: 8
Google+: 3

11. How does Pinterest differ from other
social networks?
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12. “Part of Pinterest’s appeal is that it’s
beautiful…Because it’s image-based, the core
of Pinterest is overwhelmingly positive. I like
to think of Pinterest as Facebook without the
whining.”
– Beth Hayden for Copyblogger.com

13. DIY
Coupons and special offers
New product releases
Crafts
Recipes
Photography
Design
Animals
Videos
Infographics
Holiday wish lists
Event promotion
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14. What kind of businesses are
a good fit for Pinterest?

15. Photogenic products and services:
• Restaurants & bakeries
• Clothing & accessories
• Spa/beauty/health
• Pet/animal
• Real estate & lodging
• Home décor & furnishings
• Travel & recreation
• Art & photography

16. How can businesses use Pinterest?

17. Create pinboards for the types of
products you sell
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18. Add boards like "Things We Love," "Sale
Items" or "Gift Ideas"
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19. Creating boards that your customers will find
useful, such as "Insider Tips" or "Top Trends"

20. Hold contests in which your customers are
rewarded for adding your products to
their pinboards

21. Add a pin to your blog or website to allow easy
sharing of your content

22. “Perhaps the most powerful business
application is the ability to post images of
your company's products on your
Pinterest board and link them back to your
website. It works as a sort of virtual store
catalog.”
– Jason Falls for Entrepreneur.com

23. Getting started with Pinterest
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24. First steps:
• Feature your business name and website URL in your profile.
• Add a paragraph about who you are and your interests to the
“About” section.
• Connect your account with your Facebook and Twitter
accounts.
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25. Pinning 101:
• Be sure to add the Pin It bookmarklet to your browser’s
Bookmarks Bar.
• Pin pin pin. And do it consistently, not in brief spurts, to
maximize your exposure and engagement.
• Come up with compelling pinboard names.

26. Pinning 101:
• Include good descriptions with you pin images. A good
description will stay with an image as it gets repinned.
• If the image is something from your own site, use your
business name in the description.
• Pin from a variety of sources.

27. Get social!
• Tag other Pinterest users in your pins by using “@username”
in your descriptions.
• Mix original pinning with repinning. “Repinning” is repeating
someone else’s pin to your followers (like a retweet on Twitter).
• Comment on and “Like” other people’s pins when you want to
recognize great content and engage other users.

28. What specific pitfalls should I strive
to avoid?

29. “But remember that this is social media.
If you simply display images of your
products without contributing other
content or sharing other users' pins,
you'll likely find that people don't pay
much attention. After all, no one likes a
self-absorbed blowhard.”
– Jason Falls for Entrepreneur.com

30. Instead…
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31. Instead:
“Daniel Gordon, who runs Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma
City, pins pictures of his rings and watches, but he also has a
board for images that make him laugh and other types of products
he loves.”
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32. Get out there and start pinning!
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33. Questions?

34. We’d love to help.
• Just get in touch!
(213) 607-9100
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