This document provides information about using the social media platform Pinterest for business purposes. It describes Pinterest as a visual bookmarking and image curation site launched in 2010 that is used by 100 million worldwide. The document offers tips for businesses on Pinterest including setting up a business account, creating boards, pinning content regularly, and using images effectively. Additional resources for using Pinterest for marketing are also listed.

1. November 19, 2015
Susan Mayer
Specialty Services Advisor
Arlington Heights Memorial Library

2. 
 Social Media platform started in March 2010
 Visual bookmarking and link-sharing platform
 Image curation
 Platform used by 100 million worldwide (9/2015)
 Pew Research: Pinterest users are more likely to be female
(44%), between 18 – 49 years old (37%), and earn $50,000 -
$74,999 (41%)
 Additional statistics can be found here.
What is Pinterest?

3. 
 Drive referral traffic to your website or blog
 Share content to attract new customers
 Wonderful platform for visual businesses
 Educate customers regarding your business or industry
 Gain inspiration for your own business
 Keep an eye on, or learn from your competitors
Why Pinterest for Business?

4. 
 people bypass Google and
go directly to Pinterest
 to search for products
and lifestyle topics
 content is curated by
actual users
 powerful way for users to
discover things they
might not have expected
to find
Did you know?

5. 
 Board
 Pin
 Likes
 Followers
 Following
 Guided Search
 Topics
 Rich Pins
Learn the Lingo

6. 
Ask some questions:
 What is your purpose for using social media?
 Identify your audience and your goals
 Is your business ‘visual’? If not, don’t worry…
 Who will create content, respond and monitor?
If you decide Pinterest will work for you & your
business,
 Set up a business account
Where Do You Begin?

7. 
 You can convert an existing personal account to a
business account.
 Benefits of business accounts include insights and analytics
 Number of unique users, repins, likes, views, etc.
 Additional resources such as “Pin it” buttons to install on
your website
 Always include and verify your website url
 Your profile image should either be your headshot, your
logo, or an item that is representative of your products
Setting up a Business Account

8. 
 Fully fill out bio
 Make categories for all boards
 Verify your website with Pinterest
 Add contact info
 Add text to all areas that request some
 Pin content from other people & businesses, not just
your own content
 Be social!
Be sure to …

9. 
 Follow others on Pinterest
 Pin regularly = visibility
 Embed the and “Follow Me on Pinterest” button on
your website or blog
 Pin content from your blog to drive traffic
 Pin content from your e-commerce shop
 Share a link to your social media (facebook, youtube)
 Share a link to an individual Pinterest pin or board on
social media
 Pinning great content will create a visual personality for
your business
Increase Your Followers

10. 
button & other widgets
 button allows pinners to pin item
when they hover or click on your image
 Follow button:
 Profile widget
 Board widget

11. 
Content “rules”
34%
33%
33%
What to share
1/3 Business
1/3 Industry
1/3 Personal
Know seasonal trends and topics (Ahalogy has good information and downloads)

12. 
 Showcase your company
 Your work or services
 Share links to your products (etsy, e-commerce site)
 Host a competition
 Share items that are interesting to your target market
 Curate images that reflect your branding
 Create inspiration relating to your industry
 Create inspiration relating to educating your customer
 Example: Photographer might include a board of what to
wear, or ways to display images
 Create a referral board for local businesses, affiliates,
partners or organizations (networking)
Inspiration: Content
Ideas

13. 
 Collaborate with Co-workers
 Event planning
 product launch
 Collaborate with a client
 Great for branding ideas
 Collect gift ideas for customers
Note: Secret boards can be converted to a
public board, but once public cannot be
changed back.
Inspiration: Secret Boards

14. 
 Image size and image quality does matter
 Cheat sheet for images sizing
 Basically, a minimum of 735 pixels in width – height
will be adjusted based on the size of the image
 Vertical images post best
 Pixelated or too small to view = unprofessional
 Beautiful images get repinned
 Mobile friendly
Image details

15.  One on one appointments with Business Services
 Training Center classes: Look for Photoshop classes to help
with formatting photos, and Photowalk With Your Smart
Phone to help take quality photos
 Tutorials in the AHML Databases
 Gale Courses – Using Social Media in Business
 Lynda.com – Pinterest courses
 Treehouse – Social Media Strategy, How to Market Your
Business
Additional assistance @AHML

16.  Books:
 Pinfluence: The Complete Guide to Marketing Your Business with Pinterest by Beth
Hayden
 Platform by Michael Hyatt
 Best Practices for Brands Using Pinterest
 http://bryannagy.com/2012/05/13/best-practices-for-brands-using-pinterest/
 http://new.soldsie.com/blog/6-best-practices-for-brands-on-pinterest/
 Grow your blog with Pinterest
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/grow-your-blog-with-pinterest/
 Pinterest tips for your business
 https://www.ahalogy.com/research/
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/pinterest-tips-for-your-business/
 https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/2015
 http://www.pinright.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Pinterest-DImensions-
Cheat-Sheet.png
 http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/7-pinterest-tools-for-marketers/#more-89521
Further Resources

17.  Photographer – K +B
Photography
 Crafter – Riens Handmade
Soap
 Landscape design –
backyard bliss
 Etsy shop – Studio Jewel
 Designer Heather
Cleveland – success story
 Arlington Heights Library
Real Life Inspiration