Pinterest. Pinterest Pinterest. Everywhere I go these days I hear someone talking about Pinterest.
Yes, I have been invited to Pinterest. Yes, my profile is set up. And I have actually ‘pinned’ some items to my virtual pinboard. But It wasn’t until I was on the plane to NOLA for ImagingUSA that I really got a grasp on what Pinterest is and it’s power.
What is Pinterest?
According to Pinterest’s website, Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.
‘Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.’
Pinterest is connecting people across the world through their interests.
What can Pinterest do for you?
Being only 2 years old and an invite only social media site, Pinterest is accomplishing amazing things in the social media world.
According to an article on Mashable.com by Lauren Indvik, Pinterest is quickly becoming a top 5 referrer for several apparel retailers. December 2011 alone, Pinterest brought in 7.51 million unique visitors!
Pinterest can and will drive traffic to your website, blog, or tumblr, for example.
Gary Vaynerchuk‘s recent video for The Daily, he talks about how Pinterest drove more traffic in January 2012 than Youtube.com, Google+ and LinkedIn combined. He tells us that Pinterest is mapping the interest graph where as Facebook mapped the social graph. Some people may think the two are one in the same. However, the interest graph and the social graph are very different.
The interest graph tells us what we have in common with each other. Where as, the social graph is about who we are.
The interest graph gives us the opportunity to build our networks and businesses around people we have common interests with, for example brides and wedding photographers.
What does this mean for you and your photography business?
If your are not already on Pinterest, find a friend who will send you an invite. If you are on Pinterest but not actively pinning, you need to be. Millions of people are searching, liking, and pinning their interests. What if someone pinned one of your images? How many more eyes are going to see it and click through to your website? Maybe it’s a bride looking for wedding inspirations or a mom looking for outfits for their next family portrait.
Pinning Etiquette?
Yes, there is pinning etiquette.
1). Be Nice
Pinterest is a community of people. We know that tastes are personal, but be respectful in your comments and conversations.
2). Credit Your Sources
Pins are the most useful when they have links back to the original source. If you notice that a pin is not sourced correctly, leave a comment so the original pinner can update the source. Finding the original source is always preferable to a secondary source such as Google Image Search or a blog entry.
3). Avoid Self Promotion
Pinterest is designed to curate and share things you love. If there is a photo or project you’re proud of, pin away! However, try not to use Pinterest purely as a tool for self-promotion.
4). Report Objectionable Content
We do not allow nudity or hateful content. If you find content that is objectionable or violates our Terms of Service can submit the content for review by pushing the “Report Content†link.
5). Tell Us How to Make Pinterest Better
We’re just getting started, so there are going to be bumps here and there. Let us know what’s working, what’s not. We take your input seriously.
How are you using Pinterest to take your business further?
You can follow Black River Imaging on Pinterest! That’s right! We have a pinterest profile! Check it out!
