Blogs aren’t just online journals anymore, they are small businesses. As a business owner, you are more than likely trying to be the manager, the employee, the accountant, and the head of marketing. That’s already a lot juggle. Now, you’re faced with managing all your social media accounts as well.
As more and more Social networks come into play, the more profiles you have to maintain. Facebook, Google+ and Twitter require regular posting, multiple times a week or even multiple times a day to stay relevant. Some experts believe it is far worse to be on Facebook with a “dead/unused” page than it is to not have a profile for your business at all.
If you can’t devote the time to daily posting, consider Pinterest, where it’s not expected you sign in and post every day… or even every week. You can spend about 30 minutes to get it set up, get a few “pins” out there (some graphics for your website or business that you probably already have designed… possibly already on the web) and link them back to your website or product. Once you’re set up, you can probably spend about 20 minutes per week playing around, adding new items or communicating with your followers.
Is there even anyone on Pinterest?
- Approximately 11.7 Million users (making it the 5th largest Social Media site)
- Ranked 3rd for monthly visitors with 104.4 million/month.
- 68% Female and 32% Male users (yes, there are men on Pinterest)
- Average user spends 405 minutes/month on the site (the same as Facebook)
What are people saying about Pinterest?
- CNN says “Pinterest is 2012 hottest website”
- Pinterest is now driving more traffic to websites than Twitter, Youtube & LinkedIn combined
- Pinterest is impulse buy heaven! It’s just like the checkout aisle at any store… You see something, you want it, you buy it…. oops… that only took 30 seconds!! And if the customer didn’t buy it, Pinterest is definitely driving traffic to your website
How to use Pinterest effectively
- Use your headshot, not a logo…faces are more personable
- Pick a user name that is easy to find and user-friendly
- Add keywords to your bio so people can find you easily in a search… use words related to your blog.
- Follow popular figures/companies/brands, and they follow you back, other people get the idea and follow the leader
- Be the expert… be confident when you’re talking about a subject, make it your own and people will listen
As with all social media, you want to let your personality shine. It’s you pinning so let it be you and not some computer or robot for your site. This is your chance to be a little less professional… you don’t have to wear a suit and tie. But keep in mind that you should be somewhat professional; once something is on the Internet, it’s not coming off.
If you are interested in learning more about Pinterest, check out the Power of Pinning. It has opened my eyes to Pinterest in many ways.
Additional References: Media Bistro, TechCrunch
If you would like help with your Pinterest account (or Facebook, Twitter, etc), I’d be more than willing to assist! Shoot me an email or Tweet me: dan.dupraw@gmail.com or @DanDuPraw.
Dan DuPraw, Social Media Expert
In training for Advanced Social Media Certificate from the University of San Francisco.
Tags: Dan DuPraw, Guest blog, Pinterest, Social Media
honey said on 7.10.12 at 9:06 pm
count me in!!!
bichonpawz said on 7.11.12 at 7:33 pm
Excellent article!! Thanks!
aloha morgan said on 7.12.12 at 12:38 am
i love Pinterest... and i don't know why! Lol
RajEnder said on 7.13.12 at 8:36 am
For the time being I am bamboozled by Google+ but surely I would love to mine own Pinterest account any time soon.
Rebecca said on 7.13.12 at 2:41 pm
Egads... another social network to manage. *sigh*
Digna said on 7.13.12 at 6:46 pm
Tried it, but don't like it. It really is more time consuming than they make you believe. I also get bored easily on there, don't know why. And when I do pin something, I feel like I am performing an infringement of copyrights. Just feels wrong. Gives me a vision and it ain't good. I can just see Pinterest owners in court now.
Elizabeth - Table for Five said on 7.14.12 at 12:27 am
Pinterest is completely addictive! I find the most amazing craft ideas, storage ideas, funny quotes, recipes - it's like the best of the Internet all in one place!
Henrietta said on 7.14.12 at 4:34 am
I love Pinterest! It's fun to browse and a great way to bookmark sites and ideas!
Idjump said on 7.15.12 at 3:06 pm
I don't like the pinterest cause there are many uncopyright photos upload and published there
amiable amy said on 7.16.12 at 11:24 pm
I have pinterest but not so active. I will in few days.
lily said on 7.18.12 at 2:45 am
I haven't created an account at pinterest yet but I'm planning to! I have just created a new health blog and I do hope pinterest could really help me promote it!
Jamie and Lindsi said on 7.18.12 at 2:52 pm
A good chunk of the traffic to our blog comes from Pinterest. Not only to both of us find it addicting, but we get a ton of traffic from it too! It's a win-win!
Naomi said on 7.18.12 at 9:16 pm
I'm at http://pinterest.com/naomi_shapiro should anyone want to follow me!
Catherine said on 7.19.12 at 1:57 am
I'm at http://pinterest.com/cnealmaher
If your interested in food, travel, fashion, and fun
Bisnis Dropshipping Dengan Facebook Page Dan Pinterest — Blog Mas Hengky said on 7.21.12 at 9:46 am
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katlupe said on 7.22.12 at 12:33 pm
I LOVE Pinterest! Not boring at all. But you have to take the time and learn how to use it. It is my relaxation time online. What Pinterest does for me is to give me ideas of what my readers want to read or what they are interested in. I look at the photos that are pinned over and over and then do research on that topic. It is a very valuable tool for a blogger!
Shivani Cotter said on 7.24.12 at 5:44 pm
I have a complete Pinterest page on my website and started the Pinterest Scavenger hunts. It is simply fantastic, fun and idea filled! Overall, Pinterest is one of the best ways to tell a story, express oneself and add various types of value to almost anything. It's pretty amazing what a social networking site without articles can tell you...
Connie said on 8.11.12 at 4:34 pm
I like Pinterest but I don't love it anymore. It's crawling with spammers now.
Diane said on 8.14.12 at 4:58 am
We have a great group of readers on Pinterest, over 7400+
Recipes, DIY and more-
http://pinterest.com/savingsmania/
Paula said on 8.21.12 at 5:31 pm
I'm completely addicted!!
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Paula said on 9.21.12 at 11:17 am
I have a huge Pinterest following and many boards
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