Pinterest For Your Business - Best Applied Practices: Part 1

DIY Sprocket Solutions

Well folks, I've already jumped up on my soap box and screamed from the rafters to let you in on the many benefits of using a Pinterest business page.  You can find that in this post here. 

Today, however, I'd like to help you put your plan into motion and let you know how exactly it is that you can make Pinterest work for your brand.  These steps are important so make sure you listen close and take notes.  Or just print/save this page.  That kind of makes more sense - and saves paper as well.

I'm going to break this up into a two parter - one to get you started and the second to keep you going strong.  Let's start in with Pinning 101 so you can hit the ground running.

Pinterest, in a nutshell:

1. Yes, it's exactly as the name sounds.  People are "pinning" things that "interest" them = Pinterest.  Think of Pinterest as a giant bulletin board.  Think of pins as thumb tacked ideas, photos, articles, words of motivation, etc.
2. "But, we're on a computer." Yes, I realize this.  All this means is that instead of magazine clippings you are posting pins that are actually links to another page (potentially YOUR page).  Post a picture of cheesy gooey garlic bread, click on that pin, you are then linked the the website with the recipe for that delicious looking goodness.  Pretty simple; pretty brilliant.  
3. This is a community, it's not a top secret operation.  Unless you set up a "secret board", people (pinners) can see what pins you put up. 
4. Pins are organized by interest.  I guess you could have a giant pin board of random craziness - heck, you could title it "random craziness".  However, Pinterest allows you to have multiple boards split up into whatever categories you choose.  Recipes, DIY, crafts, quotes, etc.  All popular options.
5. There are feeds.  This is a social shin digg folks.  People can follow your boards - one or two of them or all of them.  If someone decides to follow a board of yours, now anything you post to that board will show up in their feed.  The more followers you have, the wider your visibility is.
6. But I don't sell an actual product.  That doesn't mean that Pinterest can't work for you!  Like I said, Pinterest increases your visibility.  Do you have a blog?  Let's say someone pins your article to one of their boards - "Useful Articles".  Someone else stumbles across their pin.  They repin it.  Someone browsing their home feed and comes across this pin.  The more people that repin, the more people are discovering your article and clicking-through the original source.  YOUR WEBSITE.

Now, How-To Get Your Website Ready for this Pinning Revolution:

1. Use High Quality Images That Will Make Great Pins - the content of the pin is your article but what is grabbing people's attention initially, causing them to notice, and repin is the image that you put on that pin.  Make sure it's a good one. (Note: Pics must be at least 100x200 pixels to be pinnable)
2. Make it Easy to Pin From Your Site - Add the "Pin It" button to your site, use "rich pins" to include things like prices, and, again, keep those pics interesting.  The more user friendly it is to pin from your site, the more likely your business has a chance of being discovered on Pinterest.
3. Include Your "Pin It" button in emails and newsletters.  Like I said, the easier and the more available to use - the more likely it will be used.

Stay tuned for part two, and remember, there's no reason not to get started today.  Don't miss the opportunity to help your business grow.  It's free, it's easy, and it's super popular.  Feel free to jump on the train.

Breanne BannonBreanne Bannon

Breanne is a Content Writer, Social Media Marketeer, and Sales Associate for Sprocket Websites.

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