Pinterest is a virtual bulletin or vision board that can be used in many different ways. With 150 million users, Pinterest is now arguably one of the main social media sites in which every business should have a presence. If you’re new to Pinterest and/or trying to figure out how to use Pinterest for marketing, read on for some tips.
In this article you can read on the prospects and advantages of Pinterest. Check out if your business might just be suitable for such a platform!
What Is Pinterest Marketing?
Think of Pinterest as a visual ocean, full of colorful and attention-grabbing pins — or ideas, inspiration, and articles. Smart Pinterest marketers use Pinterest to draw traffic to their website, or ship. The boards that you create are like interconnecting docks that allow potential customers to access your ship or business.
Pinterest marketing is a bit different from marketing on other social media platforms because Pinterest itself is different. While other sites like Twitter and Facebook have become more visual in recent years, Pinterest has always been a visual platform. You might even say that it was ahead of its time. Because humans are visual creatures, mastering how to use Pinterest for marketing can be a game changer in your plan.
Pinterest marketing isn’t just uploading a pretty stock photo and adding a link, though. There’s a finesse to it. With some tips and tools, you’ll be pinning like a pro in no time.
Who Uses Pinterest?
- As mentioned, Pinterest boasts 150 million users. According to studies, people use Pinterest not only to store and share ideas, but also to shop. A Millward Brown study showed that 87 percent of Pinterest users purchased things they saw on Pinterest, and also that two-thirds of pins are of a product or brand.
- Pinterest’s user base is largely made up of women. Most of them are using Pinterest to help plan their futures.
- Furthermore, 36 percent of Pinterest users are between 18 and 29 years of age. Indeed, those users prefer Pinterest for their shopping needs.
- The Pew Research Center concluded that Pinterest is equally used by people from different income brackets. But 64 percent of users live in urban areas. If you’re wondering how to use Pinterest for marketing a product, your best bet is to target city dwellers across multiple salary ranges.
How Can Pinterest Help Your Business?
Plain and simple, Pinterest can help your business sell products. This is especially if they’re geared toward women in their twenties. Even if your target demographic is men or you’re selling a service rather than a product, though, Pinterest can help get your business in front of people. Building a presence rather than just setting up and forgetting an account is the key in how to use Pinterest for marketing.
- You’ll need to create an account, fill out your information, and connect your website to your profile following the on-screen steps.
- Then you’ll definitely want to upgrade your account to a business account. (It’s free.) Doing so will give you access to Pinterest’s analytics and advertising dashboards.
- You’ll be able to see how well your posts are performing, boost your pins to get them in front of more people, and further optimize your profile.
- By using Pinterest’s advertising features, you’ll be able to target your pins based on location, keywords, and more. Consequently, it’s fine-tuning your business’s presence and increasing your leads and sell-through from the site.
Even if you solely use Pinterest for its organic potential, though, you’ll be able to grow your traffic to your website.
5 Tips to Help You Log Into Pinterest Marketing
1. Use Strong Images and Graphics
The site now allows users to pin links without images. But Pinterest works best when you pin images that are clear, attention-grabbing, and have a strong call to action. The pins that work best for selling are quality pictures of the product being sold — such as a professional photo of shoes, for example.
If you’re using Pinterest to draw traffic to your blog, you’ll want to hire a graphic designer. He/she will create a professional graphic that uses a powerful image. The image displays your blog post’s title in clear, easy to read font.
2. Make Sure Your Pins’ URLs Are Up-to-Date
If you’re interested in learning how to use Pinterest for marketing, all of tips in the world will do you no good if your pins’ URLs are broken.
Every so often, you should go into your boards. Then, check the pins you’ve posted from your website to make sure that the links are still good.
3. Write Descriptions that Grab Attention and Utilize Keywords
When pinning a link, users have the option to add text. Many people skip this step. But it pays to go the extra mile and add copy that describes your pin in a few words. You can also take advantage of Pinterest’s keywords. They are used across the site the same way that hashtags are used on Twitter and Facebook.
For example, if you’re posting a link to your company’s seasonal fashion line, you should do a quick Pinterest search for similar items to see which terms are best to use in your description.
4. Organize Your Boards
A business account on Pinterest allows you to feature boards of your choice from your profile. Take it a step further and make sure that all of your boards are organized, uncluttered, and properly named.
If you sell women’s clothing, for example, you should have a separate board for blouses and another for accessories.
5. Study What Other Companies Are Doing
Even after you think you’ve mastered how to use Pinterest for marketing, it’s important to stay on top of trends, strategies, and tactics. Follow other companies in your industry to see what they’re doing with their Pinterest profiles.
Never outright copy someone else, though. Take notes and see what works well for that company and their customers. Then, see how you can apply the principles of their tactics to your own pins.
Pin Them!
Pinterest is an exciting and quickly growing platform. With these tips, you will use Pinterest like a pro to expand your customer base and grow your business!
Images from depositphotos.com.