We know what you’re thinking: “Just what we need, another social network to learn about.” And believe us, we hear you. But this one is getting popular quickly, plus it's fun and based around images, so it won’t be too much work for you to keep it up to date.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a social networking site that is visual in nature and allows users to pin images to a variety of categories (or boards), follow other people’s boards, and allow others to follow theirs. You can link your Pinterest account with Facebook and Twitter so your followers know when you have added a new pin. The site is popular because it allows you to organize your ideas and save links and images you find on the internet quickly and conveniently. Users love exploring other boards and allowing people to see into their visual worlds.
Some Interesting Statistics
Pinterest has gained approximately 13 million users in a 10 month time period. The largest group of users are between the ages of 24 and 34, and 83% of the users in the US are female.
How Pinterest Can Help Your Organization
Organize your pins around your members and what may inspire, excite, or interest them. For example, if you are promoting a swimming class, you could have a board full of articles on swimming, images of kids in the pool, and inspirational quotations. A mom may see a picture and be inspired to register her son or daughter for a class. If someone likes the image, he or she can re-pin it to his or her board, which helps you gain visibility. Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission has a pin board full of images of campgrounds, landmarks in their town, pictures of people hiking, and pictures of various parks. Several of their pins have been re-pinned by other users, as a way of reminding themselves they need to do these activities.
How to Get Started
Because Pinterest is invite-only, you can ask a friend who has access and join immediately, or ask Pinterest directly and wait about 24 hours to receive access. This article includes several tips on marketing with Pinterest. Try them out and let us know what you think. Good luck!Do you have a Pinterest account? Share some tips/thoughts below.
