Are You Using Pinterest Yet? (You Should Be)
I know, I know. You don’t have the time for another social network. Nevertheless I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t chat up Pinterest, as this image-centric social network is now an incredible place for businesses to:
- Connect with customers
- Drive website traffic
- Promote word of mouth
- Increase sales activity
What makes this visual social network so appealing to users and businesses? Let’s take a look:
Visually appealing! Less whining!
Instead of being a platform for tedious updates about what people ate in the morning or ALL CAPS rants from your bizarre uncle, Pinterest is about bringing people together who have common preferences, whether it’s fashion, art, food, crafts, architecture, photography, cocktail recipes, interior design..you name it. Copyblogger contributor Beth Hayden sums up Pinterest wonderfully with this quote: “Pinterest is visually appealing, positive, and unlike Facebook, there isn’t any whining.” Can I get an amen?!
Why are marketers so fired up about Pinterest?
For starters, the website is incredibly well-liked. Just last year, in a five month span, Pinterest rocketed to a jaw-dropping 10 million users. No one was expecting it. Even social media watchers were caught off guard. Virtually overnight Pinterest became a MAJOR driver of website traffic. Get this: Pinterest drives more traffic than YouTube, Google and LinkedIn—combined. Here’s another thing: users love Pinterest. They can’t get enough of it. It’s addictive. According to comScore data Pinterest users average 89 minutes per month on the site and Google users average just 3 minutes each month.
What does this mean for local businesses?
Now let’s tackle one of the most fundamental questions: Why should businesses care about Pinterest? It’s pretty simple. For starters, it’s a great, noninvasive approach to meet prospects who share an interest in that which you have to offer. This built-in permission can help you quickly build rapport and create new relationships with buyers within your target audience. Secondly, brands already are having great results making use of the site to showcase their goods and services, stay top of mind and drive website visitors. Just set up an account. You’ll see all kinds of businesses engaging with their customers:
The list is just about endless.
Ready, set, pin!
Most businesses tend to quickly think of explanations why they shouldn’t use social media—but the fact is, many sell themselves short and don’t get involved simply because they don’t think they have a natural place in a certain network. Now, if you run an accounting business, maybe Pinterest isn’t the perfect fit, but then again, it’s entirely possible that you could be a trailblazer and use Pinterest to market your business and have great success. Hey, if a plumbing franchise in Waco, Texas can make Pinterest help their business, you can too! It’s just too easy to sell yourself short and come up with reasons to stay on the sidelines!
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