Pinterest for Businesses: Branding, Direct Traffic, and So Much Fun

pinterestPinterest works almost like a never-ending magazine with just the prettiest, most-loved pictures. That’s great for people wanting to browse through vintage wedding dresses, recipes, or artwork…but what does that mean for a business?

Pinterest just cracked the list of Top 10 Social Media sites. So, a lot, apparently.

1. Collect visual material

You can collect pics that you come across – on your hard drive, or on the Internet – into your Boards. All it takes is a single click and you can Pin. Great for personal use, but for businesses, especially visual-centric ones like designers or artists, can use this as an opportunity to showcase their material. If pics are borrowed from places on the Web, Pinterest automatically sources the pic, so that infringement of copyright is minimized. It also means anyone who clicks on an image borrowed from your site can just click straight through to your site. That direct traffic alone may make Pinterest worth it!

2. Give a Presentation Some Oomph

Pinterest is a way to visually represent your ideas. Once that is in place, a Pinterest board can be linked to a PowerPoint presentation; or a screenshot can be printed on a poster board—neat and simple, and looks great.

3. Brand Yourself

Have a brand for yourself or your business? Use Pinterest to help people recognize you as an expert. Want to own a vintage dress boutique someday? Start pinning products from your closet, ads of vintage dresses from days past, or vintage dresses from others’ boards that you love, and people will start to recognize you as the go-to source for beautiful vintage dresses. If you’re a graphic designer, pin your own work, as well as work that you love from others.

If you’re in a less visual industry, you can also post infographics that relate your field, images of work you’ve done, or books, quotes, or poems that you’re reading. And since every pin comes with a source linked, this can also help drive traffic to your site or blog.

4. Engage Your Customers

Again, Pinterest just cracked the list of Top 10 Social Media sites — so if you use social media to market your company or brand, it’s time to consider throwing Pinterest in as part of your mix. Lands’ End recently hosted a (quite successful) contest on Pinterest, asking participants to create a pin board featuring their favorite Lands’ End products. The 10 people who made the best boards won a gift card—and Lands’ End got tons of its products promoted throughout the site.

Pinterest is more than just about play. While you’re being inspired by the stream of new images in your personal life, you can build your business brand and reputation. Get a little organized. Have fun. Call iQuarius with your questions.