Pinterest is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 50 million active users by the time 2017 rolls around. As a social media platform that’s gaining more and more popularity with consumers, it’s essential that your business is active on Pinterest. We’ve compiled the 5 steps to get you started with Pinterest so you can start engaging with potential customers.
1. Start with Pinterest for Business
Pinterest for Business is exactly what it sounds like – Pinterest has created special accounts for business users to connect with consumers. This social media platform provides access to promoted pins, tips for businesses, and many other tools that will help you get started. When creating your account, follow your business name as much as possible to make it easy for your audience to identify you. To really get the most out of your social media campaign, include links to other social media accounts on your Pinterest page as well as a verifiable link to your website.
2. Create a Collaborative Board
Interacting with your audience is essential to the success of any social media platform, especially Pinterest. Beyond commenting on posts and replying to comments, you have the opportunity to create collaborative boards on Pinterest. These allow your audience to post directly to them and share the experience with you of creating and developing a Pinterest board.
3. Install Rich Pins
Rich Pins allow you to include more information than normal onto your pins. For example, if your business has an app, you can apply the App Pin, which will include an install button so that users can download your app straight from Pinterest. There are 6 types of Rich Pins: app, movie, recipe, article, produce and place. Before you begin using Rich Pins, you’ll need to insert the right metatags onto your website. With Rich Pins, you have the ability to directly connect your user with your product and/or service.
4. Add Pin It buttons
Once you create a Pinterest account, it’s important to promote that account through your other social media platforms and also through your own website. For the photos you post with blogs and on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, add a Pin It button. This gives your audience the opportunity to directly connect with and engage with your content on Pinterest.
5. Craft Relevant Boards
There is an immense amount of freedom you have on Pinterest to think creatively and form boards to connect with your users. Some businesses go too far with creating boards and end up with Pinterest boards that aren’t relevant to their businesses. If you’re a law firm, a board about cake recipes may not be the most relevant to your brand. Remember to keep your target audience in mind and craft Pinterest boards that they will find to be interesting and exciting.
Pinterest will provide your business with the opportunity to showcase the personality of your brand and what you have to offer to consumers. Be sure to stay true to the values of your business and take advantage of the ability to directly engage with your consumers. What other ways can businesses get started with Pinterest?