Pinning for Profits: Why Your Business Should Seriously Consider Using Pinterest
Hey, I get it: you’re too darn busy to manage yet another social network. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t share with you how small businesses are crushing it with Pinterest, a visually pleasing social network where users share (or “pin”) photos of things that appeal to them. This upstart social platform has become a terrific place to…
- Meet new customers
- Boost website traffic
- Increase brand awareness
- Drive sales activity
So let’s run through what makes this visual social network so cool—and so effective as an effective marketing strategy.
Visually pleasing! Less whining!
Instead of focusing on the details of day-to-day living like Twitter and Facebook manage to, Pinterest encourages users to share their interests—fashion, art, food, crafts, architecture, cocktail recipes, design, you name it—with like-minded folks. Here’s a quote from Copyblogger contributor Beth Hayden I thought was both funny and illustrative: “Pinterest is visually appealing, positive, and unlike Facebook, there isn’t any whining.” Hallelujah, right?
Why are marketers so energized about Pinterest?
For starters, the website is wildly popular. Last year, in a five month span, Pinterest rocketed to a jaw-dropping 10 million users. Nobody was expecting it. Even social media watchers were caught off guard. Virtually overnight Pinterest became a MAJOR driver of online traffic. Get this: Pinterest drives more visitors than YouTube, Google and LinkedIn—combined. Here’s one more thing: users love Pinterest. They can’t get enough. It’s addictive. As per comScore data Pinterest users average 89 minutes monthly on the site and Google users average just 3 minutes each month.
What does this mean for local businesses?
Now let’s tackle the single most significant questions: Why should businesses care about Pinterest? It’s really quite simple. For starters, it’s a great, noninvasive way to meet potential customers who share a desire for that which you offer. This built-in permission helps you quickly build rapport and create new relationships with buyers in your target market. Secondly, companies already are having great results making use of the site to showcase their products and services, stay top of mind and drive website visitors. Just create an account. You’ll see all sorts of businesses engaging with their customers:
- Architecture firms
- Hot dog stands
- Thrift stores
- Jewelers
- Yoga studios
- Cabinet makers
- Bowling alleys
The list is endless.
No excuses; start pinning!
I can hear the gears turning in your brain … you’re contemplating explanations why you ought to ignore Pinterest, aren’t you? Businesses tend to think of reasons why they shouldn’t use social media. They don’t get involved because they don’t think that they have a natural place in a particular network. Look, folks, if a plumbing franchise in Waco, Texas can make Pinterest help their business, you can too! Don’t sell yourself short.
