Getting Started With Pinterest: The Top Questions from Small Businesses

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You may haveheard of the hottest new social media tool, Pinterest.  Pinterest is like a virtual bulletin boardthat allows users to find and curate images and videos. Unlike other photosharing sites, Pinterest is focused much more on the discovery and curation ofother people’s content, not storing your own. That’s why it’s caught theattention of so many organizations—big and small. It’s helping them spreadbrand awareness and is driving lots of web traffic.
Here are the three of the top questions I’ve heard fromsmall businesses looking to get started:
1.“What are the differences between Pinterest,Facebook, and Twitter?”
Pinterestis not an entirely different world of social media marketing- it uses alanguage that most social media users already know. Often, people areintimidated when they hear terms like “pin” or “repin,” but put them in thecontext of “tweet” or “retweet,” and finally they make sense. And when it comesto liking, commenting, and sharing—these are things you’re probably doing everyday on other sites.Certainfeatures do make Pinterest unique though. For example, there’s a major difference in howusers approach Pinterest compared to sites like Facebook or Twitter. Many people log on with a“shopping mentality.” That doesn’t mean every user is going to spend money, butthey’ll approach your content with the intention of gathering, which could leadto an eventual sale.


2. What aresome of the different ways that I can use boards?”
Ifyou’re new to Pinterest, start by creating at least three new boards:A board about your products or services: This boardcan be a great way to start contributing to the community and to showcase yourbusiness.A board designed to help: Create boards that your customers can use. Ifyou’re a clothing store, create a board about fashion tips, or if you’re amarketing company, create  a board withpictures that link to blog posts—anything that will showcase your expertise.A board that’s just fun:  The beautyof Pinterest is that you can showcase your business and havefun. Think of something you love and that your customers will findentertaining. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
3. “How can Iget more exposure?”
Connect to other social networks: Pinterest makes it easy to share youractivity across your social networks. Use Pinterest’s social sharing buttons toshare pins with your other networks and the Pinterest “embed” code to add pinsto your blog or Facebook Page.Follow and interact with brands and Pinterest users: Build youraudience is by joining someone else’s. Use Pinterest’s “search” feature to findstuff that’s relevant to your industry. Follow other users and show them youlike what they’re doing with a repin.Send an email: Users love to hear that their favorite brandshave started pinning. Let your readers know you’re on Pinterest and invite themto follow along!.
Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9's Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.