If the image that pops into your mind when you hear the word “Pinterest” is a girl looking for wedding ideas or a middle-age woman hoping to snag scrapbooking tips, you are missing a great marketing tool — one that can work for your business through cross platform promotion.
According to a Pew Research Center Study, 15 percent of people who use the Internet also visit Pinterest. When you consider that nearly 2.5 billion people use the Internet you begin to see the massive potential for reaching your customers through Pinterest.
While the traditional methods of advertising still have a place in your marketing plan, updating your methods of getting the word out is essential if you want to give your company brand traction and propel it forward. In order to properly utilize Pinterest you need only take the first few steps.
Get the Word Out
Pinterest has what they call a “goodies” page for new users. One of the things offered there is a “Follow” or “Pin It” button for you to post on your company website. Link that button to your material on Pinterest in order to let potential customers know they can find you there. You can also add the icon to your old-school promotional materials like brochures, flyers, and newspaper ads.
Take Advantage of Pinterest for Business
Pinterest knows that businesses want to be part of the growing social community and have made it easy to do so by allowing you to create a business account. There’s no fumbling in the dark to figure the site out as Pinterest walks you through the entire process, giving you tips along the way to help you connect.
One way to link professional platforms is to use the email address associated with your company’s Twitter account when setting up a Pinterest account. If you don’t already have a Twitter account, it’s a good idea to set it up the same time you roll out your Pinterest presence as another way to enforce cross platform promotion.
Get Faithful Customers Involved
Ask your friends and customers to help by pinning pictures of themselves holding a product associated with your business and tag you. Once you’ve been tagged you can re-pin those photos on a VIP board. It’s a great way to achieve cross platform promotion while also showing appreciation to your current customers.
Follow the Rules
Pinterest has an etiquette of its own. Among the things they ask of users is that you avoid self-promotion, credit sources for anything you pin, and be polite. What Pinterest helps you do is to create an image for your business. Make it a practice to repin and “like” other content on Pinterest that you believe will benefit your community. Share pictures and videos from other boards related to your industry. What you will likely find is that as you pin things of interest, other people will begin to re-pin them, giving your company credit in the process.
Get to Know Potential Customers
Millions of people use Pinterest as a way to organize the things they like: their favorite artists, restaurants, travel destinations, and more. Pinterest can be used as a tool for seeing inside the lives of your potential customers. Take a look at the pinners who follow your business or businesses like yours. As you learn more about the people you are marketing to you will be better able to gear your marketing efforts towards them.
In the ever-changing landscape of social media, Pinterest has become a player worth getting to know.
