Should My Business Have a Pinterest Page?

Many of my prospective clients inquire about the necessity of pursuing various social media platforms. Recently, many clients have inquired about Pinterest in particular (among other burgeoning social media sites). “Should I have a Pinterest page for my business?” is a relatively commonly asked question. My response to these types of questions typically begins with, “Well, that depends…” Regarding Pinterest in particular, it can be a great way to build links back to your site, as well as encourage those with whom you have connected on Pinterest to visit your site on a regular basis. What exactly IS Pinterest? It is a social media platform that allows users to “Pin” various sites across the internet to “Boards” — digital bulletin boards linking users back to the websites, ideas, etc. that they have posted. Additionally, users may follow other users and what they have pinned. As you utilize the site, you can “repin” or re-post what others have already cataloged. Here are a few questions to ask yourself regarding Pinterest in particular:
1. Will I actually “Pin” on a daily basis? If you are not going to use the site (i.e. open an account and let it remain static), do not enter into a relationship with the site. Failing to pin means failing to gain momentum on Pinterest, gain additional followers, and connect with others. It is essentially a static link back to your site that others will not ever see.
2. Do I post original content to my own site on a regular basis? Pinterest will allow you to post pins from your own site — web pages must have some sort of photo on them. However, in order to be taken seriously by your followers, thereby gaining momentum, it is essential to post content and ideas that are actually worthwhile. Always remember that content is king, and posting original content on Pinterest can be relatively powerful for your site.
3. Will I use Pinterest to set myself apart as an industry expert? Use Pinterest to share ideas, clarify who you are, and connect with others. Do not just use it to post links back to your site.
As with virtually any social media platform, just about the worst thing you can do is open an account and then fail to post. Please don’t do this with Pinterest! Rather, open an account, share ideas, re-pin others ideas, and connect with followers! Only then will they re-pin what you have posted from your own website. Give me a call with any questions or a more comprehensive tutorial on what Pinterest is and how to use it effectively.