Are You Making the 15 Biggest Mistakes on Pinterest?

Pinterest has seen swift growth and is considered to be one of the hottest new social media platforms for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. The fast growth the image-based site has seen, may leave some users questioning the ethics of marketing to consumers through the site. According to mashable, one-third of women in the United States are members. Pinterest users are more likely to purchase items they find on Pinterest than Facebook, and once on a website, will spend 70 percent more money on the site than non-Pinterest links.

The question is, how can you use this social media site to corral consumers to your site, without looking like a newbie in the process? 

Whether you're new to the site or haven't taken the time to fully educate yourself about how it works, there are do's and don'ts most people figure out as they go. Here is a list of the top 15 biggest mistakes people make on Pinterest and ways to avoid them. 

1. Forgetting to Link Up With Other Social Media

     This is a biggie- if pinners find your business and see pins they like, chances are they would also want to follow you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Other social media accounts can easily be linked under settings. 

2. Mixing Personal Interests With Business

     Although some people may be interested in your backyard bbq and baby #3 boards, most are not. Small business owners often make the mistake of using their personal account for business and vice versa. Doing so decreases professionalism and also means you're missing out on Pinterest analytics! 

3. Pinning Bad Quality Images

     People do it all the time- take a picture and upload it, no matter the quality. Maybe the idea great, just make sure the pictures isn't too large or too small. 

4. Activating Search Privacy

     Pinterest has created great privacy setting for people to utilize. However, a business page should be able to be seen. Turn the "Search Privacy" off under settings so people can find your board when they search for you.

5. Pinning Inappropriate Pins, or Re-pins

     Think of Pinterest as another medium to represent your brand. Pin and repin images that show others what you care about. Keep professionalism in mind, and refrain from pinning images that could cause controversy, are hurtful to others, or are crude. 

6. Pinning-Sprees

     Everyone feels overwhelmed sometime or another, but doing all of your pinning in one day could cause people to unfollow your boards. They do not want to be bombarded by hundreds of pins at a time from a single business. Try to space pins out throughout the day, or don't pin more than twenty pins at a time.

7. Mashing Subjects

     Each board that is created should be focused on one idea or subject. Do not try to create an- all-in-one-board that is dedicated to meals, cleaning tips, and decorating. These boards are overwhelming to people and have higher bounce rates. 

8. Neglecting Rich Pins

     Enabling rich pins give pinners real-time pricing, show in/out of stock, where they can purchase the item and even if it goes on sale. This is a marketer's dream because it even sends email alerts to those who pinned the items. 

9. #Hashtang #Overload

     Hashtags are a great way to find material that pinners are interested in, but going overboard can frustrate some pinners if the description drags on and on, and fills up their feed with unnecessary hashtags. Keep them relevant!

10. Repeated Content

     You can only pin so many pictures of your products before pinners realize what you're doing. Do not repeat pictures, but try to find images from other places besides your website. Videos can also be pinned! 

11. Not Finding a Balance

     Dumping just pins from your website into Pinterest will bore other pinners who follow your board. Keep your content fresh by looking outside your business's subject area and include other boards that are complementary to products your business offers. 

12. Overlooking Pinterest Analytics

     As a small business owner, you probably don't have a huge budget set aside for sometime to keep track of your Pinterest stats each month. Utilize Pinterest Analytics will show you information and statistics related to your boards. Use this information to plan next month's strategy.

13. Not Utilizing Pinterest's Features

     Pinterest has more than meets the average pinner's eye! Use collaborative boards to engage with your followers. Add a "me+contributor" board to allow others with the same interest the ability to guest pin for you. Secret boards can also be used if you want to prepare and create content for your followers before officially showing it off publically. 

14. Keeping Quiet

     Use social networks already in place to tell your followers that you've created a Pinterest account! Chances are, they'll want to jump aboard and check out the pins you're sharing. Adding the "Pin It" button or "Follow" button to your website will also increase the chances of people following your Pinterest account. 

15. Forgetting Social Media Manners

     People are looking for relation and enjoyment when they sit down to look at Pinterest. They're not about to spend their time scrolling through pages and pages of pins your business just uploaded. Remember to use manners when pinning, and think about the audience you're looking to target. Take time to engage and comment on other's pins and pins your own business pins. This interaction will build credibility with your audience and keep them coming back for more. 

How many of these mistakes is your business guilty of? Are you scurrying off to correct a few of these mistakes right away? Reflecting on all of the social media sites your business has will give you a better understanding of what your followers want to see and how you can engage with them. 

Have you Conquered Your Social Media Anxiety?

Social media is an entirely new universe that has the potential to take businesses to unforeseen levels. But, is it possible to build a strong brand awareness and boost web traffic without blazing ahead full force on all social media outlets? 

Some people have an anxiety brought on my social media and the changing ways brands market their products. This infographic was found on Pinterest, and linked back to Cool Daily Infographics.  It provides information and statistics that surprised me, and left me wondering how many people have this type of anxiety. 

Take a look for yourself, and see if you may even be affected! 

 The infographic states that consumers are using social media to make word-of-mouth recommendations, learn about product information, learn about other users' experiences, complement brands, share incentives and comment on customer service. I think these examples are just the tip of the iceberg! Social media sites are also being used to share information, recipes, product uses, and purchase products.

The "fears" the infographic touched upon are relevant and problems that people not even marketing their brand experience daily. Social media sites can seem overwhelming, especially if you have an account with more than a few. By keeping your strategy simple, and using just a few social media sites, a business has less to maintain. 

There is never enough time in a day, but there is always enough time for social media. Small businesses cannot afford to NOT have an online presence, especially if sales can be made online. Schedule a chunk of time each day to update, plan, and maintain social sites. 

Worrying about negative comments and posts is a waste of time. There are always going to be negative people picking apart every post, comment, or picture. Create a strategy that you will use when this type of person targets your page as a way to unleash their wrath. A simple comment may do the trick, otherwise use the opportunity to showcase your business's outstanding customer service. 

If you're a new recruit to the social media scene, be sure to check out the section of the infographic that tells all about avoiding newbie social blunders! It could just save your online reputation! 

No matter whether you're a seasoned social media professional or are new the unknown social world, don't let your online anxiety overtake your potential for sales growth and business promotion brought on by popular social media phenomenons! 

10 Reasons Why You Can't Afford to Ignore PIO

SEO has become a daily term in many businesses, but has PIO made its way into your vocabulary yet? Pinterest Image Optimization is a new term that is gaining in popularity and changing the way businesses are using Pinterest. These ten ways will give you tips on how to improve the way customers see your photos on Pinterest.

1. Upload
     Re-pinning images from other uses is part of social media, but doesn't have as much of a chance of going viral. It's important to upload some of your own pictures and images occasionally. Creating infographics and adding links to your own site is a great idea too.

2. Name
     Be sure you include your key phrase in your pin description. For example, if you're an up and coming designer and looking to target fashion bloggers, use the term in the description of your pin. This also ensures your pin shows up when people search for that phrase in the search box in Pinterest.
 
3. Variety
     Although you should be pinning a lot of content from your site, it shouldn't be the only content you're pinning. Be sure to include pins from other sites so your audience feels as if they are not just being targeted by "marketing" pins from your business. This also may drive traffic to your site that otherwise would not have been in the market for you products.

4. Link
       Links-the driving force of Pinterest. When you add pins, be SURE to add links to your pictures. Without links, users who click on the pin cannot be directed to your website to learn more or order products. This is the biggest mistake businesses make!

5. Description
     Pinterest descriptions under pins can be up to 500 characters long. Use every single one of them! The better description that is connected to the pin, the better the chances are of your business's board or pins showing up in search results.

6. Eye Catching
     Do some research on Pinterest. Scroll through boards and see what catches your eye. Is it the photography, colors, styling, or something else? Use what inspires you to vamp-up your own pins.

7. Social Media
     Remember that Pinterest is a social media site. It is not meant to be a "free advertising site" for every business on the planet. When using Pinterest, think about how you would interpret business's pins. To keep your account from having a marketing-only initiative, remember to re-pin from other users, comment on pins, and interact with other users on the site.

8. Keyword
     Create a variety of Pinterest boards and keep the titles of the boards keyword-rich. Think blog titles-what would draw "readers" in to check out your boards?

9. Buttons
     Keep the social media movin'! Add a "Pin It" or "Follow" button on your own webpage to direct customers to your Pinterest page. This has the potential to drive additional traffic, because customers can pin and repin your images, increasing traffic and making your business's name visual.

10. Be Yourself
     Express the passion and personality of your business through your pins, board names, and interaction with other pinners. This makes your business credible with customers and pinners who see your images on Pinterest!


PIO is incredibly important for businesses looking to expand their marketing platform to Pinterest. After reading through the 10 Reasons above, we hope businesses understand that Pinterest isn't designed to market products to consumers, but rather build and strengthen a relationship with potential users who may someday become customers of the business.

Brand Your Boards

Branding a business starts with the website, but also encompases social media, marketing campaigns, promotional events, billboards, commercials, etc. etc. etc. By creating a brand image and mirroring that across all business accounts, people will begin to recognize your logo and connect it to your services.

Branding your business's image with a stand-out color scheme, profile picture, or logo is all it takes to create a professional look on the internet.

1.) Choose a profile picture that is recognizable to your customers.
     The profile picture you choose should represent your company to your followers. If you have a logo that is widely known, utilize it. If you don't have a logo, but your name is your logo, create a profile picture that simply displays your business's name. If you have an up-and-coming business, make sure people know what type of business you're running or what you sell so they can better understand what you have to offer. Choose a color for the picture that represents your brand.

Alex and Ani use their name in their Pinterest logo, along with a heart logo. The simple black and white colors are not distracting or loud, but rather classy and simple just like the brand portrays on their website. 

Lululemon's profile picture shows the simple logo that people attribute to the popular brand of work out attire. Rather than using their name in their profile picture, the brand uses their signature colors and simple logo on their Pinterest account. 

Lilly Pulitzer chose to use their signature pink color as their background and used an overly of the scripty white Lilly Pulitzer logo. Simple but effective, the profile picture brands the Lilly Pinterest account. 

2.) Use Your Name

     When you create your profile page, choose a name that represents your business. Although obvious, use your actual business name. Don't use fillers in hopes of making your name appear in searches more frequently. Instead, use the description below to fill in users with the type of business, products, or services that you have to offer. 

3.) Keep it Consistent

     A Pinterest account has its own section for a description. Use words that describe your business, but remember hashtags have no effect in this section. Keep the style of writing and description of business similar to those posted on other social media accounts. Most businesses use the same base of information on each social media account, but choose to elaborate on specifics special to the type of social media being utilized. 

     Each board created on Pinterest is subject to its own board title and description. Choose words that represent your brand. Using the above example, Lilly Pulitzer, created boards with titles such as Resort Hopping, Life's a Party, Lilly 5x5, and Resort Pinsipration. Each of these titles are used elsewhere in  marketing tactics of the Lilly Pulitzer brand and are recognizable to women who shop the Lilly brand. 

The Resort Hopping board's description is, "All the places we've been or are dying to go! Meet you there!  The simple, yet understandable description tells users what the board is about. 

4.) Develop Boards and Pins 

    To start, check out the list of boards that Pinterest has already created. They range in type from women's fashion, food and drink, celebrities, design, cars, and home decor, just to list a few. Narrow down the list, and sort out the topics that are most relevant to your brand. 

     Lilly Pulitzer created boards on womens fashion and patterns, two very relevant topics to the brand. By choosing these two subjects to focus on, the boards are more apt to views because of the narrow subject area. 

     Pins on each of the boards are of Lilly Pulitzer products, patterns, and styles relevant to the brand name. By creating boards with actual products as well as other non-relatd items, followers deem the brand to be more credible because products aren't being pushed all of the time. 

5.) Create Board Covers

    The board cover photo should represent what's inside the Pinterest board. For example, below users are able to see that the Printed board is filled with prints of fabrics. Judging from the cover of the Lilly 5X5 board, drawings relevant to the Lilly brand are pinned to the board. 

     

Now you must peruse Pinterest, analyze your competitors, and boost your boards with branding! 

The Force of the #Hashtag

Before the rise of social media, the "#" or number sign as it was known, was used on t-shirts, coffee mugs, or key chains to let you know who was #1!

Mother's Day, Father's Day, Boss's Day, were always celebrated by giving mugs, cards, or awards with #1 "whatever" inscribed on the front for everyone to see. In sports, players were often awarded with #1 Athlete or on-lookers referred to themselves as a team's #1 Fan.

Well, those days have changed. The "#" no longer means number one anything, but rather can determine what is #1 in trends, in people's searches, and what's popular.


Where Can #'s be Used?
On the Pinterest website, the hashtag links pins by using the # in the descriptions of pins. The hashtag has no effect in the names of boards, descriptions of boards, account descriptions, or profile names. Hashtags only create links when used in the description of pins.

In search function on Pinterest, I entered #pinterestmarketing. Below, you'll see the results that Pinterest found with the hashtag entered in the description of the pin.

What Does the # Do?
The hashtag connects words and phrases to others who have used the same terms. For example if a user is looking for information or pins of a certain subject, they can easily be connected if there is a # in the description of the pin.

Even if there is not a # in the description, the search will still recover results with the word in it.

If the search results are the same then why use a #?

The use of the # creates a link with other related information. When you hover your mouse over a hashtagged phrase on Pinterest, the phrase turns a light grey. When clicked, it will take you to a page of pins with the same hashtag. 

Below, you can see where my mouse hovered over the #pinterestparaempresas because it is a lighter grey than the second hashtag. 

 

Learn the Basics from the Best

"Pinteresting" is more than a hobby, its an art. An artform that millions of men and women spend hours on each and every day. Finding, clicking, and saving pictures of products and ideas for later references fill peoples's time before breakfast, during lunch breaks, and before bed each night.

Pinterest is also an art that has marketing agencies drooling at the mouth. With endless possibilities of expressing a business's identity, agencies are now trying to make the Pinterest boards of their clients stand out. 

Below are a few of the best examples I've found on the web. Each of these businesses have found a way to identify their boards and reflect the style of their business in the pictures, names, and descriptions of boards. Whether they are simple, extravagant, or funny, each of these well-known companies have found their niche. 

Be Specific

Anthropoligie created a board with one specific idea in mind, for this brand it was aboard about different ways to style denim. The single board is about a specific topic, narrowing the search terms and therefore giving people exactly what they're searching for. 

The More the Merrier 

HGTV is working its way toward 100 boards and 10,000 pins, which also boosts how often their pins appear on pages. Its clear their 391,000 followers like what they see. 

Know Your Audience

Southern Living knows exactly who their readers are and what they're interested in. They can then use those interests as subjects for their pin boards to expand their brand to others who may be interested in those same topics, but are subscribed to the magazine. 

Be Creative

Whole Foods describes itself, so to creatively attract new followers they amped up the name of their Pinterest boards. The fun and catchy titles supr interest in those who see the pins on their pages. 

Keep Up With the Times

JCrew creates new boards as seasons change. They keep their most relevant boards on the top of their page so people who visit the profile are greeted with the season's hottest products. 

Pin Regularly 

Mashable has this covered. By pinning regular and socially relevant content Mashable has created a following of more than 1,000,000 people. 

Be You

Ellen Degeneres is known as a witty, care-free, talk show host who loves to laugh. The boards on her Pinterest profile reflect that, showing her true personality. 

Customization is Key

Country Living Magazine has uploaded their own pictures for each of their boards. The script laden cover photos create more of a magazine feel, which is their specialty. 

Are there any others I left out? I'd love to hear from you! 

A Pinterest Find....

As I was browsing Pinterest (ok maybe it was two hours and a bowl of popcorn later), I came across this pin about using Pinterest for business. I loved this particular infographic for two reasons: 1.) the information is top-notch and useful and 2.) the design of the pin itself. 

After clicking on the pin, I was directed to its source, http://www.agentmedia.co.uk/social-media/pinterest-for-business/, which is the site for a digital marketing agency in the UK who specialize in marketing via social media channels. 

The infographic had new information that I hadn't considered adding to Pinterest before, for example in their section on "What to Pin" they suggested to add photos of the workplace culture and employees, customer testimonials, and blog posts and resources. Because most people don't have a vested interest in what offices or employees look like, I find this a hard idea to promote. 

However, if it was in the right industry, such as fashion or food, people might recognize fashion moguls or be interested in their closets, photo shoots, or makeup studios. Possibly creating a board solely for this idea would be worthwhile. This idea takes a little more convincing for me!

The image optimization tips are so important! "Make sure to pin quality photos with great visual appeal," is one of the most important tips that cannot be stressed enough. People rarely, hardly never, refuse to repin images that are blurry, dark, or hard to see. My ensuring that the photos you upload and share are of good-quality, your pins have a much higher chance of being repinned by other users. 

The section on Making Pinterest work for your business makes several very valid points. Adding a "Pin It" button or "Follow Me on Pinterest" button is easy to do- the directions are even on Pinterest! This addable option gives users the opportunity to save pictures and links to your site, all with the push of a button. 

Is Pinterest Really Worth My Time?

Yes. 

Yes.

Yes!

Pinterest is worth your time in gold! 

Trying to cover all of the bases when it comes to social media and business is overwhelming. How do you know what works and what doesn't? Sure there are fancy analytics, firms who charge arms and legs, and people who analyze social media sites for a living. 

Maybe those options do not fit well with your budget or your employees. Maybe you're looking for the social media sites that would best fit your company or maybe you're just interested in your competitor's social media sites. No matter your motive, a simple Google search will tell you everything you need to know about the top social media sites of 2013. 

AddShoppers compiled a breakdown of 2013 social commerce, showing how each of the major social media sites compare. Pinterest was the largest site to drive sales with Facebook following in a close second. But when total number of users are compared, Pinterest's statistics really pop. Facebook currently has 1.3 billion account holders while Pinterest only has a mere 70 million. With less than half of the traffic Facebook drives, Pinterest still managed to drive the most revenue in 2013. 

Pinterest also won the most shares on the top social media sites, according to AddShoppers 2013 breakdown. What does this mean for you?

The products your business sells are very important, but so is your time. If you're wondering how to maximize both of those areas, look to increasing shares on social media. By creating content that is captivating and engaging, followers are more likely to "share" the media with their friends and followers. Shares come in the form of Pins, retweets, shares, forwards, mentions, or even + if you're on that rocky Google+ boat.

By upping the number of shares your products receive from the public, you're going to reach a larger audience without much investment. Shares increase the organic reach of the information your business is trying to "sell" to potential customers.

Shares are also arguably considered to be more reliable than traditional marketing techniques because the information is coming from people who others already know and trust. I would be more willing to buy a product my friend has already tried and loves because I would know that it actually works. This type of marketing is more valuable than money, and can even driver bigger sales than traditional marketing methods.

Pinterest's Pin It button is another value-added button for users. Designed with Pinterest users in mind, the Pin It button can be added to internet browsers so any item on the internet can easily be embedded into a Pin. For example, if a user clicks the Pin It button while on a recipe website, each of the pictures on the page are able to be used as pins. The pin will link back to the recipe, bookmarking it on the individuals pin board.

From a marketing standpoint, it is even more valuable. The Pin It button is able to link to the page to purchase an item. When shopping for shoes, a user might have several pairs in mind. By pinning the pictures of the shoes, the user can then go back later and click the link.

Pin It buttons create not only links for users, but also generate shares on Pinterest as others choose to pin the content. Individual companies are also able to add Pin It buttons to their websites, or may even appear when hovering over images.

No matter how users go about pinning images, the Pin It button is a marketer's dream come true. Without even spending a dime, images of products appear on Pinterest organically from users.  The descriptions some people leave under pins only add to the increased amount of positive marketing exposure.

http://www.business2community.com/pinterest/pinterest-consultant-reveals-11-astounding-new-pinterest-facts-0782067#!w429V

How-To Track Pinterest Engagement

Once a business understands the basics on how to utilize Pinterest for marketing, the next step is to collect and track their views. In this post we will take a look at what those numbers mean for businesses and how to better understand the impact they have. If you're just joining the blog, check out the first several posts on how to get started with business Pinterest pages here.

More time spent on Pinterest = More infographics found = More shared on the blog 

Win/Win/Win Situation! 

I came across this infographic turned pin, and really liked how it showed users the number side of Pinterest, and how meaningful those impressions, repins, and likes are to a business's Pinterest page. 

Special thanks and credit goes to http://www.bitrebels.com/social/17-statistics-pinterest-marketer-track/, for such a great graphic!

10 Websites to Help You Create the Perfect Pin

When you log into Pinterest and see pin after pin of perfectly photographed images- it may be a daunting task to replicate those images for your own business. The lucrative and competitive business that Pinterest has become has only added to the stress of making a small

\

2x2 image the most desirable on the page. How do you compete?

 

 Lighting, photo editing, and watermarks are three essentials to making a picture Pinterest-worthy and marketable. I've compiled links below that will put your business a step ahead of the competition.

1.) Url2pin.it  Create a pin of your website.

2.) Pinstamatic is a quick and easy pin creator. Upload quotes, pictures, sticky notes, Spotify tracks, calendar dates, and Tweets all in one website.

3.) Vitamin Creativity  Gives a tutorial on how to create banners for Pinterest boards.

4.) Pin Words Create your own pins with picture backgrounds and text overlay.

5.) PicMonkey Easily edit photos, add text, design a collage, or touch up images.

6.) Picmarkr Create a watermark for your images and ensure security!

7.) Imgflip Make graphs, pie charts, and tables in seconds.

8.)  Quickmeme Create your own memes in seconds.

9.) Share as Image This website creates text into pictures.

10.) Pixlr The easiest photo editor on the web has a number of options for users to create and design images.

No Time? Check out Sites for Pinterest Analytics and Outsourcing

Stress is a common language spoken by most business owners. There isn't enough time in each day to check off every item of the to-do list, and outsourcing often becomes a necessity. A full-time social media analyst isn't financially feasibly for all businesses, but having a presence on social media sites is a must. So, sites such as Hootsuite, SproutSocial, TweetDeck, Falcon Social, and Brandwatch have erupted and changed how business market on social media. Rather than having to log in to Facebook to post statuses, pictures and information, it is now possible for businesses to schedule out each post they want to make in advance. This practice saves not only time and money, but allows businesses to create throght-provoking specialized content.

While browsing Pinterest, I came across a pin for a scheduling-site formed especially around the basis of Pinterest. What's the chance of that! 

The sites listed earlier in the post worked incredibly well for maintaining Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, but neglected the growing Pinterest marking segment. This all changed with the creation of GoPixel.

A site created by former Microsoft Bing engineers, is designed with businesses in mind to create and promote their Pinterest boards. With the added twist of offering analytics services, the site is on its way to dominating the Pinterest marketing world.  With several packages to choose from and for only a small fee each month, businesses can cover their Pinterest site, for much less than paying an employee to do the same thing.  There is even a "free" option, which is great for bloggers who want to self-promote their ideas but don't want to go as far as paying for a hobby.

GoPixel maintains a blog filled with useful tips for all aspects of social media- learn how to measure social media ROI, read reviews of new media, and learn how to create and maintain faithful users. Check out several posts here.

They offer scheduling services for pins, give ROI feedback, measure Pinterest analytics, and even run promotional contests on Pinterest. This gives them an advantage when compared to other scheduling sites, because of their integration with Pinterest. So, if you're looking to free up time but still maintain a visible presence, check them out! 

Step-By-Step Instructions on How to Promote Products via Pinterest

Promoting products on Pinterest isn't a quick process, it is a skill that takes talent, planning, and finesse. Although Pinterest isn't a social media site dedicated to advertising, it is possible for business to create great content that interests Pinners enough to share and save pictures of products, increasing visibility. 

This video gives a great tutorial on how to share and promote your business through Pinterest, without annoying your followers in the process. 

This video hits on key points that users should be sure to embrace, including: 

-Give people something great to share: great product photography
-Great content: tutorials, DIY, instructions
-Video: promotional
-What are people sharing? Know what's popular with users.

Do's and Don'ts of Pinterest Marketing

Whether you're a fist time user or have been on Pinterest since the very beginning, one thing's for sure- you're looking to increase your number of followers and grow your business's name. The best way to do that? Start pinning. But, before you jump into that sea of pins, read a few of the do's and don'ts I've come up with to get you off on the right start.

1. Do: Create a page that lists your business's information. 

All too often I see "faceless" pincers who haven't completed their profile. First step when creating a Pinterest account is to get all of that housekeeping out of the way. Choose a profile picture that describes your business whether it be a logo, picture of the building, owner, etc. make it personable. Users are more likely to follow an individual than a faceless user.

Pinterest gives users the option to include a short description on their profile-use it to your advantage! Include a link to your website, address, phone number, and other locations you may have. If pinners find something they like that you pinned, they'll be able to go directly to your site.


2. Do: Follow other users

Businesses often take the formal approach to social media and do not follow any users. While I know businesses can't follow anyone and everyone that likes their page, it is important for them to interact with users. Find people on Pinterest who post similar items, have similar styles, or have complimentary items and follow them. This will create credibility with your own users because they won't be bogged down with only your products.

Lowe's home improvement store has implemented this tactic with their Pinterest boards, a move that has been incredibly successful. Currently, they have 3,393,664 followers. That number is impressive, especially for a store that is known for selling appliances, lumber, and building supplies. Let's look at their strategy.

Rather than creating boards a filling them with pictures of power tools, paint colors, and flooring samples, Lowe's has taken a creative approach to their Pinterest marketing. Boards with names such as, Lowe's Fix in Six, 50 Projects Under $50, Holiday Ready Home, Ultimate Man Caves, and Craft Ideas inspire users to take on projects they originally hadn't considered.

Notice how Lowe's has also followed other Pinterest users, 573 to be exact, and liked, commented, and repinned other people's pins to encourage followers. Just as with all other social media sites, it is important to be present. Schedule time into your day to pin a few items, make comments, and interact with users. More activity will generate more followers.

3. Do: Connect Pinterest to other social media sites 

Most people have a favorite social media network so if Pinterest is appealing to your customers, you want them to know you have a page. Install a "Pin It" button on your website, especially on pictures so people are able to organically share your pictures.

As always, if images are originally yours it is a good idea to include a watermark or information on the picture that directs interested consumers to your website. Seeing the image on Pinterest is the start- but is useless if the link doesn't work or isn't connected. Having that information (website, business name) on the picture is a sure way to give credit to your business.

Include a Pinterest button on other accounts you have. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.  are social media starting points, but tailoring the content to your business is key.

4. Dont: Spam users 

Repining, commenting, and liking photos isn't the way to a pinner's heart. In fact, its the exact opposite. Pinterest has a stringent policy on spamming in order to protect its users and prevent businesses and users from taking advantage of the constantly changing pins.

In an effort to gain followers, businesses will make their way to the "Popular" page and make comments on pins, just to get their name out there. If done wholeheartedly and with good intentions, no harm is done. But, if users report you for excessiveness, get ready to have your account suspended.

5. Don't: Pin pictures just to pin

As with any marketing strategy, be specific. For example, if your business sells clothing don't repin  pictures upon pictures of tattoos, technology, or cars. Stick to your audience and their interests. This doesn't mean you cannot have boards that showcase other interests- food, drink, and exercise are common interests of most people, so having boards that show personal favorites may be another creative way to direct traffic to your Pinterest page, without always focusing on the products you have to sell. Take a look a Lowe's Pinterest page again, they achieve this combination flawlessly.

6. Don't: Advertise your site but not have anything to show
   
Although this may go without saying, don't advertise and promote your Pinterest boards if you are not actively interacting on Pinterest. Users don't want to be sent to your profile and see five pins from two years ago. Stale and outdated information doesn't leave customers with a good impression and can turn away business.

Pinterest Advertising: Full Force Ahead!

It was just a matter of time before advertising snaked its way into Pinterest. To date, it was the largest social media platform that had yet to be touched by advertising. That is, until now. Pinterest emailed a statement to users in October 2013 that said how it was going to begin testing promoted pins on its site. Businesses were not charged for their advertisements, but were rather used as test subjects to see how effective the move would be.

Promoted pins will appear in search results and in the drop down categories, but will not be in user’s personal feeds at this time.  So if your business is interested in targeting pinners through the “Hair and Beauty” category or possibly looking to advertise your couture line of dresses in the  “Weddings” category,  you would be able to promote your pin to target those users who are searching for the same goods or services, without looking like an ad.

This photo was taken of the “Outdoors” category on Pinterest. At first glance each of the pins look just like the others, which is the strategy being used by Pinterest’s advertising execs. Take a second look and see if you are able to distinguish the promoted pin on the page.

One simple difference sets promoted pins apart, and that is? The tagline under the picture. Traditional, repinned pins do not have any information directly under the picture. However, the promoted pin is from Julie’s Outdoor Supply. If your mouse is held over the information icon, users are able to see the disclosure.  

This move was done in part, because the company does not want to be known as another “advertising site” where content can be manufactured and shared at an advertiser’s whim. In the long run, this move will earn the trust of the Pinners who make up the site. The tasteful placement and design of these promoted pins will keep Pinterest’s appearance clean and virtually “free” of advertising, which will keep users coming back.

This is an advertiser’s dream come true. Throw away that template for those phony looking “important” articles in newspapers. Gone are the days where we see “advertisement” in little tiny print at the bottom of an article. An advertisement will finally be able to be perceived as just another piece of the puzzle!

As many people already visit Pinterest to get ideas for clothings, makeup, gardening ideas, home improvement projects- users have already decided that they are in the market for a new item. Users search Pinterest, find ideas they like, save them, and usually have an interest in someday purchasing the item. If advertisers are able to place their ads among other accepted ideas, they too will have people save, repin, or share their advertisement.

Promoted pins will not officially be rolling out until later this year, after the trial period has ended. There is information on Pinterest’s website that allows interested businesses to stay up-to-date with the process. Until then, keep pinning!

Rich pins are also on a test-run. If your business involves movies, recipes, articles products, or places, you’re eligible to create a rich pin. There are currently five types of rich pins on Pinterest, but more may be added after the test run.

The responsibility falls on your tech-savviness and/or your web developer to pull through for this. By generating meta tags for your website, you’ll be one step closer to having those pins appear on Pinterest. There is an application process that Pinterest requires these rich pins to go through before they are added to the site. 

These rich pins are not able to be promoted at this time, so financially, see if it works for your business. Bottom line, if you have the time, try it out!

New to Pinterest? Where to Start

When you think social media, your mind automatically skips to the giants Facebook and Twitter right? Though they are growing moguls, Pinterest's third place finish isn't something businesses should overlook. Though the learning curve is still steep, businesses are working to create their own Pinterest accounts, pin boards, and are uploading pins as a way to grow and promote their business.

Karen Leland, author of Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for Business, created none other than a "pin" to promote the ten ideas she recommends businesses use if they're trying out Pinterest marketing for the first time, or are looking increase their Pinterest followers.

Of the ten ways listed, cross promoting your businesses's Pinterest page with other types of social media applications you already have in place would be my greatest recommendation. Linking Pinterest to your business's blog, tweeting pins or showing the items you've pinned on Facebook are simple ways to drive traffic to your Pinterest site. In my mind, the rest of the steps will fall into place but not until you have a strong following. 

What's Pinterest's draw? For starters, Pinterest allows for search engine optimization so boards with similar tags and descriptions are showing up in Google's search results. Individual Pinterest boards can be optimized too, so be sure to title each board in a way that will direct customers to your site. Optimization also picks up on the description for each board, so using keywords will also increase traffic and Google results. 

Pinterest's web traffic referrals have leaped and bounded to a 66% growth in 2013. Were you one of the businesses who helped make the statistic? If you weren't, create a business page on www.pinterest.com to make the stat jump even higher in 2014.