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

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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.