For the Business of Apparel Decorating
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Pinterest Here's How… 5 Best Practices for Pinterest If you're new to Pinterest or have just dipped your toe in the pool in the past, now is probably the time you're wondering how to get the most out of your Pinterest account. As with any social media account, how you build the account and who you follow can have a huge impact on how successful your Pinterest boards become. Here are some practices I think can make a difference when it comes to Pinterest. Pinterest has proven it stands out from the social media pack. For decorators, the visual style of Pinterest may be promotional gold. #1: Business is business and personal is personal. For a lot of people, particularly those who own their businesses, it's often tempting to mix business with personal. Don't do that with Pinterest. The site gives you the option to have personal and business boards. Make sure your business is set up as a business on Pinterest, as there are tools specifically for businesses. Combining business and personal often results in too much clutter and dilutes your business message. Make it easy for your followers to stay on message and for that message to stay clear. #2: A picture is worth a thousand words. Keep Pinterest in mind when creating website or blog content. Make sure you always get the best product photos you can afford. Pinterest is primarily a visual medium, so you want pictures that capture people's attention. Your pictures should not only be high quality, but they should be relevant to the subject matter of the pin. Don't, for instance, pin a picture of an elephant when you're talking about size large shirts. Make sure the pictures relate to the subject so people can tell at a glance, literally, what your pin is about. #3: Words do matter. A picture is worth a thousand words, but words do matter on Pinterest. Creating relevant and interesting captions for your pins is a must. Don't get too wordy, but make sure your captions cover all the relevant product or company information. Remember, you may also use links, hashtags, and prices in your captions. Be sure you do so whenever relevant. 46 | Printwear PW_OCT13.indd 46 #4: It's not just about what you pin—it's what others pin from your content. If you're on Pinterest, you probably have a website or blog or some other sort of online presence. Remember that you may not be the only person pinning something from your company on Pinterest, so make it easy for other pinners to pin your content. Many blogging and e-commerce software packages have Pinterest widgets already in them. Make use of these tools and make it easy for those who want to spread the word about your content to do so. #5: Remember that Pinterest, like any social media site, is a community. Many novice social media users make the mistake of thinking that social media is all about them. It's not an accident that the first word in the phrase social media is social. On Pinterest, make sure to like other boards, re-pin items that are appropriate for your business, and leave comments on pins that inspire you or that you enjoy. Your Pinterest account shouldn't be only about publicizing your company; it should also be about building relationships. pw October 2013 9/17/13 9:02 AM