It’s ironic that we post this on a blog, but with all the digital distractions these days, words are becoming less effective in grabbing our attention. Images, on the other hand, are all the rage. That may be why, according to data shared by Forbes, Pinterest is passing Twitter in popularity.
So if you’re a business owner or executive, how do you use Pinterest to expand your business? Another Forbes article lists the following suggestions:
1. Follow. This pertains to the social nature of social media. Your Pinterest activity should not be a one-way street, meaning you shouldn’t expect a lot of people to follow your board if you don’t take an interest in a lot of people. Show a little love. And rather than following everyone and anyone, follow the people and boards who are pinning and sharing content that fits your business, products or mission. Finding users who are relevant in your field can be done through a keyword search. Once you find the popular users who are pinning and sharing stuff that’s up your alley, follow them.
2. Comment. If you’re trying to promote yourself, would you go to a popular party or networking event just to observe the crowd? Do you really think attending such a gathering without striking up a conversation with anyone would be worth your time? Of course not. Pinterest, like all social media platforms, is about community conversation and engagement, so speak up. Comments on popular pins should be insightful to show you care about and have expertise in the subject at hand. And asking questions is an excellent way to get noticed, as people love to demonstrate their knowledge or give advice.
3. Re-pin. A “like” is nice and all, but a pin carries a lot more weight in the Pinterest world. That’s because a pin has a link attached to it. If you pin something, it will link back to the original source. By re-pinning content, you’re essentially telling others that you like the pins you are adding to your board.
4. Sync. Connecting your Pinterest account to the rest of your social media accounts—Facebook, Twitter, etc.—is a quick and simple way to gain more followers on Pinterest. That way, when you share a pin, your Facebook friends and Twitter followers will know that you’re also active on Pinterest.
5. Have a contest. People love a chance to win something, which makes contests a great way to get noticed. That’s because people have to follow you if they want to be in your contest. There are even online tools and apps to manage prize giveaways and sweepstakes. If your contest is being run on Pinterest, people can easily follow them on their mobile devices across multiple social media networks.
Source: www.forbes.com