12 Most Beneficial Ways for Brands to Use #Pinterest

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Pinterest is a phenomenal platform for brands to share what they have to offer in visually appealing ways. Pinterest etiquette clearly states that it’s not a platform for self-promotion. You can, however, create boards around the lifestyle of your brand.

1. You have been Pinned

Whether you know it or not, more than likely your brand or industry has already been Pinned on Pinterest. To discover all of the Pins that have originated from your site, like this for 12 Most, type in any website to see if anyone has Pinned from it.

2. Follow us on Pinterest

Once you have created your profile on Pinterest, add one of the Follow on Pinterest buttons to your website.

3. Be easy to Pin

Make sure that you have Pinnable images on your website. Pinterest is all about the image — create quality, original images that highlight your brand and are relevant to your brand story.

4. Add the Pin It button

This makes it incredibly easy for users to Pin your images on Pinterest from your website. You can even add a description to the image that will automatically be filled when a user adds a Pin to their boards. Check out Martha Stewart Living and see how they are utilizing the Pin It button.

5. Create boards

What is your brand story? What inspires your brand? How does your brand fit into an overall lifestyle? Pinterest is not one dimensional — highlight the pieces of your brand that make unique and useful. Showcase this and share your brand personality. Whole Foods is doing a fantastic job of showcasing an overall lifestyle.

6. P.O.P.

Promote Others Pins ~ re-Pin, “Like”, comment on, and share content from sources beyond your website and your brand. Remember Pin Etiquette says that Pinterest is not to be used purely as a tool for self-promotion. Pin images that compliment your brand story and share a diverse mix of lifestyle content from your industry. ModCloth shares Pins from a many bloggers and websites that share a mutual love for eclectic, DIY, and vintage.

7. Research

Pinterest offers brands a unique opportunity to not only see what users are Pinning — but HOW. More than social mentions, like a Facebook “Like,” you are given some context and sentiment. Keep notifications and gain some perspective on HOW your brand is being thought of — how is it being categorized? Who is it being Pinned with?

8. Find advocates and influencers

Potentially find brand influencers and advocates. Take the research a step further. Identify Pinterest users that are Pinning your brand and who are fans on other social platforms; possibly start a conversation with them.

9. Humanize your brand

Create a board that showcases your employees. Include photos, bios, behind the scenes of the office, warehouse, video, special events, and tutorials.

10. Collaborate

Create a board and invite employees to contribute. Great for team building, projects, and gives users an opportunity to see how campaigns or even products come to life or how you. Be sure to share your vision and expectations that you want to highlight your brand story and what you stand for using appropriate content. All boards are public so be cautious about what you share.

11. Fan curated boards

Invite users to be the curators. Here are a few examples:

Southwest Airlines

 Guest Pinner Gallery for ModCloth

12. Contests

Beyond the Pin It to Win It contests — you can harness the creative power of Pinterest to design packaging for a new product, help decorate a new office space with your products and have judges choose the winners or the Pinterest community by awarding points based on likes and re-Pins. Here is a contest that High Point Market had in the fall.

The opportunities are endless for brands to harness the power of Pinterest. How will you use Pinterest to enhance your overall marketing strategy?

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Featured image courtesy of Design Seeds.

Kelly Lieberman

http://kellylieberman.wordpress.com/

Kelly considers herself a social media sponge. She loves using this medium to connect people & ideas. Coffee addict, rainbow chaser, giving my girls roots & wings. Kelly believes the glass is always half full. And she always plays nice. Kelly is a social media manager and consultant. She works with businesses and organizations to help them grow comfortably social on the inside so that they can better utilize social media platforms. Kelly is also the host of a weekly Pinterest chat, #Pinchat Wednesday on Twitter at 9 PM EST which was featured on Mashable.