5 Ways to Leverage Pinterest in Your Company's Social Media Plan

Since its inception in 2011, Pinterest has been one of the fastest growing social media sites out there. Through its exponential growth and more than 48 million users, Pinterest has quickly become one of the most popular social networks for individuals to use. If you were to ask a typical person what Pinterest was all about, they more than likely would respond with something along these lines: It's a place where females go to pin recipes, wedding ideas, and DIY home decor. While this is true to some extent, Pinterest has the potential for so much more; particularly now with the release of 'Manteresting' -the guy version of Pinterest. Here are 5 different ways for your company or business to utilize the pin boards of Pinterest.

1. Contests
 This one is fairly simple and straight forward... One great way to encourage engagement on Pinterest is through contests. Have followers pin themselves using your products [in a fun or unique] way. The best pin wins!

2. "How-To" -Education
Another great way to use Pinterest is to have it become a hub for education. What does your company do that is unique? Do you volunteer for a certain cause? Pin about that event. Let consumers inside your organization and pin fun and interesting things about your company -ever have wacky Wednesday dress? Pins like these create a 'face' for your company which instantly make you seem more personable.
You could also pin videos from Youtube that show or explain how your product is used. Infographics are another great idea; not only do they educate, but they present the information in a visually appealing manner. The goal here is become a go-to source for knowledge and learning surrounding your product, industry, or even business.

3. "How-To" -Ideas
Similar in fashion to number 2, use Pinterest to help your customers see greater potential or additional uses for your product. Do you sell clothing? Pin 'looks' to show users how they can accessorize or compliment that denim jacket you just got in stores. Do you sell home decor? Show users how they can spruce up room xyz in their house using your product. Do you sell cotton balls? Show users new uses of your cotton balls including DIY projects. The whole goal here is to be creative and spark interest and ideas. Again, don't be afraid to pin Youtube videos.  

4. Customer Testimony
Pinterest is also ideal for displaying customer testimony and recommendations. Pin photos of satisfied customers and how they thought their buying experience went. Pin videos that show customers talking about how well your product is working for them. Check out this article for 3 examples of companies that have done this well.

5. Quotes
Pinterest users love quotes. So why not generate a board of quotes on your site? GE has a board, That's Genius, which pins quotes by their company founder, Thomas Edison. Sure, not every company has such a famous founder, but you can still pin quotes your company believes in (see my prior blog post, 23 Quotes to Live Life By) or that are words of wisdom from your particular industry.


Remember, Pinterest is all about the visuals. If you have text-based content, try to find a way to make it visually appealing (e.g. turn it into an infographic or incorporate an interesting photo in the background). Further, be sure your pins and boards fit into your marketing strategy. It all relates back to your goals and objectives!

For more information about Pinterest users, check this infographic out.

In what other ways do you or your clients like to use Pinterest? Drop a comment below and share!

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