3 Ways to Small Businesses Can Capitalize on the Pinterest Craze

Social media is increasingly used by businesses to promote products and serve customers on another level never before imagined. While today, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are the most popular networks for growing a brand, Pinterest is slowly but surely becoming a force that can no longer be ignored.

Pinterest is all about eye candy. The more visually interesting and appealing your content is, the betters.  Because of that, a lot of business owners might think their industry is not cut out for the Pinterest audience, but with the right approach, any type of company can gain followers, boost brand exposure, and increase sales through the social sharing platform.

Read on for three ways you can incorporate Pinterest into your marketing strategy and learn how to make the most of the network from a strategic business perspective.

1. Be Creative, But Relevant

Pinterest can feel overwhelming to those unfamiliar with the site. Each image is more beautiful than the next and the sheer number of pictures makes it feel easy to feel lost in the crowd. But if you title your images appropriately, it is one of the most targeted ways to reach consumers. On Pinterest, if a user searches for “travel” boards, they will find breathtaking images from locales all over the world. Now here’s where you can use Pinterest to your advantage. Even if your industry is something boring, lets say it is finance, you can create a Pinterest board titled “Most Expensive Vacation Destinations” and include dozens of visually appealing images that you’ve tied into finance because of the ‘most expensive’ bit. The trick is to extend your industry into something that is visually appealing and posting relevant content.

2. Take Up Photography

The best way to capture the essence of your business is through the eyes of someone who is passionate about it. Take it upon yourself to snap pictures of employees hard at work, behind-the-scenes office activities, and anything in your environment you see that is relevant to your industry. If you’re creative and keep an open mind, you’ll be surprised at how many photos can be uploaded to Pinterest boards and shared across the web. Photo editing programs like Skitch, PicMonkey, and even the basic filters on your smartphone can turn a so-so picture into a masterpiece worth sharing. And remember, every time an image is shared on Pinterest, it links back to your website, or wherever the photo originates. This is beneficial for SEO and general brand familiarity across the web.

3. Use Infographics & Instructographics

Infographics and instructographics are a great way to share your industry’s “know-how” with others, boost brand exposure, and generate interest on Pinterest. Infographics have been embraced by the Pinterest community and get shared and liked as much as any other image. The trick is to keep the infographic brief, simple, and helpful. Gather statistics and facts relevant to your company and work with a designer to create an infographic. The financial education company, Online Trading Academy, has had good luck building a community by sharing basic information about Forex markets and day trading. Infographics like this are popular and informative!

What seems like common sense to them is actually valuable information for those looking to break into the field. The best part about Pinterest is, even if you don’t post original content, you can still engage with users and increase brand exposure. Simply by liking and repining quality images, you create a positive online presence associated with the business.

Pinterest alone is not an effective marketing strategy for a small business, but those companies that already have profiles on Facebook and Twitter might want to look into creating a Pinterest account. Last year, Pinterest saw more than 1000% unique visitor growth so it’s an opportunity for reaching consumers that shouldn’t be overlooked.