By David T. Domzalski
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of Pinterest, the online pinboard. You may have even decided to check it out and see how it could help with your social media marketing. Since we’re not working with unlimited budgets here, we need to find as many different avenues as possible to get our name out there.
However, like most new websites and marketing platforms, you want to make sure it’s a good fit and doesn’t conflict with your message or brand image. The last thing you want to do is attempt to incorporate a new medium to reach your base only to alienate your customers.
I’ve done some research about the top tips for marketing on Pinterest and saw some great examples of companies that are using the site effectively. Here’s some of the best advice I have found, along with my own commentary:
- Add a “Pin It” button to your website. Believe it or not, I have seen companies fail to include Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube buttons on their sites. They have a presence on each site; however, they neglect to do the smallest and simplest of actions and actually add a button to their site to engage their audience. Do this with Pinterest and let your fans tell others about you!
- Don’t just pin pictures, but videos too! Pinterest has made it easier to share videos on the site over the last few months. So, why not take advantage of it? It’s not a coincidence that YouTube, Vimeo, and other video sites are so popular. People enjoy watching funny and/or educational clips. Your business should be there if it’s not there already and Pinterest is a perfect way to get your business noticed. This is one of the top ways I get my podcasts out there, so I know from experience that it works if done correctly and consistently.
- Don’t make it all about you. Social media isn’t just about throwing product promotions in the faces of your followers. The keyword here is “social.” So, go be social. Engage your audience and share useful tips with them. Do you run a kitchen or bath storefront? Give your followers advice about how to save on remodeling. What about a local garden center? Tell people how to plant grass seed the correct way or spread mulch effectively. Your customers will be grateful even if you only help them out in a small way.
- Use Pinterest to help your potential customers understand you. Do you sometimes have difficultly explaining what your business does or what services you provide? Well, why not put together a “What We Do” board or “Satisfied Customers” board to showcase your hard work? This will give your previous customers a chance to provide you a ringing endorsement and allow new customers to see how amazing you are at what you do. On top of that, you can also demonstrate products or highlight work you completed for a customer.
- It’s OK to be a little personal. With any business, you want your customers to get to know you a little bit. I always believed this is especially important for small, hyperlocal businesses. Share some photos of your family, your employees, or your pets. Introduce your employees on a board and explain what their expertise is. Do you plan on participating in the local charity walk or festival? Pin it on Pinterest. Is your favorite sports team in the playoffs? Tell your followers that you’re a fan and show your support. It’s always a good idea to be a little personable with your customers and not hide behind the businessperson veil.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
David T. Domzalski is the founder of Financial Bin, a media company focused on personal finance and entrepreneurial education for Generation Y. You can contact David through email or visit his website: FinancialBin.com and david@financialbin.com
