Five Ways Brands Can Use Pinterest to Boost Consumer Engagement
The fastest rising name in social media these days isn’t Twitter or Facebook. It is the invite-only social network known as Pinterest. The Pala Alto-based company ranks among the most-visited social networks and continues to grow in popularity on a daily basis. The image-based platform allows users to create boards based on any topic they choose with relevant photos posted with each board, grouped into 32 general categories. Users can create their own board or follow other boards and post their own comments and photos. Many brands now have their own boards. Hear that? That is the sound of the wheels turning in the heads of marketing executives everywhere. So, how can the brand-related boards be used to benefit a particular brand?
Have Contests
Nothing attracts attention like a contest. Brands and companies can quickly generate buzz with a variety of contests on Pinterest. These contests can be as simple as “Best Board” or awarding honors for most re-pins. Contests can be holiday themed from “Best Halloween Costume” to “Best Vacation Photos.” “Best Outfit” contests can be tied directly to outfits purchased through a certain store or site that just happens to have a board on Pinterest. Contests should be related to the board and the brand. The more creative a contest is, the more attention it is likely to generate for a particular brand. Anything that engages users can be extremely beneficial for all parties involved.
Seek Approval for New Products
Pinterest is the ideal platform for a company to launch a new product due to the ability to post comments. While not on the level of Facebook, Pinterest still is an excellent way to see what users like or dislike about a new product before making it available on a wider level. People tend to be very willing to give their honest opinions on boards. This is a good way to test out new products to get an idea of what adjustments need to be made to make the product as successful as possible. Think of it as social media version of a focus group.
Highlight Brand Personality
Not all companies have a product line or brand to show off. However, social networks such as Pinterest can help a brand establish a personality. Magazines or TV shows such as NBC’s Today show focus on current events or topics including recipes, exercise, travel or any number of topical subjects. Each pin on Pinterest lets the user post a unique description with a link to the original story. Photos can easily be posted to make a particular pin more engaging. It’s not always about having a flashy product. Sometimes, brand personality is about creating a forum for people to share their ideas and offer suggestions.
Focus on Different Sectors of a Company
Larger companies or organizations can find a better focus on sites like Pinterest. A travel agency, for example, may have many different boards based on the type of vacation package offered. An integrated marketing agency may host multiple themed boards showcasing everything from logos and web pages to public relations efforts. Pinterest can also function in a business-to-business capacity by featuring boards geared towards other businesses. This is ideal for a business that may have a separate sector geared towards the public and another sector focusing on products and services unique to other businesses.
Communication Between Brands and Consumers
Pinterest allows brands and companies to communicate with customers or potential customers through boards. If a particular product is getting mostly positive reviews, a company can choose to integrate these comments into their online communities. A clothing company, for example, may post a photo of “Tiffany” wearing a blouse with a caption noting that “Tiffany enjoys our new line of professional blouses.” Being included instills a certain loyalty among customers. Including consumers in boards does wonders for word-of-mouth advertising. Tiffany is likely to share the photo of her wearing that blouse with her friends who may then pass it on to their friends and so on.
If you are interested in joining Pinterest, you can get a Pinterest Invite for free. Millions have already joined Pinterest. Join now today and start Pinning.
I can’t say that i full understand what Pinterest is all about. I just know it is good large compqmyies trying to promotes their products.