Pinterest isn't just for learning how to build a blingy, DIY (do-it-yourself) 8-foot cat tree from toilet paper rolls, it's actually an effective small (and big) business marketing tool.
ComScore released a report earlier this year showing Pinterest leverages more than 10 million unique visitors monthly. That means 10 million individual people are visiting Pinterest each month - that doesn't include the 30 times each person repeatedly returns in that same month to review that recipe or share that LOL dog pic.
Even if you're brand-spanking new to Pinterest, it doesn't have to be like learning Latin. Let's break down Pinterest for Small Business into 5 easy steps:
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1. Know Your Audience
Figure out what makes your audience tick and they'll pin from the palm of your hand.
2. Keyword, Keyword, Keyword
Everything across the interwebs is keyword driven. Think about how you use the internet. When you're hunting something down, you type a few key words into a search engine and magically, Poof! You get a plethora of possibilities. Your audience is doing the same.
Tagging everything appropriately, including your pins, helps those hunting the web find what you're offering. Pinning a photo of your confection company's famous candy apple? Tag it with words that are both obvious, and not-so-much (when applicable) such as:
Apple, Fall, Candy, Company Name, State, How To, DIY
And don't forget things that may be very niche specific, like:
Gluten Free, Holiday, Family Craft
3. Balance
Don't just have a page dedicated to you that screams, "Come buy my stuff!" Focus on balance.
Have roughly 80 percent of your content focus on information and subliminal marketing - using the candy shop as an example, repinning visual ideas for other candy apples or quotes about candy to help populate your page with diverse material. Use the other 20 percent to directly market your own product and expertise. Pinterest pinners want more than just an advertisement, they want entertainment and education. Balance both, and you'll have a vibrant, diverse page.
4. Don't forget about YOU!
Your Pinterest audience needs more than just what you think is helpful, they need you. Create a board dedicated to who you are and what you do. Upload a few original pins (pictures) of yourself, your building if you have one and things that reflect what is most important to your company.
5. Show off your work
Don't put all that time and effort into building this perfect Pinterest page and then forget to market it. Put that URL on your website, into your email signature, share it on Facebook and Twitter. Use other social media outlets to push traffic back and forth between each other for increased online engagement.
Need ideas how to pin for your specific audience? Clever Dog is here to help! Don't resist — reach out. Contact sarah@clvrdog.com or lyssa@clvrdog.com. We promise we won't bite ;)