Why is Pinterest of so much interest? by CITYPEEK Patti Neumann

Submitted by peek on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 6:56pm

Pinterest (rhymes with interest) is the newest rage on social media networks. What is it? Simply, Pinterest describes itself as an online pinboard or bulletin board, where you organize and share photos things you love. And, millions are already addicted to it.

It is already being ranked as one of the top 10 in social media networks. I've gone from not quite getting what all the fuss was about to not knowing when to stop pinning and repinning. Apparently, I'm not alone. Pinterest is growing at rapid pace in its less than 24 month infancy. In 2011, it grew from 418,000 users in May to 7.5 million in December. Its addictiveness is hard to explain until you join and start the pinning process.

Mostly food like recipes, pictures of fabulous “must taste” items, home goods, animals, art, well, quite frankly, anything you can think of are categorized on the site. Just look for or create what you like and it should all fall into place.

Some of the basic info:

—Pin: A pin is an image added to Pinterest. You can link to an image from a Web site or upload an image from your computer. Pins can include captions, like "A great way to reuse a coffee creamer bottle."

Repin: Once something is pinned, it can then be repinned by other Pinterest users. This is how content spreads virally. If you see something you like on Pinterest.com, repin it to share it with your friends.

Board: This is where your pins live. You can have separate boards for subjects such as a wedding, rooms in your house or favorite recipes.

Sign Up-You have to be “invited” by someone. A throwback to the popular use of a nightclub’s red velvet rope to giving those awaiting the front door, the air of selectiveness. But, with many signing up in droves for the new social darling, getting the special invite is easy. Just ask me!

Pinterest can be a bit overwhelming at first. Like any new things, starting is the most difficult and a learning curve is ahead of you. Just dive in. You will soon discover how intuitive it is to create boards, add pins, and browse the unlimited pins elsewhere on Pinterest.

As a user, you now can share all of these pins on your Facebook and Twitter Timeline feeds and look back at all of your projects and favorites of friends! To add pins to your Facebook Timeline, click the button on the top of your screen.

Now how can it help businesses?

Pinners are able to add a price to items like art, furniture, computers, hotels rooms and retail items where someone can then buy the item. A sort of next generation of ebay, perhaps. To add a price to a pin, type the $ or £ symbol followed by the number amount in the description. When you are finished, click Pin It.

Also integrate YouTube videos and best how-to tutorials. When you pin a video link, the video is embedded in Pinterest inside the pin. It's a good way of spreading a tip or selling a product!

Who knows ll the new social darling will bring is to be determined. But, I know is it is growing at a tremendously fast pace and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

You can find me : CITYPEEK Patti on Pinterest

Please share and comment on your Pinterest thoughts.

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