Today I had the chance to attend SCPRSA‘s Upstate luncheon. This month, our region hosted three social media managers to answer questions about rhe changing landscape of online communication platforms.
When asked what the next hot social media tool is, the answer was almost unanimously Pinterest.
Still in its early stages as a social media platform, Pinterest caters to what we have long discovered to be the most engaging online content – images. The site acts as a virtual pinboard for users to organize and share images they find on the web. These graphics can be organized as a way to plan weddings, gather fashion ideas, decorate a home or save recipes. And with more than 10 million registered users (and growing), Pinterest is worth paying attention to.
But what are the opportunities for brands?
- Images shared on Pinterest can be linked to websites for additional information, videos or even to buy online. In fact, Pinterest is driving more traffic than Google+, LinkedIn and MySpace combined.
- If you’re part of the consumer goods industry, there’s a good chance that images of your product are already being pinned on the site. Do a quick search for your brand to find out, and use Pinterest as a way to participate in these conversations.
- Pinterest offers one more opportunity to be a part of your customers lives. If you choose to join the site as a brand, re-pin and post images not just of your products (in fact, your products should only represent a small percentage of your posts), but images that fit into your audience’s lifestyle.
