Tech Corner Post: More about Pinterest

Written by Amanda Brodzik

 

Gone are the days of physical thumb tacks and bulletin boards.  These tactile objects have made way for Pinterest, the virtual pinboard.

Launched in 2010, Pinterest became the fastest-growing site ever and has since attracted over 32 million members.  These members use the site to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies and more.  Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, re-pin images to their own collections or like photos.  Pinterest users are overwhelmingly female and young to middle-adged.  Women represent 72% of Pinterest, while males only account for 28%.

PR professionals can use Pinterest in both promotional and inspirational ways.  An obvious use of Pinterest is that companies/brands can visually represent and promote their products on the Internet.  Pinterest can also take this a step further by showing ways you can use a product or brand.  For instance, if your company sells grills, you can create pinboards to not only display your products, but show how to use them with different recipes, techniques and tools and accessories.  Someone on the other end of Pinterest may have never thought that they needed to buy a grill, but when they see your company's mouthwatering recipes and fun tips, they may be inclined to purchase one.  A great example of this is IKEA UK’s Pinterest boards; the company has boards filled with images, but not a single one is for a product of theirs.  Companies can also use Pinterest as a storefront to drive sales.  Besides using Pinterest to reach others, a PR professional can use it to inspire themselves.  Decorating a venue, designing a website or looking for typography, Pinterest can serve as a never-ending inspiration for any PR initiative.