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| Inviting You To Join My Pinterest Network - It's A Thin Line Between Asking And Begging -- Isn't It Though? |
If you are not already using Pinterest, Please simply click on the magical button two paragraphs below and become a member of my Pinterest network. I will follow you (but not into restrooms or minefields), re-pin your material, comment on some of your interesting pins, and do all manner of wonderful things for you. Besides getting to play with me on Pinterest, you'll find it integrates fabulously well with Instagram and several other visual media-sharing resources and tools. The ease of operation associated with Pinterest is also wonderful -- more on this later in the article.
Next to the ever-limited and increasingly regulated Twitter, Pinterest is fast-becoming the social sharing medium of choice for an increasing number of cyberspace commuters, marketers, prospective customers, and persons with large families and a great deal of idle time. Pinterest is an integral weapon in the social media arsenal of every Mad Marketer. Please join me by clicking below, and then c'mon back over so we can discuss the best ways to capitalize on the power of Pinterest and its expanding audience. By the way, this particular button is one of the worst I've ever generated - but it WORKS!
If pictures speak volumes, then Pinterest is, at least in theory, a much more potent rapid and viral messaging medium than Twitter, although each has its good points, and Twitter is already very firmly entrenched in the publishing, promotion and social media worlds, as well as the core ficus or staging platform of a multitude of businesses.
It will take another year or two before Pinterest gains sufficient traction to become a true business platform staple instead of an experiment or a supplement. There are some marketing pros who have already taken to complaining that Pinterest doesn't deliver sales, but I'd bet a great percentage of these same folks thought that Facebook was a family and friends medium -- but now have "Like Us On Facebook Buttons" all over their websites and e-media. Once again, I believe (speaking for both Mad Marketing Tactics and for Douglas E Castle, my alter ego) that the early adopters will see their efforts rewarded.
If simplicity and ease of use are demand drivers for different social media platforms, Pinterest should grab a great many marketers hearts rather rapidly. Here's the whole process:
1) Sign up for Pinterest, and create several "Boards" upon which you will post pictures, which may be sourced from any content (with pictures) on the web...blogs, websites, social media posts, newsletters, YouTube, Flickr, and the whole lot of 'em;
2) Drag and drop their cute little bookmarklet into your favorites or bookmarks column;
3) Every time you post, or see something of interest posted, you just tap on the bookmarklet and it gives you (automatically!) a choice of all of the pictures associated with the material. You simply choose the one which you like best, click on it and the bookmarklet will let you pin it to any one of your boards. When it's pinned, it will have an automatic backlink to the original url. If you add some of your witty, softly-stated commentary to the snagged image (Pinterest gives you up to 500 characters within which to do it, contrasted with Twitter's 140 character capacity), you might either engage other readers, or create a call to action. This is a wonderful opportunity to either promote ideas, services or products (generally) or to go right in for the kill and ask a viewer to become a purchaser.
The 5 Absolutely BEST Pinterest Practices:
1) Never post an image without adding a bit of your unique personality by adding some interesting commentary;
2) Follow as many other members as you possibly can, and invite members to follow you;
3) Re-pin and comment on others' pins. Build a sense of involvement, engagement and community;
4) If technologically possible for you (iPhones are a big help here), integrate your Pinterest account with Instagram (for the joy of spontaneity), Facebook, Twitter and your video media;
5) To maximize the punch of your pin, it should be linked (i.e., it should lead to of clicked on) to a video (and audio, if possible), such as a narrated slideshow, PowerPoint presentation, an animation or any other multi-sensory "show" to increase the viewer's time spent, involvement and commitment.
Pinterest, if used imaginatively, provides your viewers with a door or gateway to any destination which you, as a Mad Marketer, wish.
Douglas E. Castle for The Mad Marketing Tactics Blog and the Daily Burst Of Brilliance Blog.
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