Leveraging Social Media: Pinterest

Pinterest.com is a website that lets you create and manage collections of information. Find good getting-started directions at  https://techboomers.com/p/pinterest

Everything on Pinterest has to have a visual attached to it: a photo, drawing, animation, or video.  Pinterest is all about content -- the visual kind that’s super easy for people to digest. Individual pieces of information on Pinterest are called "pins,” which are organized into custom categories that you create called “boards.”

Everything you pin is clickable. This means that you can link to your website, to a registration page, or even to an event and those who view your Pinterest board can click right to those links.

Pinterest can help your chapter or state organization to reach members and potential members. According to comScore, which tracks social media usage, 71% of Pinterest’s 72.5 million users are women.

Here are a few basic ideas to help you utilize Pinterest.

• Use text on your images that is simple, uses short phrases, and is easy to read.
• Use timeless titles for your pins so they don’t become dated.
• Promote your pins with at least 20 keywords. This will make them show up better in searches. You can even put keywords in your descriptions, your boards, or even your profile.
• Create 150 - 300 word descriptions of your pin.This will help convince users to click.
• Pin consistently.
• Connect your social media - You can easily tweet your pins so your Twitter followers can see them. Display your latest Pinterest activity in the feeds of your Facebook friends and followers.
• Embed inspirational quotes or quotes about our mission in your images. Go to quozio.com (free tool) to create nice looking quotes.
• In general, your images should have these characteristics:  visually compelling, tell a story, create an emotion, have clever captions, and are interesting to YOUR audience.
• Put a face on our organization by showing the human side. Introduce central figures with pins of each that are included in a board “Who We Are.”
• Remember to acknowledge your audience and respond to feedback.

Some ideas to use later:

• Feature step-by-step tutorials - Use images that actually show step-by-step tutorials. This will get high engagement and clicks. Perhaps it could show how to sign up for your convention.
• Capitalize on the image height - images with width to height ratios of 2:3 and 1.3:5 can increase clicks and engagement.
• Use Calls to Action in pin descriptions - CTAs should always be brief, clear, and to the point.
• On your website or blog, add the Pinterest Follow Button - Install the button in several prominent places on your website and blog—the header, footer, sidebar, etc. Make it easy for people to find your Pinterest page and be converted into followers. To create your button, use the widget builder page on Pinterest or create a custom button that reflects the society.
• Add a logo to your images.
• Link strategically to your YouTube channel - videos make spectacular pins.

Most of you know about Pinterest. You know its value. The next time your group meets, brainstorm how your group might use it. Are you willing to take the leap? Why or why not?

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