Is Your Business Pinteresting Enough?
Pinterest is the social network that has taken the online world by storm. Many companies are jumping on the virtual bandwagon and creating corporate Pinterest accounts in order to connect with customers and prospects. However, it is important to realize that Pinterest is not for everyone and that if you pin, you should, like everything else, begin with a strategy. In case you’re still struggling with whether your business is suitable for Pinterest, we’ve come up with a few questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge.
Is It Cool?
Do your employees have fun, quirky habits that you can document through photos? Maybe your company is uniquely involved in its local community. If your company has a really cool culture or brand identity, you should be telling your visual story on Pinterest. People love to feel connected to an organization’s story. Sharing images that convey your story help them feel like they’re part of your organization.
Am I Pretty Enough, Mommy?
We know that your company is your baby, but be honest with yourself. Pinterest is a place for users to post anything pretty and if your products or services aren’t visually appealing, they have no place on the site. Similarly, if you’re a services company and you have difficulty with visually representing your organization, you should probably avoid Pinterest. On the other hand, if your company makes cool gadgets or pretty knick-knacks, Pinterest is a great opportunity for you to share your products with the world.
Do These Words Describe You: Artsy-Craftsy, Foodie, Fashionista?
Pinterest has the arts, crafts, food, and fashion markets cornered and there are countless Pinterest boards for pins related to these topics. If your business falls into one of these niche categories and you’re not using this explosive social network, you’re making a huge mistake.
If You Don’t Have Time to Do It Right, When Will You Have Time to Do It Over?
Building a reputation on Pinterest takes time and companies that sign up and immediately start flooding the boards with self-promotion look like jerks. Once you’ve built your reputation, it is imperative that you commit to maintaining that reputation by consistently pinning quality images that contribute to your image. If you don’t have time to pin well, it’s better not to pin at all.
Are Your Customers On Pinterest?
It might seem obvious, but if your customers are not on Pinterest, you’re wasting your time by maintaining a Pinterest account. It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of Pinterest users are women between the ages of 18 and 44. If your target market is predominately male or the elderly, you should probably look for a different social network.
Final Thoughts
There may be a lot to consider before you decide to jump into the world of Pinterest, but a lot can be gained from maintaining a corporate Pinterest account if you decide that your company is suited to this social network.
Christine is the Social Media Manager at The Discovery Communications Group. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, where she is currently working on her Master's degree in Marketing. After spending the past few years working in various sales and marketing roles, she joined the DCG team to help them manage their social communities.
