Last Updated: Feb 15, 2017
Pinterest is still a little confusing for some business people. Here are six tips that will help you use Pinterest to promote your business and connect with customers.
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As a small business owner, you might feel that with everything else on your plate you couldn’t possibly take on another social network. But many small business owners, just like you, have taken notice of the buzz surrounding Pinterest and decided the value it would provide is definitely worth the effort.
If you’re ready to take the plunge and create a Pinterest Page for your small business, we have some tips to get your page up and running, get seen, and drive business success—all without taking up too much of your precious time.
1. Separate personal from business
One common mistake business owners make when having a Pinterest Page for their business is blending personal boards with business boards. This is a bad idea. Not only will this confuse your customers, but it can portray your brand negatively.
Pinterest is a great place to show your customers your personal side, but be weary of how personal you get. If you want to keep your personal and business boards together, make sure the content is always appropriate and doesn’t cloud the content for your business.
2. Stay organized
Categorizing your Pinterest Page is not only for your benefit, but for the benefit of your customer. Having a simple and easy-to-understand layout will keep customers coming back. Categorize your different boards in a way that makes sense for a browsing Pinterest user. Also keep in mind the order of the boards on your page—you have the ability to rearrange them in whatever viewing order you prefer. Try reorganizing them throughout the year, highlighting the things you want to focus on most at different times.
Related: Image-Based Marketing with Pinterest
3. Think visually
Pinterest is a network for the visual people of the universe, so creating engaging content is the most important thing you can do to ensure success. When creating content and figuring out what content works for you, use eye-catching images. You’ll want to use images and content that will do two things: Catch your audience’s attention and keep them interested enough to like or repin your content. Engaging content will not only make your Pinterest Page look great, but it will help you gain followers.
4. Plan ahead
Before you create your Pinterest Page, take some time to sit down and plan. Knowing how you want to use Pinterest before you start pinning will help you find success and save time. It won’t take a whole day, but taking a few hours to make a strategic plan will be helpful. Decide how you want to build your brand on Pinterest and work towards these specific goals.
5. Be active
It’s easy to forget about social networks for a few days. You get busy. It’s understandable. But keeping your boards updated and pinning things often are a few ways to maintain an engaged Pinterest following. If you don’t maintain your page you might lose those followers. In order to avoid this from happening, keep your page fresh and updated. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours each day updating—you can do this by pinning new content every few days, or if you have no new content repinning or liking something you see.
6. Promote your page
All the great work you’re doing won’t have any value unless people actually see it. Now that you have a Pinterest Page with great content up and running, you need to get the word out. Leverage all of the other communication channels you currently use—Facebook, Twitter, your email newsletter—to share the news about your new page. Be sure to include visually-enticing pins from some of your favorite boards within your posts to really get people’s attention. If you have a business blog, you can actually embed a pin or an entire board using Pinterest’s widget builder too. This is a great way to drive people to your page.
Before you start pinning away (trust me it will become addicting!), keep this in mind: there is no magic formula when it comes to engaging followers and making your Pinterest Page the best one out there. With some simple planning and organizing, you will be on your way to building a Pinterest Page that will benefit your business.
More Articles: How to Use Social Media in Your Business
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Ellen Williams, Constant Contact Regional Development Director, New York and Southern Connecticut
Ellen has over 20 years of technology and marketing experience and has presented to over 4,000 small businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Her advice on best practices help organizations understand how to build great customer relationships that inevitable grow their businesses.
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