Pinterest Pictures for Your Business: Images that Intrigue the Viewer
More than 12 million people currently use Pinterest and this graphics based platform continues to scale the popularity charts. As the word spreads about this site, more people intrigued by the buzz around it are jumping onto the bandwagon to know exactly what it is all about. It is obvious then that if the platform is attracting millions of users then organizations cannot afford to ignore Pinterest irrespective of their scale of operation. Pinterest differs from other social networking portals we have known over the years as the format of the content needs to be image based. You can also use YouTube or Vimeo videos but the primary focus remains on images as these are instant attention grabbers. This is a battle that entails beating competition by putting up pictures that get maximum repins. Aesthetics matter but there is more to it. Here is how you can go about the process of choosing the right image to carry your business’s message on Pinterest.
1. Make your web content pinnable
This is the first thing to do before you set out to use Pinterest to get more traffic for your website. Statistics show that referral traffic from Pinterest is giving tough competition to YouTube and Google Plus but to gain from this your site better be pinnable. Add the ‘Pin it’ button to the content. Make sure you use images on your website so that when people pin the content it builds into something intriguing.
2. Keep the size optimal
Images with width greater than 550 Pixel are resized for uploading on Pinterest. The resized image may not do justice to your campaign to attract traffic for your website. Make sure you size the images appropriately.
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3. Use contests, discounts and similar offers to draw traffic
Discounts and contests are the perennial attractions for people irrespective of the medium used for promotion. This holds true even for Pinterest. Use freely available graphic building and image editing tools to give shape to an attractive, colorful and attention grabbing image that mentions the discount percentage on offer or the contest prizes in bold. Emphasize on ease of participation and a chance to win a product that people look forward to winning. Make sure that the image description has keywords that make it appear in the results when people search for discount or contest related pictures.
4. Connect with the audience
This again is a time tested proposition. Promotional initiatives on Pinterest are akin to advertising in the sense that organizations seek to connect with the people through this medium but the manner in which you go about doing this needs to be subtle. Every advertisement need not brag about the product and can seek to connect with people through an emotional message or something through which people can identify with it. The same holds true for images on Pinterest. Make sure that the images you pin carry the links to important pages on your website. Talk about a hassle people often face. Link to the pages which offer solution in the form of products.
5. Adapt aspects of your business into a graphical format
It is not that difficult. In fact, you can tell intriguing stories of your business through pictures. Capture aspects of your business that have an aesthetic appeal. Create pictures that give insights into the working of a particular business domain. Present it as an exploration of something altogether new. Emphasize on the novelty of the idea.
6. Build interest and grab attention
Give a humorous take on your business through the picture. People love humor in all forms. It has a greater appeal than a message that seeks to inform and educate. Let your creativity spin a copy that has the persuasion power to get repins.
7. Use keywords
Use keywords in the title of the images as well as in the description. This helps you get targeted traffic. In case you have different product lines, emphasize on segregation and work on separate image based promotional campaigns for the different product lines. Use separate pin boards and specific pictures.
Even for a platform that emphasizes on graphics and aesthetics, your focus should be on getting traffic for your website and the subsequent conversion for sales and revenues. This implies that your message should not be lost in the overall appeal of the image. Make sure that your business and the message you wish to convey occupies center stage. Bring clarity into your message and mold it into a graphical format to make its appeal work in your favor.
About the author: Alia Haley is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and autos. Beside this she is fond of cars and fancy accessories. Recently an article on paul jr designs bikes attracted her attention. These days she is busy in writing an article on Skype apps for windows phones.
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About Amit Shaw
Hi Alia, thanks for sharing this info on pinterest. I knew that large images were resized but I did not know the limit was 550 pixels – thanks for sharing that. That will be helpful to know in the future.
Keywords in the title is also something I’ve overlooked. Funny that I did.
Tks,
I have not been able to use pinterst much. I think I should try it out.
Yes Even i have not used Pinterest that much but heard a lot about it.
My personal experience says Pinterest gives very good referral traffic with creative images…no generic images…give creative / interesting images.
Pinable pictures are here the most crucial part for you. Most of this type of pictures are protected by copyright so it is more important for us to search such images for our blogposts.
Yes, Pinterest is really a place to promote our businesses and these tips will certainly help us to do the same 🙂 !
Hi Amit,
Thanks for having Alia write about this topic. I admit still not knowing enough about Pinterest to write about it myself. I guess with all the copyright issues with photos it has made me really nervous about doing anything with it.
I’m still getting traffic from Pinterest but really need to understand more how I can use it to my advantage. I enjoy reading anything I can on this topic that can help me move forward with doing just that.
Thank you Alia for sharing this.
Thanks Adrienne!! I am really amazed you liked my post so much :):)
Hi Alia,
Just like Adrienne, I’m new to this whole Pinterest thing. I’ve signed up put up a couple of pics but yet have to come to understand this site more clearly, especially what you can and cannot do.
Thanks for sharing these Pinterest business tips with us. Slowly but surly I’ll come to understand this new phenomena that coming about.
I’m starting to see the word info-graphic being thrown around a lot so I know there is a new wave coming. This is what makes the Internet fun and exciting.
Terry Conti
Hi Amit,
These are certainly great tips about how to use Pinterest. I wish I had more time to give to this media, it’s seems that people are following my pins even without me making much of an effort so far.
Thank you for sharing your insights 🙂
It took so much time to churn out details about Pinterest. I must thank you all for appreciating this writing.
Hi Amrik,
Thanks for the idea that you have just shared about repining our pins on Pinterest by outsourcing the task. You rock!
However, I’d like to know how efficient that method is?
Pinterest is really great. I am enjoying it.
Awesome article Amit 🙂
Hey @Samuel Thanks mate for your visit and Comment 🙂
Thanks. Keep Visiting.
Aloha Amrik, wonderful post and useful tips, especially with picture dimensions. Seem as if every content to contextual, pictures and videos need to be optimized for online credit. Your list will come in handy to use. As for Pres. Obama and FB owner Zuckerberg, I guess they have to stay up-to-date with the rest of the world, plus I think they may understand how SEO works toward their advantage. I’m glad I came by and thanks for sharing. Mahalo, Lani 🙂
Hi Amit, Pinterest is such a great place, I am member there from January and I get more traffic from Pinterest than I get from twitter, hope it will continue grow, thanks for sharing…
Amit, this is great! I’m using Pinterest and what you wrote above is EXACTLY the strategy one must use. There are so many mixed feelings about this, but once you know what you are doing, it is easy. I recently took a course on it from Kimberly Catleberry and I am revamping my boards. Now I will take this and apply it too.
Thanks so much for sharing and teaching us how to use Pinterest correctly.
Donna
Great!!! Thanks Donna..
I am waiting to see your efforts to redesign your boards
I am on Pinterest, but haven’t used it a lot so dont’ know lots about it.. but as it is so popular and usable I guess Id better get to it!! Great tips, thanks!!
Hi Amit,
I’ve read a lot of articles on Pinterest lately and I’m amazed of the explosive growth that has happened with this platform. In November last year (2011) I posted an article on my blog called, “Three Ways To Stir Up Pinterest. 2.7 Million Monthly Users.” Today there are over 12 million Pinners and it’s growing strong! Pretty incredible!
Thanks for the tips on using Pinterest for marketing. Every point you made makes sense. I was attracted to Pinterest early on because I am an “Image Lover.” I am in the process of re-organzing my approach to using Pinterest for marketing . When I started, it was simply fun and interesting, but I am seeing the value of increasing traffic to my blog. More and more marketers and companies are participating with zeal! I will apply your suggestions and thank your practical, excellent content.
Raena Lynn
Using keywords in the description and picture name really helps seo wise to get targeted traffic. I liked how you mentioned to be funny with pictures. That will be drive most of the traffic to your pins as it can connect with people.
I used to pin images on Pinterest from time to time but never thought of putting keyword or hashtags on them, I have no idea that adding those stuff can help me a lot 🙂
Thanks a lot for this one dude
Awesome tips, Amit. I’m currently not on Pinterest but the more I read and hear about it, the more intrigued I become. Perhaps I can manage 3 social media sites…Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest! FTP!
Pinterest is really surprising everyone and within a very short amount of time, pinterest looks to have captured the blogging interest.
Hi Amit,
The great tips again here at ITC by you 🙂