DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, ie., I earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase and sometimes if you just click on a link at no additional cost to you. Please read my Disclosure for more info.
Understanding Pinterest
What is Pinterest
Pinterest, Inc. is a social media web and mobile application company that operates a software system designed to discover information on the World Wide Web, mainly using images and, on a smaller scale, GIFs and videos. The site was founded by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, and Evan Sharp
How Do Pins Work
Pinterest users create Boards to hold images which are called (pins) that link to posts on your blog. You can also ‘re-pin’ other bloggers‘ images from their boards into yours to provide more helpful content to your followers. Think of the boards as being folders on your computer, the same as when you bookmark a site. This enables other users to follow specific boards to see pins that would be of interest without having to look at all the images you post to your site.
Why Should I Care About Pins As A Blogger
Think Pinterest is just for hairstyles, home improvement, and recipes? Think again. 250 million people now use Pinterest each month. Pinterest is a place where folks come to focus on themselves and find inspiration for just about any and everything you can imagine. Think about it, before you became a blogger, chances are you visit Pinterest. You probably had an acct and even pinned a few ideas to a board. The same things that you do, is exactly what your readers will do.
175 billion Pins, up 75% from last year…. just imagine if a minuscule number of the 175 BILLION Pins were pins of your content.
1. Pinterest Drives Traffic
Did you know that 28% of the adult population in the US is using Pinterest? In fact, 42% of adult American women who are internet users have a Pinterest account. Your top 5 best sports bras, all-natural deodorant recipes, postpartum workouts, and more are perfect for this target audience. What are you waiting for?
85% of women users use Pinterest to plan incredible life moments” This is according to a study Pinterest commissioned to better understand its American women users aged 25-54. 53 percent of those women said they use Facebook to plan these moments, and 44 percent use Instagram.
What are “ incredible life moments,” according to Pinterest? Big ones might include decorating a new home (43 percent), or going on vacation (50 percent). Small ones are more like meals (67 percent), gym routines, and party planning.
2. Pins Get You Inbound Links
Pinterest can dramatically increase your revenue (i.e, the coins you earn) if you learn the magical powers of pins when used correctly. Spending a few hours researching and understanding how Pinterest can help you increase your blog traffic is a win, win for you. I would highly suggest that you include topics/categories on your site that include fitness, wellness, workouts, eating healthy, running, weight loss and recipes, brides, and home improvements as these are heavily searched on Pinterest.
That brings me to this critical juncture. Hence listen up. PINTEREST IS A SEARCH ENGINE JUST LIKE GOOGLE… IT IS NOT SOCIAL MEDIA. Contrary to what we may think. You don’t have to engage 24/7 on Pinterest, but you need to share and post the correct pins that take people back to your blog site. Followers on Pinterest equates to followers of your blog site.
3. This Isn’t about an Instagram Selfie or a Pretty Picture
Women are using Pinterest to get inspired, find information, increase learning and knowledge, or simply as a hobby. What does this really mean? They aren’t just saving your picture for kicks & giggles. They want to save it and return. Something about your image pulled them in… something about your content heading pulled them in. They find immense value in your link.
As a blogger, you will soon discover that Pinterest can become your #1 source for traffic.
Happy Pinning!