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Using Social Media for Business: How to Create a Business Account on Pinterest

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Welcome to the fourth in a series of posts about getting started on different social media platforms! Today we are focusing on Pinterest, an image sharing/content curation platform with social features.



Pinterest: The Backstory

Pinterest launched in 2010 and now has over 44 million users. Although initially using Pinterest for marketing was discouraged, features for business users have since expanded.

There are many benefits of setting up a business account on Pinterest, including the ability to verify your website and account, to create Rich Pins with embedded pricing, and to use Promoted Pins to advertise. Pinterest users often use the site to search before shopping, and many brands report that Pinterest users spend significantly more than users referred from other social sites like Facebook. Additionally, Pinterest Pins have a longer shelf life than posts on other social media sites. As a result, creative businesses may reap the benefits of a Pin months or even a year after it is initially linked.


How to Optimize Your Profile

1. If you’re new to Pinterest, set up a business account. Existing account holders can convert here. Use your business name and create a related username.

2. Upload a picture. Pinterest profile images are cropped to a circle, so choose a photo or logo that is centered for best results.

3. Write a short description for your account. Use phrases that include keywords related to your business and the types of content you plan to share.

4. Verify your website. Pinterest has instructions for verification using several methods depending on how your website is configured and hosted.

5. Consider linking your Facebook and Twitter accounts.


Basic Pinterest Terms

Pinterest has its own language, just like other social platforms. Learning the basics will help you feel more comfortable on Pinterest.

  • Pin images you want to save to boards. Boards can be organized by theme or topic.

When adding new boards, choose descriptive titles to improve search results.

When adding new boards, choose descriptive titles to improve search results.


  • Because Pinterest is very searchable, include a keyword-rich description for every board you create, and choose an appropriate category. Popular categories for creative business owners include Art, Design, DIY & Crafts, Food & Drink, and Photography.

Use keywords when creating new boards (or updating old boards) to improve search results.

Use keywords when creating new boards (or updating old boards) to improve search results.


  • You can follow other Pinterest users or boards of interest. You do not need to know someone to follow them, nor do they need to approve your follow.
  • You can see how many people you follow (following) and how many people follow you (followers) on your Pinterest profile page.


  • Pins are the posts you add on Pinterest. When possible, choose images that are portrait orientation or square. Because Pins have a fixed width but the height is adjustable, horizontal images appear very small on Pinterest.

Most websites offer two ways to Pin content. Hover over the image until a "Pin It" button appears or use a social sharing button. You can also add a Pin It button to most browsers.

Most websites offer two ways to Pin content. Hover over the image until a “Pin It” button appears or use a social sharing button. You can also add a Pin It button to most browsers.


  • You can also upload images to Pin to represent articles without visuals. More details are available in this post in the Pinterest Help Center.

When adding a Pin, don't forget to write a description that includes keywords. You can add each Pin to one or more of your Boards.

When adding a Pin, don’t forget to write a description that includes keywords. You can add each Pin to one or more of your Boards.


  • You can also share, or repin, images other users have added to Pinterest.

Click on the Pin button on an existing image to repin. You can rewrite, edit, or add to the description before adding it to your Board(s).

Click on the Pin button on an existing image to repin. You can rewrite, edit, or add to the description before adding it to your Board(s).


  • Group Boards are a great way to meet people on Pinterest and share your Pins with a wider audience.

Group Boards can be identified by an icon in the upper right corner of the Board.

Group Boards can be identified by an icon in the upper right corner of the Board.

  • Group Boards often have specific guidelines for membership, Pin content, and Pin frequency in the description.

Be sure to read through a Board's guidelines before Pinning!

Be sure to read through a Board’s guidelines before Pinning!


  • If you’ve linked up your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts, remember that you can share Pins directly to those networks.

Now what?

Now that your business account is set up and you know the basic language of Pinterest, start Pinning! If you find yourself ready to dive more deeply into to Pinterest, you may enjoy these two episodes of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show:

Once you start Pinning, you may find that it changes the way you share images on your own website or online marketplaces, too.


 

Are you already using Pinterest? What are your tips for getting started?

 

 

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Marie Segares

Marie Segares is a regular contributor to Creative Income, a crochet and knitting blogger, designer, teacher at Underground Crafter and host of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show.
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