Using Pinterest to Refine Your Business

If you are like me you have a million and one ideas for your creative business.

If you are also like me you will give them all a try, list them in your etsy shop and then sit back in confusion when you look at your shop page.

UGH! Too many ideas, to many different looks or styles. TOO MUCH!

You realize that your shop is beginning to look like the end of season sale bin at the local discount store and you are NOT in love with that idea AT ALL.

And apparently neither are your customers because sales are not what you’d like them to be.

What if there was a way to help you organize your thoughts a little BEFORE you start on projects to list in your online shop? Or even at the craft fair or boutique for that matter?

The good new is that Pinterest is a great way to help you get the look and feel of your shop organized.

Take, for instance, my Pinterest board “Atlantis, Mermaids and Oceans Blue“.

I’ve been on an ocean kind of kick lately but before I start tossing things around and cranking out an odd assortment of ideas and products I’m gathering images that will inspire me. I can then edit the board to eliminate all of the, say, cartoon looking images or all of the mermaids. What shades of blue could I use in my shop? What backdrops could I use in my photos?

Did you know that Pinterest now has SECRET boards? Simply navigate to the page where your boards are and scroll down to the bottom. There you will see where you can add a secret board that only you can see. NOW you can start adding pins to a shop inspiration board for your eyes only. If you are thinking of your next line or what you want to sell this summer you can use a secret board to start planning.

Let’s go a step further.

Say, you have a couple of boards set up to inspire your next collection or shop category. Ask yourself these questions:

• How does the overall look make me FEEL?
• Does it convey the idea I’m trying to get across?
• Does it look cohesive?
• Do all of the colors, images or ideas compliment one another?
• Do all of the ideas create an atmosphere?
• How will my customer feel when they see the overall ideas I’m presenting?

 

 

Here is another one of my pin boards. It’s called “Color – Texture – Pattern“. This is the board I go to when I have NO IDEA what I want to create next. Whether its’ a product line or a new mixed media piece for a gift. This board full of color, texture and pattern jump starts my brain and helps get me going. I can take a particular pin like the POPPY COLOR in the lower right hand corner and start a whole new pin board with items that are either flowers or contain the color palette represented there. Before I know it I’ve got 15 or 20 images that have me raring to begin creating.

So now, I’ll tell you a little secret. I discovered this idea because my etsy shop DOES look like the bargain bin at my local discount store and I can’t handle it any more. I’m in the process of organizing, refining, and generally upgrading the elements in my shop. I’ll be sharing some of the things I learn in the process.

I’m considering it spring cleaning my creative business.

Do you give your business a regular “spring cleaning”? Share what you’ve learned below!

By: Vicki O’Dell, The Creative Goddess

You can find more of Vicki’s article right here on her profile page!