The invite-only Pinterest, a smash hit social networking site, has increasingly grown in popularity. The concept is simple: users create boards whereby they “pin” relevant photos to those boards, allowing other Pinterest users to re-pin those images, comment on them, and/or follow others with similar interests.
Many types of companies are starting to recognize the impact this social media platform can have on their business.
Find out why your business should be on Pinterest.
Here are five niches that thrive on this new player in the social media game.
1. Non-Profits
Non-profit organizations are thriving on Pinterest. The Humane Society of New York is a prime example of this – on their boards, they post photos of the dogs that are currently available for adoption, as well as a link to more information and how you can adopt the dog you’re interested in.
Not only are these boards visually appealing, but they help advertise the organization’s mission to find each of their dogs a forever home.
If you operate a non-profit, you can use Pinterest in a manner similar to the Humane Society of New York (i.e., create boards with a specific purpose) or use the platform to create fundraising opportunities; follow other influential Pinterest users with similar goals, and increase traffic to your main website.
2. Crafters/DIYers
Crafters and DIYers (Do-it-yourself) have found a thriving community on Pinterest. Let’s say you operate an independent business where you sell your handmade goods, such as on Etsy or your own website.
You can use Pinterest to post images of your products, include a product description and price, then link your images to your website to enable users to purchase the items.
Not only will this help increase traffic to your shop, but it will also help you to connect with other crafters and like-minded people who are interested in buying handmade goods.
3. Event Planners
Event planners can make use of Pinterest in a variety of ways. You can create your own boards to spread your brand’s message, as well as post photos of past events you’ve planned to give others an idea of your skills and experience.
When you post photos, others can re-pin those photos to their own boards, spreading awareness of your business and thereby increasing the potential for more clients.
Event planners can also use Pinterest to post exclusive coupons that offer discounts on services, engaing potential clients and let them try your services for a reduced fee.
4. Clothing Designers
Clothing designers can use Pinterest to build their brand and get new customers to experience their line in a visually appealing way.
This type of business can also go above and beyond their own offerings by posting unique items from other brands (in order to connect with other like-minded businesses) as well as offer valuable fashion tips, discounts, etc.
They can also create pinboards demonstrating different outfits customers can put together using their clothing, which helps create an easy way for the less fashion-savvy to look put together and polished, thereby increasing the chance for new customers.
5. Restaurants
If you own a restaurant, Pinterest is a creative marketing tool you can use to attract potential customers. Use this social media platform to post photos of your menus, company logo, dishes, staff, event spaces and the like to get people interested in what you have to offer.
When you post photos of your menu offerings, you can also include a price. Any photo with a price automatically gets cataloged in the “gifts” section of Pinterest.
This means you can add special restaurant promotions (like holiday packages or wine tastings) to Pinterest and call attention to these offers.
Thriving on Pinterest
Any niche can theoretically thrive on Pinterest with the right ideas and dedication, but these five niches are some of the businesses that can find the greatest success on this social media platform.
Provided you’re not completely self-serving and interact with the community and respond to feedback, if you are in one of these niches, you can thrive on Pinterest.
Don’t be discouraged or think that your company doesn’t belong there. After all, StudioPress is a premium WordPress theme business – and we’ve got a page.
Hurry up – go follow us on Pinterest!
Hi Brian
“StudioPress is a premium WordPress theme business – and we’ve got a page”
That’s good news because I’ve received my invite and started setting up a few boards, even though I’m not in the niche areas you mention above.
I’ve noticed all sort of content and I would say that anything that can be shown pictorially deserves an account.
And… with a little inventive thought, most things can be shown via a picture, even Google font combinations.
My boards are a mixture of personal photographs and website graphics.
Mostly enjoyment with a dash of self promotion.
Brian,
I’ve been using Pinterest as a way to mark / save all sorts of things I find online. This has started the wheels turning on how I might use it for business too. Thanks!
Melanie
P.S. I will follow Studiopress immediately as I’m a huge fan!
Melanie – so great to hear… it’s somewhat thinking outside the box, as Pinterest originally started out as a “hobbyish place”, but businesses have honed in on how to capitalize the traction from there.
The niches you mentioned above all have one thing in common – they’re not even remotely related to the internet and technology. Which I have to say is a nice change. Unlike its social counterparts, Pinterest is now the second social media outlet in which average people (as opposed to tech/ computer savvy people) in these niches are running to. More of my clients and personal friends have Pinterest accounts than Twitter accounts. I believe this is what makes it such a refreshing tool to use. Pinterest is all about ideas. Inspiration. Beautiful things that simplify our lives. The niches mentioned above are PERFECT for this, and will find it easy to make their content go viral on a platform like that. I’ve noticed that the other niches…computers, technology, web design, marketing, etc… aren’t having as much success trying to utilize this tool. We need to figure this one out Brian! LOL!
“We need to figure this one out Brian!”
Let me know when you have the answer April.
Thanks Brian I lost the whole playing with Pinterest, thing is addictive…
Brian –
Love that you’ve put your color palettes on Pinterest. I come back to those on the Studiopress resources page time and again.
Pinterest is great, in my mind, for web designers, because even if there aren’t a ton of web-specific elements on there yet, it really is good inspiration … just looking at good design (from any field), use of color, spacing. Looking forward to seeing it grow -
Wayne – glad to hear that others are appreciating our efforts on Pinterest. In fact, it’s becoming quite obvious to me that you’re not the only one. Take a look at all of the pins that StudioPress is getting.
Neat stuff.
I’m seeing things about Pinterest everywhere, but I haven’t checked it out myself yet. I’ve seen a couple bloggers out there rave about it but not a lot of noise out there in the blogosphere. I plan to check it out a bit more this weekend.
Brian, what “main” social sharing sites do you use and/or recommend for bloggers? I’ve had the most success with StumbleUpon. I get at least twice as many views with StumbleUpon than I do with Facebook, and maybe 10 times more than even Twitter.
PS: I just switched to the News theme this past month and I couldn’t be more impressed. Kudos!
Believe it or not, I’ve never really done anything with Stumble Upon – perhaps it’s time to try. Personally, I’m a minimalist when it comes to sharing since I think that too many choices becomes a) visual faux pas and b) dilutes the attention that the content should get.
As for recommending social sharing, I’d say the top 3 or 4 – Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon and Google Plus.
Great post Brian, Pinterest is a pretty interesting development, glad to see someone’s take on the topics that actually work, rather than yet another post from a tech/marketing person telling you how to use Pinterest, heh.
Out of curiosity, are Pinterest links still DoFollow?
I took a quick peek, and it looks like the links are NoFollow. Still incoming traffic that might be semi-targeted is a good thing.
I dunno how but I got an invitee from Pinterest themselves and have recently joined the pin board site. To be honest with the quality of content shared there, I’ve lost interest in Facebook and Twitter now.
Agreed
The quality is fantastic.
I’ve started to build boards from stunning content that I’ve found via other users.
Doesn’t take long to build a good looking board.
I love it!
I see a lot of recipe boards there too, no idea if they are thriving, but they are certainly popular.
To be honest, I would say that everything related to fashion and girls stuff is popular out there on pinterest and marketers have to use this knowledge to make more money