PINTEREST'S ABILITY TO STRING IDEAS AND FUTURES TOGETHER

 Did you know that 77% of Pinterest users are women?

This may come as no surprise to you but what is surprising is the fact that it was made by three men. According to Lamaj (2023), Pinterest was created by Evan Sharp, Ben Siblermann and Paul Sciarra who tested it on small groups like co-workers and close relatives in 2010 to eventually launch it in 2012. Pinterest is now the third biggest social media platform in the United States with around 88 million active users per month (McCoy, 2020).

My Relationship with Pinterest

Back in 2014, my friend introduced me to Pinterest when we were talking about our future wedding plans. She told me she had an entire Pinterest board she would eventually draw inspiration from when the time finally came. When I told her I didn’t have a Pinterest account, she encouraged me to join as she thought I would like it. I did like it.

I use the platform once in a while, for fashion inspiration, hairstyle ideas, short recipes and much more.

It has one of the most user-friendly interfaces. How it works is that users can search for pictures and videos they are interested in and save (or pin) them based on the categories they want to create. They can keep on adding photos in those groups until there is enough to make a Pinterest board.

View this video by Howfinity (2020), if you’d like to gain more information on the basics of Pinterest:

I Love To Use Pinterest Because:

• It helps to keep me motivated. I know a lot of people, myself included, have vision boards we use to have a clear picture of our future career and personal goals. This way, our thoughts and ideas can take on a physical form which is also aesthetically pleasing to look at. 

• It gives me inspiration. If I’m planning an event or looking for gift ideas, Pinterest allows me to find a variety of creative ways to do what I’m looking for. 

• It allows me to find new interests. Over the years, I’ve seen so many beautiful pictures on this app which has encouraged me to pursue photography. I hope that one day, I can create those images and inspire others as well. 

• It allows me to see other people’s ideas. This platform allows users to send and receive Pinterest boards so users can share ideas. I think this would come in handy when someone is planning a wedding and wants the wedding planner to have an idea of how it should look. Or it can come in handy when someone wants an interior designer to have an idea what how their house needs to be decorated.

What Makes Pinterest Unique?

This platform is specifically unique because its main focus is the content being put out as well as the quality of that content. I have never seen a blurry picture or video on Pinterest. This is also not a platform where users can connect with each other as easily as they could on Facebook or Instagram. I think this was intentionally done by the platform’s management so users are not distracted by those aspects of the platform. 

Another distinct characteristic of Pinterest is that users on this platform are usually one step away from buying items (Chillingworth, 2023). When users are looking for new pants, furniture or cooking utensils they are on the verge of buying those items and need guidance on those choices. Pinterest is a great platform for finding out which items they want before they buy them. 

Possible Uses of Pinterest for Business Owners

This platform can benefit business owners in many ways if they use it correctly. As mentioned before, the main demographic on Pinterest is women so businesses can use this knowledge to their advantage. Businesses like nail salons, clothing stores, make-up brands and event-planning companies can make it a priority to make an account on Pinterest for wider access to that demographic.

Businesses can also market their business by making visually appealing boards of their products and services. If the business wants to implement Pinterest content in the marketing strategy, it can create S.M.A.R.T. (Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time-Bound) goals where pins are strategically planned and posted (Olafson, 2021). This platform also has a feature where users can click on pictures and they will be directed to the company’s website. This can be a great way of increasing sales if the company has a website with an online store.

Business owners can also utilize this platform for its intended use. This platform was created to keep thoughts organised so a new catering business, for instance, could draw from already established catering ideas and art to make their business ideas more refined. For more ways to use Pinterest to its fullest, watch this video by Tooby (2020):

Overall, I'd say that Pinterest is a creative platform which encourages its users to be more in tune with their ideas and interests. This ultimately contributes to a more meaningful connection with themselves and others around the world.

References

Chillingworth, A. (2023, October 05). What Is Pinterest & What’s It Used For? Epidemic Sound. https://www.epidemicsound.com/blog/what-is-pinterest/#:~:text=This%20is%20what%20makes%20Pinterest,isn’t%20to%20be%20understated.

Howfinity. (2020, December 16). How to Use Pinterest - Complete Beginner’s Guide [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWDeIfYOK4&ab_channel=Howfinity

Lamaj, D. (2023, February 02). What Is Pinterest? Its Remarkable History From A to Z. Publer. https://publer.io/blog/what-is-pinterest/

McCoy, J. (2020, July 05). 25 Facts You Need to Know About Pinterest. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/pinterest-facts/370926/

Olafson, K. (2021, July 29). How to Use Pinterest for Business: 8 Strategies You Need to Know. Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard. https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-use-pinterest-for-business/

Tooby, A. (2020, January 09). HOW TO USE PINTEREST FOR BUSINESS! MY 7 STEP STRATEGY [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YSFv4jWxY&ab_channel=AlexTooby