FWD Thinking

Brands are Taking an Interest in Pinterest

In the social media world, the new kid in town is Pinterest. What started as a little-known platform for sharing images back in 2008 has exploded over the past few months and now receives over 4 million unique visitors a month. It has come to attract the attention of major brands and media outlets such as Whole Foods, Mashable, and Real Simple who are eager to reach customers in a new and creative way. If you manage a brand and are considering jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon, here are a couple articles worth reading:

Fast Company: Chobani Yogurt Tickles the Tastes of Pinterest Addicts, and So Can Your Brand - Best practices from Chobani, including using Pinterest to microtarget your consumers.
Mashable: 5 Ways Brands Can Use Pinterest to Boost Consumer Engagement - Ways to shake up existing practices by using Pinterest. Tired of the usual “Tweet to win” contest? This article suggests rewarding consumers who pin the best boards.
Mashable: Curated Commerce: How Retail Brands Can Cash In on the Latest Craze - Great tips for retail brands to see who their biggest fans and influencers are and tap into these already existing communities.

I’m personally very new to the platform, but see the benefits to both brands and consumers. Recently thrust into wedding planning process and having no idea where to start, I’ve found the wedding boards to be a low-stress way to see different options for themes, dresses, and centerpieces and connect with experts. I’d likely be more receptive to interacting with a wedding brand who showcases their products to me through Pinterest likes, comments and repins rather than the email spam and constant follow up calls I’ve been receiving since attending a bridal show. Just sayin’.

Tell us - what benefits do you see with using Pinterest for both brands and consumers?

-Alicia