When we think of Pinterest, the first thought that probably comes to mind is that it’s a social media platform that’s primarily used by women. This idea is very narrow-minded and negates the average consumer and business owner from seeing the effect Pinterest has in terms of marketing and business. Yes it’s a platform dominated by pictures, but those pictures have links, and those links can direct the user right to your company’s website or online store. In simpler terms, Pinterest is basically an SEO/Social media outlet that guides consumers to a specific site without reading a list of article titles and instead, pictures that grab the attention of the consumer.
Say for example your business specializes in beach chairs, hammocks, and other products that are primarily bought before or during the summer. If you have an online store or sell your products on Amazon, people who are in need of these summer essentials will search for that product and when they find a chair or hammock they like, they’ll buy it. With Pinterest, you’re subtly and casually reaching out to the customer with pictures of your product, making it a comfortable experience for the potential buyer.
To be an effective seller on Pinterest that captures the viewer’s attention, you must rip a page out of old-school marketing that we all learned at a young age, even if we didn’t take actual business courses. Take a high quality picture of someone relaxing in your beach chair or hammock; the ideal location would be the beach or backyard that puts the consumer in the shoes of the person who is reclining in your products. Before buying anything, consumers picture themselves using the product they’re interested in. In this case, they’re probably imagining getting a nice tan, feeling the warmth of summer, or that relaxation they so desperately want. You want to meet them in the middle, and the picture creates the experience for the consumer.
Pinterest can also be applied to contractors’ marketing strategies. By showing people what your business can do for someone’s home, that is the best form of marketing. It’s easy to say on a website that, “We remodel homes and create a comfortable living environment for your family”, but by displaying your work on Pinterest, where customers can see your skills shine, you’ll make a bigger impression on people than if you wrote a 600 word blog post describing what their room or house will look like after you’re team is done.
It’s all about creativity and giving the viewer the opportunity to imagine using your product or experiencing the change your services provided them. Pinterest is a way to connect with customers through the use of pictures instead of text. If you can get viewers to re-pin, click, and buy your products, you’ve mastered Pinterest. Social media is a powerful marketing tool that has endless amounts of potential. Some platforms work better for some companies depending on the industry, but if Pinterest can be of any use to your business, you must utilize it.