Blogger Tips Monday 7/25/11

Why I Chose Pinterest Over Facebook

I tried, but just couldn't get my mind wrapped around Facebook or Twitter. TMI (Too Much Information, and too little time to digest it). But then came Pinterest this past year. And I'm very visual, so I knew it was the social network for me. 

You may be asking yourself why I'm including this in blogging tips. I'm going to tell you. 

According to the company: "Pinterest is a place to catalog the things you love." 

If you haven't heard of it yet, Pinterest is a newish, free site/service/social network that lets you save (or "pin") images that you find online, and save them all in one place under various categories. 

But the reason it helps you as a blogger, is that it's potentially a great social tool to connect you with people, and thus drive traffic to your blog.

I personally have 16 boards at this time (categories of photos) and 686 pins. It's fast. You can simply click on a photo you see that stirs your interest, use your "Pin It" button you've placed on your browser somewhere handy, and add it to your personal boards. Then place it in the category you deem most suitable. And then all your Followers on Pinterest can see what floats your boat. 

All pinned images include links back to their original source on the web. Thus, if you found it on a blog, for instance, then it will automatically list the blog you found it on. Gaining that blog more exposure and possibly new friends that like the same kind of photos you do. 

For instance, I have categories for Studios, Beverage Stations, Fine Dining, Gardening, Display For The Home, etc. 

People can also "repin" anything that they like that someone else has already previously pinned. This is the Pinterest version of a "retweet." It always shows who the original "pinner" was, thus where it originated.

You can create "Boards" for anything you desire. Add as many photos as you like. Change it up and move photos from board to board. Just like a big bulletin board that stretches out into infinity. 

How does it help your blog? 

You're connecting with people on a personal level. You're saying to others: "Look at this photo. This is my style." Blog readers get to know you better. I've even found many new-to-me blogs this way. Others quickly get to know your interests, so they may just hop on over to your blog and become a Follower there as well. Thus you're gaining more potential traffic to your blog. 

You're showing what you're about. You can add social media icons. You can get Pin It badges for your blog. If you want to find my Boards: Go Here.

Some niches lend themselves better to Pinterest than others. Interior design is huge on Pinterest. But anyone who uses photos on their blog will find Pinterest a potential gold mine. A virtual filing system. You will never again have to hunt down that photo you know you saw somewhere, but can't recall where. Because you've got it pinned from the get-go and can go straight to it. 

I think it's still in Invitation Only mode. But if you haven't received an invite, let me know. I will send you one.