15 Ways to Use Pinterest for Business

As a social media trainer; I am using Pinterest to find and share valuable tips, tools and resources so I’ll probably be a bit more formal than most people.

I think the whole point of Pinterest is visual, whether it’s ideas, products, images, resources or blog posts. I use Pinterest for ideas for my own blog posts and updates so I use Pinterest to share content (repin, comment on and like) 

Pinterest can work really well for small businesses, bloggers, designers, retail outlets, cafes, shops as well as for people who want resources, images, decor ideas, food tips, health tips, inspirational quotes/content and as a platform to share anything you love whether it is for business purposes or for your own personal inspiration.

So Here are 15 Ways to Use Pinterest for Business:

1) Set up a few boards - click on the add button then Create a Board

2) Give each board a name which relates to each board and easy to find in search; so if it’s Social Media Humour or Social Media Tips or Places I Love or whatever. Then describe each board and place a relevant link in the description (remember it cannot hyperlink and you cannot view this content on mobiles but it helps to have a clear description especially if it is a board promoting your business/brand)

3) Choose a board (or however many make sense for your business/brand) where you can pop content to link back to your site, articles, portfolio, blog, Facebook,Twitter etc – using images and direct links to the content itself. This is how you can drive traffic to and from each platform. Use each pin to describe whatever the content is.
On the board itself use different pictures and keep uploading content – e.g. you can also add a Facebook image to direct people to your page by using a direct link with image like this one http://pinterest.com/pin/76631631129967721/

4)  Use other boards which are not business/brand related because Pinterest is essentially about sharing pins/repinning other users content/inspiring interest.
If it’s only/all about you it doesn’t make sense from a social media marketing point of view ( this also applies to Tweets on Twitter, Facebook updates, Instagram photos but your blog can be essentially only about you/your brand)

5)  Pin whatever you like in the boards, either by clicking on other pins and repining or finding your own pins to pin. (Use the add feature to add a pin (a link) or to upload a picture)  Ensure that each board makes sense to other people and can be easily found in the search bar. I think that’s why so many of the boards have got such basic names.

6) Check the images and links - that the content in question does in fact link to the relevant source as described; before you repin. This will help when others repin your content; by clicking on the image, users find a direct link to the picture and the original source (there are plenty of spammers online setting up fake/malware links)
Avoid repining anything until you have checked the content.

7) If I like the image and the link is wrong (or does not go to an external page with a direct image/link); I repin the image, then I find the original source, edit the link (add the correct link) to help drive users to the correct source. This means you are directing other users to the right links.

8) If you upload a picture (by clicking add), pin it and then click edit to insert the link; don’t leave the image without an external link directly to the image and content itself. People are learning to only pin/repin after checking and finding the proper links and sources. It also means that if you use links for blog posts, updates or Tweets  - it will be easier to cite the original source.

9) Comment and like on other pins as well as repin pins (after checking sources) onto your boards - this is the way to build trust and build a community of followers who will repin your pins.

10) Describe content and links you upload or pin in the description section. Keep the information short and concise (about a sentence or two)

11) I use my business logo when sharing content without relevant images; to promote my Twitter account and when I want to promote some blog posts without images – perhaps you can choose some images to do the same

12) Check how everything looks on a mobile (it helps because I think Australians are avid mobile users)

13) If a board gets too full; start other boards (and make them sub - boards as I have done with Social Media Love) and then divided boards up into sub-boards such as Facebook, Twitter etc. I didn't want to have a single board with great content/info so chose to divide up my boards to assist other users with repinning relevant content.

14) And pin whenever you like! Make it fun, interesting, inspiring, unusual, personal, educational, funny … it’s really addictive.

15) Have a look at http://pinterest.com/fatmumslim/ or George Takei http://pinterest.com/georgetakei/ to see how Pinterest can be used to create a community.

I use Pinterest for training purposes and to drive links to my Facebook, blog and Twitter accounts.

If you want to use Pinterest for business; download this free eBook from Hubspot called How to Use Pinterest for Business - http://www.hubspot.com/how-to-use-pinterest-for-business/

If you are curious about Pinterest; here are some links that will help you with using this platform for pleasure or business:

1) 8 Rules of Pinterest Etiquette - http://www.flowtown.com/blog/8-rules-of-pinterest-etiquette

2) The Copyright Question: How to Protect Yourself on Pinterest - http://mashable.com/2012/03/21/pinterest-copyright-legal-issues/

3) How to Use Pinterest for Marketing - Infographic http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33272/A-Simple-Cheat-Sheet-for-Using-Pinterest-for-Marketing-Infographic.aspx 

4) And a Pinterest 101 Tutorial from GFC LernFree.org - http://www.gcflearnfree.org/pinterest101

If you have any questions about Pinterest and how to use Pinterest for marketing purposes; please contact me ebbyeryan@gmail.com

source: http://www.j6design.com.au/ClientArea/MakePinterestworkforyourbusiness.aspx

Twitter Basics for Business

Think of Twitter as a newspaper. When you sign in; you can find, review and read Tweets that will grant you immediate access to everything that is happening in the world that day.

By using Twitter search - https://twitter.com/#!/search-home - you can search for information about your industry, find resources and content and find users who are purchasing your goods and services and talking about your business, products and services online.

You can find bloggers, PR companies, journalists, interesting users, unusual content, tips, tools, resources and suggestions which will help you build engagement and shape your online business and brand.

Here are three guides and resources on how to use your Twitter account for business:

1. What to Tweet: http://www.maine-seo.com/social-media/what-to-tweet-part-1-of-4-the-marketers-guide-to-twitter

2. Twitter 101 Guide from Mashable - http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

3. Zen and The Art Of Twitter - http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/zen-and-the-art-of-twitter_b9055

Some more tips:

• Share links about your industry or profession (from your blog, websites, other blogs and interesting news items)
• Comment on the current affairs or hot topics of your industry or profession
• Share resources, tips, suggestions and guides from people who you trust on twitter (read the links first and check their profiles/bios!)
• Attend a professional event, seminar, conference or MeetUp…and share the link!
• Recommend business or services - to build trust amongst your peers
• ReTweet information - you have two options:
  a) You can manually type in a response then RT @awarenetconnect How to Use @StumbleUpon for Business http://www.business2community.com/social-media/how-to-use-stumbleupon-for-business-0138388 (To do this you push the Quote Tweet option on your mobile or just hit reply then type in manually (or copy and paste on your desktop/laptop)
  b) Or you can just hit the ReTweet button - This Tweet goes to all your followers via the original source.
• Participate in Tweet chats   - http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/08/how-to-participate-in-twitter-chat.html
• Communicate with and potentially develop relationships with people that you’ve never met on Twitter; build relationships with like-minded people
• Find people who you can learn from or who inspire you and connect with and engage with them
• Thank people
• Interact with people, answer questions, respond to Tweets and share information
• Participate in #FollowFriday - http://mashable.com/followfri/ This will help you find and follow relevant people in your industry, like-minded people and shared interests with others
• Participate in #CharityWeds. For those of you who are interested in non profit organisations and working with, learning from and promoting non profit organisation, Charity Weds acts as a shout out or recommendation day for the awareness of non profit organisations world-wide.
• Ask questions related to your industry and see what your peers following you think
•  Mix and Match content - use blog posts, images, links to videos, links to your website, quotes, RT, ReTweets to keep your content fresh
• Be aware of social media etiquette - http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2010/April/Social-Media-Etiquette.aspx

If you'd like to discuss all things social media with me and to receive social media training - group, one on one or on Skype you can find more information:

 - Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ebbye/

 - Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/AwareNetConnect

 - Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SocialNetworkingandMarketing

or email me ebbyeryan@gmail.com or give me a call on 0408 478224

CarrotCreative

5 social media resources on tools and advice

Chris Brogan said ” There are lots of people throwing “social media expert” out there. Hell, I had it as part of my “about” on my blog, but I’ve chosen to just say that I advise people. It’s more accurate, because expertise is fairly darned fleeting out there right now.”

Here are 5 resources I have come across, with advice, tools, suggestions and tips - to help you with your social media.

1. 12 Best Social Media Tools You Should Be Using  - try out some of these tools - John Paul advises that you "Find a few you like and work for you and learn to use that tool perfectly to get the best results."

2. Want to be successful on social media? - Listen to your mother - all the advice given to Michelle Shaeffer and how she  believes it applies to social media.

3. Passion and honesty in your writing will help you build a relationship with your community - so radian6 encourages you to Write passion into your social media content 

 4.  Social Rabbit believes that owning a dog and using social media have more in common than you may have realised - 6 things dogs and social media have in common 

5. Is your business ready for social media next year? - here are some templates from business.gov.au to help you plan and give your business direction.