4 Things You Need to Know About Pinterest, Plus an Invite

If you’ve ever been on Facebook and noticed that one of your friends has “pinned” something, you’ve had your first taste of Pinterest. Whether you’re a teen, a parent, a small business owner or the social media point person for a major corporation, you should be using Pinterest.

What’s Pinterest?

Currently being called the “third-largest social network,” Pinterest is a social media platform, like Facebook and Twitter, but it focuses primarily on images rather than text. In short, it’s a “virtual pinboard,” which, according to the company, means you can “organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.”

“People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes,” reads Pinterest’s about page.

Who Can Use Pinterest?

Anyone can use Pinterest, but at this time, you must be invited by a friend. Not to worry, though. You've got friends here--and Hazelwood Patch is on Pinterest.

Want an invite? Just leave a comment below with your email address or email interim editor Angela Atkinson at angela.atkinson@patch.com, and we’ll invite you. We’ll even be your first follower!

What Can You Do With Pinterest?

You can use the platform for a number of different purposes. For example, I like to use it to plan out redecorating projects for my home, or to collect hairstyle and fashion ideas, recipes and even household tips.

Budget Fashionista blogger Kathryn uses Pinterest to organize her closets.

“Just take photos of your outfits and upload them to your boards,” she writes.  “You may want to create several different boards based on different style categories (coats, evening, work outfits), so you can easily flip through your top looks.”

Another blogger, Jessica Turner of The Mom Creative, writes that she has created a “completed pins” board, which she finds gratifying.

“Once I have made a recipe, done a craft project, etc. from Pinterest, I will repin the item to my completed pins board, along with comments about what worked/didn’t work, etc.,” she writes. “This is very helpful for me – and for the followers of that board.”

Can Businesses Use Pinterest?

Pinterest can also be a useful marketing platform for businesses. According to HubSpot blogger Jessica Meher, it can make a big impact on your business.

“What’s unique about Pinterest compared to most social media websites, is that it reduces the number of steps from discovery to conversion,” she writes. “This means that visitors from Pinterest convert into leads or sales faster than from other social media sources.”

Also see:

• PR Daily: 10 Ways to Use Pinterest for Your Business
• Forbes: Pinterest Power” How to Use the Third Largest Social Media Site to Promote Your Business
• Hazelwood Patch on Pinterest

Don’t forget: If you still need an invite, let us know! Just comment below with your email address, or send an email to interim editor Angela.Atkinson@patch.com. Not only will we send you an invitation, but we’ll even be your first follower!