The world of social media has rapidly developed over the last decade. From the likes of MySpace and Bebo to Facebook and Twitter - change has been constant. Pinterest is now the new social network 'on the block' - relatively speaking.
What is Pinterest?
Think of Pinterest in the same way you would look at viral video (i.e. YouTube channels). Pinterest is like YouTube in the sense that you favourite and share information. The similarities finish there. On Pinterest, you build boards of pictures that you like and mean something to you or your brand on whatever topic you decide. Other 'Pinners,' can like, share or comment on your different pin boards.
The objective is to get people talking with much more visually and networking based on similar interests or beliefs.
Similar to when Google launched Google Plus last year, the buzz right now is all about Pinterest.
- Currently, Pinterest is driving more traffic than Google+.
- Brands have seen staggering levels of referral traffic. In the US, five large retailers surveyed had seen a rise of over 289% over a 6-month period.
- In the US, Women currently compromise 83% of the user base.
- In the UK, the majority are men (56%) and tend to be a higher income demographic then US counterparts.
- In the UK, it is very much business focused, highlighting information about PR, blogging and online marketing best practices.
Want to see an infographic that demonstrates the sheer scale of Pinterest? Click here.
The Verdict
Without a doubt it could be a game changer. One of the primary advantages about Pinterest is the feature where you can extract images from your website and use them as links to content too. For brands that have succeed, the linking feature has been a key driver in their increased activity and exposure.
As it stands, in the US, the brands seeing the most immediate success are retail brands. If your brand has a distinct personality or competitive advantage, Pinterest could be a brilliant avenue to differentiate your brand.