If you thought social media was only about posting on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and, perhaps, YouTube, then get ready for Pinterest, which is being billed as the hottest new social hangout on the digital platform. In fact, according to AppAppeal data, Pinterest is the 40th most popular site in India based on a combination of average daily visitors and pageviews. As many as 7.2 per cent of the Pinterest users come from India and they generate 6.6 per cent of the pageviews on Pinterest.
At its heart, Pinterest is a picture sharing platform where individuals take images, called Pins, and place them on customised boards on any topic, ranging from food, humor, animals, and so on. These images are shared with followers and friends, giving them the option to ‘repin’, ‘like’, or ‘comment’. In simple words, Pinterest users get to share interesting images with others on nearly any topic or category.
Getting started
Sign up is a breeze since you can use your existing Facebook, Twitter account, or simply a valid email address to get started. When you log on using Facebook or Twitter, Pinterest quickly connects user to their existing friends or followers using the platform.
Until recently, Pinterest was only available on the web and through the iPhone app, but the social-bookmarking service has now rolled out Android and iPad apps, too.
Understanding Pinterest
Browsing Pinterest for the first time can be overwhelming. Take time to go through a few of the pages and it becomes clear why it has become such a rage.
Like Twitter, you can follow anyone, even if they aren’t following you back. Users can follow other Pinners that share their interests and style, creating a homepage that is directly populated with specific content. Once the user has an idea of what interests he wants to show on his page, the next step is to populate their boards with Pins. A Pin is an image added on Pinterest, which can be of virtually anything. There are a number of different ways to attach a Pin to a board, including uploading an image or repining from another user’s board. The user can also upload Pins through Pinterest’s “Pin It” button, a browser bookmark that grabs an image from virtually any website.
Repins are the ‘re-tweets’ in Pinterest world, which is technically sharing an image pinned by someone you follow or have found on Pinterest by adding it to one of your own boards. Just as you re-tweet someone’s tweet on Twitter or share a status update on Facebook.
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Why use Pinterest?
When Twitter launched, many did not understand the value of an unstructured stream of 140 characters. Pinterest might seem like a ‘picture sharing site’, but it is social media with only the need to curate images you like or want to show to your friends. There’s no denying that we all love to see and share images, far more than words. In fact, images and videos are the most shared content on Facebook. It’s a great visual platform for both professionals and individuals who want to showcase their work or creativity. For instance, a home business owner who would like to spread the word about the business, can do by posting interesting pictures.
So, those who have been sitting on the fence about Pinterest, now is the time to jump in and start pinning.