Over the past month, we’ve been exploring Pinterest to the fullest from the basics, (Pinning Down the Basics of Pinterest), to weighing to pros and cons of getting on the site (Should Your Business Take a Stab At Pinterest?), to finally starting your profile up and running (Creating the Perfect Pinning Plan) and now, we will finish off this series with talking about some simple do’s and don’ts to be aware of on Pinterest. Take note – like any other site, there are written and unwritten rules that, as a user, you are expected to learn and follow. This will provide for an overall better experience for everyone. Make sure to take the time to learn these things and you’ll go far!
Pinterest actually has an etiquette policy that goes as follows:
Be Respectful
Pinterest is a community of people. We know that individual tastes are personal, but please be respectful in your comments and conversations.
Be Authentic Pinterest is an expression of who you are. We think being authentic to who you are is more important than getting lots of followers. Being authentic will make Pinterest a better place long-term.
Credit Your Sources Pins are the most useful when they have links back to the original source. If you notice that a pin is not sourced correctly, leave a comment so the original pinner can update the source. Finding the original source is always preferable to a secondary source such as Image Search or a blog entry.
Report Objectionable Content We do not allow nudity, hateful content, or content that encourages people to hurt themselves. If you find content that violates our Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policy you can submit the content for review by pushing the ”Report Content“ link.
Tell Us How to Make Pinterest Better We’re just getting started, so there are going to be bumps here and there. Let us know what’s working, what’s not. Even though we don’t always have time to respond to each and every email, we take your input seriously. You can get in touch with us anytime at help@pinterest.com
Along With the Etiquette Policy Here Are 4 Other Tips For Proper Pinterest Use:
1. Don’t clone your website! Don’t make your boards a carbon copy of your website, people don’t go to Pinterest to find the same content presented in a different form. Get creative and make your boards unique! 2. Less is more. Use less text and have a bigger impact. Don’t post a ton of information and slap a boring photo on it just so you can get your post on Pinterest. Take time and effort to make your pin’s unique and appealing. 3. Interact and involve your users. As a business on Pinterest your job is not just to sell your product, but involve your users. Offer discounts for repins, hold contests and have users submit photos, support a cause, etc. Brainstorm with your marketing team some ways to interact with your followers. 4. Follow other brands, businesses and companies. This doesn’t necessarily mean follow all your competitors but just support your fellow business people. Repin their pins, interact with them and create great networking opportunities. In fact, you may even some new customers from it! I promise, Pinterest isn’t too hard to figure out! Once you have a plan laid out, just make sure you understand certain do’s and don’ts of the site. This will make your time much more enjoyable, easier and successful. With that – Happy Pinning! Photo Credit
