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Does Pinterest have PR Potential?

Does Pinterest have PR Potential?

By Stephanie Coccaro, Intern

As a 20-year-old college student I have, without a doubt, become a victim of the Pinterest addiction. If you are unsure what I mean by addiction, just take a quick peruse around the website. Before you know it, three hours have passed, the dog hasn’t eaten dinner and it is well past midnight.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Pinterest formally defines itself as a tool for collecting and organizing the things you love. In other words, it is a way to virtually organize recipes, DIY projects, clothes, and event ideas just to name few. So I know what you must be asking yourself, “How is the ultimate cupcake recipe going to be useful to myself and PR career?” Well, while perfecting red velvet isn’t going to get you very far, the fact that Pinterest has had over 70 million visitors to date is an extremely valuable asset.

So with such a large number of customers only a mouse click away, it begs the question, “how can Pinterest be used by the PR pros to create buzz?” Here are some of the reasons why Pinterest could have some pretty useful PR potential:

1. Pinterest is ultimately just another social media platform.

Intimidated by the pins, re-pins, and boards? Don’t be. Pinterest is extremely user friendly and would just be another median for your social media expert to tackle.  It is a quick and easy way to tap into millions of potential customers, for free. Yes, you read that right…free. We all know how scarce funds are these days, so why not take advantage of this?

2. Reach out to visual thinkers!

Pinterest allows you to target an audience who is more compelled by a visual story.  While Twitter, Facebook, and LinkdIn all allow for photos, they are mostly propelled by words and phrases. Pinterest is a direct way to show your audience what they are missing out on, as opposed to just telling them.  Infographics are a useful way to incorporate facts about your industry and company through use of visual aids.

3. Journalists and media are getting in on the action.

Companies are not the only ones using Pinterest; journalists are as well! Journalists are taking advantage of the scene by posting visuals about breaking news, trending topics, and previous articles. PR pros should consider this new, innovative strategy when looking for new contacts to pitch.

4. Clients come on down!

Depending on what you’re pinning, clients may be able to get a taste of what your PR firm is all about. For example, you could post events you’ve attended, or products of successful clients. This outlet is more likely to attract more clients because it allows them to witness the success of your PR firm.

5. Boost your SEO!

Pinterest is a great way to amp up your SEO. Facebook and Pinterest give you the option of linking your two accounts so you can post your pins to your firm’s Facebook wall.  You can also make sure to include links that direct back to your company webpage. Another great tip is to include commonly searched keywords in your pins. As Pinterest’s domain grows, your searches will be more likely to appear.

While Pinterest may not be ideal for all companies and PR agencies, it is safe to say that some aspects may definitely be contributing to the ever-changing world of PR and technology.

 

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