Pinterest was launched in March 2010, and has really blown up in popularity over the past few months. Pinterest is an online pin board / social network – and despite what you may have heard is not just for fashion and food bloggers! This visually appealing, easy to use website allows users to bookmark and curate images from around the internet by placing a simple bookmarklet in their browser toolbar.
How can a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner use this great little website to their advantage? Let me give you a few ideas!
Inspiration
Okay, this one’s a bit of a given. So you like fonts? Start a board of your favorite fonts from around the web. Down with web design? You can make a board chock full of websites that catch your eye. Come back to your board later, find your inspiration, and off you go. You also have the option to “like” pins that are posted by others – another great way to keep track of inspirational content.
Grow your business
With more than 3 million users, the Pinterest platform is ripe with potential new customers. According to Search Engine Land’s Chris Silver Smith, Pinterest’s growing userbase makes it a real boon for businesses that take the plunge and get involved. His suggestions for getting the most search engine optimization (SEO) out of the site include setting up boards using your city name and cross-posting your pins to Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to use high-quality, attractive pictures!
Learn something new
So you don’t know everything about everything in your field. Pinterest has become an easy way to quickly find DIY tips on everything from Photoshop tricks to homemade coffee creamers (great for the freelancer working from home on a budget!) to robot construction…seriously. If you want to learn how to do something, there’s a good chance that a pin is waiting for you somewhere in the myriad boards of Pinterest users around the world.
And there you have it. Three great reasons for any freelancer, contractor, or small business owner to check out one of the up-and-coming social networks – and get a bit more organized and inspired in the process. Let us know how it goes, and happy pinning!
