Introduction to Pinterest

After posting last week’s guide to getting the most out of Pinterest, I realized that some of you may not really be familiar with the new social network just yet. So, here is a beginner’s guide to Pinterest.

Pinterest is a combination of a virtual bulletin board and social networking site. All they ask is that you be nice to others in your postings, and be sure to give credit to your sources when using pictures and images.

Pinterest can be used to show off ideas that you find interesting, things you want to buy and items that others may enjoy. You can share things like diet tips, fashion tips, recipes, home decorating ideas or hair styling ideas. It can be used for anything you'd like to share in a blog-type forum, with pictures pinned there for extra illustrative effect. Although, I have to say, there isn’t much room for text. You can tag and comment on your photos, but that’s the extent of it.

One thing Pinterest is often used for is posting about travel. Review places you have been, places you want to go, and still more places with breathtaking views.

You can also find creative ways to use Pinterest to create boards for your job or business. For example, if you have a teaching career, you can pin ideas for lesson plans to your boards. Or, if you’re a tattoo artist, you can pin artwork to later turn into tattoos.

Once you have pinned some interesting content on Pinterest, you can look to see who is following your pins, and check out the pins they've created. You can virtually "meet" and get to know others who share your interests, making it similar to the other social networking sites. Think of it as a new way to make friends that share in your interests, and to learn new things in the process.

One of the best pieces of advice when beginning to use Pinterest is to take some time to view the things people already have pinned. This will give you a good idea of how it's done, the types of things people find interesting there, and maybe even give you the inspiration you need to create your first board. Then, get ready to have some fun and share your findings with the world.

3 Tips for Using Pinterest to its Fullest

I’m a fairly new Pinterest user and I have to say – I’m hooked. I simply love online shopping and I find that Pinterest offers me a way to tag and save things that I want to buy. Sure, it may not still be available by the time I’m ready to make that purchase, but at least I can remember the style and start a hunt to find it elsewhere.

Part of the fun with Pinterest is to see what other people think. I have board that is completely filled with clothing and accessories. If something I pin there gets a lot of repins, I know it’s a hot item and I’ll seriously consider adding it to my wardrobe. I find, it’s kind of like asking a bunch of friends for their opinion. They’re not always going to answer the way you want them to, and you might not even care what they say, but they’ll tell you one way or another.

I know I’m not the only one with Pinterest obsession. In a very short time, this site has emerged on the top 10 lists of social networks, which is amazing when you consider that it’s still technically an invite-only service. So, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your pins.

1. Always tag an image with a descriptive phrase. Don’t just say “This is cool!.” Say, “This blue velvet clutch is cool!” Descriptive names help your tags show up in search results, which means more exposure.

2. Create themed boards. If you have enough time, create boards with very specific niches. For example, instead of creating a general “wedding ideas” boards, create different boards for each of your ideas. One might be a black and white wedding and other might be Asian themed. People are more likely to follow boards that cater to their very specific area of interest.

3. Follow other people’s boards. Remember, this is a social network. Be social. Follow people who like the same things as you and comment on the things you like. Getting to know people always helps boost your online reputation.

What's the Deal with Pinterest?

Although I’ve been spending a lot of time mulling over the pros and cons of jumping on the Google+ bandwagon, Pinterest is another social networking site that I’ve been watching closely. In the new year, I might just add both sites to my social networking repertoire. One thing that’s cool about Pinterest upfront is that you have to be invited – so, it’s kind of like an exclusive club. You can also request an invitation directly on the site, but that’ll take longer (and be less fun).

So what’s the deal with Pinterest?
You can think of Pinterest as an online cork board or idea book. It’s essentially a place where you can gather a bunch of pictures that inspire you in one way or another. Why would that be valuable? Well, think of how women plan weddings. They might clip pictures of dresses, hairstyles and venues, and keep them all neatly tucked away in an idea book. With Pinterest, you can “pin” any picture from the web and neatly tuck it away into a category of your choosing. Because others can see your boards, you can get feedback, and maybe even connect with other people who have similar taste as you. But Pinterest isn’t just for weddings, by far. You can pin anything and create any category your heart desires. I was just browsing the site and stumbled upon a category labeled “boys.” And, you guessed it, there were pictures of many, many boys. From Johnny Dep to Ryan Renynolds – everyone was in attendance. I doubt this was among the most popular boards, but you get the picture. It’s not always about pleasing others. Sometimes you just need a wall full of boys (apparently). Pin what you like.

If you really get into pinning things, you can download the mobile app and browser extension, which both make it easy to create boards on-the-go. See an outfit you love? Pin it to your fashion board. Maybe later you’ll go back and buy it. For the ultimate fashion and social media geek out, create a custom outfit on Polyvore, get some feedback there, and then pin it to a Pinterest board where it can be shared amongst your fashionable followers.