5 Things You Need to Know About Pinterest

by Justin Horvath May 24, 2016
May 24, 2016

In just six short years, Pinterest stands tall as one of the most popular social media platforms in the United States. The site has become the go to source for an incredible amount of information ranging from wedding planning tips to top destinations for summer travel.


Businesses are now capturing the power of advertising on Pinterest, using Promoted Pins to advance their brand’s recognition as well as driving revenue.


What else do you need to know about this emerging social media powerhouse?


1. Who Run the World?


It’s no secret that women make up the lion’s share of the userbase on Pinterest.


Just how large is that share? It’s estimated that a whopping 81% of all users globally are women, with the men comprising only 19%.


Unlike the users on Twitter and Instagram, Pinterest users are uniformly spread across all age ranges, with Millennials as the quickest growing group.


Additionally, the average female on Pinterest lives in a household that brings home $ 50,000 a year or more. The takeaway from that information presents a huge opportunity for advertisers on the platform. Women in the household typically are the decision makers when it comes to family financial decisions and purchasing.


2. Your Posts Don’t Have to be Just Visual


Pinterest is unique in the way information is posted.


Unlike Facebook or Twitter, posts are mainly visual media (photos, infographics, etc).


In this manner, Pinterest recognized the shift in user preferences pertaining to the way in which content is displayed. Visual content is becoming more and more popular, as text based content is becoming mundane and less relevant.


However, many users are unaware of their ability to post videos using YouTube and audio files via SoundCloud. These features are fantastic tools for up and coming musicians, podcasters or anyone looking for a unique way to post on Pinterest.


3. Size Does Matter


Pinterest allows for pins to have 500 characters in each upload’s description.


While this seems like an incredible opportunity to get detailed about what you’ve posted, it’s suggested that you keep it short, sweet and to the point when describing your pin.


Studies have suggested that the ideal description on your pin should be limited to 200-300 characters. You have a brief moment to capture a user’s attention on any social platform and Pinterest is no exception. Specificity is key, and always keep your prefered audience in mind.


4. The Winner Is…


Pinterest has quickly become synonymous with home improvement and creative Do It Yourself projects.


Food and Beverage, DIY/Crafts, Home Decor, and Holiday and Events rank supreme not only in top categories pinned but also in top categories browsed.


If you want your content to be seen, and more importantly shared, these areas of interest need to be on your radar. While men make up a small amount of users on Pinterest, their categories of interest also include Food and Beverage and DIY/Crafts. These topics are pure gold for relevant content on the site.


5. Plan Ahead


Pinterest users are huge advocates of planning head, and they’re not messing around either.


Pinterest has reported that users tend to begin planning for upcoming holidays and events at least 60 days in advance. That’s over 20% sooner than the average American.


It’s not only important to remember where users are pinning and browsing, but when they’re doing so. Reaching these users on boards ahead of time is a smart way to get your content seen. Develop a planning calendar for posts reflective of the 60 timeline, or just borrow this one!


Education is the quickest path towards utilizing and benefitting from powerful social media tools. If you aren’t utilizing Pinterest for you business, it might just be time to start!


 

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