Why Pinterest is for INSPIRATION, and not Copy-Paste
Pinterest, Inc. is a social media app with 445M+ monthly active users from 200 countries and territories, who use images and some animated GIFs or small videos in the form of Pinboards to share information. The site draws inspiration for anything from home décor to food, fashion, and more. It is the biggest dataset of ideas and the second-most-popular image-based social network site after Instagram.
Pinterest has become a destination for inspiration and creative ideas. Yet, having said this, today, users are visiting the app not to get inspired or create but only to Copy Paste.
So, let’s get to know more about Pinterest from What is Pinterest, Advantages of Pinterest, How to find Inspiration on Pinterest to Pinterest Trends 2023.
What is Pinterest – The Definition
Pinterest is a social curation website for sharing and categorizing images found online. The site’s name is a portmanteau of the words “pin” and “interest.”
It was founded in March 2010 by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra and Evan Sharp.
Why Pinterest?
Pinterest is ideal for individuals and retail businesses. Here are some of the advantages of Pinterest
For Individuals, the benefits of Pinterest are: –
- Source of Inspiration
- Bookmark/ Save & Store visual links from all over the web
- Share quality content
- Create a portfolio
- Connect and build contacts with interest-based communities
For Businesses, the benefits of Pinterest are: –
- A company portfolio to increase brand awareness and conversions
- Promote a design-focused visual brand
- Better estimate upcoming demand for different products with Pinterest Analytics
- Drive extra traffic to your website
- Generate referral traffic
How to find inspiration on Pinterest
Becoming awestruck by someone else’s work and replicating it can harm one’s creative process. So, here are seven steps on how to use Pinterest to find inspiration:-
1. Build your profile
Create and customize your personal or business profile to fit your area of interest/brand image. Your profile consists of the main image, bio section, and previews of your Pinboards. Choose a name and click on Create a board to get started.
2. Pin relevant images and videos
Focus on Pinning relevant and inspiring Pins to create your Pinboard. You can create a Pin in two ways: by pinning an image or video found anywhere on the Internet or by pinning an existing Pin on Pinterest. Also, while creating the Pinboard, think of a theme, colour, category, event, etc., that resonates with your brand image or what will appeal to the relevant audience. Then, put in some effort to share and like the Pins of others.
3. Don’t set a boundary
Now that you have visited the site to draw inspiration for a project, start by thinking broadly about why or what elements you need from someone else’s work. Don’t start with specifics, scoping out the competition, or narrowing down your search from the word ‘go’. Instead, use keywords to look for a broader category before narrowing down the options.
4. Create notes
You can create notes for yourself below the Pins. These can include reminders and checklists for keeping a tab on ideas to implement. These notes can either be private or shared with your board collaborators.
5. Give feedback and credit
While you give feedback and credit to the users from whom you are getting inspiration, don’t forget to add your personal touch. Get inspired, not Copy Paste!
6. Follow and Shop
Pinterest is becoming a great shopping site. So, if you find a Pin you like, look for the ‘more to shop section’ and order the favourite designer item right away.
7. Be open to recommendations
Pinterest notification emails are a great way to find new things you may otherwise discover. So, stay signed in for Pinterest’s emails and notifications for new inspiring ideas.
How to Create Inspiring Pinterest Content
Pinterest is a great place to get motivated, organize ideas, and ACT! It is also an environment that champions inclusivity, mental health, and body positivity. Recently Pinterest ran the “Don’t Don’t Yourself” campaign to emphasize the belief that the act of doing can help silence those feelings of fear and self-censorship that can sometimes hold us back.
So, if you are just getting started, here are seven ways to make your Pinboard truly inspiring –
1. Make sure your Pins are visually appealing
Visually appealing pins with high aesthetic value help draw a user’s attention. So, keep adding high-quality designs in different colour palettes to make viewers curious to learn more. Add an eligible URL or logo to highlight your Pin.
2. Create original Pins
Users are greedy for original ideas. So, introduce out-of-the-box ideas to keep your Pinboard interesting. Also, try to present each Pin with different photos, unique titles, new descriptions, and different text on the images.
3. Engage new audience
To help your content appear in more search results, think of specific concepts/keywords/trends to make your content appealing to different audiences. Design a few specific Pins for each target audience to increase your reach.
4. Publish Pins at intervals
When sharing one Pin design to multiple Boards, it is best to space them out with an interval of 8 to 10 days. So, plan your content calendar to ensure your designs are out in time.
5. Make Pins positive
When crafting your Pin copy, make sure it sounds positive. The Pinterest community relates better to positive content when searching for inspiration.
6. Keep Pins updated
For the Pins to be relevant, consider updating them with changing seasons and trends. It will help you get the most out of your content.
7. Add a CTA
When you add a CTA (Call To Action) to your Pin, it makes Pinterest users take notice and take action on the Pin.
10 Top Pinterest Board Ideas and Pinterest Trends 2023
Here are some trending Pinterest content ideas for you to become a Pinterest influencer –
1. Nailscapes, Rebel Haircuts, Makeup and Beauty
2. Biophilic designs
3. Fashion is Dressing Loud, Dressing Goth
4. Resorts
5. Living Spaces with curve appeal
6. Easy home cooked recipes, Meal Ideas
7. DIY, Craft Ideas
8. Fitness
9. Weddings, Party Planning, Entertaining
10. Inspirational Quotes10. Books
Now that you know What is Pinterest, it is definitely not to be used for COPY PASTE! Use Pinterest to spark inspiration, increase traffic to your website, follow brands, shop, and much more …
