BLOG: Is Pinterest the New Social Media Giant?

Businesses are always trying to keep up with the rapidly changing social media world. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn, there are plenty of businesses trying to promote themselves in the newest, most creative way. While Facebook and Twitter dominate the social media spectrum on a business level, some businesses are branching out and have added Pinterest to their marketing repertoire. Here at the chamber, we too try to stay involved in as many social media platforms as possible, and we have just recently launched our Pinterest page as well. In the process, we learned some interesting information that we would love to share.

Pinterest has increased its users by 329% from September 2011 to December 2011, and has over 11 million users in the USA alone.  It has now surpassed Google+, and has become the third-largest social media site, behind Facebook and Twitter. Experts believe the reason why so many businesses are jumping aboard the Pinterest train is because of the amount of time spent on the site. According to comscore.com, in January 2012, the average social media user spent 405 minutes on Facebook, 85 minutes on Pinterest, 21 minutes on Twitter, and just 3 minutes on Google+. Clearly, Pinterest is drawing tons of people who are spending a whole lot of time on the site, which makes it the prime place to create a business’ presence. Companies such as Whole Foods Market, The Travel Channel, and Nordstrom have all taken advantage of the highly visual aspect of the site, and have accumulated thousands of followers. While they all pin some of their own products, they are definitely taking part of the Pinterest culture. They’re creating a lifestyle that their consumers want to be a part of. For example, Whole Foods Market emphasizes natural and organic products. They have done a great job of centering their marketing around other interests that their consumers might have. It’s safe to say that if a consumer eats organic, they probably also like to stay fit, as well as keep the environment healthy. Whole Food’s Pinterest features all of these things which sparks the interest of their consumers and keeps them coming back for more. I think all businesses can learn from their successes and apply these same ideas to their own Pinterest marketing strategy.

If you are using Pinterest for your business, we want to hear about it! What kinds of things are you posting and what kind of responses are you getting? Make sure to check out the DCR Chamber’s Pinterest page and happy pinning! :)

-Megan, DCR Chamber Intern