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At PR News’ Big 3 Conference on Aug. 9 in San Francisco, it became evident to those in attendance that Pinterest had established itself as a major player in social media and that PR pros needed to get on board and maximize the opportunities to “pin” and promote their brands visually on the image-based network.
As the third-most-popular social network, Pinterest drives more referral traffic on the Web than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn combined. It’s attracting consumers, as 79% of users are more likely to purchase an item seen on Pinterest. With the success seen in just a short time of two years and the opportunity everyday users and communicators have to increase their presence, could Pinterest get any better?
Yes—the app has arrived.
The company announced on its blog that it will now provide apps for Android, iPad and iPhone. The change will now enable to users to pin at any place at any time.
“Whether you’re traveling to another city, checking out gadgets in a store or cooking dinner in your kitchen, you can now take Pinterest with you. Our apps allow you to pin, discover and access your account from wherever you choose,” the blog says.
The decision comes following user requests to make pinning available on their mobile devices just as they are available for use on the computer. Even in success, Pinterest made a point to listen to consumers and figure out a way to improve its brand.
In the “How to Engage Your Audience with Pinterest” session on Aug. 9, Staci Perkins, director, marketing and communications, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, hammered home the point that communicators have to pay attention for what their colleagues in the industry are doing.
“You have to look for inspiration in what others are doing on Pinterest,” Perkins said.
At the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Perkins said their organization pins often. If it’s something of interest to the company, it’s going up on Pinterest. The challenge as Perkins sees it is many companies getting their name out there and managing the new social network. The solution is simple: “Start following other pinners and comment on their posts,” Perkins said. This makes others aware of your Pinterest account and helps build a following for your organization.
So with apps now available, Pinterest's growth will continue. And communicators now have unlimited opportunities to drive sales, traffic and, ultimately, revenue.
Follow Jamar Hudson: @jamarhudson