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Increase Customer Engagement Using Pinterest
by Editorial Staff -
Image courtesy of Pinterest / Screenshot
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It was inevitable that a shiny new customer engagement platform would appear in the social media sphere. However, what wasn’t expected was that Pinterest would quietly bypass Twitter, Google+, and Tumblr to become this year’s smash-hit social website. Although Pinterest is still invite-only, the site continues to expand in popularity throughout the Internet.
Pinterest is an image-based sharing platform that allows users to become the curators of things that interest them. Users create virtual pin boards and post images to them according to the topic of the board. For example, a fashionista would post pictures of clothing she likes. Each board is categorized under one of the site’s 32 general categories, which allows users to find other boards that interest them. Like Facebook and similar social sites, people can follow other users and pin boards.
Although the site is young, brands and businesses can take advantage of the site’s rising popularity to attract customers. Here are five ways you can increase customer engagement using Pinterest.
Use Contests to Promote Customer Engagement
Contests are an excellent way to get users to engage your brand on Pinterest and spread your sales message to the people in their networks. You can host a variety of contests such as giving prizes to people that have created the best boards or who have earned the most repins. Another option is to have people submit pictures of themselves using your products in the real world and then choose the best out of the bunch. You are only limited by your creativity and resources.
Allow Customers to Pick New Products
Pinterest is a great place to conduct market research for new products. The site’s commenting platform allows you to soft launch products and get feedback about whether or not it will do well in the marketplace. Since the site is still small, it will be easier for brand managers to track the conversation surrounding new products and interact one-on-one with users. This intelligence can help companies decide if a product is worth pursuing before spending tons of money on it.
Show Brand Personality to Increase Customer Engagement
Even if you don’t sell products or services, you can still use Pinterest to showcase your brand. For example, select government officials are using the site to showcase their election platform, community outreach, and philanthropic endeavors. You can create similar boards that show your company working in the community, the brand’s mission, and other things that are happening behind the scenes at the company.
Use Pinterest for Public Relations
If your company has several departments, you can showcase those departments using specially labeled boards. For example, you can show off the talent in your art department by pinning remnants or prototypes to a specially designated art board. Your human resources department can use a board to post pictures of employees at the company picnic or holiday parties. This will humanize your brand and create interest in the company as a whole.
Turn the Spotlight on Customers
Customers love attention and a great way to use Pinterest is to create boards that focus on them. Curate pictures of customers using your products and pin them to the appropriate boards. For example, clothing companies can post pictures of customers wearing their pieces. Customers will feel special, especially if they receive positive comments, and your other clients will feel as though they are part of a real community.
Images are powerful, sometimes even more powerful than words. Pinterest provides the perfect opportunity to use images to engage customers and create buzz around products and brands. How are you improving customer engagement with Pinterest?
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