This is part four of a five-part series to help you create a Pinterest presence from scratch for your business or online content. Make sure you’re subscribed to our blog so you don’t miss a single day!
So far in this series, we’ve learned how to created a Pinterest profile, how to build your first ten boards, and how to pin, repin, and follow people. Today is all about promotion. Now that you’ve set up Pinterest, how do you actually get people to follow you there? I’ve got lots of ideas for you! Implement them all or pick and choose based on your specific niche/industry:
- Add buttons to your website.
Your regular fans may want to promote your content or products on Pinterest already, but they need a reminder to do so. A lot of social media plugins have added pin button options, and there are even more plugins out there just for Twitter, so it’s only a matter of installing them. I also recommend adding a Pinterest button linked to your profile on your sidebar or wherever you have other “follow me” social media buttons. Basically, wherever you tell people to follow you on Twitter or Facebook, also tell them to follow you on Pinterest.
To get a Pinterest button for your sidebar, just go to “About” on your navigation bar, and you’ll see a “Pin It Button” option:
- Link to Facebook and Twitter.
If you haven’t already, link your profile to Facebook and Twitter. That way, you’ll show up on your friends’ pages as “recommended” and many will follow you. I also suggest tweeting out and sharing on Facebook that you’re a new member of Pinterest. You want your current community to follow you there if they aren’t already.
- Comment on others’ posts.
On Pinterest, fewer people are commenting like they are on Facebook. This means you have an opportunity to stand out by commenting on others’ pins. So don’t just repin; actually take the time to comment on pins you like. People are more likely to check out your profile if you care enough to comment.
- Pin a variety of categories.
When you have a narrow focus, it’s harder to reach new fans. You want to stay relevant to your audience, but be aware of related topics where you can have a Pinterest presence. Create boards in different categories as much as possible, while still keeping that connection to your niche. For example, if you have a furniture store, don’t just have boards in the “home decor” category. Pin wall art in the art category, cool home design in the architecture category, and furniture restoration projects in the DIY (do-it-yourself) category.
- Write good descriptions.
Descriptions are the captions that show up below your pins. Write them well so they’ll not only be engaging, but so they’ll also help you show up in search results. Depending on your pin, also consider adding a a call to action to get people to click through to your site.
- Be creative and interesting.
Take a look at your board names and descriptions. Are they unique or boring? Yes, you want to include keywords for search optimization, and you definitely want people to be able to tell what the board is about at a glance, but you’ll get more followers if you’re funny, creative, or unique in someway. For example, I like zombies, so I have a board about them called “My Zombie Board is a No-Brainer.”
- Pin good content often.
By far, the best thing you can do to get people to follow you is the same advice I’d give you on any social network – be active and give your followers the best content out there. Don’t just let your Pinterest profile sit dormant. Make time for it every single day and you’ll see your follower numbers increase steadily.
How exactly can you make time for Pinterest on a daily basis when your days are already busy? It doesn’t have to take more than 15 minutes per day! That’s the topic of tomorrow’s post, the final installment of this five-day series on building a Pinterest profile from scratch. You can also check out our free Pinterest ebook, The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your Blog, Podcast, or Videos with Pinterest.
See the entire series here:
- Sign Up and Create Your Profile
- Create Your Boards
- Pinning and Following
- Get People to Follow You
- Staying Active in 15 Minutes per Day
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