The Pinterest 411

 

Ladies, this post is for you. (Of course, gents, you’re welcome to read.)

This winter’s hottest topic on social media has been Pinterest. And if you haven’t caught the bug, this post may just get you infected. You’ve been forewarned.

Pinterest is a new social networking platform that premiered about two years ago but took off in popularity this past December.

It’s a platform that banks on the power of images to tell stories, and whether you use it on your smartphone or computer, your eyes will be sucked in by the prominent colors on your screen.

Users share images and videos they find on the internet through pins, and similar to Twitter, when someone else likes to share your pin, they can repin it on their board, which works similar to your Facebook wall. (Check out this article for a quick guide to getting started with Pinterest.)

When I first joined, I was slightly overwhelmed by the “image porn” but immediately understood why it can be highly addictive. I was captivated to see so many things I hadn’t come across before, and that’s a lot to say for a girl who’s online about 15 hours a day (no lie, I just counted).

It’s a pretty effective platform to find and share things that could be buried and lost deep within the recesses of the web. And for the ladies, it’s an incredible way to stir up your creativity for whatever you’re doing. Personally, my mind’s creative juices start flowing when I see visually striking photography or peculiar event invitations.

I asked a few of my colleagues and friends what their thoughts are on Pinterest and here’s what they said.

So what does this have anything to do with your cause?

I think that with every new avenue of expression, there’s always room for innovation and creativity, and I’m already thinking of cool ways to use Pinterest unconventionally.

Nonprofits have already jumped on the bandwagon by posting images that reflect their cause, and with the seamless sharing features, nonprofits have a chance to reach people it ordinarily wouldn’t.

So if you’re strapped for staff time to explore yet another social network, then maybe wait and see where this goes. But if you’ve got a few spare minutes in the day to explore it, then I recommend it. The advantage of checking out new social networks when they come out is that if they become the next big thing, you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Bonus

Check our John Haydon’s list of 12 things nonprofits can do with Pinterest.

What do you think about Pinterest? Do you see social good playing a role in the network? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below!