Pinterest – For Search Engine Optimization It’s A Win!

I’m enjoying Pinterest, even though I didn’t think I would! It’s a social billboard service, like a visual Digg or StumbleUpon. If you haven’t tried it yet, be aware that pinning is very addictive… Not only can you pin things you love from other websites, but you can also repin other’s posts.

The really cool thing about Pinterest, and this is subject to change, is the fact that all pins act as links to the website the pin is from. So, if you are working on inbound links for a website as part of an SEO plan, you really should pay attention to Pinterest.

I noticed retailers are doing a fantastic job of taking advantage of Pinterest to engage with their customers. One such terrific example is the DEB shops.  This could be the best example of how to use Pinterest for a retailer that I’ve seen.  The beauty of how they are using the site is that it’s easy to repin their inventory if you like what you are viewing.  So a person who sees a prom dress that she loves can click that she likes it, can comment on that dress, and can repin the dress to her own board.

How can you use this strategy to promote your own website?

• Join Pinterest and set up a profile.  Use keywords and your company name – these are searchable and indexed by the search engines.
• Completely fill in your profile.  Use a link back to your website.
• Consider which boards make sense for you.  The boards are categorized into broad categories by Pinterest. To the extent that you identify your boards with one of the broad categories, your pins will be available to be searched.
• Be social.  Follow people, like posts, add comments and repin other’s content.  This is the way you are engaging and interacting.
• Without being a pest, you can selectively share your Pinterest pins on Facebook. There is currently a hack to add Pinterest to your Facebook as a tab, however it requests access to your information and that of all you are connected with.  While connecting is pretty slick, personally I won’t compromise my information or my friends or follows info either.  I also refuse to allow other applications to post as me.  I’ve seen too many bad things happen and Facebook accounts become hacked that way!

How are you using Pinterest?  Have you discovered any cool new things as a result of using it?  Every day I see more and more friends getting involved with it… Will I see you there?  Let’s connect!