Social Media Roundup Introduction to Pinterest

Social Media Roundup AgendaThis week’s Social Media Roundup takes a closer look at Pinterest and discusses how government agencies are using the platform. IntroductionWhat is Pinterest?Anatomy of a Pinterest PageWho is using Pinterest?How are people using Pinterest?Should you be using Pinterest?

Social Media Roundup Introduction You may have heard some buzz about Pinterest the last few weeks. Pinterest is a new social media platform that continues to grow in popularity so it’s
important to keep it on your social media radar. Pinterest is a “virtual pinboard” that allows users to share ideas, images and tastes they find interesting or inspiring. Users post “pins,” usually images or graphics, onto their own categorized pinboards. Pinterest’s primary focus is ease of use. The site is now one of the top 10 social media platforms and has moved to the #5 referral site – meaning that it drives more traffic than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn combined. Despite its invitation­only policy and waiting list, Pinterest is becoming more popular and boasts 11 million total visits per week.

Social Media RoundupWhat is Pinterest? In their own words: Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows you to organize and share content you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other
people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.  A pin is an image added to Pinterest from a website using the Pin It button. You can also upload images from your computer. Each pin added using the Pin It button links back to the site it came from. A board is a set of pins. A board can be created on any topic, such as Cool Posters, Recipes For Dinner, or Wishlist. You can add as many pins to a board as The Army’s Pinterest can be you want. found here: http://pinterest.com/usarmy/

Social Media RoundupAnatomy of a Pinterest Page Board: This is where your pins can be found. You can have separate boards for subjects such as a specific
event, or favorite books. Pin: A pin is an image added to Pinterest. You can link to an image from a website or upload an image from your computer. Pins can include captions. Repin: Once something is pinned, it can then be repinned by other Pinterest users. This is how content Likes: Once something is pinned, spreads virally. If you see people can “like” it. something you like on Pinterest.com, repin it to Followers and following: Like other social media platforms, you share it with your friends. can follow other Pages, and people can follow your Pinterest Page.

Social Media RoundupWho is using Pinterest?  Pinterest is predominately used by females ages 25­34, but more importantly, data
shows nearly 1.5 million unique users are visiting Pinterest daily, and spending an average of 14+ minutes on the site.  Much like Facebook, not only do users sign on to Pinterest with regularity, but they stay there for extended periods of time.

Social Media RoundupHow are people using Pinterest? People use pinboards in a variety of ways. Some use Pinterest to plan their weddings or decorate their
homes. Others use Pinterest to share their favorite recipes or their favorite books. Another interesting use of Pinterest is pinning various inspirations that help with artwork or design. The Army’s Pinterest Page features images from various Army operations and goodwill missions.

Social Media RoundupShould you be using Pinterest? Currently, only a handful of military organizations are using Pinterest. Like many other platforms, as Pinterest
grows in popularity, Army organizations will likely experiment with the platform to determine how they can use it as part of a unique social media program. As with all social media platforms, it’s important to have a plan before you start promoting your organization’s presence on a new social media platform like Pinterest.

Social Media Roundup Contact informationHave questions? Please feel free to reach out to us at the Online and Social Media DivisionEmail:Ocpa.osmd@us.army.milTo review and download past editions of the Social Media Roundup, visit our Slideshare site at: http://www.slideshare.net/usarmysocialmedia. If you do not have access to Slideshare, they can also be found on AKO at: https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/505262. All Social Media Roundups are authorized to be distributed to a broader audience. 2/8/2011OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSPENTAGON