A guide to using Pinterest to drive traffic to your blog. To see the source of Pinterest statistics and trends, head here: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/17_Pinterest_stats_to_show_your_boss_or_client_10905.aspx 05/18/2012 Visit Pittsburgh Social Media Powwow PNC Park Katie Vojtko & Sarah Sudar

1. Pinning and Blogging to
Propel Your Brand
Sarah Sudar
Katie Vojtko

2. Whole Foods
“Pinterest allows us to curate images from across the web
that really speak to who we are as a company, images
that reflect our core values and essentially
communicate the essence of who we are.”
- Michael Bepko, Global Online Community Manager for
Whole Foods
(Mashable: http://mashable.com/2012/02/23/pinterest-whole-foods/)

3. SOCIAL MEDIA
Website about coffee
Blog
“I Like Coffee” Here’s a funky photo of my coffee
I’m drinking a coffee Here I am drinking coffee
This is where I drink coffee
Here’s how I make my coffee
I have a coffee-lovers circle
My skills include drinking coffee
Every social media platform you utilize should highlight and
support traffic to your blog (and website)

4. So, How Can Pinterest Propel My
Blog?
 Inspire: Gain ideas for your blog posts – a cure for
Writer’s Block!
 Inform: Share your content, videos, and blog posts to a
huge audience
 Influence: Connect with a larger network and see who
(and what!) is trending in your niche
 http://www.fuelyourblogging.com/pinterest-for-bloggers/

5. What is a blog?
“A Web site that contains an online personal journal with
reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided
by the writer” (Merriam-Webster, 2012).

6. eatPGH.com

7. Blog vs. Website
 Blog:  Website:
 Interactive  Static
 Two-way  One-way
communication communication
 Keeps consumers  Landing page for
engaged; keep coming consumers., sometimes
back for more. only a one time stop to
 More personal, informal another piece of
writing style. information.
 Professional writing style.

8. “Websites are the central
communication hubs for
businesses today, and blogs are
where visitors go to find out if the
organization has a pulse.”
-Chuck Sink
New Hampshire Business Review
April 4, 2012

9. Why create a blog?
 Provide an inside “look” at your business.
 Allows customers to go “behind the scenes” with your
company; develop a “relationship” with them.
 Adds a voice and images to your online presence.
 You can control what is “said” about your business and
“how” it is said.

10. “Think beyond the press release.
Rather than assemble the facts in
hopes of inspiring journalists to tell
your story, tell it yourself in an
interesting, compelling way. Figure out
how to tell it in a way that will appeal to
your key audience.”
Schwartzman, E. (2005). Dos and don’ts of
blogging. Public Relations Quarterly, 50(3): 33.

11. How to blog?
 First, create a communications plan.
 Set measureable goals, objectives.
 Define target audience.
 Determine what you want to “say” via your
blog.
 What is the purpose of having a blog?

12. Sarah’s blogging tips!
 Post regularly- create a schedule.
 Photos are a MUST.
 Consider video.
 Always be honest and transparent.
 Voice: Use first-person POV.
 Make sure to engage with readers via comments.
 Often, ask questions at the end of a post.
 Keep posts interesting, short and informative.

13. What to blog about?
 Talk about more than just your product/service.
 Examples of “blog” posts:
 Interviews/profiles: Q & A’s with employees, visitors,
customers, etc.
 Special events and happenings.
 “Behind the Scenes” Photos/Videos
 Anything newsworthy and/or exciting you want people to
learn more about!!
 Your POV on current industry news/trends.
 Testimonials.
 Contests.

14. Newsworthy Post

15. Event Post

16. Interview Post

17. Reaching out to Bloggers
 Get “influencers” talking about your company.
 Relatively inexpensive.
 Reward bloggers for talking about you?
 Make sure you reach out to bloggers who talk about
products/lifestyle similar to your business.
 Be personal when pitching to them.

18. Example Pitch to Bloggers

19. Example Sponsored Blogs

20. Pinterest – The What
Pinterest lets you:
• Organize and share all the interesting and visually attractive
things you find on the web.
• Plan weddings, decorate homes, find new recipes, and
share fashion inspiration (just to name a few).
• Browse pin boards of your friends and discover new things
and gain inspiration from people who share your interests.
• http://pinterest.com/about/

21. Whole Foods
Pinterest Boards

22. Pinterest – The Who
 Third most popular social networking site
 Fastest social networking site ever to reach 10+ million
users
 About 80% of active users are women
 43% of Active Users Earn Between $50,000 to $
149,999
 80% Active Users are Between 25-54 y/o

23. Pinterest – The How
Pin: An image or video added to Pinterest.
http://pinterest.com/about/help/

24. Pinterest – The How
Board: A board is a set of pins. A board can be created
on any topic.
http://pinterest.com/about/help/

25. Pinterest – The How
Repin: When a pin is shared on another’s board.
http://pinterest.com/about/help/

26. Pinterest – The How
Following: Pins from those you follow will be shown to
you in real-time
http://pinterest.com/about/help/

27. Pinterest – The How
 “Pin It” Button: Once installed on your browser, the
“Pin It” button lets you grab an image from any website
and add it to one of your pin boards.
http://pinterest.com/about/help/

28. Pinterest Trends & Top Content
Top 5 Categories:
• Home
• Arts & Crafts/DIY
• Style/Fashion
• Food
• Inspiration/Education
http://mashable.com/2012/03/12/pinterest-most-popular-categories-boards/

29. Pinterest Controversy
• The big question: “Who Owns What?”
• How to Avoid Issues: Only post what your
company/blog has rights to. Treat that pin board as you
would your company website.

30. Katie’s Pinning Tips
 Segment and define your boards
 Complete your Pinterest bio
 Find and follow your audience
 Use #hashtags and @username to increase the
chances of your pins being found
 Watermark pins with your address
 Be descriptive
 Have fun!

31. Example 1
Lawrenceville Corporation
Blog Post: An “Behind the
Scenes Look” at the 2012 Art All
Night Event

32. Example 1, Part 2
Lawrenceville Corporation
Blog Post: Upcoming Blossom Tour

33. Example 1, Part 3
Lawrenceville Corporation
Blog Post: Come Visit Our Neighborhood!

34. Example 2
Bike PGH
Blog Post: Talk Up Event with a Recap from Last
Year!

35. Example 2, part 2
Bike PGH
Blog Post: Share advice for safe biking on with
the bus routes

36. Example 2, Part 3
Bike PGH
Blog Post: Bike Trails Around Pittsburgh

37. Example 3
The Fairmont Pittsburgh
Blog Post: Highlight wedding accommodations and
stunning photography from past weddings.

38. Example 3, Part 2
The Fairmont Pittsburgh
Blog Post: Cooking classes and dining
options at the hotel

39. Example 3, Part 3
Fairmont Pittsburgh
Blog Post: Brunch Specials

40. Example 4
Pavement Pittsburgh
Blog Post: A
sneak peak at New
Arrivals

41. Example 4, Part 2
Pavement Pittsburgh
Blog Post:
Information on
upcoming big sale

42. Example 4, Part 3
Pavement Pittsburgh
Blog Post: Q & A with Designers

43. Example 5
Dinette
Blog Post:
New Menu
Items

44. Example 5, Part 2
Dinette
Blog Post: Progress and news on
rooftop vegetable and herb garden

45. Example 5, Part 3
Dinette
Blog Post: Best
Restaurants Party

46. Katie Vojtko Sarah Sudar
Marketing Specialist, Blogger, eatPGH.com &
TowerCare thestyleclutch.com
Technologies
@sarahsudar
@katievojtko