Chapter 8 "Marketing with Pinterest"

The first thing I think of when Pinterest enters a conversation is pictures of random things that people like. I also think of recipes for fantastic holiday cookies or ideas for sports buffets. For some reason, advertising on Pinterest just jumped right over my head. It should have been obvious; it is a perfect site for companies to advertise their products. However, it looks much more complicated than just putting something on Facebook or Instagram. It looks like a game of "Find the Hidden Image" since most of Pinterest is images of cool or useless things. You can't really tell if you are looking at a regular image or something that will take you to a link to buy on the spot. Still, Chapter 8 does a great job of explaining how to use Pinterest as a tool for advertising and selling products.

However, the chapter kind of puts you to sleep because it goes over similar aspects that other social media companies use: Create a profile, describe your business, and post regularly. However, it was kind of a shocker when I realized this is only one of a few platforms that are popular on the weekends. Besides the similar setup, Pinterest seems to be a simple platform for uploading images, connecting with a similar audience, and growing your interests/hobbies. There isn't much information that you don't have to worry about ending up in the wrong hands unless you connect your credit cards to the program. It has unique functions that allow you to build pins and boards, finding things that interest your daily life. I can see why businesses find this platform very popular; it allows them to show their products in a way that may attract anyone. I also like the functions that allow you to search for something specific from one image, like a hat, for instance, and it will take you to popular sellers. 

Unlike other platforms, I find nothing wrong with Pinterest. Will I use it every day? Probably not. It's more attractive for women, not men. Still, it is something available for any audience and caters to all interests. It builds community and isn't flooded with many ads or negative comments. It is something that can build lives rather than be a nuisance. It is a medicine for your curious soul, but take too much, and you'll either be addicted or sick of the platform. I'll leave off by saying that Pinterest is good for an emergency when you need a good recipe for an event, you need a new couch, you need to know how to take care of a tropical plant, need a positive picture in your life, or you need to know how to build a great landscape in your yard. Pinterest is a great tool and has my seal of approval.