<title> Are You Pinning? 9 Pinterest Best Practices </title>

Social Media Marketing Sonoma County Pinterest fever hit the imagination of social media gurus and everyday users like a stray meteor earlier thisyear. If you’re pinning, here are some tips to make most of your experience.

Pinterest Fever

Just when we were feeling satisfied about our level of expertise with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and maybe even Google+, suddenly there was a new, shiny toy on the shelf screaming for attention.

“Oh, no,” some people said. “There’s another social media channel I have to learn now?”

Yes. The difference, however, between Pinterest and the rest is simple. Pinterest is fun! As an added benefit, it’s easy to use.

It’s easy to understand why crafts, do-it-yourself projects and interior design figure among the favorite photos pinned and repinned on this online visual pinboard. However, authors – among many professionals – can also use this network by uploading the covers to all of their books, their colleague’s books, and by creating pinboards that further their brand.

Is your novel set in Spain? Create a pinboard of the places your characters travel to or live. Is your book about horses? You can create a pinboard of beautiful horses from around the world. Did you write a book about grantwriting for nonprofits? Highlight nonprofits in your community and from abroad. Do you write about rescued dogs or cats? Upload pictures of animals available for adoption.

The possibilities are endless.

Best Practices

If you wrote a book on photography, by all means upload your own photographs. Let the world know about your expertise and your book. Even if you aren’t a photographer, you very likely have some great photos that you’ve taken. When you add your own photos, make sure that the file name is keyword-enriched. In other words, instead of naming the photo “Spain.2007.family,” use this: “Barcelona, Spain” or “Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.”
To widen the breadth of your reach, pin from a variety of people. On Twitter, your following will never grow if you only retweet two or six people regularly. Similarly, on Pinterest make sure that you repin and “like” the photos from an array of users.
When you upload the cover to your book, add the link to your blog or your website or even better, link the photo directly to Amazon where users can buy your book.
Keep your comments short. We have definitively entered the world of microblogging on the social web. Although you can use as many as 500 characters in your comments on Pinterest, less is more.
As with other social media channels, you will lose followers if you constantly broadcast your messages. Communicate with your followers. Send them comments about the photos they uploaded. In short, be social.
Don’t forget to add the Pinterest “Follow” or “Pin It” icon to your website or blog.
Consider creating a weekly pin board around a certain topic and drive traffic to that board using keywords and notifying your friends on Facebook and your followers on Twitter.
Don’t be afraid to reveal your personality or add a splash of flair.
Designate a few pin boards for the sole purpose of just having fun.

About the Author: A social media marketer and trainer in Sonoma County, Frances Caballo has 22 years of communications experience. She helps writers, businesses and nonprofits with their social media and public relations needs. Presently, she is the Social Media Editor and Board Vice President for Redwood Writers, the largest branch of the California Writers Club, and the Director of the Sonoma County Book Festival. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.