Pinterest: My New Social Sharing Obsession

Pinterest: My New Social Sharing Obsession

Lately, I have been spending an abnormal amount of time on my favorite new obsession, Pinterest.

Pinterest is essentially an information sharing site that categories your favorite things through pictures.  As they describe it, "a virtual pinboard."  

When you are on a website that you want to remember, you "Pin It" through a bookmarking tool, select a picture you want to represent the website, add a short description, and viola! It is saved in your "Pins" for you and others to see and follow back to the original website.

One thing that I've realized is that each person discovers their own passion on Pinterest.  Take me for example.  I have developed a love for cooking over the last few years.  I enjoy trying new recipes, but hate trying to find them or can't remember where I found them once I did.  With Pinterest, I can browse other people's food Pins.  When I find something that looks tasty, I "Re-Pin" it.  And when I'm ready to cook, I go back to my Pins, find it and it links me back to the original website with the recipe and all.

A good friend of mine is actually planning her wedding off of images she finds and Pins on Pinterest.  Some items she finds on various sites on the internet and Pins them herself, other images she finds by browsing other people's Pins.  She's picked her colors, determined her table settings and even found her wedding dress, all while using Pinterest.

Just today our own Debe Maxwell started following me on Pinterest.  She is using the site to share images of homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She has all of her images link back to her website that lists more details about each home. Each time that photo is Re-Pinned by someone, a backlink goes with it increasing it's exposure.  I think that Debe might be on to something here...

I'd recommend for everyone to check out Pinterest.  It took me a while to get into it, but now I love it.  Give it a shot and while you're at it, follow me on Pinterest!