I listened to the Inman webinar, Is Pinterest a Fad?, with Chris Smith and Katie Lance. If you're curious about using Pinterest for real estate I highly recommend this conversation.

This links to the webinar: Is Pinterest a Fad?

If you've noticed, there's a bit of controversy the past few weeks. Most of it about the Pinterest terms of use and how you might get sued for pinning images without permission. I found this post by Kirsten @ ddk portraits on 2/24. Why I Tearfully Deleted My Pinterest Inspiration Boards. 

I heart Pinterest

Then I found several posts, tweets, and Facebook chatter about people burning their boards. I had a day dream the SOPA cyberpolice busted into my condo and threatened to torcher me by sticking me with every last one of my Pinterest pins if I didn't confess the truth!

"I'm sorry y y y y... I didn't read every stink'n word in the TOU!"

So I freaked and deleted my boards. Then, the next day, "what the h was I thinking?" Most of my boards were my content!

Kirsten did a follow up post on 2/29 with My Date With Ben Silbermann - Following Up and Drying My Tears. It's a delightful read (don't miss it). Ben from Pinterest called Kirsten and they chatted on the phone for about an hour. I was so impressed with Kirsten's 2 posts I found her Ddk Portraits page on Facebook and after reading about her conversation with Ben I liked Pinterest even more.

There's a lot of potential in this new platform as I see it. Pinterest is already generating more referral traffic to websites than YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn combined. That's an amazing testament to the power of pictures!

Like any new platform, there's going to be kinks to work out. It's so new that the community core conversation isn't even established yet. Everyone is a new arrival. To me this is exciting. I hope it establishes a brand new and entirely different conversation online.

I find some of the negative rhetoric I'm hearing from people who haven't been there humorous. "Why are we here again?" Oh, before I forget, Happy Birthday Twitter! It's funny after 6 years I still hear real estate agents adamantly avoiding Twitter because it's a big waste of time and they don't care about stupid stuff like - what you had for breakfast.

Images are so powerful in our lives and that's the driving idea behind the Pinterest platform. It reminds me very much of analog synthesizers from the 1970's like Buchla and Moog. You have a collection of modules and each have a purpose. You need to understand what each module does and to make any kind of sound happen you patch them together using banana cords. (Well we did back in the day.)

On Pinterest there are no patch-cords of course, you virtually pin it. Yet, it's a very similar idea. If you conceptualize your web locations (and other content on the web) as modules then the composition you're going to create is based on the way you patch those modules together.

What would you like create? The beauty is the associations you create are totally up to you. It's not a fixed system. You pin, you unpin, and you can move pins to other boards. Play the association game as deep as you want. It translates to creating more synergy with your online content. This equates to more visibility and love from the search engines.

Mammoth Modular Synthesizer At MIT Museum

photo credit: Joe Paradiso

My #1 take away from the Pinterest Webinar was when an agent asked Chris; "What is the value of these boards that would want to make a consumer use your services?" Chris Smith replied, that’s the wrong approach from the get go. Be here to learn, enjoy, and explore a new platform. Your goal is not to get the consumer to use your services, it’s to...

paint the picture of the why of your brand.

Chris mentioned a Danny Meyer saying. You can only get 50% through effort, hard work and doing your job well. The other 50% of your success online is how your brand makes people feel. I agree with that...

Is Pinterest just a Fad? I don't think so. Do you?

"Where there's conversation, there's opportunity."

Please Note - The views expressed herein reflect only the individual’s personal views
and are not the views of the author’s employer.

Let's hook up on Twitter... Linkedin.com/in/renefabre Facebook.com Let's Yelp together. Catch my videos on YouTube. The Blackberry Chronicles.
René Fabre

René Fabre
cell: 425-749-9296
rfabre@firstam.com

 First American Title

First American Title
24722 104th Ave SE
Suite 100
Kent, WA 98030

  
 
Posted by René Fabre on 03/01/2012 03:38 PM   Comments (18)   Social Networking in the Online Marketing Channel   pinterest  
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18 Comments on Is Pinterest just a Fad?

MAR
01
2012
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router

Sooooo much to learn about all the social media opportunities available out there. I have not been to Pinterest but hear quite a bit about it. Guess it is time to check it out too.
3:42pm • #1
584,513 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I have to admit I've been crazy busy and have pushed Pinterest to the back burner.  I need to explore and see what all the talk is about.  I have bookmarked several including this post to read up on when I get time to read and absorb it.  Thanks my friend and enjoy the afternoon to the fullest.
3:44pm • #2
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Gayle: Yep, that's a fact! That's about I like about AR, someone always does and shares what they find. 

Hi John: Me too! Crazy busy to be sure. All we can do is get to it when we can. Thanks man, enjoy the day also.
4:02pm • #3
422,461 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great post Rene!  I haven't jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon just yet... but I find the concept amusing.  You've raised some great points regarding 'unoriginal' pinning content.  Hhhmmm, perhaps I'll sit on the fence a little while longer ;)
5:33pm • #4
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mel: I'm waivering back and forth :O)
5:52pm • #5
MAR
02
2012
1,132,611 Points 151 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thx Rene.  I had missed the webinar (I had on my calendar for the next day).  I was now able to watch and bookmark, so thanks so much.  I have not yet had a chance to use it, but it sounds like there is  lot of potential.  I went to signn up and it looks like I'm on the waiting list.
2:21am • #6
915,748 Points 177 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Rene, will someone please kick me under the table when this gets all sorted out? :)
9:43am • #7
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Debbie: Isn't it cool now days the way we can create, record, attend, and later share... Glad to be of help. 
3:10pm • #8
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Charles: Okay, if you insist! :O)
3:11pm • #9
MAR
05
2012

I've fallen for the Pinterest lure, and really appreciate this post Rene. Love the take away message.

Be here to learn, enjoy, and explore a new platform. Your goal is not to get the consumer to use your services, it’s to...

paint the picture of the why of your brand. And no, I don't think it's a fad either.
10:00am • #10
469,025 Points 34 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rene, that's me above - sorry, didn't realize I was in the lurker mode. :)
10:01am • #11
705,651 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Rene, I have been so swamped I can not even do 10 comments and one post a day on Active Rain, so you know where Pinterest is right now on my plate:) Yea never made it off the back burner:)
6:28pm • #12
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Debb... no worries, but the mystery is solved. Thanks!
8:06pm • #13
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Endre: I can so relate! When we show up to the buffet, we don't eat everything! Well, maybe some try... But it's important to know or hear about those dishes you don't. Enjoy the one's you do... I have many a dish simmering on the back burners, in fact I'm thinking I need a larger stove with more back burners so I can keep things warm until I get to them...
8:10pm • #14
MAY
16
2012
122,064 Points 8 Featured Posts

Yes, I have troubles getting to it all as well. 10 comments on AR? PHHH - I try but it doesn't always happen. I get an electronic alert to sign into AR every day LOL

Pinterest though is great. I have it on my Iphone, when I wait somewhere I look if something sparks my interest. I also sign into AR to try and get a few comments in LOL
6:58am • #15
MAY
19
330,867 Points Outside Blog

Rene i will have to check out ur feed on pinterest, i didnt know it was getting that popular.
7:08am • #16
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Susanna: Thanks, and I just got the app for my iPhone! That's a great idea to use it when you're waiting. 
8:40am • #17
355,666 Points 27 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Paul... Careful, you like many might really like it and spend way too much time there! :O) But, it's a great site and it can create a lot of synergy for you online.
1:22pm • #18


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René Fabre

Seattle, WA

More about me…

First American Title

Address: 24722 104th Ave SE, Suite 100, Kent, WA, 98030

Office Phone: (253) 850-5230

Cell Phone: (425) 749-9296

Email Me

René Fabre is a blogger, teacher, artist, and speaker living in the Pacific Northwest. His passion is the evolving social media environment and how it impacts every level of our lives.

A certified clock hour instructor, René teaches new media marketing for the First American Title Real Estate School of Washington.

He also teaches social media for entrepreneurs and small business in the continuing education department at Bellevue College.

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