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How to Market Yourself and Your Business on Pinterest

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Personal SEO - Website SEO and Real Estate Marketing

Tips to Market Yourself and Your Business on Pinterest

Pinterest is a highly addictive and fast growing social media platform. If you don't know yet, well, as Geico says, "what? do ya live under a rock?" Pinterest is a wildly popular virtual cork board to pin up everything and anything you may find online. From recipes and home decor ideas, to fashion statements, personal photos and... wait for it... real estate listings.Pinterest

There are even web and seo ideas and of course business people to follow. It all depends on what you want to check out and who you want to follow. You can follow a particular board or someone's whole profile if you want. For example, I am NOT into shoes and while I like this one follower I didn't care about shoes so I unfollowed the shoe board, same with someone that only pinned baby things.

You can follow particular boards if you just want to know about those subjects or an entire profile of the person. YOu start to figure out what someone posts by the frequency of particular posts and then decide whether you want to keep them or not.

So how do you market yourself or your business on Pinterest?

Set up an account first. Done that? Great. Now set up boards. Not sure what to name them? Start looking around at things that interest you and repin a few things, you will quickly find that certain things fit into certain boards more than others. You can name the board after you repin (or while you are repinning) which helps figure out the genre better.

Once you have a few boards make sure they are into categories. If you are really new, you may not have any followers and the quickest way to do this is to make sure all your boards are in a category. You simply click on your name in the top right and click boards. From here you can click on a board and at the top of the screen it will ask you to place it in a category. By doing this your pin can now be seen by everyone that goes to that category, not just floating around in your own little world.

From this page you can also rearrange your boards. Once you get a good amount of pins up, arrange your boards with the most popular or more important boards first to last. This allows Google to crawl through the site knowing what you're about more. This also helps those interested in following you a better idea of what you pin the most of.

Once you have repinned a few things you can venture out to pin original links. This is where it really gets good! From the home page you want to click the Add+ button at the top. From here you can upload a pin from your computer such as a real estate listing photo OR you can add a link from anywhere on the web. One little tip from a commentor, whatever text you highlight with your cursor before clicking "pin it" will auto transfer to the text box of your pin! How easy is that? 

Once you add the link (say from your website showcasing your new listing) make sure you put it into a board with a category and add text talking about the listing. In the text section you have 500 words but of course you don't want to bog someone down with marketing blah blah blah.. so make it interesting. "Beautiful Island City Ranch Home - FOR SALE" You may want to add your email or phone number or a simple web address. If you post the same on every pin people may start to unfollow you, so keep it interesting. I pin a lot of beautiful pictures of places that link back to the real estate site. Many times people repin because its somewhere they want to visit.. who knows, if they find you at every turn, they automatically think of you when the time comes to move there.

If you want to promote a listing or product with a price you simply add the price in the comment and it will splash it up across the product.  It will then be listed in the "gift" section as well.

Once you get going you can create more of a name for yourself by commenting on other people's pins, requesting to be a contributor on other people's boards and encouraging others to contribute to yours such as agents in your office to your real estate board.

Utilize the Pin buttons. Under the about section you can choose several ways to add a pin-it button to your website or create a favorite button on your browser tool bar so where ever you are online, you click the pin-it button and it automatically pins whatever you want, wherever you want. (LOVE IT)

Find out who has repinned you and comment on the post, not pushy but in agreement or an answer to the way they may have repinned it.

Pin videos or virtual tours of your homes and again, make sure your comments are inviting and catchy.

Pinterest is still by invite only as far as I know so let me know if you need an invite. It's way easier than facebook to get started and lots more fun. And don't listen to Greg Nino when he says Pinterest is only for women. ;-)

 

Other Pinterest Tips

 How to get set up on Pinterest

 Ten People to Follow on Pinterest

 Top Tips for Pinterest

Posted by

Personal SEO Tim and Tammy Emineth

Personal SEO Facebook Page Personal SEO Instagram Page Tammy Emineth Pinterest Page Personal SEO Linkedin Page Linkedin Page

 

Tim and Tammy Emineth have owned Personal SEO since 2004. We focus on SEO first whether it's blogging, images, website design, IDX solutions and calls to action. We operate with a Storybrand philosophy to encourage more traffic to your site, more eyes on your content and more leads to your business. Call us or email us for a free website audit.

Tim: 425-443-8372  Tammy: 425-344-0677

Comments (121)

Julie Stevenson
Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood, Okemos, MI - Okemos, MI

Really informative post!  I love Pinterest, but feel like I need a really charming listing or beautiful room in order to promote my business on the site.  I appreciate your insight.

Apr 24, 2012 12:50 AM
Teri Clardy
Colorado Premier Staging, LLC - Littleton, CO
APSD Certified Home Stager Pro

Tammy, very informative post, thanks! I've been saying I need to get on Pinterest but wasn't sure how it worked.  This post really helped.

Apr 24, 2012 01:43 AM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Tammy--this is exactly the kind of detailed information that helps.  Now maybe I will actually go and set up my account. 

Apr 24, 2012 04:41 AM
Deborah Grimaldi
Grimaldi Appraisal Services - Cranston, RI
(401) 837-9633

Hi Tammy,

Some great information that you shared, I have never heard of the website before. I did try to send you an email, however, I have been having difficulty with the email going through. Can you please email me as I had wanted to see about optimizing seo.

Thanks,

Debbie

debgrimaldi@cox.net

Apr 24, 2012 05:12 AM
Roberta Kayne
Dublin & Central Ohio Homes - Dublin, OH
CRS, ABR, SFR, RRS, Realtor, Re/Max Affiliates

Wow, thanks for the great information on Pinterest, Tammy!  I signed up but I didnt know what to do next.  So, now I know and it's on my to do list -- along with everything else that needs to get done.  But I have bookmarked your post and shared it with a friend.  Many thanks again. 

Apr 24, 2012 09:45 AM
Jon Sigler
Coldwell Banker Realty - South Windsor, CT
Sigler Sold Another! 860-306-8029

Great informative article.  Got me inspired to actually do something with Pinterest and stop just reading about it!

Apr 25, 2012 12:04 AM
Rachel Tipton
KingOne Properties International - Pawleys Island, SC

Thanks Tammy. I only recently figured out how to use Pinterest for business. Great tips to add to my bag of tricks!

Apr 25, 2012 12:41 AM
Jennifer Maxian
Hunt Real Estate ERA - East Amherst, NY
Pinterest can be a great social media tool, BUT - be very careful about re-pinning photos that don't belong to you. It may be a good idea to check with a copyright attorney before using other pictures found online to promote your business. I'm strongly considering shutting down my Pinterest pages due to the copyright controversy, or limiting it to a place to showcase only my own photos.
Apr 25, 2012 12:44 AM
Tammy Emineth
Personal SEO - Website SEO and Real Estate Marketing - Frenchtown, MT
Content Marketer, SEO Teacher, Website Fixer

Thanks for all the comments! I've tried to send invites everybody possible and I hope you're able to get on if you wanted to be. Jennifer, I do agree that you should be cautious especially if you're not too sure where the original source came from. I won't shut down my Pinterest pages because there are millions of people that are posting pinning and repinning but I am cautious about what I repint and make sure that what I can originally comes from the source or its copyright and royalty free

Apr 25, 2012 01:05 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Tammy:

I am late to the game, but like a lot of people, I love pinterest.  I have to be careful, because I can spend all day on that site.

Apr 26, 2012 09:16 AM
Jeanne M. Gavish
Jeanne Gavish, Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners - Spring Hill, FL
Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners - CIPS,GRI,S

That was the simplest and most wonderful explanation I have ever read.  I'm starting mine now! Thanks for the great info.

Apr 28, 2012 05:46 AM
Bruce & Sandy Soli
Sierra Sotheby's International Realty - Incline Village, NV
Tahoe Lifestyle Experts

Still confused but willing to give it a whirl.. Guess it's one of those things you just have to get into to get going, like blogging.

Apr 29, 2012 10:01 AM
Melissa Brown
Helen Adams Realty - Charlotte, NC
Realtor - South Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

Tammy, thanks so much for yet another excellent tutorial.  I have a Pinterest account, and love playing around there - didn't realize that I could be promoting my listings there!

Apr 29, 2012 11:09 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Thanks for the tips & suggestions.

Apr 30, 2012 06:21 AM
Rob Rosa
Berkshire Hathaway - Wethersfield, CT
Personal Real Estate Expert

Hi Tammy,

I did just get an account for Pinterest.  It's interesting and takes a little getting used to but I like it.  I appreciate the post.

Also wanted to let you know I tried your Twitter account button but it didn't seem like it was working.  If you want to connect please try me at http://twitter.com/robrosa

Have a great day!

Rob

Apr 30, 2012 11:02 PM
Stephanie McCarty
McCarty Homes - Canton, GA
REALTOR

Conrad Allen makes a good point - when are we supposed to have time to actually list and sell real estate?   I get that we need to be "out there" but how much of this REALLY REALLY gets me warm leads?   So far nada from Facebook and nada from Linkedin.   Activerain - score 3! 

May 03, 2012 06:34 AM
Dana Smithers
PRES Staging Resource Centre - Vancouver, BC
PRES Staging Training, Redesign Training & Busines

Hi Tammy - I think this can be a fantastic marketing tool providing you know your ideal client will be looking at Pinterest. For me being a home staging instructor - working hard to market my business and when I'm not doing that I'm teaching or taking a course. For now I'm really getting good with Facebook and I am loving LinkedIn. The Group discussions are invaluable for knowing what your ideal client is thinking, what others in your industry are thinking and for offering good advice/resources to others in the group. 

May 04, 2012 02:57 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Tammy~ I have to admit, I don't know much about Pinterest, accept that I've seen a few blog posts about it.  Guess I should check it out, huh?

May 04, 2012 04:01 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I've been out of the loop for a long time, but am excited to get back into it.  Have taken a couple of webinars on doing business with Pinterest.  Now is the time.  Thank you for all of this great information.  I am printing it out and studying it :)

Jul 06, 2012 11:51 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Tammy Emineth -After holding out on Pinterest for many years,I have finally joined Pinterest. In a short time I have built an impressive board that I'm still building. I think I'm following you on Pinterest but if not I'm definitely going to start following you.

Dec 18, 2014 07:29 AM