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Pinterest "bots"? What's the point?

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Real Estate Agent with HER Realtors

What's the point ???

I posted a photo I took yesterday of a sign posted locally for a lost cat.  Actually the photo of the poster that says "Answers to Kitty, Kitty" is pinned from my Posterous called Columbus Life.  

The Pin a poster about a missing cat  on Pinterest.

My feline Board

I posted my photo of the poster on my feline board... cuz it's a poster about a cat.  See the poster?  Headline says "Lost Reward"

The photo with a link to Columbus Life on Posterous is Re-Pinned a bunch...  mostly? or always? to boards called "Holidays"  What's the point? 

Repins when is a cat not a Holiday?

 When is a cat a Holiday?

This was an image yesterday when it started.  Today there are different members +44 more repins.  What's the point? It's been Re-Pinned 55 times now....

I looked at a few of the members, who must be bots.  They all have similar boards, I would think Pets would be the place for this photo but no there is furniture on this pinner's Pet Boards and others.

Pets 2 pins but no pets

Technology?  One of the "people" who Re-Pinned my photo as Holidays pinned a very clever photo of a dog dressed up as two pirates carrying a treasure chest as Technology. 

Technology 1 pin of a dog

A Men's Apparel board on one of the "people" who repinned me shows a photo of Chipmunks and a photo of a woman's face.

Men's Apparel

 

Here's what a Holidays board looks like with the image I pinned and one for Handmade Graduation Gifts?

 Holidays

Is the point to take photos and then change the links? 

What's the point?

  • What's the point?
  • What's the point?
  • What's the point?
  • What's the point?

 

There is no increased traffic on my Posterous, or this particular photo.

There is no way for them to profit on my Posterous photo. 

It's not a picture I would have thought would have any Re-Pins, so have paid attention as it is Re-Pinned and liked 

I believe there are 12 likes and I think they are all bots too.

If you are on Pinterest

 Have you seen bots?

How have you reported them?  Or do you have a live and let live attitude about it?

If you are not on Pinterest... move along.

  

I personally reported MY own pin...  I guess I could have RePorted each pin but for what? 

Report Pin

 

 Yes it is my property* and my Pin that I reported...   asking Pinterest "What's the point?"

*Not a big deal... it's a picture of a public poster...I hope the cat who answers to "kitty, kitty" comes home.  

 

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Show All Comments
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

Interesting predicament. I ran into a problem myself on Pinterest just the other day.... Found the same "woman" making 3-4 different comments on the same pins over and over again, so my activity feed was filled with these pins and her multitudes of comments. What's more is that these comments didn't even make sense! Included things about adoption? Bots are going to find their way onto any networking site. Good thing you reported it. Hopefully it'll stop the trouble!

May 21, 2012 02:13 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

That sounds like a bot!!! 

I flagged my pin. I am not sure how Pinterest will handle it.  It stopped with about 72 Re-Pins and a dozen or so likes which do not look like real people either.  They look like bots.


Is there a way to report a member though?  I don't believe Pinterest has a mechanism in place.  Last I looked the links were still to me.  That is what I think will happen, they will switch out links.  

Still linking to my site: bot has image still linked to my site

 

May 21, 2012 02:55 AM
Saif Latif
Orléans, ON

Very interesting observation! I figured that with the website's "Invite only" policiy would reduce the number of robots registering. We at TourZap are still getting used to using Pinterest for real estate!

May 24, 2012 04:41 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Is Pinterest still invite only? 

Maybe it is not bots. Perhaps it is  non English speaking people pinning for pennies? No it has to be bots to have the boards line up so well.

I will have to look at TourZap's boards on Pinterest.   Most of the real estate use I have seen ranks right up there with the best of the spam.   All the marketing ninjas and gurus are just creating links.  

I have been challenged with Captcha on a few sites too using the Pin It on sites (their Pin It.)  Bots are pinning photos. Then changing the link to their affiliate link?  

May 24, 2012 05:11 AM
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

As far as I know, there is no way to report a specific user. But I suppose that if multiple users report suspicious activity on their pins, then the support team will look further into it. But you pose a good question - how do "bots" gain access to Pinterest when it is by invite only? Perhaps security needs to be upped a bit. Since anyone can request an invite, maybe bots get through that way. Acceptance emails are sent out and somehow, these bots get hold of those emails or ride the coattails of real users? Who knows. It's complex. However, I don't think I noticed a Captcha on Pinterest's website itself. Maybe they need one.

May 25, 2012 04:20 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I think the "marketeers" who are real people create a fake name which is a bot and invite it.  Or ithe fake name is people working for pennies in same third world company pinning spam.  Pretty simple.

I am surprised how many people never look at their Pins to see what they are linked to.  Or get upset if you comment that they're linking to spam for spam. 

I am in a group on LinkedIn about using a Pinterest for work, interesting conversation there about a LinkedIn ID which seems to be just a name. It is  promoting an ebook about getting 10,000 Re-Pins. 

May 25, 2012 09:36 PM
Paul Gapski
Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA
619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo
 

thank you very much for the informative and interesting post. I get so much out of the active rain network.
May 26, 2012 02:09 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Paul are you looking to do something on Pinterest?  Or are you looking for an easy angle there?  There are no points on Pinterest.

You said "I get so much out of the active rain network." I think you are wrong about getting much out of Active Rain. It seems from the cut and paste comments you get very little out of ActiveRain.   Of course on Roy's post from February you went all out and added something about "Bummer I missed it" ... about a February webinar. What you are getting is a reputation for copying and pasting in comments.

Was your "thank you very much for the informative and interesting post. I get so much out of the active rain network." comment you posted on  10 ActivRain blog posts  for your daily points today? Or did you read the posts? It looks as if it's just for the points.

I see you doing this cut and paste comment crap occasionally.   Today around a Pinterest theme. When someone cuts and pastes in the same comment do they read the posts they comment on?  Not able to formulate a comment that pertains to each post and just fall back to cutting and pasting in the same comment such as "thank you very much for the informative and interesting post. I get so much out of the active rain network."

You are not the first to take this approach, nor will you be the last but please do not post the comments on my posts.  I don't appreciate it.  Thanks.

This is where Paul used this comment today.

05/26/2012    
05/26/2012 Pinterest: Getting More Customers Jeffrey Richman - The Unclaimed Money Expert
05/26/2012 Free Pinterest Webinar Today, February 23 Roy Kelley, Montgomery County, MD Homes For Sale
05/26/2012 Pinterest "bots"? What's the point? Maureen McCabe Columbus Ohio real estate
05/26/2012 Pinterest Your Interests? Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Advocate (214)783-2210
05/26/2012 Pinterest Information Tony Cannon, e-PRO & Darcy Cannon, SFR - The C Team
05/26/2012 You've piqued my Pinterest! Tracy Coles
05/26/2012 Pinterest, Google+ and Facebook, Oh My. Malcolm Johnston, Trenton Real Estate
05/26/2012 Pinterest: Get Traffic through Pinterest Jeffrey Richman - The Unclaimed Money Expert
05/26/2012 Pin More Than Photos on Your Pinterest Board Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235
05/26/2012 Using Pinterest in Real Estate Listings Steve Kantor - Best Agent Business - Virtual Assistance
May 26, 2012 04:32 AM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

Well it looks like they removed "Paul's" posts from some of the linked articles after you pointed out what he's doing. I remember another article about a c/p serial "commentor" as well! (hey - do I get points for this too?!?)

Jun 01, 2012 12:21 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

25 points I believe.

I saw Paul cutting and pasting in the same comment since. 

Jun 01, 2012 02:57 PM
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