I listened to Pinterest pro Andreea Ayerslast who runs Pinterest Advantage. She gave us some of her choice ones…

Pinterest is a new way to discover new audiences.  It’s visually based and image driven.  You can organize and share (pin) visual content – images and video — around specific topics.

Unlike Facebook, Pinterest is not chronologically based…and images live a lot longer!

You create boards which are viewed as catalogs.  Use Pinterest to plan a wedding.  Start by searching on wedding locations; find wedding gowns, caterers, cake vendors, photographers, etc.

Pinterest is good for authors. It can help you connect with current readers and find new ones; drive more traffic to your website.  Book genres that have the most success?  Cookbooks, children’s books, home decor, self-help, health and lifestyle, marketing books.

How to use Pinterest effectively and efficiently:

–        Create an account – very easy to do

–        Think about what you want out of Pinterest – promote you as an expert; promote a book tour, promote your photography

–        Figure out who you’re trying to reach

–        Build your following; add a Pinterest button to your website

–        Direct Facebook and Twitter followers to your Pinterest boards

–        Repin other people’s pins, especially the people you follow on Pinterest and those who follow you

Let’s say you’re an interior designer.  What about creating a board and pinning the latest colors or one with images of creative small spaces. Or perhaps a board with living room themes.  How about a board with some nice quotes on the aesthetics of your home?  Or create a board and pin the interiors of others’ designs you admire.  Show us your own work environment – the space that gives rise to you creative ideas.

What are the lifestyles of your clients? Start a board on those visuals.

Here’s a good one: create a board with quotes and turn them into a graphics using Pinstamatic.  Drop in a testimonial from a client, click some buttons to add the flourishes, then click on Pinterest to upload.

Make sure you support other pinners.  Promote other pins and boards you like.  Leave comments too.  Show us your design team: the upholsterer, the furniture showroom, the cabinet craftsman, the painter, artist rep.   Show viewers your next project.

For authors pin your favorite book covers – yours and others.  Comment and tell us why.  If your book is in 20 stores create a board to tell viewers where they can find your book with images of those bookstores.

Pin inspirational quotes for your target reader.  Quotes get widely repinned.

Don’t forget boards related to our own personal interests.  People might want to learn about us — not just what we do for a living.

PicMonkey – you can upload your image and add all kinds of textures, backgrounds, facial designs, and add text on top of that.

Try it out… have some fun.  Don’t worry about monetizing for now!