Pinterest is set to be the next big thing in Social Media….But what is it?

Pinterest is set to be the next big thing in Social Media. According to Tech Crunch and Com Score, they hit 11.7 million unique monthly U.S. visitors in January 2012 – crossing the 10 million mark faster than any other standalone site in history  (Graph source – Tech Crunch).

These stats certainly impressive and indicate the importance of this site within the social media space, but what is Pinterest?

If you have never heard of or visited Pinterest before – you should take a quick look at the site.

In short, it’s a virtual noticeboard.  It’s somewhere that you can place, organise and share all the interesting things you’ve come across on the internet.  People might use a pinboard to plan a wedding, decorate a room in their house or even keep log of their favourite recipes.

Once you are a member, you can even browse pinboards that have been created by other people.  The idea being that users can discover new things and get inspiration from people with similar interests.  To join however, you need to request an invite.

Pinterest’s Mission:  Our goal is to connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests.

So what does this mean for business?

There is a clear link between Pinterest and companies that make and sell products – given the visual focus of the site.  But what opportunity does Pinterest hold for businesses that provide services without a strong visual representation?  Jeff Bullas has found an innovative way to trial the site – he’s using it to ‘pin’  infographics that are relevant to his target audience.  He currently has 60 pins and over 550 followers, proving that with a little creative thinking Pinterest could be a valuable asset for most businesses.  (See Jeff’s pinboard).

So why not give it a whirl.  Even if you find it’s not right for your businesses – you may find it an enjoyable way to find and share your favourite things with people with similar interests.

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