First things first - if you're not signed up for Pinterest and would like an invite, let me know. I just need your email address - so comment or email me (tiffany at thenesteffect.com).
Now, I have some tips for Pinterest use.
Pin Directly to the Blog Post
If possible, pin directly to the blog post that you're pinning a picture from. It makes me incredibly sad when I'm following someone and click on an amazing photo of an idea I need to see more of...only to be lead to a blog's homepage or search results. If the picture was pinned 8 months ago and has been repinned thousands of times, it will take me forever to find that specific photo/post. Due to this happening so often, I sadly will never repin something from someone unless it's a user uploaded photo (in that case there is no post/external website to see). I always click through and repin myself, that way I know I have the direct post/photo linked.
Don't Copy and Paste an Entire Blog Post Into Your Pin Description
#1 - that's copyright infringement because you're taking something from another website, allowing people to gain access to the text content without visiting the site. Sure most people love for you to repin their blog posts (I love it when people do), but don't give away the whole point of visiting the site by freely providing the info via Pinterest.#2 - it makes for a really long description to view when scrolling through recent pins.
I understand some people want to be able to easily access a recipe or instructions to something without having to click through - but really, is it going to take you that long to simply click once more and view the page?
Add the "Pin It" Button To Your Toolbar
To easily pin pictures while browsing the web, add the "Pin It" button to your Firefox browser's bookmark toolbar. I don't think I'd pin as much as I do without this feature. I don't ever use the button that some blogs have on their posts to pin things. I'd rather use my convenient button rather than search for theirs. (To get this button, click on "help" under "about" on the Pinterest home page. Then click on "goodies".)
Pin the Original Source
Sometimes blogs will feature pictures from other blogs of projects that they like (I am guilty of this). Legally, bloggers should link to the rightful owner of the photo they're sharing. When you see this, and you're interested in a photo being used, click through the picture (or source link) and directly pin from the owner's website/blog, if you can easily find the photo.
Organize Your Boards
Set up your Pinterest boards in a way that makes them easy to navigate. I started off with just a few and they were really broad, but started to fill up quickly. I then decided to reorganize my boards so they'd be easier to navigate when I wanted to find something I pinned. I'd suggest that if you know what you're going to be pinning, create the boards now. For example, if you know you're going to be pinning a lot of home decor and project related photos, then you'll want to create boards by room or project rather than having everything on one board titled "house". You'll thank me later.Do you have any Pinterest tips to share?
I have to tell you. I love this post. I totally agree with everything on here. And I am also so glad I saw this because now I know how to get a "pin it" button lol. Have a great weeekend!!
ReplyDeletexo
Samantha
betterblondesam.blogspot.com
I'll admit that, as someone who's been using Pinterest for over a year, it's been crazy to see the boom, and I feel like there are some really bad habits forming. I would add to your list:
ReplyDelete1) If you are featuring a product (rather than a "look" or an over all design) please include in the description the source and the PRICE! So many people don't know that doing this flags the pin with the price...as someone working to do interior design/decorating, this makes a huge difference for me.
2) Adding on to your point about organizing your board: classify your board effectively. It's so odd to see random pictures of people's utterly adorable dog when skimming the boards that are supposed to be about Crafts & DIY. (A personal note, but one I understand not everyone agrees with: Facebook is a better place to post your personal photos, or Flickr.)
3) Don't be mean. I've seen people bashing each other's pins, making racist and bigoted comments, etc. One of the reasons I joined Pinterest in the first place was because it didn't have these behaviors that are all too frequent in the rest of the internet.
Great list! Thanks so much for the guide, I'm hoping it will really help people out.
Caitlin
I love this! I hope Pinterest is around for a long time, I'm a crafty person so all the ideas are amazing. I also have jealousy issues when I see beautiful wedding ideas, makes me want to do it all over again, it would have been so much easier to find ideas through Pinterest! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on the "Advertising" part- I HATE it when I see people pin pictures of their own blog- I just think it is stupid! haha
ReplyDeleteI would love an invite! musiclover07@msn.com Thanks, Tiffany
ReplyDeletePS- I love this site!
Well, you convinced me. I just deleted the MY favorite recipe board and a couple others. I did have the MY emphasized, but didn't realize I should pin my ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! I've only been on pinterest for about a month, but my friends already call me pimpterest cuz I'm always pimping it out now LOL I love all the great things on it and have even discovers new sites including yours!
ReplyDeleteCrystalandtyler@shaw.ca
Always great advice! Long time lurker of your blog, I got married last year too!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love an invite! Thanks! Rachelynn613@gmail.com
These are great tips, I am new to Pinterest and still trying to figure out how it works. These tips will really help me a lot.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog through Pinterest. I have to ask though, do you have OCD? I'm a bit obsessive compulsive myself, so it's not always a bad thing...but I'm just wondering, no offense intended.
ReplyDeleteHi SamIAm90 -
ReplyDeleteI do not have OCD. Thanks for checking.
Haha okay, thanks for the quick reply! :)
ReplyDeleteI DID NOT intend to be rude like a lot of people said I was on facebook. I was honestly just curious. Several of my close friends and family members have the disorder, I KNOW it's a serious disease, I wasn't taking it lightly and "trying to be funny" at all. I was curious, and since it was a blog about organizing I thought it was a plausible question to ask. If anything I was trying to understand what drives you to create an organizational blog...to get to know the person behind the writing, so to speak. There was a reason why I said "no offense intended".
ReplyDeleteP.S.~ I posted it on the Pinterest entry only because it was the most recent blog, so I thought you would be more likely to see it & reply to it that way.
I also try to comment and say thanks when I see people pinning my posts. I feel it gives a little more personal touch to Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteYou can find me here:
http://pinterest.com/eaaroach/
I have pinned my own posts, but in my defense it's so I can have a really fast reference point for a recipe.
I really appreciate what you said about not including recipes, etc. but a few folks have taken down the recipes so I started including them with the pictures. I have also had the experience of following other people's pins to find that the orginal source is no longer available. And of course, I am not sure how to predict when something will stay up and something will be taken down. Do you have suggestions?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
I love this list. It is not a preachy list, just suggestions. I love pin-interest. I find it much easier than using my ctrl+D shortcut. Mostly because I am a visual person and find it easier to find my favorites, when there is a picture.
ReplyDeleteI find it annoying when people repin without commenting- like I am curious why you are repinning. Next thing I know I had 32 repins, 3 likes, and zero comments on the same item. I like comments! I do not have a blog, just an active web-browsing mind! (overly active!)
I hate when "..." or "cute" is the description. As another commenter said, include key words- so if I do a search, I can actually get results. Otherwise it is a glorified flickr or facebook album. I also have flickr and know when to use both!
Another thing- oh you opened the flood gates, is when people pin pictures that are complete tutorials- they take up half of my screen! And the super long descriptions do not belong in the pin! They should limit the characters!
I am done. Ha! I love your blog. Find me on pin-interest @ http://pinterest.com/aliciafig/
I absolutely love your blog! I discovered it on Pinterest and am currently working through the October challenge from last year (Paper and Digital Clutter). I haven't even begun to deal with the digital clutter yet, but I finally feel like I have a handle on the paper clutter. It's still all over the house, but the piles get smaller daily.
ReplyDeleteThe one snag I am running into right now are the pictures, children's artwork (I have four kids!), and greeting cards I keep running into while sorting through lists. It may be simple, but right now I am so overwhelmed with all the junk in the house I can't figure out what to do next sometimes. Do you have any suggestion for organizing these things? I'm new to your blog so I may have missed a post about it sometime back. If so, do you mind just redirecting me? Thanks so much for putting the time into this blog that you do!
Another tip I learned about using Pinterest is that you don't have to Follow ALL of someones boards. Some people have some really good pins but some of them do not interest me at all. I go on to their boards and "Unfollow" the boards that do not interest me. This keeps my Pinterest page free from posts that are not interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! I am just starting out on Pinterest and this tutorial was so helpful. Thank you for all the great tips :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! I would love an invite send to Lmgarciaz@yahoo.com. Thank you!! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED thi post. I, too, get really aggravated when I go to follow the link and it's to the blog, not the specific post. I have started re-pinning it correctly, with a note that says it is the correct link. Plus, the other day, I was happily scrolling down my page when out of nowhere there was a pin about using Pinterest to "Promote Your Business"!!!!!!! I admit, I became somewhat OCD and promptly commented that this was not the purpose of Pinterest, then made sure to unfollow that particular pinner.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I am afraid that it won't be too long before everyone has been invited to Pinterest and it becomes just as annoying as Facebook can sometimes be.
I would love to have an invite to Pintrest - I would help so much to have an organized site for my interests and to share.
ReplyDeleteI think it's also important to indicate in the comment to your Pin where it is from and what it is i.e. "October challenge to organize papers printable (from The Nest Effect)" or "Gingerbread recipe (from Gluten Free Goddess)" or "Photography tutorial (from AAPhotography)". Be descriptive and give recognition to the originator. It's respectful and makes it so much easier to go back and find items on your boards. I think because Pinterest is such a fad/trend right now that many people are pinning willy-nilly and then never go back and review what they did. Some organization is necessary :-)
ReplyDelete@gbradshaw -
ReplyDeleteI'd love to invite you to Pinterest, but I need your email address!