What do Barack Obama, General Electric and Nordstrom Have in Common?

By Erika Briceno, Assistant Account Executive

…Pinterest!  Six months ago, my boyfriend referred to Pinterest as “the holy grail of social platforms for women;” however, it has quickly evolved into so much more.

Garnering more traffic than Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn combined, Pinterest is fast becoming the leader in social sharing. Just recently, adding to the site’s 10 million+ users was Barack Obama.

Pinterest is no longer simply a site to plan future weddings or research new recipes, it has evolved into a digital space to ideate and inspire, while effectively positioning brands and products.

If your brand is on the fence about joining Pinterest, here are three main reasons as to why they should get on board and start pinning:

1. Strike while the iron is hot - Pinterest users have increased by more than 145% since January of this year. At the rate this ‘invitation-only’ platform is growing, it could outpace some of the leading social media platforms in the near future.
2. The scope of pinning has evolved - Pinterest is no longer a female-centric platform.  Male pinners are joining on a daily basis, totaling more than 20% of users. Due to their broad member demographic, it is an increasingly beneficial outlet for free digital marketing.
3. Your competition is already pinning- Brands on Pinterest are receiving media attention for being innovators in the social sphere. Current top brands on Pinterest include Whole Foods, Michaels, Home Depot, Nordstrom and Martha Stewart, amongst others. Due to the high referral rates on Pinterest, competing brands are reaching a much larger audience than ever before.

Brands are not the only ones jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon. Publications, personalities, news outlets, bloggers and more have also taken note, including the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Ellen DeGeneres, and Mashable.  This platform of discovery and exploration is helping brands and marketers drive traffic to their sites and tell their story.

In order to compete in the social sphere with Barack Obama, General Electric and Nordstrom; Facebook and Twitter presence will not be enough. You have to join Pinterest. Happy pinning!