Sage Words

Launched in March of 2011, interest in Pinterest is growing exponentially.  As of this writing Pinterest is the 19^th most visited website in the US and is the 102 most visited site globally. Check out the S-shaped graph from Alexa.com below.

I first took note of Pinterest on Facebook when a few of my artsy friends started sharing their pinboards.  I browsed around and assumed the site was for interior designers and crafty types.  While that is true, there are a wide variety of people, places and a growing number of nonprofits joining Pinterest.

Still haven’t checked it out?  Imagine an online corkboard/organizer, a place where you can pin pictures of items you are working on or anything that makes you smile: your interests or hobbies.  Pinterest allows you to pin or upload images from websites and blogs into collections.  The collections are often beautiful, inspirational and what seems to be unique to Pinterest the collections are often aspirational.  Below is a pinboard of nonprofits by Noland Hoshino, visit it here.

I realize many social media sites come and go, and you are probably wondering, “Do I really need to open an account?”

My answer is of course always – go claim your name!  Pinterest is still invitation only, you can visit the site to request one.  Be patient it takes a few days before you receive the invitation in your inbox.  Now I also realize you may be thinking, “Not another website, profile and password to keep up with, I don’t have the time.” But, Pinterest is different and something worth considering.

If your nonprofit has a visually compelling story to tell, Pinterest is a perfect showcase.   It is a beautiful platform and social sharing site – serving as both a destination and experience for members.  Pinterest provides a showcase to display your nonprofit’s mission and is a virtual place for your supporters to connect with your organization.   And, there are some very tactical reasons why your nonprofit should consider using the site.

In January this year, Pinterest drove more traffic to websites than LinkedIn, Google Plus, Reddit, and Youtube — combined.  How does it work? Pinners, as its members are called, will “repin” or share your photos, message and mission.   Every time someone repins an image to their board they are building a link back to your website.   More links to your website gives more people a chance to discover your organization in the sea of nonprofits online.  And, more links to your site is always good for SEO.

Still not sold on “Pinning”?  Here are some additional resources to bring you up to speed.

HOW TO: Get Your Nonprofit Started on Pinterest

12 Tips to Pinterest Your Nonprofit’s Interest

Should Your Nonprofit Be On Pinterest? (Part 1)

56 Ways to Market Your Business on Pinterest (Take these lessons and apply them to your Nonprofit.)

A Scrapbook on the Web Catches Fire

What do you think of the web’s hottest social media site? 

Patricia Tynan
Sage Nonprofit
Social Media & Community