Constant Contact has been a leader in online marketing solutions for small businesses in the USA for over 14 years, so they certainly know their stuff. Here they share their wisdom on how your organisation can make the most of Pinterest.  

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest, a social media network that was invitation only until August 2012, is one of the hottest new tools for small businesses and non-profits. The trouble many small businesses and non-profits face, is figuring out how to utilise Pinterest to its fullest potential.

To make the most of this network, you must first understand what it is. So, let’s start with basics.

Pinterest is a scrapbook or pinboard that allows you to ‘pin’ websites and images that you like and want to refer back to later. It allows you to create categories or ‘boards’ that organise your thoughts, images, and websites and share all the fabulous things you find on the web. You can browse boards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration.

Get pinning!

One of the best things about Pinterest is that everything you pin is clickable, so you can link to your website or to a registration page to drive traffic back to your assets. When you pin a link, Pinterest pulls all images from that specific page and you can choose which image you would like to represent your link.

Just remember, you don’t want to only drive traffic back to your website. If you find a website or article that you like and think would apply to one of your boards, pin it. If you follow someone who pinned something you really liked, re-pin it!

Seven Pinterest tips for your non-profit

1. Pin your personality

According to Mashable, photo and video posts on Pinterest refer more traffic than Twitter, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, and Google+.

The best way to show your personality and increase web traffic, is to pin the great images you take as well as background information on your website. Then, go to Pinterest, pin that specific page from your website, and select the image you want to show your audience.

For example, if you own a non-profit pet shelter, create boards that link back to your adoptable pets, show volunteers working with the animals and  include behind-the-scenes photos.

2. Show your knowledge

You’re an expert in your field, so embrace it! Create a board all about your area of expertise.

Going back to the non-profit pet shelter example, you could create a board that links to tips on how to groom your pet, make homemade treats, and best ways to house train your pet. These boards are most effective when they link to websites, articles, and pins from sources other than your own.

3. Let your hair down

Pinterest is a great place to let loose a little.

Do you love quotes? Most people do. So why not create a Pinterest board with your favourite quotes and sayings?

Did you and your volunteers go on a fun field trip? Upload the images you took and show your followers the fun side of your non-profit.

4. Follow the pinner

Don’t forget to follow like-minded pinners and follow back the like-minded pinners who follow you! You can get a lot of inspiration from other non-profits using Pinterest.

Just remember, you don’t want to only drive traffic back to your website. If you find a website or article that you like and think would apply to one of your boards, pin it. If you follow someone who pinned something you really liked, re-pin it!

Pinterest is still a social network, so make sure you grow those relationships and interact with followers by re-pinning or commenting on their pins.

5. Share the love

Pinterest allows you to share your knowledge, images, and website with others all in one place. This is a HUGE advantage for non-profits. An important thing non-profits can do is build relationships with other charities.

Create a board for ‘Non-profits doing it right’ or ‘Charity tips and best practices’ and pin information you find from other non-profits. These pins could be about an event a non-profit is holding or a page all about their volunteers.

Constant Contact has a board for ‘Non-profit tips and best practices’. This board is geared towards marketing education, but your board can go in many different directions.

6. Raise money

That’s right! You can raise money on Pinterest!

Pinterest makes it really easy for you to hold an auction or sell a fundraising item. Simply add the pound sign and price in the description section of your pin, and Pinterest will automatically add a grey banner in the top-left corner of the image that will display the cost. The item will also be added to the ‘Gifts’ tab on the Pinterest homepage.

7. Connect the dots

Just like any other social network, you want to make sure you connect the dots by including the Pinterest logo anywhere your customers/volunteers/donors will see it.

You can download buttons and widgets from the Pinterest website. Using this page, you can also embed an entire board into your blog!

Make sure to include a Pinterest button within your:

• email signature
• email newsletter
• website
• signage at events and in office

There are so many ways to effectively use this fantastic tool. If you need a little bit more help you can check out this free guide that will get you started in no time. Happy pinning!

If you’re interested in guest blogging for ‘We make giving social’, drop us a line at wemakegivingsocial@justgiving.com