Andrea Eldridge
for GalTime.com
wrote an amazing article in the Huffington Post on February 19, 2014. I have
made a summary for you, since the original is quite long. If you want to read
the whole article, click here.
Pinterest
is a fun way to create and share a visual, digital collection of the things you
like, want to try or find appealing. Its images that link to webpages -- a
mouthwatering picture of a pie takes you to the recipe, or an image of a scarf
takes you to a blog post with a DIY tutorial.
You can pin anything you find on the
web, your own images, or re-pin something another Pinterest user has posted.
Follow pinners with similar interests and as you share cool stuff other users
will start to follow you. If you want to make the most of what Pinterest has to
offer, though, there are some common mistakes to try to avoid. Here are the
twelve top things that anyone who has used Pinterest has probably done at least
once.
1.
Re-pinning
without verifying that the weblink is legit: Before
you repin, take a second to follow the pin to its destination. If don't confirm
that the pin points to a legitimate website, you could be inadvertently aiding
in the spread of spam or malware.
2.
Forgetting
to update the pin description when you re-pin: Make sure that the description is clear, uses proper
grammar, and doesn't reference someone else's children.
3.
Neglecting
to pin original content: Re-pinning
stuff you see on Pinterest is quick and easy, but pinning links to cool images,
stories, crafts or recipes you find while surfing the net is what's going to
make your boards fresh and unique.
4.
Not
including searchable terms in your pin description: If you want to make it easy for other Pinterest users to
find things you pin using Pinterest's search function, use accurate search
terms in your pin descriptions and board names.
5.
Expiring
pins: Periodically, check through your
content to see that your pins still link to the intended content and purge
those pins that send you to dead pages.
6.
Using #hashtags
in your description: Did you forget that you aren't on
Twitter?
7.
Not
picking the right images: If you
want your pins to stand out, they have to include engaging, beautiful or
adorable images. Make sure you choose an image that isn't too small, blurry, or
low quality.
8.
Going on a
pinning bender: Decide on a reasonable time limit
before you launch the Pinterest site and stick to it. The pins will be there
tomorrow, I promise.
9.
Following
someone just because they follow you: This
is a no-no.
10. Lack of organization One
caveat: too many boards can be just as overwhelming. If you find yourself with
a bunch of boards that have just one or two pins on them, it may be time to
consolidate.
11. Pinning gift ideas to public pages: Keep a few ideas to yourself by pinning them to a board
you've made private if you want to take credit for being amazing.
12. Forgetting to save the stuff you REALLY want to more than
one place: If it's really important, save it
(not just the web-link) somewhere else like Dropbox so that you can have a copy
even if the original content moves or gets taken down.
Andrea Eldridge is CEO of Nerds On Call, which offers onsite computer and laptop repair to homeowners and small
businesses. Based in Redding, Calif., it has locations in five states. Contact Eldridge at www.callnerds.com/andrea.
Andrea Eldridge is CEO of Nerds On Call, which offers onsite computer and laptop repair to homeowners and small
businesses. Based in Redding, Calif., it has locations in five states. Contact Eldridge at www.callnerds.com/andrea.
