Small businesses across the country understand the importance of social media. There are sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn out there to connect with clients, reach out to other professionals and expand the awareness of the company. However, these big three aren't the only ones on the Internet. In fact, other sites can be just as beneficial for a budding venture.
One of those, for example, is Pinterest. This social media site is all about the visuals. Users can "pin" different projects, ideas and images to their page – called a "board" – and share these collections with others on the site. For a small business, this could be the perfect resource to expand the company. Pinterest is becoming increasingly popular, and its reach as well as widespread use provide a whole new wealth of opportunities once reserved only for Facebook or Twitter.
With that being said, a professional still has to figure out how to get the most out of Pinterest. To help, here are a few tips and tricks to upgrade this social media strategy and keep a financial plan on track:
Visual posts help attract customers
Today's society has grown increasingly visual. People want to see things more than anything, and that means a social media strategy that is heavy on this aspect can often be the most rewarding for a small business.
According to Forbes, Pinterest can be crucial for a company because posts with great visuals increase the amount of users. An exciting and engaging "pin" can be shared a high number of times, growing the following of the firm. Pinterest can appeal to both a small business' current audience and reach a completely new one thanks to social media. Before getting started, however, the employees behind the page should introduce themselves. It helps to have a personal touch online, so sharing a photo of these workers, their office space and other unique bits of information can help users feel more connected to the company.
In addition to photos, Pinterest can be a good place to share videos, Forbes noted. Sharing clips from the small business itself or a third party can help attract new users and direct traffic to the company's website and other social media pages. As a small business, the primary goal is to often provide relevant industry information and create a valuable source for potential and current clients. Social media – and Pinterest in particular – can do just that.
Think outside the box
One of the great things about social media is how affordable these websites are. It won't limit a financial plan from incorporating additional sites into a strategy, so there is little harm in experimenting or trying new things. Pinterest is a good example of that, and a small business may want to think outside the box when it comes time to post.
According to Entrepreneur magazine, consider creating unusual pinboards. While it can be tempting to rely on industry buzzwords and other standard phrases to populate the content, it can be helpful to go in a different direction. For example, a baker may want to post about historical recipes, bizarre locations to bake or other topics that may be of interest to their followers. Visuals can also be created in languages other than English. Throwing in some German, French or Spanish can be a great way to appeal to non-U.S. residents and further grow the reach of a small business.
Overall, social media is the perfect compliment to any financial plan. A small business should think about sites other than Facebook and Twitter, and Pinterest can be exactly what is needed to bolster the company and achieve success.