Pinterest is a photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests and hobbies. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, 're-pin' images to their own pinboards or 'like' photos. With over ten million unique U.S. visitors, it is by far the fastest growing social media channel.
If you are not familiar with Pinterest, it allows you to create or contribute to a series of boards. In the audio visual world, one such board might be "computer kiosks". You can complete a search on that term and find out what has already been pinned and re-pin the ideas you like onto this board. In addition, you can upload your own photos and videos.
How can this tool help promote your next event? Here are four ways you can use Pinterest effectively as originally presented by Arwin Adriano, Founder and Editor at EventChecklist.net and with added thoughts by myself, an active Pinterest user.
If you are looking for fresh and innovative design ideas, Pinterest is for you. If you type in the word "meetings" and click on boards, you will find over 150 boards that contain over 1,000 pins! You can re-pin ideas on your event boards and start to follow pinners of interest.
If you have a lot of small meetings, perhaps create a board for each meeting. You can create as many boards as you like and they are easy to delete if you find that too many were originally created.
Crowdsource Ideas
You can create different boards for your event including: Lighting, Meeting Room Layout, Audience Response Systems, Food, Beverage, Presenters and so on. You can re-pin ideas on these boards as well as upload your own pins. The owner of the board can designate as many pinners onto each board as they would like. Once there are a series of pins on each board, you can ask attendees to vote on the visual ideas they like.
This process not only engages your attendees, it also allows them to see how the lighting, room and food will look well before the event take place.
Linking to other Social Channels
When someone looks at a pin, they can like it on their Facebook page, Tweet about the pin or email the pin to someone else. Every time you pin something, your web or blog address should be below the pin to drive more traffic to these entities.
During and After the Event
Attendees can post photos and videos on the Pinterest site during and after the event if they have smartphones or if you rent iPads with the camera integrated into the tablet. Next year's potential attendees can see a visual summary of the event that can stay up on Pinterest long after the meeting is over. Attendees can also re-pin photos to their own boards.
Here are some other interesting facts about Pinterest as reported in the Huffington Post:
- 80% of all American Pinterest users are women
- Over 80% of all pins are re-pinned
- 57% of the users interact with food-related categories
- The average user spends 16 minutes on the site per visit
AV Event Solutions, now part of the SmartSource Rental company, wants to help you with state-of-the-art interactive technology tool rentals for your next meeting or event. Get started with our express quote form and an experienced Account Executive will return your inquiry within four business hours! And don't forget to check out their Pinterest Boards for great AV ideas!
