So the new hot Social tool that has stolen traffic from Facebook, Youtube and other popular sites is Pinterest. It’s pretty easy to use and super addictive. I think it’s essential for all e-retailers and businesses that lend themselves to artistic imagery (photography, magazines, clothing…the list goes on) to get listed on it.

Sites like Etsy, Hattie are already gaining more customers by listing products under Gifts under $50. Various bloggers have gained a huge following for their blogs by posting under DIY crafts, wedding, baby products etc. So it’s a great venue for bloggers to gain some free visibility too.

How to get started on Pinterest?

To get started on Pinterest is relatively easy. Once registered, go ahead and add a pin or upload a pin (they have an iphone app, so snap away) and create boards of your own.

You can start following people by repining the images you like. You can create your own boards based on categories like ‘Home’, ‘Wedding’, ‘Food’ etc and pin the images to those categories.

A little etiquette….

Be creative when creating pins. Unleash the inner artiste. But please give credit back to the original website from where you have taken the pin.

You can even explore other categories like Art, DIY, Fitness etc and feel inspired, in the least.

I think a lot of folk who are done with commenting on other people’s babies, weddings or vacation pictures and are looking for a new escape and they seem to have found one re-pining it! So online retailers better be listening, acting and engaging.