Module 7
Metrics and Analytics
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Activities/Assignments
Send @JessL and @erikasmith a tweet with your thoughts on A. Kaushik’s article on or before
What do you think of examples of Pinterest? Who do you follow on Pinterest? Can you share with us a board of an NGO or Non-Profit that exemplifies good use of Pinterest? Post your thoughts to the class blog or on Twitter
Assignment D - Social Media Plan: Facebook Page (Part 2) due via eClass
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I have a love hate relationship with Pinterest. Initially I joined because it was exclusive, arts, crafts, DIY, recipies and fashion. Now it feels like it's e-cards, pictures of cute guys, memes and people taking selfies of their nail polished finger tips. I hope I do not offend anyone, but I find that it lost some of its appeal because of that.
ReplyDeleteMy love for Pinterest though has prevailed, I am not on there as much as I used to be, and I do not follow as many people but when I do go on, I look up topics I like, and that in itself re-sparks that excitement I initially felt.
I do not look at Pinterest as a platform for non-profits. I cannot imagine joining for an organization. The more research I do, I do sort of get it, but ultimately I don't think it works for everyone. One account I do like and have been following is David Suzuki Foundation
I like following them, because to me it makes perfect sense. It's a nature based organization, and pictures are powerful in that regard. There are great environmental tips, DIY ideas, photos and strong positive messaging.
I agree with Victoria about Pinterest as a platform for non-profits. There's not a lot of information available unless you know exactly what you're looking for, and even then specific sites for groups are not that useful.
ReplyDeleteI did find some helpful information about fundraising that I will apply to my own non-profit, but overall I had to use the Save the Children example provided in an article as a good one, because the research that I did was not that helpful.
What I did find helpful about Pinterest, and the reason that I've avoided it until now, was that there are so many interesting workout examples, tips, hints and videos, exercise plans, nutrition plans, gear suggestions, etc. that I find it to be a complete time suck! I learned a lot, but also wasted a lot of time there that I couldn't afford!
That being said, I would include it on my Facebook page as a way to encourage people to share information, pictures, photos, etc. so that everyone can share the information.
I agree with Victoria, too. Pinterest, like many other social media channels, can quickly become a platform of little to no value for business or non-profit organizations if content is only being mentioned or posted to get more likes or "pins." it seems that it has become just another outlet for silliness.
ReplyDeleteUNLESS...you're willing to spend some time on it and use it as a valuable tool. My wife is addicted to Pinterest, but she actually uses it to find valuable information, either for her own hobbies (i.e.: designs, crafts, baking, household ideas) or for learning. I don't really use Pinterest yet, as I have not understood the appeal - but then, that's how I was with Facebook and Twitter way-back-when, at first, as well. :-)
But obviously, Pinterest is here to stay, and there are many organizations using it effectively. According to Piqora Research, on average (as of Q4 2013), a Pin generates 78 cents in sales (up by 25% from Q4 in 2012), two site visits and six page views, while 50 per cent of orders happen after 2.5 months of pinning. When a product is on Pinterest – it signals that the product is worth buying. That creates a strong latent demand for products. Popular pins continue to get discovered via search and navigation. On average, a Pinterest Pin generates more than 10 Repins – Pins are 100x more viral than tweets, which on average only get retweeted 1.4 percent.(1)
After evaluating various non-profit organizations that use Pinterest, I found both good and bad examples. Those that were effective seemed to focus on one message or use, rather than try to make it a "whole lot of everything."
10.Use the @ feature in the comment box to tag specific people (like other social networks).
11.Use keywords to name your Pinterest boards, board descriptions, and pin descriptions for search engine optimization (SEO).
12.Add a Pinterest share button to your website and URL on your business cards.
What I like most about Pinterest is that it’s visually-appealing and easy to use. If I’m perusing the web, and I come across a really cool image, I can “pin” the image to my Pinterest board.
Haydon (2013) warns that, like the other social media networks, Pinterest is not a place to blatantly promote your organization. He notes, "You will turn people away if you constantly push your cause. Instead, pin images that capture the lifestyle and essence of your organization, while building a community of potential donors and volunteers who share the same interests."(2)
An organization that has used Pinterest well, in my view, is the American Red Cross. The organization's Pinterest page features a dedicated board sharing some of its history, including when the organization started and the different disaster relief events it has supported over the years.
ENDNOTES:
(1) blog.piqora.com/pinterest-roi-study and blog.hubspot.com/marketing/roi-pinterest-pin-data-nj
(2) Hoshino, N. (2012). Pinterest: "12 ways to use Pinterest for your non-profit." JohnHaydon.com. Retrieved from
◦There’s an 82 percent jump in Repin/Pin Ratio for some brands with Rich Pin integration. Rich Pins may increase a brand’s reach on Pinterest
I agree with Victoria, too. Pinterest, like many other social media channels, can quickly become a platform of little to no value for business or non-profit organizations if content is only being mentioned or posted to get more likes or "pins." it seems that it has become just another outlet for silliness.
ReplyDeleteUNLESS...you're willing to spend some time on it and use it as a valuable tool. My wife is addicted to Pinterest, but she actually uses it to find valuable information, either for her own hobbies (i.e.: designs, crafts, baking, household ideas) or for learning. I don't really use Pinterest yet, as I have not understood the appeal - but then, that's how I was with Facebook and Twitter way-back-when, at first, as well. :-)
But obviously, Pinterest is here to stay, and there are many organizations using it effectively. According to Piqora Research, on average (as of Q4 2013), a Pin generates 78 cents in sales (up by 25% from Q4 in 2012), two site visits and six page views, while 50 per cent of orders happen after 2.5 months of pinning. When a product is on Pinterest – it signals that the product is worth buying. That creates a strong latent demand for products. Popular pins continue to get discovered via search and navigation. On average, a Pinterest Pin generates more than 10 Repins – Pins are 100x more viral than tweets, which on average only get retweeted 1.4 percent.(1)
After evaluating various non-profit organizations that use Pinterest, I found both good and bad examples. Those that were effective seemed to focus on one message or use, rather than try to make it a "whole lot of everything."
What I like most about Pinterest is that it’s visually-appealing and easy to use. If I’m perusing the web, and I come across a really cool image, I can “pin” the image to my Pinterest board.
Haydon (2013) warns that, like the other social media networks, Pinterest is not a place to blatantly promote your organization. He notes, "You will turn people away if you constantly push your cause. Instead, pin images that capture the lifestyle and essence of your organization, while building a community of potential donors and volunteers who share the same interests."(2)
An organization that has used Pinterest well, in my view, is the American Red Cross. The organization's Pinterest page features a dedicated board sharing some of its history, including when the organization started and the different disaster relief events it has supported over the years.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Retrieved from blog.piqora.com/pinterest-roi-study and blog.hubspot.com/marketing/roi-pinterest-pin-data-nj
(2) Hoshino, N. (2012). Pinterest: "12 ways to use Pinterest for your non-profit." JohnHaydon.com. Retrieved from www.johnhaydon.com/2012/01/17/12-ways-use-pinterest-for-your-nonprofit
Sorry for the repeat post. Obviously, the "preview" doesn't work. It just publishes and there were errors in the first post. Why does "preview" not work?
ReplyDeleteAlso, please note that in the second last paragraph, I attribute the thoughts and quote to Haydon. It should be to Hishino. The comments appeared on Haydon's site. I apologize for the confusion.