As I was browsing the morning headlines and quietly sipping my coffee, I came across an article from Entrepreneur entitled, "How Pinterest is Becoming the Next Big Thing in Social Media for Business". In case you haven't heard of it, Pinterest is the newest craze in social media at the moment. It is an online 'pin board' where you are able to share your favorite images that you come across on the Web. These can be images of anything you find useful, beautiful, exciting, helpful, etc. Brides-to-be, for example, may post a variety of different wedding venues that they like and get opinions about which one is best. Passionate cooks may post their favorite foods and recipes online and fashionistas may share the latest fashions and trends for the season. Now, while this is all fine and dandy, you may be wondering, where do businesses come in? 

The article explains that Pinterest is becoming the next big thing in social media for businesses because of its ability to use imagery to link back to your website. As the article puts it, "It works as a sort of virtual store catalogue." Pinterest also allows you to add a personal aspect to your business. Not only can you post images related to your company, but you can also share things that make you smile or images of what you find intriguing. Customers are able to see who you are as a company as well as who you are as a person. It builds stronger customer relationships and can strengthen your business approach in general. 

Of course, there are some downsides to the website that companies should keep in mind. The article points out that, "If your product or service isn't particularly visual, your images may not tie directly back to your brand. Pinterest also doesn't offer business-oriented features, and its search function prioritizes pin and board subjects ahead of "people," the category that brands would fall into." 

These drawbacks may, of course, be improved in the future as Pinterest continues to grow in size. As of today, Pinterest has registered a total of 7 million users since December and that number keeps on growing. To read the full article, please visit the website. 

Also, if you are just starting out and want to get acquainted with Pinterest, be sure to have a look at this short tutorial video below: