On Friday, I finally took the plunge. I decided to do something with my Pinterest account...something I had "set up" maybe a month ago, but didn't really do anything with it and didn't get it. I had read a few posts on it...and still didn't get it. I even signed up for an inman webinar to learn about it...but alas, I had the wrong date on my calendar and missed it by 24 hrs.
A week or two later, I found a video so that helped. But...I still didn't do anything with it. (Sound familiar?). It's hard. I'm sooooo busy right now.
But, I knew it would be something good for me to do, especially since I knew I could get some links back to my website.
Last week's Rain Camp webinar finally got me off the bench and prompted me to give it a whirl, and I have to say, it is fun and easy. In fact, very fun and very easy.
I realized that this can really help my biz in several ways (aside from the side benefit of connecting w/ more potential customers:
1. I can get some more backlinks to my website. In fact, this time, when I checked pinterest.com/source/yourwebsite, I found that both of my websites already had 3 backlinks. That was cool! They were pretty pictures of floors and kitchen and the comments made me realize there are so many out there looking for design ideas for their homes, especially for kitchens. It then reminded me of so many customers I met with who were redoing their kitchens and had folders of pictures they clipped from magazines for design ideas, and this is basically the same thing but online...and easier and faster.
2. This is a great way to show some of my customers design ideas...while I'm in their home. On Friday night, I went over to a nice customer's home to pick up a deposit check. We are doing a lot of work with them before they move in. But, after they move in (and when we have more time to stay in the home), we are going to be doing more work and they are already talking about design ideas for the powder room and kitchen. The husband went to his iPad to share some ideas and help visualize what I was describing to his wife. And, then it hit me...I should be doing this!
3. This will help me when I don't have the right sample in my car. As you know, "I bring the store to your door," but I can't fit everything in my car so this will help extend my collection. I can have pictures of other types of floors, borders, etc. I think it will really help find the right items and save me some time.
There really are so many ways I can use this tool, and I'm so excited about the possibilities!
Okay, so I'm just getting started now and finding my way around. Here's what I did to start:
1. I created some topics for the pinboards - ones I thought were relevant for my biz (e.g. Cool hardwood floors, Floors that score, Kitchens that Kook, Backsplashes that make a splash).
2. Then, I added some non work related/fun ones (e.g. Dream homes, Places I'd love to visite, Waterfalls, Funny)
3. Then, I went to both of my websites and pinned a few photos that I though were pretty and others might like (and classified them in the appropriate pin board.
4. Then, I went to find the "pin it" bookmarklet to make it faster/easier. (to be honest, at first I had some challenges with this, but finally I got it to work).
5. I then went to one of my vendor's websites (I remembered that they upgraded their website a couple of months ago and added a pin it button). I thought this was smart and soon I will add one.
6. I then went to follow a few people. These were people that I knew that Pinterest suggested (most likely because I'm connected to them on Facebook - several from AR and some local friends). I then checked out some of their boards and got some good ideas for other boards. When I saw a picture I liked (and it fit into one of my boards, I repinned it. Really, it was so simple!
7. Then, I learned that if I hit the Pinterest button at the top of the page, it takes me to the "home" page where I can see others to connect with and importantly, the latest pins from my friends. Again, some cool and pretty pictures that i repinned.
So, I'm excited about the possibilities here. I'm jazzed that Pinterest is super attractive to women, esp those who are looking for style and design ideas, so it seems like a great fit for my target audience. Knowing what they are looking for is now making me think of new blog posts and webpages to add w/ cool pictures that I can pin (and then hope get repinned).
Feel free to check out my pinterest page and learn with me. I decided to call myself The Flooring Girl on there.
I'm open to ideas and suggestions, especially since I'm just learning this platform. There's a lot I want to do and create, but I figure it's better to do a bit at a time.
Hardwood Flooring - Carpet - Tile/Natural Stone - Laminate - Refinish Hardwood - Backsplashes
"The Flooring Girl"
Debbie Gartner, "The Flooring Girl" and owner of Floor Coverings International Westchester NY
You can download our free flooring guide. Or, visit our flooring selector - 2,000 options. We install hardwood floors, carpeting and runners, tile floors and backsplashes.
Call us for a free estimate 914-937-2950.
"We bring the store to your door."
If you enjoyed what you are are reading, feel free to 
to my blog.
WC19920-H07, HIC619252
Debbie: Something many don't take into account are the SEO benefits of joining sites like Pinterest. Do-follow links from high PR sites pointing back to our main sites is what we all should be after.
Sounds like an interesting tool. I just noticed it this morning on my website (through REMAX Result) and was wondering what it was? Where have I been?
Wow, just more stuff to learn, but great stuff it is :)! Will have to come back and absorb more of your post later, however, suggested for now :)!
I'm already overwhelmed but bookmarked your post and hopefully you'll be able to give me some help on this-sounds like fun and very valuable!
Anita - Exactly, and over time, I think these will become even more important for SEO.
Chuck - Yes, you should try it out.
Brenda - Thx so much. It's actually much easier to learn than I thought. Certainly much easier than facebook.
Joanna - It's really easy. Trust me.
great stuff on pinterest! this could definitely help increase traffic and business to anyone.
Hi Debbie,
With everything going on with all the "new type ways" of getting links back to the web sites of our choice.
How difficult is all this anyway.
I want a "SIMPLE WAY" of doing things.
Best, Clint McKie
I finally took the plunge too Debbie! I'll have to track you down and follow your boards :)
Debbie ~ I have been there.. but need to refine what i have. I set it up before not understanding how to incorporate more of me and backlinks so just a few adjustments and it will be useful.. and fun! Having the Pin It bar makes it so easy...
Debbie - well this is timely! I have a to do list that grows longer by the day minute! I have been wanting to check deeper into this and now, thanks to you, I am going to check it out. Suggested!
Uber concierge - thx. Yes, it really can help.
Clint - It really is surprisingly easy. I was intimidated before I tried it, and now I see how quick & easy it is.
Christine - excellent. Oh, I will have to find youl, too!
Janis - Yes, I'm glad I waited a bit so I now I get this. But, it's so easy to edit and redo. I redid several that I messed up. Glad we are following each other and learning together.
I wrote down "Pinterest" on my note pad a few days ago and will check it out as soon as I get a chance. Thanks for the info!!
Barbara - Excellent! I''m so glad this will help! Love the new profile picture.
Fred - Excellent. I hope you do!
Debbie....I have been holding out on Pinterest. I'm feeling overwhelmed & that I just do not have enough time to add this in. But you make some good arguments. I may need to jump on the bandwagon.
Christine - I can relate. That's exactly how I felt. Listening and observing has made me realize there is a lot of opportunity and getting in sooner rather than later has its advantages.
One more thing for me to "back burner" Debbie..........but I'm glad it's working for you.
Debbie- I haven't utilized the site for my real estate business but it's definitely been beneficial to our rental/design business. It's all the rage for future brides and we deal with those on a daily basis. I like searching it for recipes!
Debbie, I've read good and bad references to Pinterest especially about copyright issues. I like the ideas of the back links though. I'm still on the fence, but will check it out. Some good pluses in you post.
Debbie...
Pinterest scoffs at Copyright law and has built an industry based on the theft of itellectual property by its members.
Can you guess that I am NOT a fan?
I can see how Pinterest could be useful but just can't bring myself to use it. I have taken to browsing it when bored and end up getting distracted there far too long!
Gretchen
Debbie, you have done a great job here...i need to do it but haven't had the time to focus on it. On my agenda!
Hi Debbie,
I saw that you are following me - nothin posted yet - sorry ;)
I have been following Pinterest for a bit - RainCamp primer on it was great.
It is on my short list of To-Do's for the reasons you note above.
Excellent "how-to" post on not only Pinterest but the value you see in working it. Congratulations on the feature!
Debbie, I can see the value potential in Pinterest, but at this point I'm not willing to sacrifice other things we're doing to make that social outlet work too. I've hit my limit on capability for more activity while we're in our spring/summer busy season.
Congrats on the feature~ I'm glad to see you jumped right in. There will be those that will scoff and only see the negative. But with millions of users, this is going to be a hard one to "pin" down.. pun intended. I just love it and find my clients are BOOMING because of it. And if others won't join, it's ok, we get all those back links that they are choosing to ignore ;-)
Hi debbie, Good job on getting started because for your business pictures of flooring might just get you some pins and repins. You're well on your way! thanks for sharing!
Roger - Thx I was pleasantly surprised at how quick/simple. I now see why it's catching on.
Margie - yes, I can really see how it's great for design ideas, so it fits right in to what I'm doing.
Michael - yes, I need to brush up more on this and I'm being careful. I believe you are fine if you attribute the source.
Richard - Never would have guessed. Kidding. I do need to read up on this more and I'm trying to always attribute.
Joni - Yes, that's what I'm thinking. As I'm driving I keep coming up w/ more ways it can help me.
Gretchen - Yes, I can understand that.
Ginny - I know you will get to it soon
Andre - LOL, Yes, I noticed that. But when you do pin your really cool photos, I'll repin them for you.
Emily - Thank you so much. Yes, I'm in the learning phase, so I figured my newness would help others that are new.
Debbie- I was on that call too on Friday however I missed a big piece of it as I already had clients scheduled for that day. I missed the part on Pinterest so I will have to dig deeper into this. I appreciate your information and congrats on your feature!
Debbie. Pinterest is a hot topic now and sounds like a perfect match for your business and creativity. I am unsure what it would do for Realtors, outside of a nice fun diversion. Can anyone just log into the Pinterest site or do you need an invite, as it says on the signup page?
Debbie - I have this on the back burner just like you did. Just don't have the time now. I can imagine that this could be your online catalog, so to speak. Took a quick peek at what you have done and it looks great.
Hi Debbie!!!! Welcome to Pinterest. I've found it useful as an online presentation board to share with design clients. Sounds like you've hit on that too!
I have been trying to figure this out for days (not really trying but thinking about trying a lot). Your post has at least helped me identify what it even is LOL
Hi Debbie, I would think that this type of network would be a natural for your line of business since the flooring aspect is so visual.
What great ideas! Like you I've been procrastinating, but you've given me incentive to get with the program. I'm thinking the iPad will be the perfect way to interface with Pinterest, sitting on the couch or on the deck instead of at my desk.
Wow! I'm impressed. You have inspired me. Thanks for tip about gaining backlinks to your website.
Having read your blog ….. saying it’s easy and fun …. has made me give it a try.
I just joined Pinterest after an agent friend said I should. I was going to looking into it more today and your blog made me more interested. Great topic. Wish you the best in driving traffic to your site.
How do you create these backlinks from pins to your website?
Debbie, thanks for the tips, I've been thinking of asking someone for an invite to try it, but was hesitant. You've eliminated it, I'm asking my FB friends for an invite now.
Debbie: Had gone to "follow" you on Pinterest and saw you were indeed there ... but non-participatory at that point. Glad to hear that you're up and running. Will now make sure I re-pin as much as possible and follow your additions in the future ... and hopefully pass all your wonderful ideas on too. It's fun, isn't it? Your mind can just go wild on how to use this site! Hope you find me too! Enjoy and best of luck with your efforts ...
Gene
Hi Debbie, I'm approx a month or so behind you. Just can't seem to get the hang of it !
Debbie! Thanks for this reminder, we all have so much on our plate it is good to just block some time and JUST DO IT.
Great info Debbie! I was on the raincamp call and am very intrigued....just not sure where the extra time is going to come from.....
Debbie, Pinterest is growing with about 60% women users, and has to be looked at with all other social media. Thanks for passing on your experience and passion and enthusiasm for it to the rest of us....
Debbie I keep on hearing about Pinterest, but I have not checked it out. I might just have to set some time aside to do that.
Bliz - Yes, I know that feeling oh too well. But, the more I thought about this, the more I saw the relevance and advantage it could provide to my biz.
Tammy - LOL, I so agree and I love seeing you on there. It's nice to have another friendly face, and I've repinned several of yours.
Taft Street Realt - Yes, there is definitley more relevance for my biz.
Stephanie - Thank you so much. I believe they recorded it, so you can listen to the part you missed. I feel like I need to review several things.
Nancy - Yes, it's definitely a bit more relevance to my biz Chris Smith seemed to have some good ideas for agents. Right now, you need to request an invite and I believe it takes abt 48 hrs to then get the invite.
Barbara - Thank you so much. Yes, and that's what I was thinking too. I'm looking forward to make this work.
Thanks for your input. I have it on my list of things to do, but it seems to be slipping down the list.
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for a great article, like you I did not get it. I posted some pictures followed a few boards but still did not get it, until i read your article.
"Creating boards relevent to my business" set the light bulb on. Thank You
I also love the way you use white space on your blog
regards
Ebrahim
Julia - Good for you. yes, that is part of my plan. Very excited about it.
Ricky - Good, I'm so glad. Yes, I had been stewing it about in my mind for a month or two trying to understand the relevance and just this last week or so, it came together for me.
Sandy - Yes, I think it fits right in. You're right.
Dianne - Oh yes, you are so right. I so wish I had an iPad. Soon I think I'll have no choice.
Michael - excellent and thank you.
Barb - Oh good, I'm so glad to hear that!
Rosaline - Excellent. You should.
John - O good, I'm glad this is so timely. Go for it!
Linda - The easiet way is to install the pin it button (see the link above). Then, you go to your site and find the page w/ the picture and then push the pin it button in ythat you installed.
I'm playing with it too Debbie. I think it is a neat new thing and not everything must be about business. It is some fun too!
Hi Debbie~Reading your blog I thought at first you were talking about me. I've signed up, and have looked at it a couple of times but haven't done anything yet. I'm going to have to just "DO IT."
Have an AWESOME evening!
Hi Debbie, we are going to tackle this this week. We missed that webinar too!
Debbie- I can always count on you to lay it all out for us! I've been on Pinterest and loved it, then backed off for a bit when everyone was concerned about copyright. I still love it probably because I'm more of a visual person. I went to your board and am following you!
Debbie - We too have joined the pinterest league for a better expression but have not had enough time to really get into it.... Must find this time.... must find this time..... Looks very good what you are doing and we are sure you will be successful as you always are....
Debbie.....it is a bit addictive isn't it! I just "followed" your boards...check out mine at Sensational Home Staging
Debbie:
About a month ago I attended a Chris Smith webinar on Pinterest. He sold me. The next day I spent about 2 hours creating boards, pinning photos and checking out others sites. I had a ball, but I have been so busy I only manage to visit my site once a week. I need to spend at least half an hour every other day on my boards. Glad you took the plunge. It does have lots of possibilities.
Debbie - I signed up a few months ago, and I still need to go do something with it.
Virginia - Excellent. BTW, you don't need to ask a person for an invite. Instead, go to the site and request an invite. I think it takes about 48 hrs.
Gene - Oh thank you. I just followed you back and repinned a couple of yours.
Bill - After I hung out for about an hour, it sunk in.
Eileen - Yes, it had been on my list for several weekends and I just finally got to it and glad I did.
Marti - Oh I know. the good news is that this is very quick and seems way less time consuming than facebook.
Gary - Thank you so much. and, for my biz, yes, the women are even more important as they are often the key decision maker.
George - Yes, you should. I'm glad I did.
Debbie, just be careful.....it can be very addicting ;o).
The first time I received a message that "so and so" is following you on Pinterest I thought that's really cool and kind of intimidating. Now I want to make sure my stuff is "Post Worthy"!
Someone in my home plays on Pinterest a lot. Help! I think it is probably addicting so I am not going near it.
Kathy - I can relate. My list keeps getting longer.
Ebrahim - Oh good, I'm so glad it clicked. It took me a while.
Cheryl - LOL, you're so funny. Thx for the reblog and I followed you and repinned a couple.
Erica - Yes, this actually is a combo and that's why I like it.
Michael - Yes, I think so many of us have been feeling the same way.
Morgan - Excellent. I'm so glad to hear that.
Kathy - thank you. You are so sweet. I'm following you, too and I think I repinned a couple of yours.
Robert & Lisa - Excellent. I think I may be following you. If you signed up already, just spend 30 mins one day and then come back another day for 30 mins and you should be in good shape.
I also love using Pinterest and it's a very good way to for Personal Branding and showing others your interests and what you can offer.
Hi Debbie...Yes Pinterest is becoming increasingly popular, and as you said it is easy and fun to use! Cheers. Ryan.
Mike - Yes, I really agree.
Ryan - So glad you agree, too.