Should Your Business Be on Pinterest?

For those who are not familiar, the new social network, Pinterest, works like a virtual pinboard. Users can add photos, videos and other content using a “Pin It” button, and then save, upload, sort or manage that content on personal pages. The Pinterest network has almost 12 million unique visitors a month!

But with a recent study saying nearly 40 percent of business owners are working harder–and 27 percent are struggling to keep their businesses afloat–is Pinterest worth your time?

Small businesses are using Pinterest to create and engage with a community of followers. Through Pinterest, you can tell your unique story through creative boards. Pinterest offers another level of relationship building with the community, while helping to drive traffic, create new customers and build brand loyalty. The unique network allows for you to share much more than just your products and/or services. It gives the customer a peek inside!

But if your company is not comfortable sharing ideas that are not necessarily about your own company or its products–and do not have time to devote to doing Pinterest properly – you may not want to get on board.

Example: Little Mom on the Prairie posts her blog posts on Pinterest, but also craft and recipe ideas from other blogs, too.
The social network can be a real asset, but you need to be active to continually engage a target audience. Just as with Facebook and Twitter, it is about community, and businesses should feel comfortable pinning images, news, tips and even other products that aren't necessarily from its company. 

Have you tried Pinterest? What has been the result?