Pinterest - just don't get it.

[Former_Member]

Am I the only person that doesn't like Pinterest. It's totally confusing, plus I got spooked awhile back when there was some talk of threats about copyright violations that happen when users pin photos on the site without permission.

How do you use pinterest? Do you strictly use it for promoting your etsy store? That would get around the copyright problem, since you own your photos.

[TattooedAndChained]

I loved it for a minute, then I got spooked like you mentioned and I deleted most of my boards. Now I just pin my own items every now and then.

[Former_Member]

They sent us out new terms and conditions clarifying that the lack of copyright was an oversite when they designed the site. As far as I can tell they are not some evil image stealing site. Its nice for when your online and you see a cool site, blog, recipe, and you can pin it, find the site again. A visual book mark. I am not sure if it will influence my sales, but a whole lot of random strangers I do not know repin me and I occasionally pin up my work. In theory they may see my work and be interested. Fingers crossed right!

I think its very handy and you can make it private if you want to keep it for yourself!

[Former_Member]

I have a Pinterest account, but I pin maybe once a month. Honestly, I don't understand the 'addiction'. I think it's slow, a big hassle, and an overall a waste of time. I also don't like seeing my own items get pinned onto boards like "DIY" and "Craft Ideas."

Maybe I'm missing something. I love treasury curating, and a lot of curators love Pinterest, but I'm just not in that category. There are more effective ways of marketing your business, for sure, and their vague terms regarding self promotion guidelines annoyed me from the start.

[Former_Member]

Zoe, I'm right there with 'ya.

I've been seeing posts about Wanelo, and I'm not familiar with that. Is it like Pinterest?

[aliciawatkins]

I find Pinterest frustrating. When I get hits from it in my shop and try to find the "pin" so I can repin it myself and see what's happening with it, I find it nearly impossible to figure out where it's coming from...and it's especially frustrating to find someone's pinned one of my designs without a link to the shop and the sentence "I'm going to make one myself!" or onto their "DIY" board or some such.

Sigh.

[Former_Member]

I have a few blogs so I really only use Pinterest to pin photos taken by me - and I pin items from etsy in hopes that will drive traffic to people's stores. Other than that, for getting views or sales - I get a lot more interest from Wanelo - basically the same type of site for pinning products only. I've had a lot more people follow me there, save my items, and get views than Pinterest.

[Former_Member]

Just started pining some of my pieces, just have to wait and see if there is any benefit from it. Need to look at Wanelo dont know anything about it.

[Former_Member]

I love pinterest. To me, it's like sitting down with a new catalog and see what is in style, popular & being talked about. I'm a visual person though so I find it much more appealing that twitter & other sites that are mostly just words.

Too each his own, not everyone one loves Etsy, facebook & radar online. :)

[Former_Member]

Hi,
I do not think it was help me for sale :) but :) i sow great photos!
Lovely relaxing :)
Do not think about copyright ... Just Pin it !

[LittleBunnySueSue]

I am also a lover of Pinterest. I could spend all night on it pinning things. But like many have said, I'm not sure how much help it has given me with driving business to my Etsy shop. However it has been fantastic for getting traffic to my blog. I think it is a great tool for bloggers to share their work/posts. There are lots of DIYers on Pinterest so blogs that have tutorials would benefit from it.

[Former_Member]

Pinterest is really cool :)
It's so inspiring, there are so many cool things, but people are obsessed with copyright and stuff, it's like who CARES? it's just a photo...

[Former_Member]

I think as long as people don't take others photos and use them for their own money gain, there is no problem with pinterest, i use it and i like it :)

[Former_Member]

I mostly use Pinterest for personal needs, not business.... although I have pinned a few items from Etsy to help promote my fellow Etsians.

Typically, though, I use it to find new recipes or teaching tools (as I am entering Teacher's College in September).

[InsideSandysShop]

I have an account with pinterest but hardly ever pin any of my products. At least on pinterest you can find your items by typing in the search. I am also on Wanelo and have not yet figured out how to search for things. When I type in the search box there is no button to click to get it searching. I can't find anything on Wanelo.

[TheSandlapperShop]

I also enjoy Pinterest... although I am new to using it and the novelty may wear off. Not so much into Twitter.

[Enchanticals]

Debbie, thanks for the post. I feel the same way. I find it confusing. I had planned to really spent time on it tomorrrow and do boards of only my stufff.

But...

Thanks, I thought I was the only one.

Marsha, Enchanticals

[WolfandFirefly]

I'm not crazy about Pinterest, but I love Wanelo. I joined both Wanelo teams here on Etsy and since becoming active in them and on Wanelo, my sales have gone up enormously. :D For me, it is a wonderful advertising tool.

[Former_Member]

Arianrhod, how does Wanelo work? I joined a few months ago, but never really signed in again, lol.

[Beaderbeads]

I just pin away almost everyday mostly my beads. Don't really understand it but whatever I can do to drive traffic to my site. Pin it,tweet it and FB it. Plus going to try google pro and now from what I hear Wanelo...

[ShaynaMade]

I love pinterest!! I think mostly for organizing all the things I would normally put in my bookmarks folder - into a beautifully laid out "catalog" of sorts. I use it to:::::

~ sort the recipes I come across online and it helps soooo much when it comes time to planning dinner. Very inspiring. http://pinterest.com/shaynamade/let-s-eat-whole-healthy/

~ save down all the workouts that I love doing - I work out at home at least 5 days a week and it is so nice to just be able to scroll through and pick out which routines I'm going to do that day. Variety is the key for me!!
http://pinterest.com/shaynamade/tone-it-up/

~ keep track of all the awesome diy's I come across online :) http://pinterest.com/shaynamade/handmade-treasures/

~ and much much more!! I find it to be very inspiring!! :)

[WolfandFirefly]

Michelle,
It's pretty easy actually compared to most of them, at least for me. lol Since I joined the 2 Wanelo teams here, every morning, I choose one of my items that I think will do well on Wanelo, and I post it to Wanelo first, then I go to the teams and I post the Wanelo link for it in the daily trending saves discussion. Everyone who is active in the discussion, will save my item on Wanelo, and I will save all theirs. That gets all of our items up there in the trending quicker. :) The more saves you get on each item, the closer to the top of the front page you get and the more exposure your item gets. Items only trend for 48 hours, then they are put into the most popular category and slowly work their way up in that one, but it is the trending that brings in the most viewers and hopefully buyers. :) If you are interested, check out the wanelo teams here. They are great. :)

[spacefem]

I'm into it now.

It's like twitter, but for pictures instead of words. You follow your friends, find cool crafty stuff to make.

If it only use it to promote your etsy shop you're missing out... plus no one will follow you, they'll know you're self-promoting and how boring.

[Former_Member]

Hmm... Just logged in for the first time and have already become an addict, lol. Someone 'saved' one of my bracelets already! Woo!

[WolfandFirefly]

Michelle,
I think it's a good idea to create a collection on Wanelo that is just for your own items and maybe call it the same name as your etsy shop. :) I just followed you on there. lol :)