For the past six or seven months Pinterest has been the talk of the town —the web town that is. There has been so much chatter about the benefits of utilizing Pinterest to drive traffic to websites and increasing sales. When I first heard of Pinterest maybe back in November I thought…

Hey, slow down! I’m not ready for this. I’m still trying to build my following on Twitter, my Facebook page (at the time I only had one page for my Examiner small business column) could use a little lot more attention and engagement. I’m not even on LinkedIn yet, nor have I glanced at Foursquare —is that a social network, an app, mobile check-in, or all three? *scratches head and looks perplexed* Regardless of the answer (about Foursquare) I know that I’m not ready for Pinterest or any other ‘new’ social network. Besides I’m on Google+!

BUT

The emails, blog posts, news article, chatter on other social networks, and other business owners would not stop talking about the amazing visual site, Pinterest! So then I had to get serious…

Stop bombarding me with information about Pinterest. I’ll just stick to being good at the networks that I am already on. How’s that for social media strategy? And I heard about all the legal blurble (no, I didn’t make that word up). To be honest, I’d rather take naked pictures with a heart covering me than try to learn yet another ‘cool’ social network…

With those thoughts I believed that the Pinterest phenomenon would die down and everyone would continue to focus on the other top ranking social networks. Basically I thought if I never saw it, it would just go away —so I closed my eyes and left it alone…

Anyone that has been alive over the past few months knows that the Pinterest phenomenon did not die down it actually got crazier, but I continued to ignore it and stayed away. I simply don’t have the time or energy for yet another social network. I could be using that time to research a high profile client I’m trying to secure, or better yet catch up on watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta, New Jersey, or the O.C. (super guilty pleasure). *shrugs shoulders and continues living life with out Pinterest, or LinkedIn, or, —okay, okay you get the point.*

So as you can imagine life went on without Pinterest, until one day DUN, DUN, DUNNNNN…..

I saw Pinterest…and all of it’s beauty! After my first visit to the site the light bulb went off and I got it —(a) Pinterest is here to stay and (b) I need to be on there ASAP! But wait doesn’t that make me a hypocrite? I said, “Absolutely, NO MORE social networks…” I felt as though I was having an affair —after all I am in ♥love♥ with Pinterest…

SHHHHHH….said the inner voice in my head (yes I have an inner voice don’t judge me). Nobody knows you were having a strike on joining new social networks. Just map out what you would like to accomplish and get started! The inner voice was right. Call me human, I changed my mind! And with that I frantically began thinking of all the ways that Pinterest can work for me and my business…

I spent so much time thinking about the great things that Pinterest could do that it took me another three or four days to get started. I requested an invite and was accepted in less than 24 hours. I pinned blog posts, articles from my column, quotes, anything small business related, and some fun stuff too see for yourself. My next mission, of course….

Tell everyone that I know! I haven’t actually been as proactive as I should about this but I did make an announcement on Facebook and Twitter. I even had a little fun with it and tweeted out to a few of my followers in particular:

So far the best things about Pinterest is that it is very visual and Google loves it. One of my boards showed up in my Google alerts with in 3 – 4 hours after it was created!

Reasons a small business owner should start using Pinterest today:

1. Increase traffic to your website. Post pictures of blog posts that have great content and which ultimately can lead the viewer back your website to make a purchase. If you sell items (i.e. clothing, e-Books, anything!) you can create a board with each item and even list their prices. The better the pictures the better your chances of increased traffic back to your website or blog. Remember to use keywords where appropriate on your pins for increased SEO.
2. Post helpful pictures and articles related to your niche. A hair dresser might create a board showcasing the best summer hair styles, another board for prom hair styles, another for wedding ‘up do’s’, another with nail art, another with makeup, etc.
3. Connect with customers. Have a pin board where you feature current customers. This is a great way to engage current customers and peek the interest of future customers.
4. Learn. Search current customers boards and learn about their interests. Repin the pins that are somehow related to your niche/industry. Also by repinning current customers pins you are engaging them and their interests —great for building rapport!
5. Have fun! Look for humorous pics to add, famous quotes, things that don’t make sense, inspiration, etc., to share with your followers.

So to all my fellow small business owners that have not joined Pinterest to you I say…

What are you waiting for? Let’s do this! Join me on Pinterest, it is worth the time and effort that it takes to learn and manage a new social network. There is a plethora of knowledge online pertaining to succeeding with Pinterest for your small business. For starters Beth Hayden has shared 56 Pinterest marketing tactics on Copyblogger (you are gonna have to Google the rest and comb through over 46.2 million articles on your own!). With Pinterest you and your small business are sure to be #winning like Charlie Sheen or better yet Instagram….Oh shhhhh....not another social network! *slaps forehead and sighs*

Are you on Pinterest? If so, how has it helped your small business? If not, why? Leave your small biz diamonds (and link to your Pinterest boards) in the comment section below.

Have a successful day!

This post originally appeard on Small Biz Diamonds

Ashley Neal is an entrepreneur and small business advocate that enjoys writing about topics pertaining to small business.  She is the owner of Small Biz Writer, where she specializes in providing quality content online for small business owners which in turn increases visibility and sales. Additionally, Ashley is the editor/writer and publisher of her own small business resource blog Small Biz Diamonds. She also writes for Examiner.com as the Atlanta Small Business Examiner, and Future Simple’s small business blog: Growth University.

Images: All the pictures above are from FreeDigitalPhotos.net with the exception of the last picture (of the baby) I repinned it on one of my Pinterest boards :)