Who gets paid when you pin on Pinterest?

I have 2,059 followers on Pinterest today. I don't obsess about it like I did here, so, when I reached the 2,000 benchmark sometime last week, it was a surprise. I know it doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things, but it matters to me because it reflects my connection to the rest of the world. And, I like that about Pinterest. Sharing ...

Around the time my counter crossed that 2,000 mark, I received a message via e-mail from Pinterest addressing the "testing" of what they're calling "promoted pins."  In the back of my mind, I knew it was just a matter of time before PAID advertising came to Pinterest. And, that message explained how the test would go.

Then, while catching up on my e-mail this morning, I was lead to this article about Pinterest. The article came from AD AGE.

Pinterest Will Test Promoted Pins -- but Won't Charge for Them (Yet)
By Cotton Delo, Published September 19, 2013
Part of Social-Bookmarking Company's Inevitable March Toward an Ad Business

So, now I have questions. How will that affect the overall appearance of Pinterest? Will the "advertisements" appear as pins? Don't a lot of advertisers already do that? Don't a lot of pinners already do that for a lot of companies?

For example, I have a pin board for Soft Surroundings. It's a catalog of fashions for women and the home and seems targeted to middle aged folks and I receive e-mails from them as well as printed catalogs via USPS at home.  By pinning the items I like to my pin board, aren't I already "advertising" for them? If someone "repins" from my board, then goes on to purchase that item, shouldn't I get a percentage of that sale for promoting the item that lead to the sale?

C'mon now! Aren't those "pins" advertisements?

You bet they are!

I have pinned things to my personal style board and actually purchased an item after pinning it. And, I've done this more than once! My most recent "Pinterest Purchase" was this sweater from Garnet Hill. I love polka dots, so as soon as I saw it, I pinned it. Then, it just wouldn't do but I had to have it. Click. Click. Click. And, that adorable garment is at home, waiting for cooler weather so I can wear it!

A valid pin leads to the web site where the item is/was available, and it's merely a click or two or three and it's on its way to your address! Aren't advertisers already benefitting from Pinterest this way?

You bet they are!

It will be interesting to see how this goes. It is, after all, "social networking." We gravitate to those pins, pinners and pinboards of others who SHARE our style, interests and ideas. Marketers are itching to figure out how to make money from that. Me? I'm happy to have so many followers!

Pinterest: artistic expression or addiction?

I discovered Pinterest sometime last year and found myself fascinated by the collection of images housed there. I desperately wanted to be a part of it, but you had to be "invited," and, in spite of repeated requests, no invitation was forthcoming. Then, on the first day of February (a Wednesday), I stopped by for a look-see (and, to place another request) and, lo, and behold! I discovered I could log in through my facebook ID. Joy of joys!

Right.

Ask me what I did on the second and third days of February. Did I work? (Not unless I had to.) Did I write? (Tag lines and descriptions, maybe.) Was I productive in any meaningful way?

Nope. I was just pinning away over there on Pinterest! For three solid days. Whatsa matta with me?

The second week of February I promised myself I would reduce the time I spent there. I had created some "boards" of my own and pinned things I liked and I could go on it for a little while, add a few things to my boards and be off. Yeah. Right.

I was busy with real work most of the time that second week of February, so there wasn't a lot of time to peruse images and add them to my collections. Until Friday morning (2/10) when I discovered I could "pin" on my brand new Android phone I received for my birthday a few days earlier! OMG! I could pin while having coffee, waiting at the vet's office, waiting on hubby to pump gas. I was really in trouble now!

There's no "app" for Android phones. Yet. There IS one for the iPhone. So, fine. I can pin without an app! Ha! Take that, iPeople!

Last week I was out and about doing what my boss pays me to do -- teaching elementary school kids about living in the Everglades. I managed to stay off Pinterest until late in the day when I only had a few minutes left in the day, limiting the time I was visiting. I also persuaded myself that I didn't NEED to be doing it so much. I liked Facebook, but I wasn't on it all the time. I use Twitter to share information. And, Google is a lot of fun even when you're looking up something related to work. But, this Pinterest thing is insidious. It steals your time in ways I've never experienced before and, honestly ... it bothers me.

I don't consider myself an addictive personality. I like what I like, and I've long lived with the motto "everything in moderation." But, Pinterest? I like it. A lot. I like doing it. I like looking at my "boards" and reviewing my collections. And, I have "followers!" But, I haven't figured out how to use it in moderations.

Followers on a blog are different from followers on Pinterest. It's, like, I know the people I follow over there. We have similar interests, similar styles, similar passions. And, I'm sure if I ever met any of the people I follow or that follow me ... why, I'm quite sure we would be great friends with many things to talk about.

So, I came over here to my blog and I'm actually WRITING! I've learned that if I write about a thing, often times, the solution will present itself as I'm writing.

Only, it hasn't happened yet. And, I find I'm hurrying up so I can go back over there and pin some more. Oh, dear. What's a girl to do?

I've got 20 minutes left at my desk.
I could catch up on filing.
I could update my calendar.
I could ...

GO PIN! ~~~~~



Where'd she go?