Who is still using Pinterest?

• I haven’t been active on it for almost 6 years when I last re-did my loft. At that time, I tapped into it extensively for design and renovation ideas. But since then it hasn’t been top of mind.
• Which is why I was shocked to find that Pinterest has a current valuation of $13 billion and pulls in almost $1 billion in advertising revenues. It’s expected to IPO next year.
• For me, image-search means only two names: Google and Instagram.
• Google images for one time needs and Instagram for longer term projects e.g. following hashtags related to trips and for design.
• However, I do like Pinterest’s trend reports. They do them for all their categories based on pins (e.g. pins for solo travel up 600%). And I like to compare how a particular trend is doing on Pinterest vs. Instagram (where I track via hashtag followers). Always very revealing and insightful. I would also say based on the trend comparisons that the Instagrammers are a bit more trend forward than Pinterest users.

Also, surprised to learn that it’s Pinterest’s mobile search capabilities that are attracting the big advertisers – especially in beauty and fashion. I don’t even have the app downloaded on my phone.

Advertisers are reportedly happy that Pinterest is drama-free with no trolls, no Russian election meddling and no censorship problems.

 

Read on below for more on what’s going on at Pinterest.

 

Per CNBC:

 

After hitting $500 million in ad sales in 2017, Pinterest is on pace to almost double that this year.

• However, that is down from an earlier forecast of $2.8 billion.
• That’s a huge shortfall. No word on what made them miss the mark.

Pinterest is having particular success with mobile ads, as the site becomes a more popular place for big fashion and beauty brands to get in front of the company’s 200 million monthly active users.

• “People are pinning what they are interested in,” said Shane Ankeney, president of Havas Media Group North America. “We use it as a huge insights engine.”

Advertisers and people familiar with the company say Pinterest has found its footing in the past year and, by combining visual, social and search ads into one platform, has become an important place for retail, fashion, home goods, beauty and do-it-yourself brands. Travel and financial companies are also experimenting on Pinterest.

 

Bottom Line.

I am going to have to do more research on who is using Pinterest – and why.

If you are using Pinterest, shoot me an email about it including how you use it and if you’ve noticed more ads on the site and has it made you check out new brands.