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The SITS Girls

The Secret to Success is Support

Pinterest: Your Online Pinboard Tool and Tutorial

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Our good friend, Angry Julie is here today to describe one of the latest, greatest social media tools, a website known as Pinterest – an online pinboard.  It is a great way to visually catalog (pin) all the things you love online.  Read on to learn more about Pinterest and how you can snag a personal invite from Julie to create your very own Pinterest board.

I’m already bogged down by Social Networking, and a few months ago, another site came onboard. Honestly, at first, I felt like I was cheating on my lover, Twitter. However, Pinterest really channels my online loves and delights. I can go on the site late at night, look at pretty things, and I don’t even have to talk to anyone. Not that I don’t love conversation, but sometimes, I just want to scroll through and look at pretty pictures.

What is Pinterest? And why should you join?

Pinterest is a virtual pin board, where you categorize things that you love and want to remember by topic. Before discovering Pinterest, I had bookmarks saved on three different computers. I also had old blog posts marked in my Google Reader. You can imagine how much online clutter I accumulate. I save all of these amazing tutorials, recipes, and crafts that I someday, “hope to make, do, and create” amongst my computers.

When I heard about Pinterest, I became giddy. Within the first week of using it, I probably spent 2-3 hours online just looking at all the cool stuff, and “pinning it” for myself. I currently have 31 pin boards and 831 pins.

Pinterest Boards
Right now, Pinterest is only available “invitation only.” It is technically in Beta version still. You can request an official invite from Pinterest. And you can also have someone whom is already on Pinterest send you an invite. If you would like an invite, send me an email at angryjuliemonday at gmail.com.

pinterest invite
When I initially started on Pinterest, I mostly “re-pinned” other people’s pins. You can use the “search” box to look for things such as “food, crafts, bathrooms, photography, and weddings.” You will get thousands of items using general search terms like this.  However you can do two things  – pin or repin photos.

How do you “re-pin” things?

In the top left corner of each “pin” or photograph, there is a button marked “Repin.” You click on that button, and it will open up in another window. In the next window, you will have a choice of your boards (aka categories). You can also change the “description” of your pin. Many people make personal comments about their pins. You’ll want to be sure to remember this feature when quickly pinning. You don’t want to re-pin something with the phrase, “He is hubba hubba hot and I might leave my husband, Steve, for him.” That might be a little odd and a bit awkward.

how to repin a picture on pinterest

How to pin something original

Now that I’ve taught you how to “re-pin” something, I will show you how to “pin” an original pin of your own.

  1. Find the photograph you want to pin. I chose a sofa that I covet from Pottery Barn (see below).
  2. Find the link/url, or the permalink, for the picture and copy it.
  3. Go to the top right corner of Pinterest and clicked “Add Pin.” A new blank window will open up.
  4. Paste the link in the url field. After you do that, the photo will automatically load.
  5. Chose a “category” for your pin and describe it.
  6. Click “Pin It.”

You can also add the “Pinterest Bookmarklet” to your Internet Browser. Click on the “Add Pin” button at the top right corner of Pinterest. You will be to drag the bookmarklet to your browser toolbar.

Pinning Your items on pinterest

If you are an iPhone, iPad or iTouch user, there is an app for Pinterest. They just had an update and added a ton of features.

Here are more informational posts that have been written about Pinterest:

Julie, also known as Angry Julie, lives in Orange County, CA. She works full-time in the legal sector taking photographs. She is married, and has a 6-year old son. When she isn’t busy taking pictures of her son, she is attempting to be an athlete, or playing with her coveted device, her iPhone. Find more of her photographs and ramblings on her blog at Angry Julie Monday.

About Francesca

Francesca has an extensive background in content marketing, public relations, and social outreach. She oversees all Operations at Sway Group, including our robust metrics capabilities. Prior to joining the online world, Francesca oversaw viticulture and oenology at various wineries in both California and Italy, and managed regulatory affairs and facility approvals at the biotech company, Genentech. Francesca has been featured on CBS Sacramento and Food Blogger Pro’s podcast. She has also hosted an AMA webinar and spoken at Social Media World.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    I love Pinterest. Some people don’t like that you have to request and invite, but it didn’t take long for me to get the email, so I was okay with it. I just figured they did that to keep track of possible users so they could submit it to potential sponsors for funding. It’s easy to get carried away and start pinning nonstop. I once stayed up past midnight pinning Taylor Swift’s outfits because I love her style. I also created an “Apartment” board where I could organize things I saw online that I wanted for my apartment, so it’s good for organization and categorization. I love it. Definitely worth the wait for the invite.

  2. Style Maniac says

    I adore Pinterest. A chance to turn off my writing brain and just get lost in a visual smorgasbord of the loveliest images on the web.

  5. Terri says

    Pinterest is great for cutting the clutter and is also very addictive. Thanks for your informational post. Now back to pinning.

  6. MamaRobinJ says

    This is a great summary! I love Pinterest. Confession though: I never really thought of it as a bookmarking tool. I totally use it for visual inspiration, but you’re right that you can bookmark things that way and find them. Duh. Good point!

  8. Ashley says

    So cool! I’ve been wondering about Pinterest, but am afraid of yet another internet addiction and it definitely looks addicting!

  9. Simone @Greatfun4kids says

    I avoided Pinterest for a few months while all my blog buddies went mad for it… when faced with another birthday party to plan, I decided to dip my tow in the water and accept the Pinterest Invite that had been deliberately avoided until then.
    I have an addictive personality and blogging is enough of an addiction already – but i find that i am able to use Pinterest as a very easy “cool stuff finder” when I’m deliberately looking for stuff.
    ALSO as a blogger I have gone through and pinned some of my OWN blog posts – party ones, recipes and a few tutorials.
    Its nice to get the message telling me that someone has “repinned” one of MY pins.
    {and another great way to put some of my useful blog posts out there}
    Glad I joined Pinterest; no regrets!

  10. Handy Man, Crafty Woman says

    I’ve been doing Pinterest for a little while now. Lots of fun!! this is great for me, as I have too many “bookmarks” and blogs in my google reader. This way, I can pin ideas and keep them all in 1 consolidated place.

  14. Trianna says

    I have been wanting to try out Pinterest, but I’ve been frightened that I will be spending even more time online! Unfortunately, my need for pretty things has won out and I will be requesting an invitation. Sigh…I have no willpower.

  19. Luci says

    I’m realizing that this could really help me sort out all of my crazy bookmarks on my computer. Oh, happy day! I can relate, Julie, to your 3 computers full. But, do you think the platform will last long enough for me to trust it with my lists of stuff?

  21. PatriciaD says

    Not sure if it will be a good thing or just another thing to be addicted to but I do want to give it a try. Thanks for the info!!

  22. Emily says

    I’ve been holding back from joining another social networking site, but I’m convinced 🙂 I have a question though, can you pin articles, or just images?

    • Simone @Greatfun4kids says

      Hey Emily, if you add the “Pin this” button to your toolbar you can pin ANYTHING you find on the web by dragging and dropping the button onto the URL address of the article/blog post you want to pin.
      Then Pinterest pulls up a page showing all the photos from that article and you select the one you want to display on your pinboard.
      Once pinned, When you click on the photo it will display the URL of the original article and you can then click it and visit the website.
      I’ve pinned some of my tutorial blog posts this way so people on pinterest looking for party ideas or recipes can find them and visit my blog for the how to steps.
      x

  25. Heather says

    Great post Julie. I always think it is a hassle to go to pintrest and bookmark something. However, after reading this and looking at more options I just added a “pin it” tab along my toolbar on top and if I see something online that I like I can just click and it’s added to my boards. Easy Peasy! Thanks!

  26. Kimberly says

    I am so addicted to pinterest, I don’t know how I lived without it. It has changed the way I look for recipes, crafts, party ideas…. it’s amazing!

  27. Kathryn says

    I am a pinterest addict…. it’s a daily time suck but so worth it. Great post, now we just need a support group!

  28. Jen says

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been wonder what and how Pinterest works for a while. Sounds like I need to jump on this train too. 🙂

  30. Mimi says

    I had heard about Pinterest for a few months and basically ignored it. Then for some strange reason decided to join a week or two ago. Hello new addiction. I’m surfing online simply to find photos to pin! LOL I’m no where near your numbers, but I’m going gang busters! It’s fun and I’m loving it. I have to say, adding the Pin It to my tool bar is the best thing I did otherwise I’d probably never go back and pin something.

  35. Colleeng says

    I’m a very visual person and this sounds like it’s finally what I need! I’ll be sending you an email. Thanks for the info.

  38. Grams says

    I use Pinterest as a place to put things that inspire me or things that I may want to see again but don’t want to have to search for again. It’s great.

  40. Yuliya says

    Out of all of the social media stuff out there that feels like you have to do it, this one you actually WANT to do! Great tutorial ladies!

  42. Dani says

    I have a friend who keeps pinning stuff and posting it on FB. I thought it was some annoying advertising thing. You made me want to check it out, thanks!

  44. Kerry Ann (Vinobaby) says

    I joined Pinetrest a few weeks ago and have been scared to get into it. I mean–do I really need another page to get sucked into? Your article does seem to make it seem a bit less intimating. Thanks!

  45. Debra says

    I LOVE pininterest. I have found some wonderful creative ideas from the site and it’s also a way for family and friends to get to know the real you by your likes and dislikes…

  48. Living the Balanced Life says

    I’ll just let you know, that you have now probably created a monster. I have avoided Pinterest for 2 reasons, 1. I didn’t know what I was doing. and 2. Because I was sure I would get addicted. And now you have solved number 1. So now number 2 will probably occur. =)
    Bernice