I’m warning you, this is an Epic post.  Grab a cup of coffee and find out everything you need to know about getting started on Pinterest.  Make sure you follow me at www.Pinterest.com/GrandmaMaryShow

Getting Started on Pinterest

Step 1:  Request an Invite

Just go to www.Pinterest.com and click the Request an Invite.  Invitations are typically in your inbox within 12 hours.  Sometimes faster.  But you don’t have to wait for your invite to search around a little and check things out.  Search on any term in the upper left search box to see what’s happening.  **Update, Invites aren’t required anymore, everyone can join right away.

Request a Pinterest Invite

 

 

 

Once you get your invite in your e-mail box, click on the link provided to set up your account.

Step 2:  Link to Facebook or Twitter

They do have you sign up through Facebook or Twitter and it will pull in your initial information from there.

Step 3:  Go to App.

Once you have chosen to authorize through an account (I chose Facebook) you will click Go to App.

Step 4:  Enter your Username and e-mail.

Your Username will be the URL of your Pinterest account.  You cannot have spaces and the Username will show up in the URL like this:  www.pinterest.com/username.  So choose a name you want to brand.  This can be changed later.

Create Pinterest Account

Step 5:  Click on Interests.

This will help Pinterest give you some initial people to follow.

Pinterest Interests

Once you are done click the blue I’m Done button.

Now you are essentially done and you can start Pinning and creating Boards willy-nilly.  But here are some hot tips to maximize your presence.

 

Pinterest Tips

Tip #1:  Fill out your profile.

Make sure you add your description and website.  These may have been pulled in from one of your accounts but you want to make sure that they are complete and have all your good keywords in there.  Click on Settings under your name in the upper right corner.

 

Tip #2:  Don’t let them Pin your crap.

Take a look at what is already being pinned by going to www.pinterest.com/source/yourwebsitename.com.  Your website name should be without the www and with the .com.

Pinterest source check

 

 

Tip #3:  Link your Pinterest Account to Facebook and Twitter

When you signed up, you chose one account to link Pinterest to but go back in and link Pinterest to your other account if you have both.  You will have some automatic connections from your other sites and it will make it easier for your friends to find you too.    Go to your Settings area under your name drop-down menu in the upper right corner.

Link Pinterest to Facebook and Twitter

 

 Tip #4:  Make sure your Pins have Links

If you are using a Pin it button on your website, the Pin will automatically link back to your site.  But if you have uploaded a tip, go back in and Edit the pin to link somewhere meaningful.

Add links to your Pinterest pins

 

Tip #5:  Install a Pin It button on your blog.

I use this one and it’s been great so far:  http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/pinterest-pin-it-button/  You can set which picture the post defaults to, track how many pins your posts have, and more good stuff.

Pin it plugin

 

Tip #6:  Follow others.

Connect with others on with your profiles and make sure others  know how to connect with you.  You can add a Pinterest button to your website sidebar to make it easy for people to find you.

 

Tip #7:  Add a Pinterest Tab to your Facebook Page.

Show case one of your boards or show them all.  Use the Woobox Pinterst app (it’s free!) here:  http://www.woobox.com/pinterest

Add a Pinterest tab to Facebook

 

Tip #8:  Change those e-mail settings!

Good lord, why do we need so many e-mails?  Go into the Settings and click on the E-mail Settings button right next to Notifications.  Make sure you uncheck what you need to and you can also have all your notifications sent in one daily digest rather than as they happen.  Yikes!

 

 Watch my Pinterest Video:

 

 

 

 

 

 Pinterest Stats

Here are some amazing stats on the Power of Pinterest from the folks over at Internet Marketing, Inc.

Pinterest Data You Can’t Ignore: The Ultimate Guide to Pinterest [infographic]

 

WHEW!  What do you think?  How are you using Pinterest?  Share your best Pinterest tips in the comments below!