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Author: Ad Club Of Buffalo

Advice Social Media

Insta-yes or Insta-no?

Ad Club Of Buffalo

Instagram, one of the fastest growing social networks, is used by brands for sharing images and short videos of people, events, places, etc.  According to Forbes.com, within the last year, 55 percent more brands are using Instagram than just one year ago, accounting for its 150 million users worldwide.

While it may be one of the most popular social platforms, it may not make sense for all companies. Below are a few things to consider before creating an account for your brand.

1.) Mobile-Only
Unlike other social media platforms, Instagram is a mobile-only app as it requires users to upload their videos and photos from their mobile device vs. their desktop.  While the platform does have an online presence, it functions much differently and only allows users to view content rather than share it. If your target market is primarily a desktop-using bunch, consider focusing your efforts on other platforms that are more likely to reach your followers.

2.) Industry
What type of business or organization do you operate? Are you selling a tangible product that you can showcase with pictures?  Do you provide a service that allows you to provide before or after photos?  Are you a non-profit who wants to create awareness for a particular cause?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Instagram is a great channel for you to reach people who already have interest in your brand.

Typically, image-focused companies, such as clothing and fashion, makeup, fitness centers, restaurants, etc. use Instagram as a way to generate buzz among their followers.  Posting pictures of the latest trend, new creation or the most popular dessert on the menu will get followers excited and interested in what else you have to offer.

3.) Demographics
Instagram users are primarily 18 to 29 years old, so it is important to consider who your target is before you devote the time and energy to maintain an account.  For example, nation-wide retailer, Free People, has over 1.3 million Instagram followers, most of whom appear to be young women between those ages.  Their posts include pictures of inventory, trends and feel-good images that resonate with their young audience.

Industries that are geared toward an older demographic such as insurance or retirement planning may be better served on platforms that skew older, such as Facebook.

4.) Exclusivity
Instagram also gives followers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand’s products and services, making them feel like they’re getting an exclusive preview before the rest of the world.  These posts add value and encourage followers to beingpart of your social following. If your business or organization is highly regulated and doesn’t allow for much freedom in terms of posts, you may want to consider exploring other social platforms as they may be more conducive to your brand.

5.) Frequency
As with most social media platforms, the more you post, the more likely you are to generate followers.  Posting a combination of videos and images 3-4 times per week will keep followers engaged with your content.  If you feel as though maintaining an active account will be a challenge for your team, you may want to reconsider adding Instagram to your social media mix.

Also, keep in mind that engagement among followers in this platform is higher as content is not limited.  Unlike Facebook, there isn’t an algorithm (yet) that analyzes the posts the platform thinks you want to see, so users see all content regardless of their Instagram habits. If you post it, your followers will see it.

If you’re still not sure whether or not Instagram makes sense for your business, feel free to get in touch at erinkdoherty@gmail.com.

Happy grammin’.

Advice Blog

Let’s Get a Job

Ad Club Of Buffalo

On the hunt for a new gig?  Whether you’re a recent college grad (congrats!) or a seasoned vet who is ready to change things up, we have advice on how to prepare for and nail your next interview. Check out the research, resume and etiquette tips below and best of luck in your search!

Before the Interview:

Google yourself  – Have you done that lately? You may want to ensure that all inappropriate selfies, memes, tweets, photos of late nights at the bar, drug paraphernalia, etc. are removed or ridiculously private. If an employer can see this, they may make a snap judgment before even considering you for the role.

Executive tip – If you’d feel embarrassed showing a post to your boss, a cop, or your grandmother – delete it, or better yet, don’t share it.

Get connected – LinkedIn.com is a great way to connect with professionals, as well as recruiters. Update your profile with your latest resume, request recommendations and join groups of interest. Make sure to include keywords that describe your skill set, as many recruiters use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates. Also, look for networking opportunities through clubs or affiliations in your area.

Executive tip – Add a link to your LinkedIn Profile at the top of your resume alongside your contact information.

Do your research and come prepared – Read up on the company and buy/download/understand whatever it is they do or sell. Your findings may come in handy and be either a conversation starter or enhance an answer to a question. Also, try to connect with a current employee (possibly via LinkedIn) to get a feel for the culture, atmosphere and day-to-day responsibilities.

Executive tip – Come to the interview with a recommendation of how you would improve their business/product/process, etc. For example, if the company is hiring you as a marketing manager, provide constructive feedback on the marketing they have today. It shows that you are familiar with what they are doing and are ready to take them to the next level.

Tailor your resume – Sending the same cookie-cutter resume to multiple places is not going to get you noticed, especially if you are submitting it to a system that uses a keyword search to determine if the resume best matches the job description. Be sure that your resume specifically reflects the skill set and position you are trying to obtain.

Executive tip – Read through the postings and relate your past experiences to each task by using similar keywords. For example, if the job posting you’re qualified for reads, “Relevant or related experience in website programming,” be sure to use the words “Website Programming” when explaining your skill set, instead of “Development.”

During the Interview:

Dress the part – During the research process, you should have gotten a feel for how conservative or informal a company may be. It’s always recommended to wear professional attire, such as a suit or blazer. Even if you know that employees of that organization dress casually, dress formally for the interview (unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer). The interview is a professional meeting and first impressions are important.

Executive tip – Minimal makeup, jewelry, covering tattoos, etc. always helps limit distractions and judgment.

Be honest, personable and confident – You may have the best resume in the world and a 4.0 GPA, but if you can’t look the interviewer in the eye, or connect with them on a personal level, you are losing half the battle. Most interviewers are thinking, “Will this person vibe with my team? Do they fit with our culture? Can I spend 8 hours a day with them?” Be sure to maintain eye contact, smile and answer questions as candidly as possible.

Executive tip – Be friendly to the person sitting at the front desk. Sometimes the interviewer will ask them what their thoughts/first impressions are.

Ask the right questions – Aside from salary and benefit questions, be sure to ask the interviewer to walk you through a “day in the life” at their company. You want to be sure that you fully understand the roles and responsibilities associated with the position you’re applying for.

Executive tip – Prepare questions ahead of time. Also, the nuances of a position such as long work hours, personality conflicts, hidden issues etc. will likely not be disclosed up front, so don’t be afraid to ask if you feel you aren’t getting enough information.

After the Interview:

Follow up – Be sure to thank the interviewers (all of them if there are multiple). Either ask the HR rep for specific contact information or at the end of the interviews, ask for each person’s business card.  Also, if you don’t hear anything, don’t be afraid to follow up and ask what the status is on the position.

Executive tip – In this day in age, an email thank you is usually sufficient, but it’s always nice to go the extra mile and send something hand-written.

If it doesn’t work out, let it go –Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the first job you interview for. Competition within the job market is high and you’re not going to get an offer every time.  Don’t panic.  Refocus your efforts and learn from your experience.

Executive tip – If you don’t hear a response at all from the organization, try reapplying a few months later. Sometimes timing plays a role in the hiring process.

To see if there are any jobs available in your field of interest, check out our job board at advertisingclubofbuffalo.com//jobs now.

Best of luck!

Board

Ad Club Chat: Two Executive Board Members Spill the Beans

Ad Club Of Buffalo

Kim_Charlie_936x594

Kim Pentheros (Secretary) and Charlie Fashana (President) are moving on after their four and three years serving on the board.

I had the opportunity to sit down with them and discuss their time on the board, along with what goes into being an effective board member. Both agreed that transitioning away from their board positions will be bittersweet, even a bit surreal, after being part of a close group that oversaw the Advertising Club of Buffalo flourish for the past few years.

How did you first become a part of Ad Club? Where did you hear about it?

Kim: I heard about the Ad Club as a student at Daemen College, and decided to nominate myself for board membership as a way to give back to the organization that I attribute helping me get a start in my career.

Charlie: As with everything, I was introduced to the Ad Club through my wife Karen, while working in HSBC’s marketing department. While out of my comfort zone, I felt that a corporate perspective could take the club in a new direction.

What is your fondest memory or favorite Ad Club event as of today?

Kim: Oh, that would definitely be our first Big Tip-off event. Everyone was really excited because it was a brand new event, and there were so many different agencies and companies involved in it for friendly competition. Generally speaking, seeing new faces at club events reminds us that we’re doing something right. Whether it’s through word of mouth or social media, it’s awesome to see new people coming out to improve what they do, network, or learn new things. Or with the Big Tip-Off, just to have fun with friends and colleagues while raising money for our scholarship fun, and meeting new people along the way.

Charlie: On an internal level it’s the meetings and feeling like we’re making shit happen. It’s exciting knowing that you’re a part of something. And events like the Big Tip-Off are very social. It’s a different type of competition than the ADDYs – there’s no judging – it’s people being enthusiastic about what they do. And it’s a great fundraiser. It’s a good example of what the marketing community is: tight-knit, close, everyone knows each other for the most part. And we take pride in what we do. But hands down, my two best event memories would be Seth Godin, and hosting the District 2 Leadership Conference in Buffalo.

Do you have any fun stories, maybe of discussions that went from regular conversation into a potential event for the club?

Kim: Well, that’s exactly how our AdLab series started. A few other board members and I were having an informal brainstorming session on creating educational programming outside of what we currently did. That thought turned into what’s now our most regular and successful program.

Charlie: In meetings, we always try to focus on specific things and problem solve to make them even better. We take a pragmatic approach, analyzing what works and what doesn’t to enhance programs like Überbowl, the Big Tip-Off, and AdLabs. A lot of times we modified these programs while we were still there and the details were fresh.

What kinds of qualities are expected in board members?

Kim: Enthusiasm to work with people you normally wouldn’t, like students, professors, and people from different businesses. Communication is important too. A board member should recognize (and not be afraid of) what it takes to meet a goal and plan for it, while also contributing creative ideas and opinions.

Charlie: You need to manage your own time, multi-task, be confident; don’t be afraid of coming forward with ideas. We don’t want “yes people,” we want people that give creative opinions and effectively communicate to spark new ideas. You’ll never know if you don’t speak up.

What advice would you give to those thinking of stepping up into a board position role?

Kim: My advice would be to speak up as much as possible and not be afraid to collaborate with new people. Never regret a voiced idea. One-off ideas may spark creativity in others, turning into something more. An idea might be too expensive or there might not be enough time that year, but the idea might be doable further down the road.

Charlie: Be ready to work! It’s not an advisory board, and we are responsible for a lot of high profile events. Everyone’s committed to that level of work. And on top of that, board members are responsible for creating events to enrich the community. It’s all about living up to that responsibility.

If I’ve learned anything from talking with Kim and Charlie, it’s that the Advertising Club of Buffalo, especially for board members, provides the perfect opportunity to build lasting relationships outside of the office. Obviously, volunteering time to be a part of the WNY advertising and marketing community is what you sign up for, but at the same time it’s also about the people you meet along the way. New faces (and ideas) get people talking, listening, and collaborating more often, and at a broader range.

With that in mind, there’s no question it’s an interesting time for those involved with the Advertising Club of Buffalo. Even though it’s sad to see Kim and Charlie go, it also leaves us excited to see how new changes will help the Club evolve and grow from here.

 

Amy Robb is a recent graduate from Buffalo State College, as a part of the Writing Program. She is currently interning at Gelia Advertising for copywriting. 

ADDYS Events Students

AAF District Two ADDYs Winners

Ad Club Of Buffalo

You may have assumed the ADDYs concluded shortly after Buster Bison threw you a tee shirt during the show at the Tralf back on March 7.

Well the fact is, for those elitists who just insist on producing the highest quality creative, our local awards show was just the first stop.

District level judging was held in New York City late last month and Buffalo represented!

Three Golds and four Silvers were earned between Crowley Webb, Gelia, Print Collection and The Martin Group. In addition to the professional entry winners, St. Bonaventure University and Villa Maria College each had a student win Silver.

Here’s a look at the winning work:

Crowley Webb, ADDY Mixed Media, Gold (Advertising Industry – Integrated Campaign)

02

Crowley Webb, Beacon Website, Silver (Digital Advertising – B2B Website)

01

Gelia, Music Teachers Advocacy Poster, Gold (Collateral Material – Poster, Single)

bubbles

Print Collection, See America Travel Poster Series, Gold (Collateral Material – Poster, Campaign)

Print Print

02-BUF-20957-74C-3 Yosemite_National_Park.NO TYPE

The Martin Group, Lawley Marketplace Sales Kit, Silver (Sales Promotion – Sales Kit)

02-BUF-31199-1

The Martin Group, 6×6 Lacrosse Packaging, Silver (Sales Promotion – Packaging)

02-BUF-32345-02A

The Martin Group, 6×6 Lacrosse T-Shirts, Silver (Direct Marketing – Apparel)

02-BUF-32331-74A

St. Bonaventure University, Step Up for Kids, Silver (Elements of Advertising – Copywriting)

StepUpForKids_1 StepUpForKids_2

StepUpForKids_3 StepUpForKids_4

Villa Maria College, The Bread Box, Silver (Sales Promotion – Packaging)

breadbox

Results for all of the Clubs in District Two can be found here.

Next stop: Nationals in May. Winners of Gold at the District level advance automatically, Silvers have the option to pay to move on.

Congrats and Good Luck!

Students

Four Students Recognized By The Ad Club

Ad Club Of Buffalo

The Advertising Club of Buffalo is pleased to recognize four bright communications students as part of our annual Don Nichols Scholarship competition. Jessica Puskar, Lucy Norton, Ali Casarsa, and Grace Gruarin, all students of Villa Maria College, presented us with remarkable work.

The Don Nichols Scholarship competition, now in its 16th year, awards promising communications students a little financial help for their education. Each year, we present students with a thought-provoking theme that they are tasked with bringing to life. And this year’s theme of “21st Century Icons” garnered entries from more than 40 talented students. Jessica Puskar’s work featured Malala Yousafzai and was awarded first place. Lucy Norton’s work featured Kate Middleton and won second place. Ali Casarsa’s work featured Tobias Frere-Jones and took home third place. The three students were awarded scholarships. The work of Grace Gruarin featured Joshua Fields Millburn and was awarded honorable mention.

Don Nichols founded the Albright Art School’s Graphic Design Department in 1950. He brought the program to UB, where he served as its head until his passing in 1987. He educated countless graphic designers, some of whom went on to national prominence. Nichols was awarded the Alex Osborn Award for Creativity from the Art Directors/Communicators of Buffalo, along with the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching from UB.

Take a look at some of the winning work:
IMG_6108

GraceGruarin

PRJOECT-2-

Puskar_poster

Industry Updates

Tradeshows: One of the Oldest and Most Reliable Forms of Experiential Marketing

Ad Club Of Buffalo

There is a very complex – relevant definition of experiential marketing, and I was asked to write a blog post about this subject as it relates to tradeshows.  Tradeshows are really my specialty.  I can tell you that experiential marketing – as it is now defined is marketing that “influences” all your senses.

In the tradeshow business we call this interactive or face – to – face marketing, and we’ve been doing it for many years.  The problem is the same, no matter what the medium or circumstance. How do you break through the clutter?  How do you get noticed on the tradeshow floor when you have so much competition to get attention?  What can you do to make yourself different?

What you do, is develop a strategy that captures the attention of the attendee for as long as it takes to qualify that lead in the booth.  In corporate sales, it’s all about getting to the next step, the next point of contact.

In the world of tradeshows, you get about 3 seconds to get the attention of the attendee that is walking by – after all there are 800 other exhibitors to see and as an exhibitor how will you make that attendee remember you.  What do you do?

You develop a strategy that captures them before the show, during the show, and after the show for a follow up.  You develop something memorable to do in the booth so it’s easy for that attendee to remember you above all the other exhibitors in the hall.

One year at the PGA Show in Orlando, we were introducing a new product – book your tee times online – something very common now, but a new concept in 2000.

The owner of the company wanted to show that not only could you book your tee times from anywhere in the world – but you could see that the system was automatic – as soon as your tee time was booked online – it was captured at the other end in the pro shop.  We set up stations with double monitors one on top of the other and a person was encouraged to book a tee time, and watch as one monitor recorded the tee time, and in the second monitor you could see the tee time record on the other screen (mimicking the pro shop screen).

A cousin of the owner was an adventurist and the head of the Mount Everest climb that year for Team Canada.  He booked a tee time from base camp at Mount Everest.  In the exhibit – we had a replica of Mount Everest (one you could walk inside).  We had the cousin signing autographs in the booth.  You could have your photo taken in front of a green screen that showed you- in the photo holding the flag on the green – on Mount Everest – and you received a mouse pad with the web address of the company with your Mount Everest photo inside.  (You would always have that mouse pad with the web address convenient when you wanted to book your tee time).

You were invited to the booth with an invitation (direct mail), and there were follow up postcards and thank you notes as well.

In addition – Jim Flick – golf pro and coach for Jack Nicklaus, was in the booth to offer tips on your golf swing – and – we gave out Mount Everest gum – brand new that year.  We pretty much covered every one of the senses.

The secret of course was the interactive element – inviting attendees into the booth to experience booking the tee time and then getting a photo on Mount Everest.  Not only was it memorable, they had a physical reminder of their experience.

The goal in attending most tradeshows is to get a qualified lead – and the only way to do that is to talk to and question the person that is attending the show, but you have to keep them in the booth long enough to do that.

Tradeshows have a great captive audience.  The people attending have an agenda – to find new products or services to help them grow.  As an exhibitor you have a wonderful opportunity to mingle with other people in your industry, meet a new audience, see continuing clients, and see what is new in your industry.  The only problem with any medium now is breaking through the clutter – being noticed.  It’s necessary to create a memorable experience for all your potential customers.

Experiential marketing blog

From this view you can see the two screens to see your tee time as it was booked, the round rooms were private conference rooms, and notice that mountain in the background.  PGA 2000.

Join us as we chat about experiential marketing at our March Ad Lab, tonight at 6pm at the Saturn Club.

AdLab Events

February Ad Lab with Bing’s Jason Dailey

Ad Club Of Buffalo

To kick off Ad Lab’s big move to its new location, the Saturn Club, the Ad Club wanted to bring something special that would appeal to a large audience. They delivered, and were able to bring in Bing Evangelist Jason Dailey to discuss “Connected Experiences in a Multi-Screen World”. And no, he’s not that type of evangelist.

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With a large, wide-ranging audience filling the room, the new venue felt like an old home, and the crowd was excited.

Jason took the stage and immediately dove right into the history of screens in our lives, including a fun fact about the first search engine in 1945. The goal of the talk was to understand a few main points of multi-screen usage and how marketers can utilize this information to reach users.

First, there are a number of different devices and each one is being used for a different reason. Whether it’s social interaction, investigative research, or brain dead facebooking, marketers need to be aware of what people are looking for. Also, Jason showed that time of day matters too when using multiple devices.  As the day goes on, people become less serious.  Mornings are productive, evenings are for entertainment and exploration.

Now that we know the answer to the problem, a new one arises. An issue a lot of marketers will share is customizing four or more different experiences on a limited budget.

It was a solid showing for the first Ad Lab at the Saturn Club, and great to have prominent figure from a digital powerhouse like Microsoft at our disposal. Along with the new location, the club pumped some new technology into Ad Lab by adding the ability to text or tweet your questions during the show. The experiment was a success and helped fuel the discussion following Jason’s presentation.

Keep the discussion rolling below or tweet us at @adclubofbuffalo and look for the next Ad Lab, March 25th at the Saturn Club.

Events

The Ride For Roswell 2014 – Jersey Design Contest

Ad Club Of Buffalo

Ride For Roswell 2014 Jersey Design Contest - Ad Club Promo

The Advertising Club of Buffalo is proud to support The Ride For Roswell Jersey Design Contest

Design the Ride’s 2014 Extra Mile Club bike jersey. Thousands of eyes will be on your design and you’ll get recognition for putting your talent to work in the fight against cancer.

The AD Club is helping with the promotion of this contest to bring more awareness to the fight against cancer and hopefully we can share this among those in the advertising community in order to make this jersey design the best yet!

We hope not only the creative departments within our local membership, but any person who has an creative talent and wants some well deserved recognition to help a great cause.

Below is a few key points taken from the contest website http://rideforroswell.org/jerseycontest/

  1. Review, agree to, and follow the Contest Rules and Guidelines.
  2. Download and use the Design Diagram and
    logo files (links below) to complete your entry.The Ride For Roswell Presented By West Herr logo
    Roswell Park Cancer Institute Logo
  3. Download and complete the Entry Form.
  4. Email the Entry Form and your submission to rideforroswell@roswellpark.org by 11:59p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2014. Be sure to write ‘Jersey Design Contest’ in the subject line.

Eligibility: 

  • This contest is open to any professional, amateur, or student designer
  • You must be 18 years or older to submit a design. If you’re under 18, your parent or guardian must submit the design on your behalf

Deadline: 

Entries are due by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 16, 2014

The winner will be announced at The Ride Kick-off on Thursday, March 27.

Entry information: 

  • Individuals may submit up to three designs.
  • A separate entry form must accompany each design.
  • Designs must be submitted via email as a vector EPS file not to exceed 12MB in size. All text/fonts must be outlined.

Email your entry to: 

RideForRoswell@RoswellPark.org

Subject line: Jersey Design Contest

The Advertising Club of Buffalo can’t wait to see what great design get’s picked by the panel of Ride For Roswell volunteers. They will select three semi-finalists from all designs received by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2014. Approximately 1,500 past and current EMC members will then be invited to vote for their favorite design. The design with the most votes will be the winner. The winner will be notified by email, recognized on The Ride For Roswell website, and publicly announced at The Ride Kick-off event on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Good luck to all who enter!

Events

Super Bowl: The Pregame

Ad Club Of Buffalo

Logo. Overload. Let’s mix a city already considered an advertising mecca with an influx of millions of football fans. New York City, specifically Times Square is guaranteed to be filled with two things at all times: billboards and people. Super Bowl XLVIII meant one thing: MORE billboards and MORE people.

Although at first it seemed like the Super Bowl wasn’t as front and center in NYC as it typically is in other cities, as soon as my family and I deplaned, we were hit hard with Super Bowl-specific advertising. The most noticeable ad was from the NYC/NJ host committee, boasting that it was “An event so big, two cities needed to host it.” The host committee also branded NYC/NJ mugs and texting gloves with their logo on the left hand. Those who received their welcome bags quickly became walking advertisements.

Next stop was Super Bowl Boulevard, engineered by GMC. It stretched down Broadway, from 34th Street to 47th Street and every inch was littered with logos. XBOX, Papa John’s, GMC, Microsoft, etc. did their best to showcase products and engage fans with interactive displays and video. Many of the brands have are headquartered and have retail locations in the city, making them familiar and accessible for fans.

The streets were filled with volunteers ready to give visitors information regarding directions, attractions, or restaurants. Their puffy, yellow winter jackets and bright yellow New Era caps, sponsored by Visa, were eye-catching, making it hard to not see them (and the Visa logo).

Retail locations such as H&M and Macy’s pulled out the big guns for this event.  David Beckham was plastered on all possible facets including video billboards, busses, and the windows of most H&M stores. There was also a meet  and greet with him at the location near Super Bowl Boulevard the Saturday before.   Queue hundreds of screaming girls ages 20-60.

Macy’s, an already a well-known brand, especially in NYC, capitalized on the event. All windows were covered in Super Bowl welcome signs, the entire ground floor was filled with mannequins in jersey replicas, flags were hung that lead shoppers into the NFL Shop on the entire 4th floor of the store. While my family and I have been to a lot of Super Bowls, we had never seen a retail store embrace the NFL Shop in such a way.

Social Media also played a huge role in the days leading up the big game. Verizon Wireless had multiple billboards with the hashtag “whosgonnawin,” encouraging fans to tweet their prediction.  The team with the most votes decided what color lights would shine on Empire State Building the night of the game.

These few details only scratch the surface of how companies used the Super Bowl to get their name and brand noticed. Each took advantage of the millions of eyes on them and I have no doubt that engagement soared during the game and the week leading up to it.

Now, let’s see if Peyton Manning will be allowed in any more Papa John’s commercials after that game.

Blog Social Media

The Under-Utilization of Pinterest for Business

Ad Club Of Buffalo

Weddings, babies, recipes, dream homes. You, like many others, may associate Pinterest with a tool used by women in the process of “planning something”.  But what many people fail to realize, is that the concept of searching, saving, organizing and sharing information with others can easily and effectively be applied to your business.

Here’s how:

Promoting your business

Whether you are a B2B, B2C or a freelancer, there are several ways you can promote your products and services.

  1. Think Like Your Customer. What are their needs? What are they searching for that would lead them to your product? How does your product fit into their everyday life?
  2. Collect. Once you have the answers to number 1, begin collecting content such as articles, infographics and imagery that is relevant, useful and “buzz worthy”. Users are encouraged to see and save what their friends/followers are pinning, so be sure your content is worth talking about.
  3. Organize. Begin creating categories or “boards” to house and organize the content.  For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry, create a “Healthy Recipes” board, or “Explaining the Affordable Healthcare Act” board and pin articles and tips from experts both in and outside of your company. Use keywords and the “category” tool within Pinterest to ensure that users can find your content.
  4. Promote. Add the Pinterest icon to content within your website (it’s usually embedded in a “Share this” tool) and to the bottom of your email marketing. Share pins and boards with your customers, or direct them to the boards using other marketing materials.

Sharing information within your department

Information sharing (especially within major organizations) can be challenging when it’s through a “Did you see this?” email with links that get lost in the shuffle.

  1. Connect Your Team. Create accounts for each team member (you may have to check your company’s social media policy and ensure that you have access). You can then invite each team member to pin to the boards that you create.
  2. Create Boards. What type of information do you share with your team? Industry news? Trends?  If you work at an ad agency for example, you can create boards that will resonate with your clients or relevant within the industry (Email Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Project Management, Copywriting, etc)
  3. Choose Carefully. Pinterest gives you the ability to make your pins and boards private, so that your competition can’t see what you’re pinning.  If you choose to do this, remember that your content will be hidden from everyone, not just the competition.
  4. Get Notified. You can receive notifications when a team member pins to your board and they make it very easy for you to share relevant pins to others within your organization.

Using the search tool to “listen”

  1. Keep up with your competition. Search to see if they are on Pinterest, and gauge the level of engagement from their followers.
  2. Customers are probably already talking about you. Perform a search for your company – you never know if there are pins already out there.
  3. Search for your industry. Find and follow other experts and boards. It’ll prevent you from reinventing the wheel.

Click here to check out Ad Club’s new Pinterest page.

pinterest

Happy pinning!

What’s Pinterest?