Marketing Ideas

Are you looking to take your brand to Pinterest and start pinning with the masses? Here at Pinnacle we are big fans of Pinterest. Whereas with other social media outlets it can be hard to appreciate anything visual, Pinterest is all about aesthetics. Whether you need wardrobe inspiration, a new cooking recipe, or simply wish to fawn over amazing pictures of distant places, there is a good chance someone has created a board for that.

So how does a company stand out on Pinterest for the right reasons or avoid being a company that’s followed but never repined? I’ve put together 5 tips that will help you get started and help you avoid commonly made mistakes.

1. Create a complete profile and and get your account verified. – As a consumer there is nothing worse than finding a pin featuring something you love, tracking it all the way back to a company Pinterest page, and then realizing there is no information about said company anywhere. The more ways you offer your customers to connect with you the better. For our own profile, we have our logo, a quick blurb on the company, where we’re located, a link to our website, and additional links to our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Also, make sure you get your account verified. Pinterest has made the process relatively easy and it’s an extra step in ensuring users that you are a trustworthy source.

2. Don’t make it all about you – It’s hard to gain a following if all your pins are your own products. Get creative about how you present yourself on Pinterest. We like to mostly choose themes that aren’t completely promotional product centric, and create mood boards that incorporate our products. This seems a more honest approach to reach potential customers than attempting to pretend we’re the only company in the world.

When we do have boards that are filled with mostly our own promotional products, they have a distinct and clear purpose. For example, we are currently featuring 6 boards where our Account Managers are pinning their favorite promotional products and we’ve made the fact clear in both the title and description of each board. I think it’s these little touches that add authenticity to what we’re doing on Pinterest.

3. Be creative as possible – Pinterest is where people go to get ideas that they would have never thought of on their own. DIY reigns on this site as does humor. A company that is highly praised for their ceativity on Pinterest is General Electric. They have established a presence that is both witty and informative, and always on top of trends. Their “Hey Girl” board put them on the map where they took to a meme that originally started with an actor and catapulted it into hilarious historically-themed stardom. Don’t be afraid to push outside your comfort zone and if you want to  upload as many of your own images as GE has, make sure you work with your  art department to make things looked as polished as possible. (Have we mentioned we love our art department? Really guys, we do.)

4. Keep it current – Make sure that you keep current of the latest Pinterest trends, like what has been named the perfect Pinterest picture or the analytics tool Pinterest rolled out for business. Pin current events or like GE, give your own unique spin on a current meme. We like to do season-centric boards as well, creating boards that capture the chill of winter or the carefree vibe of summer.

5. Have guest pinners – I know it’s scary handing the reigns over to someone else. So many things could go wrong, but when done correctly, having guest pinners can have great results. Social Media Examiner has an informative post about the benefits of contributor boards and how it worked for Etsy. The e-commerce site focused on vintage and handmade items partnered with artist like Lori Langille, and companies like Random House, Whole Foods, and Martha Stewart Living. By partnering with these carefully selected brands Etsy has reinforced their artistic image. So identify users and companies that could help make your brand shine online.

These 5 tips are simple things you can do to make sure your company Pinterest page isn’t lost among millions of pins. While none of the suggestions are particularly revolutionary, they are steps that companies often forget to take and quickly lose followers as a result. As long as you keep these tips in mind and follow basic Pinterest etiquette. If you’d like a more in-depth look at Pinterst, HubSpot published The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Pinterest that takes you into the nitty-gritty of Pinterest.

While you’re on Pinterest, make sure to take a look at the boards our Account Managers are currently pinning to: Ashley, Jasmine, Katie, Jessie-Kate, Shelley, and Sarah.

 

Recently we’ve received quite a few pictures from our customers of promotional products that we’ve ordered for them in action. Whether is was the promotional sound activated wristbands used by a dating app or a custom corn hole board used at a sales conference, we love seeing how a promotional product can go from an idea to its in-use execution, and, much like proud parents, we make sure to feature them on our social media sites. This has become one of the newest trends in promotional products, tying them to social media. So for today’s blog post I am breaking down the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of the tentative bond that promotional products and social media are forging.

The Good
Between Facebook now asking us what we’re reading/listening/feeling, Instagram’s ability to document each and every meal, and YouTube fostering a new generation of “haul” videos (videos where the host takes the viewer through what all they bought that day), people have never been more willing to talk and share about their favorite brands and items. Promotional products have never had a better stage to shine on.

Ask recipients to tweet you a picture of their promotional product in use, choose a witty hashtag, and you could be well on your way to Twitter fame. Think of Taco Bell’s #doritoslocostacos campaign, they had everything from pictures of the actual tacos to images of those waiting in line or taking their first bite (more of my odd love affair with Taco Bell’s revamped advertising here). Thank them for being part of your community and always make sure to feature content from your users because it’s a good way to let users know that it’s as much about them as it is you.

Which brings me to my next point: have a little fun showing off a little. Take, for example, the custom corn hole boards I mentioned above. Posted on a social media site, this image conveys the message that even when they are trying to sell you something, this vendor still wants you to enjoy yourself. If even General Electric managed to make themselves more than enjoyable on Pinterest, then we have no excuse!

The Bad
And now comes the fine print. Creating content, making connections, building loyalty – these things take work. Personally, I find the challenge a fun one but like the old mottos go, nothing worth having is ever easy. Luckily for you, our sales team can help you find the perfect promotional product, but you have to figure out the QR code or hashtag.

Sure, there will always be internet trolls and naysayers but you can curtail most of those by choosing a promotional product that lasts and quickly addressing any issues that come up via social media instead of deleting or ranting in response. And even if your online campaign gets sidetracked, hopefully it will be as hilarious as when the internet banded together to send popular rapper to a remote part of Alaska. This particular campaign was a winner on all counts: not only did Listerene Fresh Strips get tons of exposure, the rapper PitBull was able to show himself as a personable artist who is true to his word, and the town of Kodiak Alaska got to have a lot fun.

So, as long as you cover all your bases and prove yourself gracious in the face of the unexpected, the bad can end up being good.

The Ugly
Sometimes, things can go from bad to ugly. If customers are very unhappy with a product, they may take to social media to blast away, and if not handled delicately, the whole ordeal can turn into a social media scandal. To avoid reaching “the ugly” stage, make sure your product and campaign doesn’t cross the line of outrageously funny to outrageously offensive.

The Conclusion
While promotional products may be one of the older forms of advertising, social media is still considered the new contender. With a well planned campaign it can be easy to stand out among the crowd and shine with your chosen promotional product. Have you seen any promotional product/social media campaigns that you considered successful or have you seen ones that crashed and burned? Let us know in the comments. Have you considered showing off your promotional products on your social media sites or starting a campaign based on them?  Are you a fan of hashtag campaigns or QR codes?  I lean towards hashtags myself but have heard many a compelling argument fot the QR code.

As always, I love seeing promotional products in action so please send us some pictures or drop a link in the comments section!

-Sofia
Merchandising Assistant

I’ve become quite fond of the phrase, “Aint nobody got time for that!” (Do a Youtube search if you have no idea what I’m talking about.)  Though I don’t actually use the word “aint” in real life and I like to think of myself as somewhat of a stickler for proper grammar, the phrase is just so useful.  I can think of many scenarios where it has popped into my head as the right thing to say.

So, even though it’s become a viral Youtube sensation, the truth of the matter is that most people are really strapped for time and finding ways to save time really is important.  So, I bring you: time-saving promotional products.

You can find products that will help you save time in pretty much every category.  Here are some that I’ve come up with, but I can assure you, there are others.

Office items have become commonplace whether you work in an office or not.  Untangling the many USB cords that you have or unplugging something from your computer so you can plug something else in: Aint nobody got time for that.  Fortunately, there are products out there (on our site!) that can help you keep your cords untangled and allow you to plug in many USB devices into your computer.

What about drinkware?  Pouring yourself a cup of coffee and drinking it at home before you rush off to the office: aint nobody got time for that!  A sturdy, spill proof travel mug is your answer.

Finding your pen, stylus and highlighter at a moment’s notice?  Aint nobody got time for that!  How about a 3-in one writing instrument that can make searching in your bag for a highlighter when all you can come up with is a pen (and an old piece of gum) a thing of the past?

And then you have the ultimate time saver: our 24-Rush Service.  Your order will be processed in as little as one business day after artwork confirmation.

I could keep going on and on about time-saving products in all sorts of different categories, but aint nobody got time for that.