This month’s column is up on Create Mixed Media where I decided to talk about Pinterest and how it’s being embraced by artists and other creative people. Pinterest is a new social media phenom that’s growing in global membership with each passing day.
Here’s a little secret of mine. I’m lucky to have more than 1,500 Facebook friends, with the majority of them being other mixed-media artists and crafters. Considering I’ve been on Facebook since 2008, this is not a huge number of friends, but then again I rarely go looking for people to friend. Social media is not a numbers game to me. I’d rather have two people following me who really care about my work and what I to say rather than 5,000 people who will never look at my Timeline or bother to read my Tweets. I believe in quality versus quantity in life, business and even social media.
Because of this approach, I have made some über talented Internet friends whose opinions and values I trust and respect. Whenever I want to bounce an idea for one of my columns off someone, I find myself going to my Facebook page and asking questions. The responses I get are tremendously insightful. I received so much positive response to my Pinterest questions that I thought it’s a shame to keep my friend’s thoughts to myself. I wanted to share their brilliance with you, too.
Here’s what other artists are saying about Pinterest:
“It is a phenomenal tool, for both creative inspiration and for social networking. Just as one needs to be pinning responsibly, people also need to be responsible for content of what are pinning. Make sure before you click “pin it” that the photo is something that you want all of your followers to see. Pinterest is like any other social media, we are often judged by what we present to the world – good or bad!” — Suzann Sladick Wilson of Beadphoria (my artist friend who originally invited me to join Pinterest a year ago).
“My advice is to brand your photo with your url and bless people who pin your work!!” — Kathy Cano Murillo, aka The Crafty Chica
“Pinterest has become a huge source of traffic to my blog. Pin away!” — Theresa Momber
“I need a Pintervention! I love using it for color inspiration, and finding quotes to use in my artwork. I’m fine with my work being pinned as long as some kind of link or credit is given so I can be found as the artist.” — Jen Osborn (no, not the person in my CMM article whose family did a real Pintervention. She remains anonymous).
“By using Pinterest, I can better bookmark, organize and categorize all the things that keep me inspired as an artist and photographer.” Niki Miners
“I like it. It’s another way to get my work out to a wider audience. And what a source for inspiration for the works of others and fabulous color combinations. It’s an easy way to help define what you are drawn to.” — Doris Arndt
“Now that Pinterest has changed their TOS and rules, it is more welcoming to artists. When artists raised concerns about the rules, Pinterest was very proactive, listened, and made changes quickly. I’m impressed with them as a company. I’m back on Pinterest and do brand each photo like Kathy. Every photo on my blog or those that I pin, have my copyright and website url. I thank those who repin any of my work. The CHA Design Section does have a Pinterest board on which we pinned items we saw or had displayed at the show.” Carol Heppner
“I love pinterest – it’s a wonderful source of inspiration and a way to connect with a larger audience. ” — Heather Powers
“I LOVE Pinterest and use it almost daily! It is a great source of inspiration and provides insight into trends because people are USUALLY pinning the best of the best images and things that interest them RIGHT NOW. It’s free trend research! As far as having my own work pinned, I encourage it. I watermark all of my images with my logo and web address so that if my image is pinned and that info is not provided by the original “pinner”, people still know the source of the image and can find me. It is the best kind of advertisement money can’t buy — not only is your image potentially exposed to millions of people who may or may not be involved in crafting, but it is a huge compliment that people choose YOUR image to pin. Who doesn’t want their work to be cataloged along with the best of the best? I sure do!” — Jennifer Priest
“I’ve been on pinterest forever! I don’t brand each and every photo on my blog – only the finished project shots & I’m thoughtful about what I put on my blog because of pinterest. ” — Vicki O’Dell
“I am a new and huge fan of Pinterest…..just ask my hubby who doesn’t see me at night until the wee hours!!! I love to just go look at all the stuff I pinned for inspiration…it’s everything I love in one place! How does one go about branding their images…..that might be something I might look into since many times my work is repinned but there is no name attached to it…..???” Laurie Mika
“I LOVE Pinterest. As an artist, I would LOVE to have my work being repinned, it is a fabulous place to find things without having to specifically knowing what you are looking for, like you would through a search engine. I have found the most awesome ideas for decorating, places to shop and things that inspire me. ♥ I don’t think that they should be making a big deal out of legalities and such. I have heard some negative concerns. If it is on the web, why wouldn’t someone want to reach as many folks as possible~ that is what privacy settings are for.” — Tracy Dove
“I love Pinterest and I’ll tell you why…. because it’s free advertising for your art. I don’t sell my art but I have bought art by going to the link in the original post. I have pinned Jane LaFazio’s art because it’s amazing. I also like that I can find information about supplies, artist techniques and tips.. It’s more detail than Facebook and not as tedious as trying to find something on an artist’s website.” — Sharon Newby
“Hey Jen, I love Pinterest and I agree with Sharon, it’s a great way to get your work exposed and direct them to your blog or business website. I don’t worry about images being stolen and used for commercial use by others because the images are 72 dpi and because they are so small they can’t be used for much.” — Melissa Harnett Ustik
“Love it, and am happy to be pinned if they credit the source. I don’t have much free time either, but I budget the time into my Social Networking slot each day. I pin my own work, if people don’t like that so be it. It’s only a small part of my page. Besides, with the Pinterest terms, they really send out a mixed message on that front.” — Margot Potter
