Businesses have turned to Pinterest

In today’s society, businesses and organizations are thriving off of the explosion of social media into the marketing world. From a business such as American Express to a current political party, both are using social media platforms to their advantage and to stay ahead in ratings. Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare or even Pinterest, businesses are developing promotions on all of these individual channels.

 

But how are these businesses going to successfully use their social media feedback to their advantage?

Businesses have turned to Pinterest aiming to create more online traffic and boost their consumer engagement. Since the demographic of this site is mostly dominated by women, this opens new channels for businesses to reach their target audiences, exhibiting their items or services that traditionally appeal to women and the rising male audience. 

 

Pinterest has created an innovative way for successful marketing avenues and consumer products to use a new social media platform when highlighting their brand.

Pinterest is still an invite-only site, but this has not stopped the soaring success of the social media network. This makes a great way to selectively market quality products to specific audiences. 

Businesses and brands can take advantage of this by creating innovative ways to use this marketing tool by creating contest, gaining new product approval and receive product interpretation, creating a brand presence and personality. 

The third Pinterest guideline under consideration of the “Pin Etiquette” states:

"Avoid Self Promotion- Pinterest is designed to curate and share things you love. If there is a photo or project you’re proud of, pin away! However, try not to use Pinterest purely as a tool for self-promotion."

This network allows users to create and name “virtual pinboards”, and post relevant photos on those boards. Pinterest allows users to easily integrate their social media network with others, while remaining focused on the idea of a person lifestyle. 

Instagram Announces Android Version

By: Victoria Choeff

Nearly almost every iPhone user, company and clothing line has an Instagram account. For those of you who don't know what Instagram is, it's a new fast, fun and beautiful way to share your life with friends through photos. Snap a photo with your iPhone, choose a filter and transform the look and feel! Instagram has over 27 million downloads from the app store with strictly iPhone users. But recently this question has been asked with many Non-iphone users "Is Instagram only for iphone? Why doesn't my phone have it?"

Well Android users you are in luck! Co-Founder Kevin Systrom announced at SXSW Sunday that the "long awaited Android version of Instagram is nearly here." He showed the new version on stage without a demo leaving the crowd hanging. He said that the Android version is being currently tested in private and should be released very soon. Systrom also said that "in some ways, its better than our iSO app. Its crazy"  

People question him and asked why it took so long for Instagram to finally come to andriod. He responded saying "It didn't take long, we just had other priorities".

Instagram is one of my favorite app on my iPhone and it's such a great way to share what I do. I love following my favorite celebrities and even fashion designers! I have a lot of Android user friends and I am so excited for them to hop on the Instagram train. 

There is no specific date when it will be released for Android, just know that it will be coming very soon!  

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Planned Parenthood Takes Social Media to the Next Level

From Heinz Ketchup to The Weather Channel, almost every brand today has a QR code that allows viewers to interact with their brands directly from smartphones. For those of you living under a rock, a QR code, short for quick response code, is a barcode located on virtually anything that can be scanned with an iPhone, android or other camera-enabled smartphone. Once the code is scanned, a URL that is embedded into the code appears. This unique coding system has allowed companies to expand their brands greatly and has created a new trend in spreading brand awareness. Not only allowing a viewer to see the website, a QR code can also allow customers to have access to certain coupons and special deals or events for that brand as well; there is no limit to how a QR code can improve a brand.

The latest QR code to make an appearance may come as a surprise to many. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, in honor of National Condom Week, is attempting to make safe sex as comfortable as possible.  In doing so, the company distributed 55,000 condoms to local college students in western Washington. What was unique about these condoms was a QR code sticker located on each wrapper.  This QR code isn’t just a website for facts about staying safe; this code takes the condom user to a website titled www.wheredidyouwearit.com.  Yes, that’s right. You can now “check in” to where you just had sex.  The objective of this website is to show sexually active young adults that using condoms is more common than they think. 

Once entering the site, users can click the button “check in,” which is similar to foursquare, users can tell the world anonymously where they just had sex.  

This banner appears on the check in page followed by these questions; an approximate address, city, state, gender of you and your partner, age, type of relationships, why you use condoms, how the safe sex was and even where the sex occurred, for example the kitchen or a hot tub.  Once submitted a “Thank You” page appears. Planned Parenthood thanks the user for using Where Did you Wear it, “but more importantly thank you for practicing safer sex.”  Users can then click on the map and see their sex location as well as the location of other safe sex users. 

The purpose of the site is to show young adults that safe sex is being used everywhere and to also spread the word of how condoms are 98 percent effective in preventing STDs as well as unplanned pregnancy. It is hoping to make safe sex users proud of their actions. According to abcnews.com, Nathan Engebretson, PPGNW’s new media coordinator, said the site has already had 65,000 visitors and 4,500 check-ins, with 20 percent of the traffic coming from mobile devices. He says the site isn’t intended for bragging, it is about giving these young adults the sense of how many people, like them, use condoms. Products and brands of all sorts are using these types of social media tools to spread their brand message why shouldn't Planned Parenthood? 

By: Carlie Fair