As promised, we are finally going to talk about ‘Pinterest’ today. Why? Because this bit of social media is proving to be informative, fun and downright entertaining for millions of people … including many of us over fifty!
Let’s begin by answering some questions; what is Pinterest and how does it work? The clever people who developed this site took their inspiration straight from our lives. Pinterest is simply a computerized version of good old fashioned bulletin boards. As you move through the web, you find endless, interesting things that, through Pinterest, you can then ‘pin’ to the boards you have created. These pins are saved for your own interest but they can also be ‘liked’ and/or ‘re-pinned’ by others. You can also decide to follow other people’s boards, something that expands the information, ideas, and creativity coming into your life.
The visual aspect of Pinterest is what I find the most appealing. (Apparently, so do approximately 48 million users. It’s interesting to note that of these users, approximately 83% are women.) The presentation is clean and easy to use. When I am inclined, I’ll look at other people’s boards or surf the web for things that interest me. When something tickles my fancy, I pin it to one of my boards for future reference.
You can easily create any board you might like. (Opening a Pinterest account is very straightforward and downright simple. Trust me, if I can do it so can you! I’m no computer genius.) The ‘boards’ I created for myself are: The Second Half On-line (information from my blog); Bucket List; Duck Pond Epiphany (about my novel); A Writer’s Life (inspiration and helpful tips): Books, Books, and More Books; Good News; People Making a Difference; Cooking for Two; Cooking for One; Favorite Place and Spaces; Beauty; Foodie Fun; Products I love; and Share the Love with Music. (Because I enjoy doing crafty things, I also plan on adding a DIY craft board. The holidays are around the corner and I need some inspiration!)
You can keep your boards entirely private or you can be entirely public, it’s all up to you. I think it may be this multi-layered approach that has so many people enjoying Pinterest. Most of us appreciate having some control over what we share. It’s a model that works for people.
Naturally, in this day and age, you’ll find plenty of images from different companies and brands. Many retailers use Pinterest almost like a catalog or as a portfolio of certain products. In the mood for new shoes? You won’t be disappointed! Need something beautiful to wear for your daughter’s wedding? (Like I did last June.) Browse Pinterest. It’s all here.
Honestly, playing around on Pinterest sort of reminds me of when I was a kid and I’d look through LIFE and LOOK magazine, or I’d turn every page of the newspaper looking for things to cut out. While my interests have changed, apparently I continue to find this kind of activity satisfying. After a long day in the world, this kind of mindless escape is calming.
There are plenty of nay-sayers. I’ve heard people say it is a “waste of time” and I’d have to agree if you find yourself pinning to excess! And no, it’s not rocket science but don’t we all need some down time? I know I sure do.
Interested? You can check it out at www.pinterest.com and check out my boards at www.pinterest.com/traceybp.
Happy pinning!