I've been noodling around on Pinterest for several weeks now and unless I'm missing something (totally possible), I don't really get it.  Sure, it's fun to start a "board" and pin your favorite images to it and even peruse it once a week as a source of inspiration...but what else is it really good for?  I tried to include images of my own felted handbags to the felted handbag page that everyone sees but could only insert them on my own board...big deal.  I already know what my own work looks like, I want everyone else to see it.  

So, the question I'd like to pose to this community is this...have any of you used Pinterest to further your career, sales, websites, etc.?  How does it work?  Who sees it?  Does it have staying power?  How can we use it to further our artistic endeavors?  Is it viable?  

Let me know what you think before I spend any more time there trying to figure it out...thanks.

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  • My latest work... the 2014 Winter Olympics in Lego from...

    http://www.pinterest.com/fatcatimages/lego-2014-winter-olympics/

    • So clever, Scott...love it!  This is your time, what with the Lego Movie coming out and all...enjoy the ride!

  • There are interest groups on Linked in, at least one is for artists.  We are members of the Art Business group where there is a thread which poses this same question. Several artists have posted that it is absoutely necessary to copyright and watermark any images uploaded to Pinterest.

    • Yes, I guess I don't know much about Linked-In either but this sounds like good advice, thanks.

  • I see Pinterest as a place that people go to for inspiration. I know a lot of people that use Pinterest, but it's all women and most are stay at home moms looking for things to basically copy and make themselves. I don't think it's a place people go to shop.

    • Thanks, Brian.  I've been looking at it that way as well and wondered whether anyone was actually selling anything there.  I think the idea of "pinning" your favorite photos and recipes is a good one and can be inspiring but I still prefer to sit and look at a magazine or catalog ...maybe I'm just too old or too old-fashioned...

  • I have experienced a good amount of traffic from pinterest to my website. Besides getting traffic on my website I also see good engagement with the images I share on my pinterest profile. I think pinterest could help you with branding and coming in front of new eye balls which would not be possible without it.

    • Thanks, Claudia, but I don't have a website...can it still be helpful for those of us without one?  I've tried to add some of my work to the felted purses page but ended up adding them to my own "board" instead.  So, unless someone follows me and what I've pinned, no one's going to see them.  I guess I just need to set aside a block of time to navigate the site and try to get my stuff on there...or set up a website, which also sounds like a week and a half I just don't have right now...oh well.  Thanks again.

  • Oops, I thiink my brain went to "linked In" :0) Just now saw again that you were asking about "Pinterest"! Maybe the same applies to both!

    • Susan, I was a bit confused about the "linking" you mentioned but after talking to my son about Pinterest, it actually fits because you want to link to other peoples boards, etc. and to your website if you have one.  I don't know much about LinkedIn but it may be similar...

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