While Facebook and Twitter continue to receive a considerable amount of attention in the world of social media, other platforms are rapidly gaining popularity and becoming great places for businesses to promote their brands. Pinterest is a relative newcomer to social media (it was launched in March 2010), but it has certainly made a name for itself as a power player in the social media arena. Pinterest is a wonderful virtual venue for companies to showcase their products and generate interest in their brands. Setting up a Pinterest business account is free and simple to do.

Pinterest has separate terms for personal and business accounts. You can either set up a brand-new business account or, if you already have a substantial Pinterest following, you can convert your personal account into a business account.

Note: If you are creating a new business account, be sure to log-out of your personal Pinterest account before getting started.

1. Go to Pinterest for Business and click “Join as a business.”

2. Fill out information about your business, including the name of the business, the business website and who will manage the account. You will also be asked to give an email address and to create a password.

3. Read and accept the Terms of Service.

4. Click “Create an account.”

Once you have successfully set up an account, you can begin to create “boards,” which are virtual collections of “Pins” (images and content) that other Pinterest members can follow. Other Pinterest members can also “repin” your Pins to their boards, thus generating more exposure for your company. A critical step is to be sure that your company website has a Pin button, so it’s easy for people to pin images from your site to their boards.

Social media engagement has become an essential part of business marketing. Axia PR can help your business maximize its social media marketing potential. Axia PR’s e-book The Essential Social Media Management Guide can ensure you’re doing everything you can to engage current customers and attract new customers.