Social media has become a cliché term. We experience it almost every day, whether actively interacting on Facebook or Twitter. Many business and entrepreneurial writers claim that social media is the way to your customer’s heart, but this notion has been debated to wits-end. However, what has not become run-of-the-mill is the way in which we connect with each other online. Websites like Pinterest and Tumblr congregate people based on their interests and the activities they enjoy. While this may come off as a filtered Facebook experience, the success and ever-expanding audience to these sites call for an understanding of why these sites are playing a significant role in the progression of the social media cliché.
Pinterest and Tumblr are similar in that they both connect people through what they enjoy. While Tumblr allows the user to create and export their thoughts, works, and interest to their community, Pinterest culminates interests under a general concept (i.e. Recipes) and breaks them down into more specific categories (i.e. Recipes à Chicken Parmesan). Essentially, Pinterest works like a massive corkboard where you can keep track of your interests by categories and attract people based on what you enjoy. The site calls itself a “lifestyle” site rather than a social media experience. The major difference here is that, while you may comment and repost, Pinterest enriches your exposure to the things that you enjoy. Both sites connect people through the idea that we can socialize best in terms of what appeals to us. By spreading and increasing our knowledge of what we enjoy, whether it’s fashion, politics, or entertainment, we can form an interest in each other. Though Pinterest has a static (i.e. fixed) design, Tumblr is a more dynamic experience, allowing the user to customize everything they do and how it appears on their page. Since Tumblr hosts the “world’s creators,” Both websites mark a dynamic change in the world of social media. While Facebook and Twitter will continue to be a relevant and occasionally effective way to connect with others, Pinterest and Tumblr are a more visual and portfolio-driven experience that brings the term social media back to life.
WEBii’s Pinterest page includes “pins” on everything from Austin culture and businesses to humorous art and pastoral pictures. Here, WEBii employees’ favorite Austin spots and businesses as well as our growing “office soundtrack” collection and fascination with everything Star Wars show that we’re not just busy bees swarming around the nest. For a business, it’s a great way to show another, lighter side of hard-working employees that is often absent from a typical office environment. The idea behind these sites is to gain and spread more knowledge of the little things in life that we enjoy. What we enjoy is a reflection of who we are and how we view the world. Pinterest is a great way for you or your business to show personality for the world to see and enjoy. It’s a way to express yourself and explore other outlets to accompany your lifestyle. More importantly, we are a society driven by image. Anything visually striking or aurally pleasing will grab and maintain our attention.
Many of the websites we design are not only intensely SEO-driven but visually appealing as well. One of the most common and pleasing trends in the slide-show home page gallery, where images and text gracefully transition in the form of a subtle fade or a smooth switch. Zazilkin, a wholesale company based in Austin, and Island Rentals on Lake Travis both use a large number of pictures. These sites are organized in a way where you never become overwhelmed by the amount of and layout of images.
Michelle’s Patisserie, a wedding-cake bakery and dessert designer, displays her pictures in a different but equally appealing way. While her home page displays a smaller slide show than the previous two sites, her “Gallery of Cakes” is a perfect example of proper organization for a large number of photos. Like Pinterest, her site and pictures are in separate categories depending on the subject.
These websites exemplify the strength behind an image-heavy site. The key to effective imagery is organization. Without proper planning, an image can quickly change from a “nice touch” to a gross distraction.
The visual and auditory aspects of Pinterest make it a great technique to expand on the personality of your business and employees. By pinning or posting, you’re able to expand your knowledge of something you take pleasure in and connect with an audience on a level that’s more informal and friendly. Setting up a profile on Pinterest or Tumblr is fun and easy; yet another great way to connect with those in our community and beyond.