How to Get More Pinterest Followers ~ Part 3

#9: Contribute to Others’ Boards

A quick way to attract followers is to contribute to popular group boards that already have a lot of followers. When you contribute quality pins to these boards, their followers become your followers, too—if they like your pins.

Look for popular group boards and spend some time forming a relationship with the board owner or other contributors, then ask them to invite you to the board.

Contributing to popular boards can also attract followers.

An example is Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth who contributes to the board#LetsCelebrate Pin Party which has close to a quarter of a million followers. Exposing her pins to all of these followers should help convert some of them into her own.

#10: Follow Others

Look for people with similar interests, follow them and a fraction of them will follow you back. Continue to follow the ones who follow you back and unfollow the ones who don’t. Repeat the process.

Here’s how you follow others:

• In the Pinterest search bar, type in a keyword related to your field. This will give you a list of pinners, boards and pins that contain your keyword.
  

  Follow other pinners or boards.

• Then choose what you plan to follow—other pinners or boards.
• After you make your choice, in the list that appears, begin following people/boards who share pins similar to what you share.
• Follow about 100-300 people a day and then wait a few days. Then check to see who has followed you and continue following the ones who have followed you back and unfollow the ones who haven’t.

If you follow this procedure, you’ll be able to gradually build up a lot of followers. To make sure you only get followers who’ll be likely to interact with your pins—only follow people who have similar interests.

#11: Run Contests

There are two ways to gain followers when you run a Pinterest contest. You can either base entry in the contest upon following you or you can use a tool like Rafflecopter to give away a few extra entries for those who follow you.

To gain followers, make following your account an obligatory part of your contest.

An example is the Pin Win Spin! Pinterest contest by Angie’s List, where one of the requirements for taking part in the contest is to follow Angie’s List.

#12: Keep Your Followers Happy

It’s not just about getting followers, it’s also about keeping them happy. Make the extra effort to keep your followers satisfied so they’ll continue following you instead of leaving you.

Here are a couple of ways to keep followers happy:

• Don’t share everything at once: Instead of clouding your followers’ feeds with your pins all at once, time your pins to go out at regular intervals. You can easily do this by using a scheduling tool like Curalate.
• Stick to one topic per board: One way to lose your board followers quickly is to share irrelevant pins to your boards. It’s okay to share lots of different topics on different boards, but make sure you stick to one topic per board to keep your followers happy and get them craving more.

Over to You

Using some or all of these tips can help you get more Pinterest followers and increase engagement. More followers will lead to an extended reach, broader visibility for your brand and a greater return on investment (ROI).

What do you think? Are there any other ways to get more Pinterest followers? Would you like to share any other Pinterest marketing tips with us? Please leave your comments below.

Source: socialmediaexaminer

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Valentine's Day: 17 Days ~ Love Quotes for Your Handmade Cards

If you need Valentine love quotes for your cards, you'll find no greater inspiration than the following romantic quotes we gathered for you. And with easy Valentine crafts like homemade cards on your to do list, your quotes will find a home quickly.

Valentine Love Quotes

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."

--Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Writer/Aviator.

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you." 

--Ernest H. Shephard  

 "Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." 

--William Shakespeare

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."  

--Mother Teresa 

"To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness." 

--Robert Brault 

"True love stories never have endings."  

--Richard Bach 

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness."

--Friedrich Nietzsche 

Happy Valntine's Day! 

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Wonderment of Colors!

I simply adore colors of any kind.  Orange, Blue, Yellow, Red, Green, Brown, Purple, White and any mixture of these.  The color combinations that you choose to create with are very important to consider with any product.  A few aspects of colors might be important to consider with each of your products: What sort of emotional response does that particular color invoke?  How well do those colors go together?  Is it an “easy” color to match with?

EMOTIONAL RESPONSES/MEANINGS of the COLORS

BLUE is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.  As the collective color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming; however not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic, an engaging color that expresses exhilaration.

GREEN occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world that is an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.  The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology. However, there is an “institutional” side to green, associated with illness or Government-issued that conjure up negative emotions as do the “slimy” or bilious greens.

YELLOW shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts.

ORANGE, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and true orange generally elicits a stronger “love it” or “hate it” response than other colors. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy. Interestingly, some of the tones of orange such as terra cotta, peach or rust have very broad appeal.  There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and a true orange color generally elicits a stronger “love it” or “hate it” response than any other color.

RED has more personal associations than any other color. Recognized as a stimulant red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.

PURPLE embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.

BROWN says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the color of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic.

WHITE projects purity, cleanliness, and neutrality. Doctors don white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns and a white picket fence surrounds a safe and happy home.

GRAY – Timeless, practical, and solid. A longstanding favorite suit color, gray can mix well with any color. Although well like and often worn, people rarely name gray as a favorite color possibly because Gray also is associated with loss or depression.

BLACK is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions too much can be overwhelming. A classic color for clothing possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated.

HOW WELL DO THESE COLORS GO TOGETHER?

There are a whole lot of different ways that you can combine colors and know that they are going to work together.

PRIMARY – The three colors that all other colors are made of: Blue, Yellow, and Red.

SECONDARY – The three colors that are made up of the primary colors: Green, Orange, and Purple.

WARM COLORS – Reds, Oranges, and Yellows typically go together very well.

COOL COLORS – Purples, Blues, and Greens also go together very well.

OPPOSITES – Those that are opposite each other on the color wheel: Red and Green, Orange and Blue, Purple and Yellow.  But you need to be careful doing these colors; with paints, if you mix these together, you’ll end up with an ugly brown-grey color.

DIFFERENT HUGHES OF THE SAME SHADE – Navy, Light Blue, Sky Blue, True Blue, etc.

EASY TO MATCH WITH

Especially if you are working with accessories or decorations, you need to consider how well your color combinations are to match with.  Essentially, someone out there is going to be interested in your color choices, but if they purchase that *adorable* decorative plate, and it doesn’t go with the other decoratives in their house, are they going to enjoy it at its fullest?  Same goes with purses, that pinky-red polka-dot bag is super cute, but if you can’t find a pair of matching shoes (or scarf), is it going to get any use?

Colors are amazing.  God is truly a genius to have designed so many combinations and hues and shades and just pure beauty in colors.  What are your opinions on the amazing qualities that colors posses?

(Family Bugs)

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Valentine's Day: 18 Days ~ 5 DIY Treats with Hearts

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and who doesn’t love giving and receiving handmade treats with hearts to celebrate the special day?  Whether you have oodles of free time on your hands or non at all, there are Valentine’s treats  that will fit into your schedule and your stomach!

1. Chocolate Valentine's Suckers

Load the sucker molds with sucker sticks. Squeeze the chocolate over the tip of the stick first and into the whole of the mold and chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or so. The heart lollipops are ready! Read more

2. Flying Heart Cupcakes

Bake your heart cupcakes with a marble between the liner and pan to create this shape. Beautiful idea, isn't it? Read more

3. Conversation Heart Cookies

Once iced, these cookies need to dry completely overnight before being stamped with a message for your sweetheart. Read more

4. You Make My Heart Sing Cake

Make your loved ones’ hearts beat quicker and grow fonder when they taste these delicious creations made with love and care by YOU. Read more

5. Sweetheart Pops

Sweet creations that kiddos will certainly need help with, these sweetheart pops are fun and tasty treats. Read more


And if you don't feel crafty, check out our Food & Sweets Category!

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How to Write a Better Twitter Headline

Twitter is awash with information and headlines calling out for attention. How do you make a splash and not just a drop in this ocean? Part of the secret lies in having a "catch" to gaining other people's attention; another large part is to have followers who trust and rely on your headlines and the content you lead them to. The best ways for grabbing the interest of your fellow tweeters are about to be revealed...

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   Think about how you scan Twitter. Nobody opens every single link or even reads every single tweet; do you? What is it about the tweets you do read and follow through on that make you notice them? Basically, when there is a cacophony of headlines competing for attention, you're going to be looking for the tweets that reward your reading effort and that's precisely what your followers do too. The "rewards" focus on such things as the usefulness of the tweet, the sense of urgency compelling you to read it, and the unique nature of the tweet content.^[1] Summed up, aim to give the flavor and offer the temptation to learn more when preparing your Twitter headlines.
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   Keep the tweet short. While Twitter is already short enough, keeping your headline shorter than the allotted 140 characters is alluring because it stands out and tells the follower "hey, here's one that is easier to read"! Can you keep your tweet to just eight words and under? Eight words or less is apparently the optimal amount for gaining instant attention!^[2] While it may seem tempting to use text language to shorten words or to use abbreviations to cram in as much information as possible per tweet, that could simply create a crowding impression and send your followers off to a simpler tweet.
   • If you do have a lot to say, can you break it down and feed it through in a series of well-timed tweets instead of trying to be too clever with too many words at once?
   • Keep in mind that there needs to be space for retweeting your information. While some tweeters simply cut off anything superfluous when retweeting, it's best not to make your followers have to go to that effort where possible.
   • Don't mix up ideas, themes, news items, etc. Each tweet should focus only on one thing; plan how to feed unrelated information in at different intervals instead.
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   Write well. You have very few words, so make them count. Why use plain words when you can find ones that are far more descriptive and therefore more powerful, moving, and appealing to the reader? Be sure to explain why your headline will give the reader the best, the worst, the most, the biggest, the strangest, etc., information possible. Make the most action words, especially verbs; saying less with more increases the impact of your tweet.
   • If you struggle with finding the apt word, make friends with the thesaurus. While they are online, it's a good idea to invest in a printed copy because it's a feel-thought connection that arises with flipping through a book; you can also page mark your favorite words.
   • Avoid being obscure, obtuse, or obstinately obfuscating. If your follower doesn't get what it is you're on about, they'll ignore your tweet for one that makes sense. It is as simply – and ruthless – at that. Leave out puns and inside jokes, and avoid being too clever by half. Stick with simple headlines that everyone will understand.
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   Ask a question. This usually will cause a person to be engaged, (for at least a second or two), enough to either answer the question or follow the link referred to by the question. If your question is about content you're promoting, relate the question to the nub of the issue you're discussing in the content by identifying a good keyword or two that summarizes your query. Good question openers include:
   • "How would you...?"
   • "Do you know how many people...?"
   • "Are you struggling with/overwhelmed by/easily defeated by, etc..." – this is a good one where you have the answers, especially answers to social media/networking problems, organizing digital life, fixing known technical hitches, etc. It's also good in relation to relationships, such as "Are you hopeless with small talk?"
   • "Would you like to know an easy way to...?"
   • "How many times have you...?"
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   Ask for help. Related to the previous step on asking a question but different in intent, asking for help can be another excellent way to engage your followers. Maybe you'd like someone's opinion, or their input on something. Whatever your need for an answer, a lot of people like to help others and by asking them, you've just made it easy for them. However, don't just gulp up the answer and leave it hanging; be sure to engage in aconversation with those who respond, and provide a round-up of how their answers led to your solution. This tells your followers that you listen, that you act on their replies, and that you honor them by demonstrating how they have helped. Some examples of asking for help include:
   • "How do you/I...?"
   • "What can I do about...?"
   • "Where can I find...?"
   • "Who is the author/singer/writer of...?"
   • "Can you recommend a good...?"
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   Tell your followers something unique and interesting. Your reader will want to know how your information or observation will affect them in their world. Yes, even the most rampant philanthropists will want to know information like that (their world is helping others) and they want to know how you can help them with that.
   • Search Twitter before adding your tweet to make sure it hasn't already been added a lot that day or recently and therefore be at saturation point. Find a new angle or way of presenting information that is already bloated on Twitter.
   • Eyewitness accounts are really interesting. Are you somewhere where the news is breaking? If so, make it compelling by exploring how what you're witnessing is making you feel and how you see others responding.
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   Talk about social media content. Headlines likely to pull interest from followers are those focused on Twitter itself and other social networking sites. After all, if you're on Twitter and someone suddenly states that "Twitter users are more likely to have better friendships" or such, that makes followers sit up and read! Think about how Twitter helps, revolutionizes, improves, changes, etc., people (aka "tweeple" or followers), businesses (from small to large), disaster relief, communities, and more. Or headlines about ways to improve your Twitter experience and strategies. These sorts of headlines will cause much interest.
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   Nix the punctuation. It's no longer a headline if you're adding punctuation and seeking to get your followers to keep on reading more. In conjunction with the recommendation above to keep it short, also keep the colons, semi-colons and tripled-up exclamation marks out of your tweet headlines. Too much punctuation marks out your headline as being complicated or, in the case of too many exclamation marks, not to be taken seriously.
   • Related to punctuation is the need some people seem to have to leave a reference trail to the original newspaper/news site on Twitter; it's so unwieldy! Leave out unnecessary info that clutters, such as the page number, date, name of newspaper, etc. The reader will find that information upon arrival, so why burden your tweet with such details? Remember, just get to the point and that you'remicro-blogging, so shortcuts are expected.
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   Build trust. Crafting a brilliant headline each time is only part of the art of good tweeting. The main part is the rapport you have with your followers and the manner in which you've built trust with them. By interacting with them consistently, by answering their tweets and retweeting their information, and by providing reliable content through your tweets, trust is formed and maintained. This is a constant effort

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Valentine's Day: 21 Days ~ 6 Romantic Table Decoration Ideas

The Day of those who are in love is coming soon, the Valentine Day is coming soon. So, let make some decoration for our dining table for Valentine. In that way you will surprise your love and make her/him feel loved and important to you. It amazing, isn’t it.

1. Memory Keeper Table Setting

Set the table for romance. Before you give the journals to your loved ones, inscribe their names in the journals along with appropriate sentiments, poems, or memories. Read more

2. Heartfelt Center

Simple beauty, that’s what makes this arrangement so appealing. What you need: Egg cup holders; and button roses. Read more

3. Valentine Mail Pouch Tutorial 

Attach these cute pouched to the chair backs in your house and let the kids deliver love notes for Valentines Day. Read more

4. Seclusion With Curtains

To achieve an ethereal illusion of romance and private ambience, hang sheer white curtains over the table. Read more

5. Dish Decor

This can be a nice red dinner table linen that can be placed on top of the table – this might help to set a romantic mood and make sure you complete this with a nice table runner as well as some lovely napkins. Source

6. Candle Decor

Always have a candle or two set up on the table – this builds to the romantic feel, though don’t overload the table with candles, just one or two at the most. Source

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Fabulous Fridays...The Interview ~ Crafty Clara

Our favourite day is here for once again and we are happy to present you another brand new interview; this time with Crafty Clara!

She specializes in sign creation and she is really good. Read her interview:

1. Speak a bit for yourself or introduce yourself. Besides crafting, what else do you love doing?

I am Clara, Crafty Clara. I make elegant handmade country crafts and unique gifts. I am based in Kent and despite having a very busy business I also have two daughters. Fortunately I have a very supportive husband so juggling every day life is a little easier! Besides coming up with new ideas for my products in my free time I like walking our dog and baking.

2. How did you start crafting and how long have you been doing it?

I first started making cards and family and friends said I should sell them. They were very simple and elegant and were very successful. However, the time it took to make a few cards I could make 20 chalkboards which was far more financially beneficial. Although people still say to me that they miss my cards my time is far better used making crafts from wood and a greater return! I have been running my business for over 10 years now.

3. What are the problems you faced as a crafter until now? Do you have an advice for someone that thinks to start or is new to crafting business?

The problem I have and am sure many do is that large stores will beat you down on price to stock your products as they can easily buy mass produced items from China which cost pence. You need to know exactly what your products costs to produce to the penny and know what you your profit margins are. Know your market and who you are aiming to sell to. Customers want value for money but you are also running a business so you need to find the balance. Don’t be put off by competition at crafts fairs or farmers markets, it’s all healthy, be proud of what you make.

4. What's your favourite crafting category? Do you have in mind to start crafting something else (besides your usual crafting category)?

I absolutely love what I do, so rewarding. Although my chalkboards and pegboards are practical yet lovely the shabby chic signs without a doubt are the biggest seller. They attract the most attention from customers and the ideas are limitless. I wouldn’t consider doing anything else, I will stick to what I know! The most satisfying line I love doing is anything for weddings. From table place settings, practical signs and personalised special signs that can be treasured forever.

5. What is your main source of inspiration? How do you propel your creativity?

My eldest daughter who is 15 does come up with some great quotes and phrases. The good ones I do make into signs but unfortunately she has started demanding commission for each one that sells! I try to come up with phrases that are inspirational, practical and humorous. Something for everyone.

6. Tell us about your crafting space. Do you have a favourite material and tool?

I use the work shop for sanding and drilling and everything else I do from home. If an order comes through I can make it and send it the same day as everything is set up at home. I love using gorgeous colour paints. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is wonderful. It is not cheap so I am very careful what I paint with it. 

7. So you crafting space transmutes to an online shop. How do you promote your e-shop, which social media you use?

Trial and error will determine which on line shops work and which don’t. If I don’t get any orders I check that they are listed in the right category and that the price is right for the sort of traffic for that site. I do have a company facebook page which keeps me up to date with other companies, news about events and it gives me an instant platform for my customers to see new products which is linked to my website.

8. How long after listing an item into your e-shop you had your first sale?

The fastest order I had was I listed an item and before the email came through to confirm the listing, one had already sold!

9. Where do you see your business in 10 years from now?

I would like to be in an endless list of shops but realistically on line is the most effective way to sell products. My dream would be a household name...wouldn’t anyone?! My husband does keep reminding me that I’m not Cath Kidston or Emma Bridgewater yet!

10. How did you find MISI? What else would you like to see being added to the site?

The site was recommended as one of the top 4 online shopping sites when I did my research. I have hundreds of views on my products on the site but hasn’t quite transformed into sales. I do think that the categories are restricted for what I do. If I type in signs in the search for example it doesn’t bring up any of my signs. If I was to look for gift ideas I never click through specific categories to get to the line that I want. I would like to have something for signs as mine can be in so many different categories!

Visit Crafty Clara.

Other Profiles: 

Facebook

Pinterest

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Valentine's Day: 22 Days ~ 6 Romantic Gift Tags

Lovers and friends it’s that time of the year where we all get a little bit smushy and really romantic. Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate your loved ones and whether you find gift shopping daunting or delightful we’ve got just the selection for you.

We gathered for you 6 beautiful and romantic gift tags from Misi, to add a personal touch to a gift for a costumer or to your beloved ones.

1. Red Big Heart Gift Tag

Heart Gift Tag by catonamat

These heart gift tags are made from cards and they are beautiful. The soft brown is a great choice for a romantic, vintage look. Plus they are on SALE!

2. Pink Ribbon Gift Tag

Ribbon Gift Tag by kitschin

These are a pack of 5 gift tags with a diamanté and pastel pink ribbon. If you would like other colours, please do ask the seller as she has a full and varied range.

3. Heart Clay Gift Tags

Clay Gift Tags by Orchard Originals

These white clay hearts are perfect to add that finishing touch to a gift, as a decoration around your home or as a wedding favour.

4. Ceramic Love Heart

Love Heart by andypandys

Made from white earthenware clay and glazed in matt red/brown with a white ribbon and the inscription reads 'Mr and Mrs'. It is lovely given as a gift on its own but could also be used as a gift tag, decoration for a gift or added to your own card.

5. Romantic Hearts Gift Tag

Romantic Gift Tag by byHanneB

 Sweet vintage looking gift tags with heart and flowers. They are so charming and romantic- just lovely tags for your valentine or friend.

6. Polymer Clay Gift Tag

Clay Gift Tag by andypandys

Their shabby chic sweet style makes them perfect if you wish to give a vintage and cute style to your Valentine's home decor or your gifts to your beloved.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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How to Get More Pinterest Followers ~ Part 2

#5: Mention Others

When appropriate, mention others in the description of a pin or the comments section.

Mentioning other Pinterest users can be a great way to attract their attention and get them to follow you.

When you mention someone on Pinterest, consider complimenting them, too. This will further draw you to that person’s notice and encourage them to follow you.

#6: Connect Your Social Networks

Connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts with your Pinterest account to attract your Facebook and Twitter friends and followers to your Pinterest account.

You can easily tweet your pins so your Twitter followers can see them anddisplay your latest Pinterest activity in your Facebook friends’ and followers’ feeds.

Choose the different types of activity you’d like people to see, and with a simple click they can visit your pins, check them out and follow you on Pinterest.

To help attract followers, you can also add a link to your Pinterest account in your other social media account bios.

Connecting your Twitter and Facebook accounts to your Pinterest account can help attract followers from those networks.

Krishna De has connected both her Twitter and Facebook accounts to her Pinterest account. As you can see in the above screenshot, this displays both accounts on her page and can help all three social networks gain followers.

#7: Find Friends From Other Social Networks

Another advantage of connecting your other social networks is you can find friends and connect with them.

Connect your accounts and click on your business name in the top right corner of the screen. In the dropdown menu that appears, click on Find Friends. You can thenchoose the social networks you’ve connected to find friends and followers and follow them on Pinterest.

Connect your social media accounts to your Pinterest accounts and find friends and followers you already know.

As you follow people you already have relationships with, they’ll be very likely to follow you back.

#8: Promote Your Individual Boards

Instead of following an entire profile, people prefer following boards on subjects they’re interested in. Work on getting followers for your most popular boards instead of the entire account.

Go through your brand page and look for your most popular boards and promote them to gain more followers.

Here’s a quick guide on how to get more Pinterest followers:

1. Place your popular boards in the top row so people can see them as soon as they visit your brand page.

Place your most popular boards in the top row of your Pinterest page to get more people to notice them.

Swarovski uses the top row of their Pinterest page to display their most popular board, Wedded Bliss, which now has more than 1.5 million followers.

2. Use the board widget to display 30 of the latest pins from the selected board and lead viewers to the board by clicking on it. You can build a board widget by visiting the widget builder page.

The board widget can help convert website visitors into board followers.

3. Invite board contributors to pin to your boards to help attract followers. This can aid you in two ways—1) the contributors will share lots of pins, which will increase your board’s exposure and 2) the board will be displayed on their profile too; thereby converting some of their profile visitors to followers of your boards.

Group boards can get you a regular supply of both followers and pins.

The above is an example of Better Homes and Gardens’ Blogger Recipes We Love, a popular board that has a lot of board contributors.

Source: socialmediaexaminer

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