Difference between revisions of "Pinterest"

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[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pin-search--image-search-/okiaciimfpgbpdhnfdllhdkicpmdoakm Pin Search] is a tool for Chrome that allows you to find the original source, or similar images of the pinned image.<ref name ="ref31"/>
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pin-search--image-search-/okiaciimfpgbpdhnfdllhdkicpmdoakm Pin Search] is a tool for Chrome that allows you to find the original source, or similar images of the pinned image.<ref name ="ref31"/>
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[https://itunes.apple.com/app/id544081731 PinDown] is an application which allows users to download multiple pictures at once from their Pinterest account.<ref name="ref32">http://download.cnet.com/PinDown-for-Pinterest/3000-12511_4-75760861.html</ref>
  
 
==Ethical Concerns==
 
==Ethical Concerns==
 
===Copyright Issues===
 
===Copyright Issues===
 
There have been many copyright concerns that have arisen since the founding of Pinterest. Users do not know if they may be at risk for infringing copyright laws. The issue is that Pinterest’s model is based on users linking to any image found on the Internet and many of the images that are uploaded are copyrighted. Since users pin texts or pictures onto their profiles without the permission of the copyright holder, this is an infringement of copyright law.
 
There have been many copyright concerns that have arisen since the founding of Pinterest. Users do not know if they may be at risk for infringing copyright laws. The issue is that Pinterest’s model is based on users linking to any image found on the Internet and many of the images that are uploaded are copyrighted. Since users pin texts or pictures onto their profiles without the permission of the copyright holder, this is an infringement of copyright law.
 +
==== PinDown ====
 +
Pindown is an application which allows users to download multiple images at once from their Pinterest board.  This can possibly promote the idea of copyright infringement, as they could download an image, and post it elsewhere.  Because they did not actively search for the image to download it, they may not even know where it originated, and cannot give credit.
 +
 +
Another concern is the idea that some may not want their work to be shared on Pinterest, but are not given the option as the number of members submitting is too great.
  
 
==Awards==
 
==Awards==

Revision as of 18:01, 28 November 2012

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Pinterest Logo
P
interest is a social network image-sharing site founded by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, and Evan Sharp in 2009.[1][2] Pinterest has become a new leading referral traffic generator for retail brands that has over 10.4 million users.[3] The Silicon Valley Startup site allows its members to easily connect in the world through similar interests by collecting and sharing photos that are visually appealing.[4] Pinterest users are able to collect images and group them together under a category, creating an online bulletin board of inspirational ideas. People use Pinterest to find and share their favorites, style, tastes, and interests, as well as to get inspiration from others. Pinterest began as an exclusive website requiring an invitation to join and participate. In August 2012, Pinterest opened up to the public allowing anyone to sign up for an account and be a user.[5] Pinterest currently holds the position as the third largest traffic driver source worldwide on the Internet.[6]

History

Pinterest Co-founders: Paul Sciarra, Ben Silbermann, and Evan Sharp

Paul Sciarra worked at a venture capital firm, Radius Capital in New York, and left his job in 2008. Across the country, Ben Silbermann left his job designing products at Google.[2] The two college friends came together to brainstorm ideas for a startup, but did not find immediate success in Pinterest. Despite the initial difficulties of gaining popularity to the site because it was hard to get anyone to think about images, Pinterest successfully launched. Pinterest’s initial slow growth concerned the two colleagues, but only a year later, the site skyrocketed to success as it experienced wild growth. Out of a childhood love to collect things from insects to stamps, developed a social media website built to allow people to continue their collections online.[7]

Growth

Pinterest continues to grow at an astounding rate. Pinterest became the fastest site ever to break through the 10 million unique visitor mark when data reported from comScore showed the site had 11.7 million unique U.S. visitors on a monthly basis.[8] Since early 2012, the number of Pinterest users to visit the site daily has increased 145 percent.[9] According to new data from social media marketer Tamba, the number of daily unique visitors of Pinterest has doubled in just two months from 2 million in January 2012 to 4 million in March 2012.[10]

Infographics

Pinterest has been popular among many and in 2012, it was reported that 80% of the U.S. users were women. Users in U.S. are more likely to live in Midwestern states. The average of Pinterest users are ages 25 to 54, and though main users are women, the site is attracting the interest of men, who now make up the 28 percent of new members compared with 20 percent in January.[10]

Funding

Since the March 2010 launching of Pinterest, the startup has raised $37 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, FirstMark Capital, and Bessemer Venture Partners. [11] In October 2011, Pinterest received $27 million in funding from venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz that valued the social media site at $200 million.[12] Pinterest received a $100 million investment from a group led by Japanese online retailer Rakuten Inc., valuing the company at about $1.5 billion.[4]

Privacy

Users can browse any other users’ pins. Pinterest allows users to pin or comment anything they desire and they are not limited to the visibility. On October 17, 2012, Pinterest announced that they have responded to the request for more privacy controls by adding new features.[13] There is a flag icon on each user’s profile allowing any one to block or report that individual’s profile for nudity or pornography, attacks a group or individual, graphic violence, hateful speech or symbols, actively promotes self-harm, spam, or other. The block feature prevents two user’s from the ability to follow each other’s boards, and repin and comment on one another’s pins. The report user feature alerts the Community team to evaluate the account that has been reported. [13]

Features

Pins

A pin is an image or video uploaded by the user, or taken from a website. A description can be added to the pin to explain or comment on if the purpose of the pin is not explicitly stated. A pin could simply be an image and that is all. A pin can also link to a website that will automatically be linked if the pin is taken from a website, or it can be added.

Boards

Pinboards are unique to each user’s page. User’s can create and freely name as many boards as they desire. New boards can be created at anytime by clicking the “Add” button on the navigation bar located on the top right. A pinboard is categorizes pins properly onto specific boards in order to help others find your pins.

Comments

Users can add comments to pins on their own boards or others' boards, even if the users do not follow on another. A comment can be added by clicking on the pin and typing in the comment box, or by hovering over the picture of the pin and clicking on "Comment."

Search

Users can use the search tool to browse things already on Pinterest. Some images may already be pinned from other users.

Friends

Friends on Pinterest can be easily found through connecting to Facebook and Twitter accounts. Invitations can also be emailed to friends that do not already use the site.

Follow

Users can follow other Pinterest members. There is the option to follow all of the boards, or individual boards that you like.

Sharing

Pins can be shared on other social media websites such as on Twitter and Facebook by simple clicking share.

Edit

Users are able to move around and rearrange pinboards that they are displayed in at any time. Pins may not be rearranged on each individual boards as they are displayed chronologically pinned. However, pins can be moved around to different categories, so it lies in the most appropriate one.

Bookmarklet

This “Pin it” button can be added to a browser’s bookmarks bar. Pinterest suggests this feature be installed due to its result of simplistic and easy pinning.

Usage

Pinning

Pinning is the process of collecting pins and posting them and categorizing them onto boards. Members can pin any image from any website. There are three ways to pin.

The first way to pin is to upload an image to Pinterest straight from a file on your computer by clicking the “Add” button. This is a great option to share personal pictures, ones that are not already hosted on the web.

If a user stumbles upon an image found on another site, like a blog, rather than saving the image to one’s computer, and re-uploading it to Pinterest, there is the option to simply click the “Pin It” button that is installed. Clicking the “Pin It” button gives you the option to pin any of the images embedded on the webpage that you are currently visiting. The url of the original source of the images are automatically set into the link.

The third way to pin is to “repin” something that is already pinned. Browsing makes pinning simple. If one comes across an image of a photo that is desired on your board, one has the option to “repin” or “like” it, which gives you the option to share your likes, without having them pinned on your board. This like will be added to the “likes” section of your profile. Choosing “repin” cues the user to classify the pin to one of the user’s specific boards.

Pinterest Mobile Applications

Pinterest Mobile Apps

There are three apps that are available to download on the Pinterest website. Pinterest has created apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. The goal for these apps is to allow users to take Pinterest anywhere to pin, discover, and access.[14] Pinterest launched the iPhone app and Pinterest Mobile in September 2011 and in May 2012, they redesigned and updated the app.[15] On August 14, 2012, Pinterest announced that an iPad app and Android app is now developed and available for download.[16]

These apps allow users to do almost everything capable on the Pinterest website. The app displays easy and accessible icons for browsing pins of people that user’s are following, exploring various pins from various categories, capturing pictures and instantly pinning them, news with the user’s recent activity, and profile displaying pints, boards, likes, the number of followers, and people followed.

Pinterest for Business

Businesses use Pinterest as a marketing tool. Many businesses use the site to increase awareness, and monitor traffic by looking at the number of followers, or engagement measures of likes, repins, and comments.[17] A number of companies such as Procter & Gamble, The Wall Street Journal, Land’s End, Etsy, Ebay, Zappos, and Whole Foods use the social media platform for exposure to a large audience, attract new followers, engage with existing followers, increase visits to their websites, and generate sales.[18][19] Pinterest is a great source for consumer insights, allowing businesses to understand their audience, and what they are discussing and sharing. Companies can check out their competition, and compare their products and services.[20] Many brands are using Pinterest as an advertising strategy in order to drive sales via images and displays.[12]

Promotions

Companies use Pinterest to promote their brands with contests and sweepstakes to improve user experience for their audience base. Companies like Honda, Kotex, Sephora, Gilt, AMC Theaters, and Victoria’s Secret have used Pinterest to connect with their audiences by offering giveaways.[21][22] Contests allow brands to engage with consumers in a personal and cost effective way as well as help collect customer information, preferences, and feedback.[22]

Marketing Tools

There are tools that have been developed after the quick popularity of Pinterest growth. These marketing tools provide users with ways to measure their efforts and make it simple to pin content to boards, share and track better on Pinterest. Businesses use Pinterest to their advantage as the site provides the insights that they need to measure and optimize their content and engagement efforts on Pinterest.[23]

PinReach provides insight and analytics to assist users examine trends and measure the success of the page.[23] It allows users to see what their top five pins and boards are, and provides the number of pins, boards, likes, followers, likes, repins, and comments.[23]

Repinly is a site that analyzes Pinterest users and content providing insights on popular content for pins and boards, how users spend their time, and most followed users.[24]

PinPuff is a site that allows users to explore social influence. It calculates a score and gives you the number on a scale of 1-100 that indicates a user’s “pinfluence” measuring popularity, influence, and activity. The site gives you suggestions of other users collecting similar content.[23]

Pin A Quote allows users to easily pin any text found on the Internet.[25]

Pinerly is an analytic tool that helps keep track of repins, and likes that pins are receiving. It has an easy-to-use dashboard interface for browsing and pinning.[23] The site helps devise the best strategy for content to increase user’s sales and increase traffic.[26]

Pinspiration is an app developed for Pinterest users on Windows Phones.[25]

Pintics provides the tools needed to manage activity and sales and help track and optimize their Pinterest traffic.[23]

PinAlerts is a site that alerts users via email when someone pins an image from their website onto Pinterest.[27]

Pinalyzer is a service that suggest to users pins and people to follow based on analyzing the user’s followers and following people.[27]

Pinwords allows a caption, description, or text to be added to an image instantly before it is pinned to Pinterest.[26]

Pin Search is a tool for Chrome that allows you to find the original source, or similar images of the pinned image.[26]

PinDown is an application which allows users to download multiple pictures at once from their Pinterest account.[28]

Ethical Concerns

Copyright Issues

There have been many copyright concerns that have arisen since the founding of Pinterest. Users do not know if they may be at risk for infringing copyright laws. The issue is that Pinterest’s model is based on users linking to any image found on the Internet and many of the images that are uploaded are copyrighted. Since users pin texts or pictures onto their profiles without the permission of the copyright holder, this is an infringement of copyright law.

PinDown

Pindown is an application which allows users to download multiple images at once from their Pinterest board. This can possibly promote the idea of copyright infringement, as they could download an image, and post it elsewhere. Because they did not actively search for the image to download it, they may not even know where it originated, and cannot give credit.

Another concern is the idea that some may not want their work to be shared on Pinterest, but are not given the option as the number of members submitting is too great.

Awards

Pinterest won the Crunchies 2011 fifth annual competition award for Best New Startup of 2011. Hosted by GigaOm, VentureBeat, and TechCrunch, the Internet community is invited to choose the winner.[29]

At South by Southwest Interactive 15th Annual Awards, Pinterest won the award for best Breakout Digital Trend 2012.[30]

At the 2012 Webby Awards, Pinterest won awards for Best Social Media App and People’s Voice Winner in Best Visual Design Function.[31]

Competition

Some competitors of Pinterest include: Fancy, Bo.lt, Clipix, Woodmark, Swell for Tumblr, Friendsheet, Pixable, and Hunuku, Trippy. All of these sites are some variation of social service for photo-clipping, which allows users to capture, share, and organize anything on the web.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mmj45ifhm/ben-silbermann-evan-sharp-co-founder-pinterest-2928/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/founders_group_of_eclectic_collecters_c6OCu79GSiJIs3oynbwliN
  3. ↑ http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-05-01/tech/31511284_1_google-users-investors-facebook
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/17/pinterest-funding_n_1523253.html
  5. ↑ http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/08/pinterest-open/
  6. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomiogeron/2012/10/22/ben-silbermann-on-how-pinterest-slowly-grew-to-massive-scale/
  7. ↑ http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-13/tech/31158694_1_google-experience-products-silbermann-said
  8. ↑ http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/07/pinterest-monthly-uniques/
  9. ↑ http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/14/this-is-everything-you-need-to-know-about-pinterest-infographic/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.tamba.co.uk/blog/infographic-interest-in-pinterest-tamba/
  11. ↑ http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57435953-93/pinterest-pins-down-$100m-in-new-funding/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/may/17/pinterest-valued-at-more-than-1bn
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://blog.pinterest.com/post/33785122869/announcing-blocking-more-controls
  14. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pinterest/id429047995?mt=8
  15. ↑ http://siliconangle.com/blog/2012/06/25/pinterest-to-launch-android-app-at-google-io-2012/
  16. ↑ http://blog.pinterest.com/post/29392054155/introducing-pinterest-for-android-ipad-and-iphone
  17. ↑ http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/pinterest-contest/
  18. ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57404630/pinterest-tightens-copyright-rules/
  19. ↑ http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57502559-93/with-pinpointing-zappos-hooks-up-pinterest-with-e-commerce/
  20. ↑ http://www.equities.com/news/news-headline-story?dt=2012-10-19&val=612380&d=1&cat=headline
  21. ↑ 23. http://www.jplcreative.com/blog/index.php/2012/05/14/five-ways-pinterest-can-benefit-your-business/
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 26. http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/pinterest-contest/
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 http://socialmediaweek.org/blog/tag/pinpuff/
  24. ↑ http://www.socialbrite.org/2012/06/27/5-tools-to-help-you-master-pinterest/
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/pinterest-terms-of-service-update_n_1379486.html#slide=more217065
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 http://www.cypressnorth.com/blog/social-media/13-essential-tools-help-pin-share-track-better-pinterest/
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 http://kleinconsult.net/2012/09/28/8-tools-for-managing-and-monitoring-pinterest/
  28. ↑ http://download.cnet.com/PinDown-for-Pinterest/3000-12511_4-75760861.html
  29. ↑ http://crunchies2011.techcrunch.com/about/
  30. ↑ http://sxsw.com/interactive/awards/winners
  31. ↑ http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=16

See Also

External Links

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