Pinterest seeing increased charity usage
With the popularity of Pinterest
surging at present, the adaptability of the site has really been highlighted by
the increased variety of users signing up. In particular, there have been growing
numbers of charities joining the site and utilising it in quite imaginative
ways.
The photo-sharing site, which
recently became open to all, is being realised as potentially becoming ‘a great source of donations’. This is due to the site being dominated by females (70%) mostly
between the ages of 25-44, a demographic which is often hard to target. Campaigns
on Pinterest could subsequently bring increased success for the charities
tapping into this and also help to further their message and support base.
Blurt Foundation: Depression and Politics. |
Numerous other UK charities are now
utilising Pinterest as it becomes an essential part of social media campaigns. Jordan
Harling (Reason Digital) has noted that the goal for charities is to ‘use
Pinterest to connect people and communities based on their social interests and
motivation to do good’. By being creative, charities can gain attention and
stand out from the crowd. The network can also be beneficial through linking up
with other social media platforms and blogs for instance. So by grabbing the
attention of the user on Pinterest, they could then be directed to the charity
site and even make a donation. Even if a donation were not to happen, the
charity has successfully disseminated its message and may gain support through
this in the long run.
Some notable charities using
Pinterest include water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe
drinking water to people in developing nations. Their boards contain images
from field trips, fundraising campaigns and photos of the day, which
prominently feature water. The WWF are another significant group to have taken
to the site. Understandably they use a lot of images of animals but they also
include boards devoted to supporters and ‘tips to go green’.
Consequently, despite it being
relatively new and unfamiliar, Pinterest is fast becoming a key avenue for
charities. As well as helping to generate donations, the site is allowing
charities to broaden their message and potential audience. In terms of visuals,
these charities are also doing a great job in pinning creative, interesting
content. This is sure to develop in the future as the site advances and
understanding increases.
Josh Bennett, Content Writer
@JoshAtSMF @SocialMediaF
Pinterest seeing increased charity usage
Reviewed by Mili and Paul
on
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Rating: