You have finished creating a Pinterest account – Congratulations on opting to be a part of one of the fastest growing visual platforms within the social realm. You are probably thinking - so what comes next? Pinterest provides a rich environment for brands to reach out and connect with their target base.

Provided you have a smart Pinterest strategy in place of course.

One of the best ways of building traffic for your website and for increasing conversion is by increasing both the number of repins and your followers. The first step in this direction begins with educating your target base; second, start showcasing your expertise; and thirdly, you need to convince them of the value of your products or services. While you are doing all of this, you also need to highlight the fun side of your business in a way which will actively promote your products.

It is true that Pinterest is essentially a visual medium. However, it is not simply a tool for displaying pretty pictures. Pinterest has seen a meteoric rise within the social landscape based on its potential to deliver on marketing goals. In fact, compared to Facebook, Pinterest can deliver three times the amount of traffic. As a tool for dispensing information, Pinterest scores just as high - you can use your pins to link with information or educational blog posts. Focus on creating pins which demonstrate what the information is all about; this will lead to more click throughs to your website.

If you can deliver useful information in a format which is easy to read and understand, is concise and attractive, and features user-friendly graphics, then you can be sure that the pin will get repined and generate traffic for you. Start using Infographics; not only are they fun, but they also look professional, and are excellent mediums to showcase both knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, Infographics navigate well on visual platforms such as Pinterest and definitely stand a higher chance of getting repined.

Use boards to address pertinent issues relative to your area of expertise or your target base. If you can provide intelligent resolutions, there is every chance that your potential customer base will convert to zealous followers. So if you are an interior designer, you can create boards and pins which provide solutions for capitalizing on space or on how customers can use color schemes to brighten their living space. The idea is to showcase your expertise in your area of specialization while providing answers to pertinent issues.

Use your Pinterest account to build and display the character and personality of your business. You can use this platform to display how your brand stands in the market based on human values such as involvement within the community or with charity events. There are so many different ways in which you can build your brand personality and show your target audience that you are not purely about cut throat competition and business advantages.

Create a board for Quotes - Social media has always displayed an inherent love of quotes. Create a board for quotes that pertain to your industry specifically. Pictures of babies, people, and cute and funny animals guarantee runaway success if used cleverly. So if you deal with digital gadgets, you can create a board to feature animals using these gadgets.

It is fun and it is engaging! Remember, a large percentage of the Pinterest audience are women - this gives you the perfect opportunity to use colors to enhance the aesthetic value of your boards.

A robust Pinterest strategy should focus specifically on the interests of the ideal target customer. Find out the interests of your target audience; you can create boards featuring "quick tips" or create a board that features that latest information on happening within your industry or even create a board featuring "how-to or DIY" guide among others. Regardless of the kind of business you run, Pinterest will work for you; all you need to do is focus on the 3 essentials -

• Provide Information
• Give Help
• Have Fun

Pinterest is a visual library of information which can be consumed and shared easily within the social realm - this is what makes it an ideal source of information which is inspirational and a "must-have" for all businesses.