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Planet Pinterest
Pinterest’s meteoric ride continues to leave people’s heads spinning. In January of this year, it became the fastest site in the history of the internet to top 10 million unique visitors. That same month, it drove more referral traffic to retailers than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn. Yowzer. And for anyone using Pinterest, you will know it is crack from the moment you pin your first pin.
The question everyone is asking is What the hell is driving this mania? Some people say it’s the way Pinterest allows you to save, sort and manage pins (aka photos) through themed pinboards. I think that’s like saying the reason people drink wine is because they get to drink it in a fancy stemmed glass. It’s not the glass, it’s the wine and how it makes you feel. And with Pinterest, it’s not the technology, it’s the photos and how they make you feel.
So if it’s the photos, why haven’t other photo sharing websites seen similar astronomical growth? Flickr, Shutterfly, Snapfish and PhotoBucket have been around for many years and none have ever hit the staggering numbers that Pinterest has hit in such a very short time. I would argue it’s the difference between shitty photos and captivating, visually stunning photos that bring the user to a place they have never been.
If I upload photos of my Cape Cod vacation on Flickr, there is nothing stunning or captivating about them. Maybe through some divine intervention that I had nothing to do with, I get one great shot. The problem is that one great shot is probably a needle in a haystack of 100+ other shitty shots. Nobody wants to wade through that visual shitshow except maybe my immedite family who are driven by some obligatory motivation.
Pinterest is a totally different experience than something like Flickr. The documentary Planet Earth leveraged high-def film to bring common nature — jungles, deserts, fresh water, oceans, great plains, caves, etc. — to a whole new dimension of visual experience. I believe “Planet Pinterest” is doing the same thing to common aspects of life — clothes, cars, people, food, animals, flowers, etc — via high def-like photography that leaves you feeling inspired. And through that inspiration, we are motivated to repin on our boards as a means to amplify what turns us on and at times takes our breath away.
Pinterest has brought captivating, visually stunning photography to the masses and we can’t get enough of it. What do you love about Pinterest?
March 29th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
As a blogger, I love using Pinterest to find beautiful inspiration photos. Search something like “lucite” on Pinterest and you get gorgeous clear furniture and beautiful rooms. Google image search it and you get a mess of oddities. I think users these days are demanding that form equal, if not exceed, function.
March 29th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
oh that’s a great point shelley. i didn’t even think of the comparison to google images. the two experiences couldn’t be further apart from one another on the spectrum. thanks for sharing your perspective. it’s always insightful and adds a new dimension of thinking.
March 29th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Pinterest, for me, is the most beautiful bookmark I have ever used. Whether is an outfit idea, funny cat photo or recipe, I love that I can save it, share it and, in a sense, show it off to my followers. Every pin tells a story and gives another glimpse as to who the pinner is and I love that. It’s safe to say I am completely addicted. Great post!
March 29th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
jordan, i smiled wide when i read the term “funny cat.” haha. i am so with you. the bookmark perspective is a great one. what i love is that no words need to ever be exchanged — only images — yet connections can be so meaningful. thanks for commenting!
March 29th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Pinterest also tells a story, about dreams of places and things that I love, curated mostly by people that I know or somehow trust or rely one. The quality of the pictures pinned to themed boards by people you know also gives you a window into their dreams and loves. It’s a wonderful place to read a story, visually.
March 29th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
For me, Pinterest has made my computer even more essential to daily life. As a teacher, my 8 teaching boards allow me to organize classroom ideas in a visual, easy to find place. As a mom, I’ve got boards for each of my kids…there I pin things that remind me of them, or that I want to share with them. I’ve got a board for recipes; for a healthy me; for my passion for photography and cameras. Pinterest is a place to find everything… and to put everything in its place.
March 30th, 2012 at 6:34 am
thomas, i love the analogy of “a window into dreams.” it’s so true. an the idea of telling a story visually — without words — is also an awesome perspective. thanks for sharing it.
March 30th, 2012 at 6:37 am
maria, that is such fantastic insight that i had never heard. i had no idea you and others used it for teaching boards. the place to “find and put everything” is a brilliant perspective. thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
March 30th, 2012 at 8:42 am
The fact that Pinterest is addicting became evident to me the first time I used it. I see it as a place to just be “me”. Every picture, craft idea, decorating idea, quote, recipe, joke, landscape, house, etc. is something that “chose” to put on my boards. Each one means something to me, from just liking the color all the way to maybe reminding me of something from my childhood. And it feels like an adventure…you start out pinning a picture which takes you to 5 more to pin on the same board and then all of a sudden you click a link which veers you off on another path….and there you go….down the path to more adventures, memories, things that make you smile or things that make you think. Knowing that my pins may inspire someone else on their own adventure is cool, too!
March 30th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
linda, i love your perspective. thanks for sharing it. pinterest is a unique adventure and no two people have the same experience. i can tell through your boards that your pins are a reflection of you and what matters to you. i love that about pinterest.
April 25th, 2012 at 5:52 am
thought everyone would enjoy seeing this relevant pinterest post “10 surprising brands killing it on pinterest.” thanks to becky celestine for sharing.
http://www.onlinemba.com/blog/10-surprising-brands-killing-it-on-pinterest/