RobQuig

Pinterest, the darling social network of 2012 (much to the chagrin of Google Plus), is becoming a great experimental site for news organizations. Here are some tips for journalists and newsrooms who are jumping on board:

* Fill out the profile information and make sure you add a logo or picture. 

* Study how people in the community are using Pinterest before you begin pinning.

* Create boards that fit your content and audience. 

* Share content besides your own. Like any social network, only sharing your own content is a social networking faux pas, and it smells of a desperate attempt to get clicks instead of a genuine attempt to be a part of the community.

* Scout for pins made from your URL and then like/repin/comment those pins. People will be impressed that you are paying attention, and they’re more likely to follow your Pinterest account. To see what’s being pinned on your site, put this URL in your browser (changing out “yourdomain.com”) http://pinterest.com/source/yourdomain.com/

* Write interesting copy with anything you pin. We’re in the communications business, and we should make those paragraphs/sentences as interesting as possible.

* Share only interesting photos and videos. I know that sounds obvious, but if you’re just sharing for the sake of sharing, stop it. Pin the very best.

* Think about how your content online needs great art. Instead of squirreling your photos away in galleries that are separate from the text content, make sure they’re embedded directly with your content. People are more likely to pin you organically if you catch their eye with a great photo/graphic or video.

* Watch for trends on your beat. This is especially the case if you’re a food writer or style writer. 

* Have some fun - people are more likely to repin your fun content.