Social media marketing may very well be the hottest type of online marketing today. And within social media marketing, there are networks that are experiencing rapid growth. Sites like Tumblr and Pinterest are appealing to social users, making visual social networks a hot commodity.
According to Francis Bea, these photo-sharing social networks are the “elephant in the room” for marketers. After all, Bea notes that all of the major networks have made big moves in this direction:
- Google has acquired Nik Software and its photo app Snapseed
- Facebook obtaining Instagram
- Twitter keeping up with native photo-friendly features (filters)
But how effective can photo-sharing networks be with purchases. Bea cites a Bizrate Insights study that found that 69 percent of users on Pinterest were motivated to make a purchase – as opposed to 40 percent on Facebook. The study found it to be more inspirational, pointing to its ability to organize products and obtain ideas.
These types of opportunities are certainly present for businesses. For those that offer visually-appealing products and services, there is great potential on these sites. Even those that don’t necessarily fall into the “typical” type of business to use photo-sharing networks can still use it creatively.
This elephant in the room could be something that businesses should pursue, extending their reach and capitalizing on this growing niche in social media. Businesses are already using it to connect with social media users, expand visibility, and to add content to their website. Contact us to learn more about the world of social media marketing.
About Debra Zimmer
