Pinterest iconIn my Florida Keys-based social media management and training business, I’m find myself fielding more and more questions about the hot new social network–Pinterest. Not too surprising, really, since the new darling of the social world has gained nearly overnight world-wide web popularity. At the start of 2012, Pinterest saw a 155% increase in unique visitors just one month (Compete.com) and hasn’t stopped climbing off the charts since. The first thing most local businesses want to know is this rising red planet a social space they should jump into? Next, what is the best way to quickly grow a local Pinterest following?

First things first. Whether or not a business should use Pinterest to market their product or services depends on what they want to accomplish. If the business is one that depends on driving high-volume traffic to a web site to increase sales then Pinterest is definitely a great place to be. In recent months, a great number of big brands and blogs have reported receiving more traffic from Pinterest than Twitter and Facebook.

The most important thing to understand when considering creating a Pinterest account for a business is to make sure to use Pinterest as it is intended–as a place to give and receive ideas and inspiration not a place to overly sell or promote. For best results, find ways to go beyond just posting product  photos and share culture and lifestyle images that parallel the given product or service.

Now, on to the best way to grow a local following on Pinterest — here’s how:   Learn more >>

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In keeping with Facebook’s main mission to share information and connect people across the globe, on May 1, 2012, Mark Zuckerberg announced a new Facebook tool that enables users to now share that they are an organ donor.

According to a statement released by Zuckerberg and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, there are more than 114,000 people in the United States today, and millions more around the globe, waiting for the heart, kidney or liver transplant that will save their lives. Many of those people – an average of 18 people per day – will die waiting, because there simply aren’t enough organ donors to meet the need. Medical experts believe that broader awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving this crisis. Facebook believes that by simply telling people that you’re an organ donor, the power of sharing and connection can play an important role.

Zuckerberg’s new tool allows you to add that you’re an organ donor to your timeline, and share your story about when, where or why you decided to become a donor. If you’re not already registered with your state or national registry and want to be, you’ll find a link to the official donor registry there as well.

If you are interested in sharing that you are an organ donor on your Facebook timeline, watch the video below to learn how:

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Find more information about Facebook’s organ donation tool on ABCNEWS.com.

What do you think about this new Facebook tool? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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What is a Social Business?

April 25, 2012

For anyone still thinking that social isn’t for business—think again!  The world is in the midst of the greatest shift in communication of all time and to be successful companies must transform into social businesses. What exactly is a social business? Chief Social Media Evangelist for IBM, Sandy Carter, has written a book titled, “Get [...]

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How to Create a Facebook Interest List

March 27, 2012

Facebook recently launched a fantastic new feature called “Interest Lists.” I have found this feature to be very helpful in managing my Facebook news feed so I can more quickly and efficiently discover the news and information I care about most. Facebook interest lists basically help you turn your Facebook news feed into your own [...]

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New Facebook Pages – What your business needs to know!

March 1, 2012

The new Facebook pages are here and as with any Facebook update, it’s being received with mixed reviews. I personally am excited about the new opportunities the updated design offers. The new Facebook pages mirror the Facebook Timeline for personal pages that was released toward the end of 2011. The Facebook page design officially switches [...]

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Best Resources to Grow Your Small Business Using Pinterest

February 25, 2012

So you have heard about the latest social media darling, Pinterest, and you are wondering if your business should jump on board.  If you ask me, I say…YES! After all, it is not only super fun, the new social site directed more traffic across the web in January 2012 than Youtube, Stumbleupon and Google+.  According [...]

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What is Social Media Week?

February 10, 2012

I’m excited to participate in my first Social Media Week happening next week, Feb. 13-17. Social Media Week, now in its third year offers a series of interconnected activities and conversations around the world on emerging trends in social and mobile media across all major industries. I will be participating in the Miami area events [...]

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How to Create a Facebook Favorite Pages List

February 7, 2012

When using Facebook as your personal profile are you noticing a decrease in the number of updates you are receiving from your favorite Facebook pages in your Facebook news feed?  When using Facebook as your page, are you noticing it is becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve the desired visibility for your posts in your [...]

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How to Celebrate Social Media Week Florida Keys Style

January 31, 2012

Celebrate Social Media Week (Feb. 13-17) at the first Upper Keys Social Media Meet Up on Feb. 14th at 9:30am at Bitton Bistro Cafe in Islamorada. What better day than Valentine’s Day to gather and discuss“How and why ‘LIKE’ is the new LOVE!” The event is an casual presentation of tips you can use to make your [...]

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Florida Keys Social Media Survey

January 26, 2012

Welcome to the 2012 Florida Keys Social Media Survey! The goal of the Florida Keys Social Media Survey is to better identify the current social media needs and participation levels in the Florida Keys business community. I promise the survey takes less than one minute to complete. As a way of saying thank you for [...]

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