What does the future hold for Pinterest?

If you haven't heard of Pinterest yet, you must have spent the last month in a cave. Pinterest is the latest big thing to take the social media world by storm, collecting over 13 million users in just 10 months.

With a simple interface, Pinterest allows users to 'pin' interesting images or videos you find on the web straight onto 'pin-boards'. The social element comes from being able to follow other pinners, and comment on their pins, and 're-pin' their pins onto your own boards. That's a whole lot of 'pinning'.

The platform has predominately been used by brides-to-be, designers, and females to plan weddings, dream homes, or to just harness a collection of favourite images.

Each pin automatically credits the source of the image or video, so users can visit the original website. This has been a welcome feature to Pinterest and means that the social platform has great SEO benefits.

We've been working with the ins and outs of Pinterest from the start, so now that we've all had a chance to get to grips with it; we asked our team how they saw Pinterest progressing in the future, and what should be changed to make the service better.

"More and more brands will start Pinterest accounts for the sake of it, but a lack of understanding of the point of the site means they'll use it incorrectly, get bored, and stop using it when it doesn't produce 'quick wins'.

Pinterest involves a much more subtle approach to using social media and we've found clients are missing the point, and just using it as they would use Facebook.

Pinterest users will continue to grow for the next few years until the arrival of a new social media site (for instance, The Fancy) distracts them and they gradually lose interest."

Mark Bowering, Social Media Specialist

"It's going to turn into a social ecommerce site. Companies will place photos of their products and pay Pinterest to advertise them on the site to encourage people to click and buy. It can't be helped that Pinterest will eventually turn to advertising or some sort of sponsored picture in the heading of pages. It will happen."

Ben Jones, Search Strategist

I can see Pinterest going in the way of The Fancy, in that it'll become an e-commerce platform for brands to actually have shops on there – users will be able to buy their products without having to leave Pinterest."

Scott Mason, Social Media Specialist

"I see Pinterest, like every other social network as something that will gain momentum, and then go into a sad decline because its initial user-set 'grow up' and get bored because they see it as a huge waste of time.

"Until that happens, however, I think it's a great resource for brands to share their innovative ideas with potential customers where maybe they can't reach them on the likes of Facebook (which seems to be a very personal level) or Twitter (if you're following hundreds of people, it might be hard for a brand message to stand out) but if you have the resources to make lots of pretty pictures, then go for it.

"If not, then why bother forcing yourself into this market – the audience here are probably not the audience you're looking for!"

Emma Barnes, Data Analyst

"I'd like to see the ability to be able to buy the products that you pin to your board. Brands like Topshop for example , could advertise their clothes with a link through to buy them on their website."

Tami Dillon, Web Designer

"For brands, the easiest thing would be to have their own more detailed profile page, much like Facebook where people can follow their boards for new ranges, sponsored boards etc.

"I think as the site is photo-based this is primarily focused on visually creative brands, such as Nike, who could show their entire range of trainers and make conversions from this source.

"Progressing into the future – it has to be advertising. It's mentioned in their 'About Us' page, but targeted adverts certainly for the fashion and food channel must be a way forward.

"I can see it moving forward by offering people the ability to view their boards in a time profile, and customise their own profile page with 'top pins' or something similar."

Steve Shaw, Head of Digital

Conclusion

So there you have it, the experts at Branded3 reckon Pinterest is destined for advertising and ecommerce.

Much like The Fancy; a social photo sharing website whereby you can buy the products in the images; our team envisage a Pinterest overrun by brands advertising their products, enabling users to purchase them with the click of a button.

If you'd like any advice about setting up a Pinterest account or whether it could benefit your brand, please get in touch and talk with our Social Media Team who'd be happy to help out.

BY Felicity Crouch AT 11:20am ON Wednesday, 28 March 2012

With a deep knowledge of creative writing, journalism, and social media; Felicity is our Digital Producer. Transforming our impressive achievements into words; Felicity uses her skills to raise Branded3's profile, combining a creative background with a passion for current industry affairs.