Pinterest has announced a few changes recently that you’ll want to know. One change is an update; one may affect your holiday social media marketing plan, so let’s get to it!

First off, the company just announced they’re adding related pins to the feed that people see. These are pins that go with, or are related to, pins the user has already added to their boards. They should be relevant since they’ve already pinned something like it, and it’s a way to add fresh ideas to boards. This is slowly being rolled out now so not everyone has this yet, but keep your eyes peeled for it.

Pinterest has quickly become one of the most popular social media sites, and one that makes selling your products or services easier.  According to Rich Relevance, Pinterest shoppers spend approximately $140 to $180 per order, Facebook shoppers spend about $80 per order and Twitter shoppers come in at about $60 per order.  So it’s become clear that Pinterest is the social network for growing your business.  One popular method for growing a Pinterest following has been with “Pin to Win” contests. That is until recently, when the company changed their terms of service in relation to contests. The updated rules say that contests can’t:

• Suggest that Pinterest sponsors or endorses them or the promotion
• Require people to Pin from a selection (like a website or list of Pins)
• Make people Pin the contest rules
• Run a sweepstakes where each Pin, board, like or follow represents an entry
• Encourage spammy behavior, such as asking participants to comment
• Ask to vote with Pins, boards or likes
• Require a minimum number of Pins

Pretty big changes considering most of these “don’ts” have been the norm for Pinterest contests up until now. While you can still hold contests, as long as you stay within the guidelines, Pinterest encourages businesses to think about their overall pinning strategy to grow their followers and not rely on contests alone. For tips on growing your followers, check out our free guide A Small Business Guide to Pinterest.

Of course, Pinterest isn’t the only social network to set up rules for contests; Facebook and Twitter also have them. You can still run contests on these platforms of course, and they can be a fun way to spread the word about your business and grow your followers, just check the rules before you start.

How has this announcement affected how you’ll use Pinterest? Let us know in the comments!

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