With its millions of users from across the globe and new pins being added to the site every single day, it’s easy to wonder why Pinterest remains as popular as ever. In fact, several different factors contribute to Pinterest’s overwhelming success, as the network continues to gain steam. The site ranks third in social networks, in terms of the average length of time users spend perusing its pages and adding new information each month. The following criteria are likely some of the characteristics that have proven that Pinterest is simply irresistible for many web users.
Design Appeal
It would appear that the designer’s behind Pinterest’s interface understand the golden rule of design quite well: KISS, or keep it simple stupid. Whereas other social networks have created cluttered pages that are difficult to navigate and understand, Pinterest’s interface is overwhelmingly simple to use. Pinterest users simply keep scrolling if they wish to see more pins, with links and interaction options remaining largely out of view. This helps keep Pinterest clean and accessible.
A Content King
Unlike other social networks where users constantly share photos of their own and keep their followers updated on everything going on in their lives, Pinterest is largely designed to share content found on the web. This may have hit a nerve with those users who are tired of seeing incessant updates about relationships, children, and pets on Twitter and Facebook. In fact, there is one aspect of Pinterest that makes it stand out as unique from all the rest: the site’s userbase is not only made up overwhelmingly of young females, but more than one-third of all users make over $100,000 annually. This could demonstrate a desire for a network that is a bit more highbrow than other social media sites.
Spurring Creativity through Accessibility
It comes as no surprise that a tool that works to encourage creativity would be successful on the Internet. Unlike complicated software programs that require users to spend hours upon hours learning how to use the system, Pinterest can be learned relatively quickly. This makes it accessible to everyday users who only want to learn the basics and get going. Of course, Pinterest is made even more accessible by its helpful “Pin It” button, which can be added directly to the web browser’s of its users. This button is an ideal solution to the issue that other networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, have faced in the past. Rather than requiring users to make a special trip to the Pinterest site, this button allows users to easily interact on the site when otherwise occupied with other activities.
Creating Communities
Pinterest also stands out for its ability to create communities where likeminded individuals can share content that resonates for them. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, where users are bombarded with all the information they can take, Pinterest breaks content up into different boards. Users looking for a specific segment of content, such as wedding inspiration materials or baby planning photos, can simply choose a relevant board to peruse. Of course, as content continues to be built on the site, active users only become ever the more active on the network. For the time being, it would appear that Pinterest has been able to fill a hole that was rather lacking previously. This powerful site gives its users the ability to interact with others in a clean and neat space, while also encouraging the flow of their creative juices. Of course, the exclusivity of the site could also be thank for some of its popularity: the site remains unaccessible to those who have not received a personal invitation to join.
Fred Philipps is a tech blogger who can make a website at Site2You
