Being credible is a very important goal for any business. If your audience views you as credible then they not only see you as an expert in your niche, they also trust what you say as the truth. In order to gain this designation as credible it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge, and be able to back up what you say in a demonstrable way.
When you consider that according to research over 50 percent of online consumers have purchased based on Pinterest recommendations, that’s pretty powerful stuff. What’s more using Pinterest is a fun and effective way to help you establish credibility, so why not add it to your marketing mix.
Here are some ways to get started establishing your credibility on Pinterest:
Effective use of profile bio — Put simply, fill out your entire profile and include a good professional picture. Nothing can increase your credibility as much as a great photograph. Pinterest profiles are indexed by Google and other search engines so the more completely and keyword rich your profile is, the better.
Links to Case Studies — Prove how effective you are by creating a board of case studies. A case study is an entire overview of a business or client. Essentially a before and after. For instance, if you’re a business coach you can go in depth about how your suggestions made huge improvements.
Clever Presentation of Testimonials — Seeing pictures and the words of happy customers and clients can make all the difference in how people perceive you. Ensure that you get your clients’ and / or customers’ permission to show their image and their words, and when potential clients see the real people you’ve helped your credibility factor will go up exponentially.
Strategic use of Graphics — Almost anything can be made into a graphical representation. Create colorful flow charts. Have a professional logo made. Get a professional headshot. Ensure that all images that you use are legal and that they are also very well done.
Use of Audio & Video — If people can hear someone sing your praises they’ll love you even more. If they can hear you talking, in addition to seeing your photograph, the trust quotient explodes most barriers. Create a board that is all about linking to your audios and if you have them video.
Show infographics that prove your numbers — People love to see the numbers in action. Infographics are a terrific way to show the statistics behind your work, and as an added bonus they work great on Pinterest. Don’t make it too busy, use color, scale and as few words as possible to get your point across.
Establishing credibility is about building relationships with your niche audience. Strategic use of Pinterest to help you establish credibility is a pleasurable way to educate your target audience. You’ll be able to educate, entertain, amuse and even, if you dare, rouse your audience wide awake with your Pinterest boards and pins. Let your imagination go, but do it in a focused strategic way, and before you know it you’ll be well established as an expert in your niche that is well trusted.
Joshua Shoemaker
