Just pin it! The ins and outs of Pinterest

13 Aug 2013

Heard about Pinterest? It’s the latest craze when it comes to social networking. And if you’re a visual person, it’s a perfect vehicle to place everything you like in one very convenient place.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a website to share, create and manage image collections. Find an image or idea that you like, create a ‘board’ and pin the images you like to it. Browse other users’ boards and ‘repin’ the images to your own boards.

Looking for presents for the grandchildren? Create a ‘grandchildren’ board, use the search tool or category function to find images that you like, and pin them all into one handy place. Then, when you need an idea of what you should purchase, just sign in and check your boards.

Signing up

1. Head to the Pinterest website
2. Sign up with your email address
3. Fill out your details – there are some fields that are required. Fill those out. Any that aren’t required, leave blank if you wish.
4. A new screen will pop up asking you to choose at least five boards to start your collection. You can do this by category. Interested in animals? Click ‘animal’ and find some boards that you like.
5. Hit ‘follow’ for as many boards as you want.
6. When you’re finished, hit ‘Next’ in the top right corner.

Creating a board

In order to start pinning, you need to create a couple of boards to pin images to. Make them as creative or self-explanatory as you wish.

1. Click your name in the top right corner of your screen – a drop-down menu will appear.
2. Select ‘Your Boards’
3. Click ‘Create a board’ – name it, pop in a description and category and then decide whether it will be secret or not. A secret board means you’re the only one who will be able to see it.

To get back to your home feed, click the big red ‘Pinterest’ at the top of your screen.

Pinning

There are several options for pinning images to your board. Firstly, pinning from the general home feed and secondly, clicking on the image, and pinning once it’s open. Alternatively, you can pin your own images from a website or from your computer.

From your home feed

1. Hover over the picture – a magnifying glass will appear.
2. Move your mouse up to the red ‘Pin it’ button in the top left corner and click.
3. You’ll then be prompted to choose which board to pin it to.
4. If you’d like to create a new board, click on the list. A drop-down menu will appear. Just type in a name in the blank space at the top and hit ‘Create’.

If you select the picture

If you actually click the picture, there is still the opportunity to pin it to a board. Once open, just hit ‘Pin it’ in the top left corner and follow the steps above. There’s also the opportunity to visit the website from where the picture came if you wish.

World wide web

1. In the top right corner, just next to your name, there’s a plus button, hit that and a drop-down menu will appear.
2. Select ‘Add from a website’
3. Select the URL from the website you wish to use. A bunch of pictures will appear.
4. Choose which picture you’d like to represent your idea.
5. Then hit ‘Pin it’ in the top left corner and follow the steps above.

From the computer

1. Click the ‘plus’ button and then ‘Upload a pin’
2. A popup box will appear – hit ‘choose file’
3. Search through your files to find the picture you like and then you’ll be prompted to choose your board and pin it.

Once you’re set up, spend the day rummaging through beautiful images of the things you love. Then share them with your Pinterest friends.