Pinterest started off as a platform primarily for brides and DIY-ers – or so it seemed. But since that time, more and more organizations have joined the Pinterest world. In fact, there are now 46 million active users on Pinterest, most of which are women.

So why should your organization consider using Pinterest? Well, as a nonprofit, you can really tap into the visual and emotional appeal of Pinterest. Not only that, but it’s an opportunity for you to reach out to a larger audiences that’s even more diverse.

If you decide to start using Pinterest for your organization, we highly recommend it. But before you do, here are a few tips and guidelines to help you pin like a pro:

• Start by creating a range of boards that showcase your organization’s true personality. Remember, people can choose which boards they want to follow, so not every board has to appeal to everyone.
• Give your boards clear names so people can tell exactly what’s on them. That being said, don’t be afraid to get creative! Just keep your names 20 characters or less so they don’t get cut off.
• Don’t just pin your own stuff. Pin other people’s content as well to tell a richer story.
• Post throughout the day, but don’t post all at once. You don’t want to flood people’s home feeds.
• Remember, repinning isn’t like retweeting. You need to change the caption of your repinned pins so that they’re relevant to your specific organization.
• Make sure your pins link back to somewhere helpful, such as your organization’s blog or website.
• Don’t be afraid to engage with other pinners. A great way to get people to repin your stuff is to be an active pinner yourself.
• Be mindful of pinning images with a lot of text on them, as these can sometimes be hard to read on mobile devices.
• Add a Pin It button to your organization’s website. This makes it easy for people to share your content.

Want more tips for utilizing Pinterest as well as other social media platforms? Check out our free social media guide below!