There’s something new in Pinterest, and it is called the Visual Search Tool. If you’re the artsy and creative type who prefer working on images instead of texts then Pinterest is one social media network that you must explore and use for marketing your business.
Pinterest is “the visual bookmarking tool that helps you discover and save creative ideas”. As of September 18, 2015, Pinterest has over 100 million users. 30% of US social media marketers used it and its estimated value is worth $11 B. There is an overwhelming 87% Pinners who bought something because of Pinterest and this can still go higher because of the new virtual search tool.
Have you ever found yourself looking at images and find some objects in that image particularly interesting? Have you often wished that you could just zoom in on that particular object and be able to search for similar objects, patterns, designs and even colors on Pinterest? The new visual search tool allows you to do that.
So what is this new visual search tool from Pinterest?
According to Pinterest, the new visual search tool allows the pinner to zoom in on a particular object on the pin to get similar images (including patterns, designs and colors) from other pins. This is particularly helpful especially when you want to get similar images immediately.
Pinterest knows how frustrating it could be if you find something you like, and you do not even know the name of that object.
With Pinterest’s zoom capabilities, you can close into the desired object. In this example that Pinterest has given in their own blog, the pin is an image of a dining/living room. When zoomed in on the lamp, it will give you visually similar results including the name of the object you have selected (in this case, the lamp) and where you can find or purchase it.
You can also do other similar searches for the other objects found inside the pin. All that you need to do is to click on your selection to produce search results.
Just like any new features from any social media sites, the new visual search tool was under intense scrutiny from the heavy users of Pinterest.
Is the new feature really necessary? Will this new feature affect the way you market your goods and services? Is it something worth checking out?
Pinterest would like to think so. The tool was developed in cooperation with USC-Berkeley Vision and Learning Center using techniques that helps the reader finds thousand of similar images from other pins thus making searching for related images simpler for you. It also allows your reader to know where they could find the object.
For example, you found a cabinet whose design you really like but you wanted it in a different color and would love to know where you could get it. You just need to zoom in on the object and Pinterest will search for visually similar objects for you.
Based on comments from users who have already tried using the new visual search tool, one would like to know if this feature can be disabled because it “ruins the picture’s integrity”. Another user said that this should just be an option that can be turned on when needed since it is distracting to get other images when not needed.
For a business owner, the new Pinterest Visual Search Tool is an advantage since it allows locations where the images or objects can be bought or found. You may include the physical address of your store (if you have any) or provide the link to your website that can be visible when the pinner zooms in on the object.
For the user, Pinterest should take into consideration that not all users would like to use the tool. Therefore, it would be preferable to have this feature optional only. The different social media networks are really doing a lot of changes and innovations to stay relevant. Your responsibilities as a business owner and a marketer is to use all options available for you to promote your brand.
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