If you’re a business owner, whether it’s big or small, it’s pertinent to have your own website.  In today’s world of social media, there’s plenty of resources to help you syndicate and drum up activity across the board.  While Facebook Pages and Twitter streams have become SOPs, emerging platforms like Pinterest are also proving useful for businesses seeking traction.

Pinterest, the pinboard-styled social photo sharing website, can now be integrated to Facebook via the Pinterest Tabs module that has been added to the Vitrue Social Relationship Management (SRM) platform.

The Pinterest Tabs module seamlessly integrates a brand’s Pinterest account into their Facebook environment, which makes it easier for consumers to toggle between the two accounts and see what the business is offering.  And because the two are integrated, their existing Facebook fan base will not be lost.

Take for example Lowe’s, the home improvement retailers, is one of the recent businesses to try out the integrated technology.  When you visit their Facebook Page, you will see the Pinterest Tab and by clicking it, you can view their Pinterest collections.

The question is, why should you use Pinterest when you can just upload your photos on Facebook?  The answer is simple: because of its pinboard-style, aggregating visual media into cohesive collections. It reminds me of high school days when you cut images from magazines and pin them on your cork board.  The familiarity of the interface makes it seem like everything in your collections is easily achievable.  When you start a home improvement project, pin what you want to do and update pins according to your progress.  And if you’re a business, people can easily see your products in a creative and relevant manner.

“The platform certainly lends itself to visual content and activities like remodeling, design, painting and other home projects,” Brad Walters, Director of Social Media and Emerging Platforms at Lowe’s said.  “Consumers like to share and show off their projects – big or small.”

The Pinterest effect

Another business that’s benefiting from Pinterest is Likeable Media.  Though they claim that Pinterest is a valuable tool for various types of brands, they find Pinterest important in reaching out, delivering tangible products to women in particular.

“Likeable is active on Pinterest; we pin images related to the social media industry, our core values and the cities our company is in,” Dave Kerpen, CEO of Likeable Media stated.

“Pinterest is valuable to Likeable because it gives us the ability to showcase our company culture and what we do. It’s great for our clients because Pinterest users are actively looking for great visual, which means that there’s an opportunity to be discovered by consumers interested in the brand.”

Pinterest grew from a small startup company to a must-have for businesses.  And Pinterest’s success wouldn’t have been possible if one angel investor did not gave them the chance.  Brian Cohen holds the bragging rights for being Pinterest’s first investor and was happy to announce that the young minds behind Pinterest, Ben Silbermann and Evan Sharp, experienced success because they listened.

“They were incredibly open for input,” Cohen stated.  “That’s really important as an instructive element for social entrepreneurs—anyone—[they were open] to those angel investors who care deeply about their success.”