These days, it seems like everybody and their mother is on Pinterest and/or on Instagram. These sites allow users to share pictures that they have found, often accompanied by a few lines of text or a brief message within the picture itself.
While it’s clear that everybody loves these sites, the big question is why, exactly, do they, and what does this mean? While these might not seem like earth-shattering questions or concerns, they are important things to consider, particularly if you are trying to make a name for yourself in the online world.
Quick and Easy
Our attention spans are becoming shorter. The internet provides instant access to anything and everything we could ever want to see, know, or learn. Because we are so used to getting information quickly, we are not as willing to sit and read an entire article or blog post. People want information delivered quickly and succinctly. To put it bluntly, we have gotten lazy.
With Pinterest and Instagram, there’s not much reading or commitment involved at all. We simply look at a picture, gather what we need to know, and move on from there. While the online blogger or guru probably can’t get away with just posting a simple picture and nothing more, this does point to the fact that postings, articles, and the like should be quick and to-the-point, without a lot of rambling or asides, if they are going to get and maintain interest and readability.
It’s All About Fun!
Reading something takes work and time. Looking at a quick picture does not. This is a very simple explanation of why people can spend hours (that feel like mere minutes!) browsing sites like Pinterest or Instagram but aren’t as willing to sit down and read a ten minute article. In your own online postings, make sure you are including things that make reading the posting “fun” for the reader. Whether you posts photos, an interactive quiz, or just open yourself up to comments, you need to go the extra mile to make your own online content enjoyable.
User-Specific Content
Pinterest and Instagram are great because they give the user exactly what he or she is looking for. A person who searches for “cake recipes” on Pinterest, for example, will receive just that. This just shows the important of making your own content easily findable by relevant and commonly used search terms. It also shows how important it is to know your readers and to cater to them.
A Passing Fad?
Many have speculated that these sites are simply the current “big thing” and that, with time, interest in them will wane as it has with many other sites and social networks. While this may or may not prove true, it is important to consider the fact that, for a variety of reason, these sites are flourishing. Whether that lasts forever or just for another few months, it still signifies that these sites are doing something right and that, thus, there is something to be learned from them. Whether you think you are “above” sites like this or not, at least see what they can teach you. You can learn a lot by looking at what works for a specific site and then applying what you find to your own online forays.
About the author: This article was composed by Roy McClure, a freelance writer based in the greater metropolitan area of Baton Rouge, for the team at kelcreditrepair; they have free credit repair letters, as well as the financial wisdom of Craig Lynd.
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