Pinning 101

DAILY DOT COM - They say a picture speaks a thousand words, more than you could ever pack into a tweet or status update, maybe that's why another site driven entirely by images is growing in popularity.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where users can organize and share all the things they find on the web.  Users can  browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. 

The site launched in 2010 but its popularity recently exploded.  In December, 2011 Pinterest was named as one of the Web's Top 10 social networks, according to tracking from Hitwise.

The premise is similar to the old cork board; users create virtual collections of stuff they like by uploading "pins."  A pin is simply an image added to Pinterest.  You can link to an image from a website or upload an image from your computer. 

Much like Twitter.com, there are "followers" on Pinterest and like Facebook the site also lets users "like" images or repin someone else's item on their own board.  But unlike other social networking sites-- it's more about curating content, than creating, and what users see...rather than say.

Pinterest has become particularly popular among women, ideal for wedding planning, or sharing fashion and design ideas.  Right now Pinterestis invitation only, but users can request an invite, or get one from a friend who's already "pinned" one down.

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