

Pinterest’s online presence is much bigger than you might believe – the company reports to have passed the 100 million user milestone in late 2015. Instead of waiting on a representative to take a call and tediously explain the solution behind a common problem, customers can now access a visual walkthrough of the problem and even possibly compare their issue with older customers who have faced and solved the same issue before. The applicability of this visual flair to customer service lies in the idea that visual ideas that are organized by theme and similarity are much more accessible to confused or unsatisfied customers looking for answers. There are even greater opportunities for spontaneous collaboration between multiple people because Pinterest also offers virtual community spaces known as boards. Pinterest claims in its business section that user generated pins are a central part of its idea economy and that diverse, actionable ideas make the platform unique in its influence. Pins are a collection of individually sponsored ideas that users can put up and the basic format of a pin requires it to include a picture, description and a source link.

One unique feature of Pinterest is its representation of ideas using the concept of its namesake Pins. Understanding the ins and outs of how Pinterest works, attracts users, and disseminates ideas is a vital part of getting the most out of the platform. The selling point of Pinterest both as a company and as a method of providing customer service lies in its innovative visual presentation.

“In one year, I went from 5,000 to over 230,000 monthly page views!” It’s quite the dramatic rise to popularity. She writes: “Practically overnight, my page views shot up,” Larsen says. Kristin Larsen’s success in leveraging Pinterest to attract an incredible amount of attention to her businesses and blogs is an example of the power behind the visual organization of Pinterest. Pinterest’s primarily image-centric and thematic presentation makes it an ideal medium to communicate difficult ideas in an intuitive and non-intrusive manner. On a fundamental level, the ideal customer service experience answers the customer’s question or complaint in an amiable, prompt, and clear fashion. In order to see how Pinterest can produce a beneficial impact for customer service, let’s think a little bit about what constitutes good or desirable customer service practices.
