At first, some social media may not seem useful to people who aren’t interested in promoting a business, building a customer base, or searching for employment, but this just isn’t true. Facebook, of course, is the go-to way to connect with people you know from your present and your past. But there are other great ways of connecting that offer the chance to meet new people in the virtual world.
Twitter is a fabulous tool for meeting new people who share your interests in everything from high fashion to organic farming. The 140 character format makes it quick and easy to catch up with those that you’re following, and gives you the opportunity to share your updates without having to be too clever with words – though a well-composed tweet can be quite entertaining, as you can see here on this 12most.com post. There are weekly chats, such as the one hosted by Jodi Okun called #collegecash, during which she facilitates conversations about all areas of college life, from the application process to the ins and outs of financial aid. I find Twitter to be a great way to link up with people I would never have met IRO (or in real life, for you social media newbies). I’ve found advice, information, personal connections, writing opportunities and more. You can look here to learn the basics of getting started on Twitter.
Pinterest takes elements of both Facebook and Twitter and mixes them up with visual interest. It has become the hot new place to be in social media. I’ve only been “pinning” for a few months, but it’s hugely fun and very entertaining. Pinterest is designed for people to share things using photos, how-to instructions, and links to websites in categories both generic, such as “for the home” and specific, which they create themselves – “paths, trails and roads,” for example. In essence, Pinterest is a great big scrapbook that allows you to meander through anyone’s personal favorites. In addition, Pinterest offers another avenue of social media for businesses to promote their products and services in a very simple, easy to access and approachable format. Here is an introduction to basics of Pinterest.
What’s fascinating about Pinterest is the broad range of interests that people share. There’s a lot about weddings and babies, which makes sense since social media is in many ways still very much a younger person’s milieu – there are literally thousands upon thousands of “mommy” blogs out there – but there’s a lot of very esoteric and unique items on this virtual pinboard, too. For those who like to cook, there are a multitude of recipes to try. If you like crafting, there’s some amazing creations to see and possibly attempt yourself. The best part is that you don’t have to be following people in order to see their boards. You can see thousands of different pins from people around the globe, just by looking in the “everything” section. If someone likes something you post, they can either “like” or “repin” it, and you can do the same, creating a connection to new people instantly. For example I have a passion for interior design, and I really enjoy finding unique and special decorative items and room tableaux to share. I recently pinned one of my favorite movies, “Moonstruck,” and it was repinned at least 2 dozen times within an hour. There are lots of little quotes and sayings, some of which are pretty funny-
and some of which are fairly profound. 
Pinterest is fun, it’s pretty, and it’s super easy to do. If you’re looking for a way to expand your involvement in social media, or if you’re new to the idea, this is a great and simple way to get started. And if you want to see what my pinterests are, here is the link: http://pinterest.com/sharongreenthal/.
Social media has become an integral part of the way we communicate, share ideas, and meet new people, and it will only get more important as time goes on and our virtual world becomes more and more a part of our daily lives. Once you get past the initial oddity of making friends and connecting with others who you may never actually meet, you’ll find it’s just another way to expand your world and discover others who share your interests, your passions, and your opinions. Give it a try!
[Click here to check out Vibrant Nation on Pinterest. ~ Eds.]
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My six year old granddaughter told me just the other day that she is learning yoga in gym class. She said the teacher told them it would help them to calm down and be more peaceful. Then she demonstrated warrior lll and tree pose. I promised her I'd 
An addendum: I'm a little bit of a perfectionist and by little bit I mean a lot. I hate making mistakes, hate getting in trouble and am not a bit fan of being wrong. However, I learned that the most useful thing I could do for myself was to all
Watermusic,
That is exactly what to do to keep your spirit and energy in harmony. Thank you for sharing. Letting yourSelf off the hook is the hard part. Good for you.
I want to share your story with a client that is coming next week who can ne
I guess it is your son or M. Obviously your son is into protecting you from further engagement in a destructive relationship. Your son is right, you did deceive him. Again, obviously he holds you in higher esteem than you hold yourself.
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Love Pinterest! It’s like a great magazine, easy to browse and get some wonderful ideas.
It’s so much fun, isn’t it? And I totally agree, it’s like a great magazine – and I LOVE magazines!
Pinterest has been on my radar for a few weeks…..thank you, thank you, thank you for explaining how it works and for tempting me enough to take a peek. I am awaiting my invitation to join this fun movement and plan to pin a lot of inspiration there!!!!!!!! Happy Monday….nice way to start the day!
send me your email and I’ll send you an invite – no need to wait! My email is sharongreenthal@gmail.com.
Totally hooked on Pinterest. Everything in one place, great file system. Can’t seem to install the “Pin It” button which is really impeding my progress! On my way to check out your Pinterest interests, so much fun!
I love Pinterest. It’s like a whole new way to express myself with pictures. It is a bit difficult pinning with the iPad, bit there is an app for it. I say, Pin Away!!
I agree, I’m not crazy about Pinterest on the ipad, I much prefer my laptop or desktop. But isn’t it great?
Started Pinterest last week. Time consuming but love it. Thanks.
I went on Pinterest for a peek and was frustrated by the recipes. Some looked so great but how do you find recipes or are the pictures just suppose to create an interest? Thanks
Luluallende, if you click on photo of the recipe, it should take you to the link where you will find the recipe. Hopefully that helps.
Click on the picture of the dish and it will take you to the recipe, very easy.
I hate Twitter (I know, that’s a strong word, but I find the site quite banal)! As far as Pinterest, it’s like 90% female, and with thousands of “mommy blogs,” weddings, & babies, it’s likely to stay that way. I visited, and I have little, uh, no “pinterest” in joining.
Love the idea of Pinterest. It may not be for everyone but most people who visit will join and stay. Very addictive though, so one must exercise self-control.
I’ve been pinning for about a year and I love it. My eyes dance with joy when I see all of the colors. I never go to mommy blogs, weddings or babies, but I love home designs and you can get so many great ideas and “dreams” on pinterest. I also have several collections that I have found other folks have as well; such as I collect glass jars – oh my goodness, you wouldn’t believe how many pretty pictures there are of different types of glass jars. I could go on and on about my addiction to pinterest, just let me say it is definitely worth a visit.
I’ve been enjoying Pinterest for a few months now. I love it and find it more satisfying than Facebook. You can search for your interests if you’re not into “mommy” or wedding stuff. It’s beautiful and visually stimulating. It’s also a great way to keep a log of things that intrigue you that’s more fun than bookmarking. Funny stuff too! What’s not to like?
But Twitter? I still don’t get it! How about delving deeper into what you like and do with regards to Twitter??? ;-D
Twitter is great for news, current events, and specific topics – for example, I follow @vibrantnation to see what they are posting. Twitter is great fun during television events, such as the Oscars, the Republican debates and so on. It takes a little getting used to, and you need to start following people for it to actually be interesting – and most people you follow will follow you back.
I love pinterest for the inspiration, especially for photography and jewelry. I design my own jewelryand pin it! It’s fun, but easy to find the time fly by.
https://pinterest.com/flwrchyk/
Question for pintrest peeps…..why do I have to sign up through Facebook and Twitter? I don’t have any apps on my Facebook acct because unless I don’t understand clearly, agreeing to the apps, means agreeing to having your information shared with a third party.
I have privacy concerns when I’m on line and I want to make sure that I’m not just working to provide someone with data for a better marketing strategy.
You can tell me if I’m being too self conscious…
See my post below about logging in to Pinterest.
I found this post on line this morning…I think it’s good to have an awareness of what is or isn’t happening with your personal info and preferences.
Pinterest and privacy
Robert on 07 Feb 2012 12:00 pm
I was planning to check out Pinterest to see what the buzz is about, but their privacy policy gives me the creeps. I can only sign up by linking a Pinterest account to my Facebook or Twitter account. The description on the Twitter link page says this allows them to:
Read Tweets from your timeline.
See who you follow, and follow new people.
Update your profile.
Post Tweets for you.
It’s really no consolation that the app doesn’t:
Access your direct messages.
See your Twitter password.
The Facebook signup page isn’t nearly as informative. I couldn’t figure out exactly which data the app would have access to or how it would use that data. The signup page says “We NEVER post without your permission.” Either they do post Tweets for me or they don’t. That should be simple to explain.
I don’t want an app following new people for me, or posting on my behalf. The author of this article says “when I used my Facebook account to create my profile, Pinterest used my personal information to automatically have me start following common connections.” I have to agree wholeheartedly with her when she says “Pinterest broke a basic tenet of online privacy: To not invasively use my online information.”
What am I missing here? Or missing out on by not using Pinterest?
For “empowerchicks”:
You don’t have to sign in through your Facebook or Twitter accounts at all on in Pinterest. I just use my email and a password. I also like to keep as much privacy as possible, so I am leery of apps on social media sites too. Also, some of my Facebook friends wind up having their pins show up as Facebook postings, which I don’t care for. TMI! Hope this helps.
Regarding log in: when you get to this page, log in via email and password, not through facebook or twitter. https://pinterest.com/login/?next=%2F . When you are logged in, you can go to the settings page https://pinterest.com/settings/ and turn off your links to Facebook and Twitter, and you can opt out of having your profile available on the internet. This will keep your activity on Pinterest solely on Pinterest, and only available to other pinners.
I love it when women have each others backs……..thank you beauties for sharing your experience. I plan to explore pintrest this weekend!!!!! I’ll report back on what I discover…can’t wait!