We all like to share our opinions and “likes” all over the internet, so the geniuses at Pinterest created a way for us to just clip, collect and post the things we see and love, and then share them with the world.

Seems simple, right? Well, not really. There are a few things you need to know to make your Pinterest experience very pinteresting. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) 

All of the millions of photos, videos and links piling up on your screen can seem overwhelming. That is, unless you know how to navigate through the chaos. Take a look at our starter guide to Pinterest below.

What Is a “Pin”?

This is the most basic question coming from beginner users, but it’s probably the most asked. A “pin” on Pinterest is essentially an image. Most of the time, users will post a link to their boards and a picture will be generated from that, and clicking the “pinned” image will lead you to the posted link.

Once posted on a board, a pin can then be repinned by another user on his or her board. This is the most common action on Pinterest. In fact, 80% of all pins are repins. (Think of it like “sharing” on Facebook.)

Who Uses Pinterest?

Pinterest users
loading...

It turns out that approximately 80% of Pinterest users are women (who would’ve guessed?), while only about 20% are men. Sorry gents, but if you want to get in on the action but with something a little bit more “man” oriented, check out Manteresting and Gentlemint.

In terms of age, the most common users are in the 25- to 34-year-old demographic. The second most common demographic is 35 to 44, and the lowest demographic of users are those between 12 and 17.

What Is Pinterest Used For?

If you’re new to Pinterest, we’re guessing that you probably stare blankly at the main cluster of pics, videos and links with know clue what to do. Well, there are a lot of different ways to get some sort of benefit out of it. Here are four of the most popular ways to use Pinterest.

1. Plan Your Vacation

Pinterest, vacation tips
loading...

You might notice that one of the most popular genres of images users post on Pinterest is travel. Whether it’s exotic places, luxurious beaches or magnificent mountain peaks, you’ll be able to get at least some ideas about where to go on your own vacation.

2. Style Your Next Outfit

Pinterest, style
loading...

Many Pinterest users post pics of themselves in “cute” outfits, elaborate fashion spreads, clothes that they like and clusters of street-style shots. What you ultimately get is the most useful online fashion magazine/catalog you could have possibly hoped for. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover your new favorite pair of shoes.

3. Get New Ideas for Delicious Meals

Pinterest, food
loading...

Foodies have already discovered the glory of Pinterest. They use it to post they’re own homemade creations, new recipes they come across and delicious treats they want to recreate. What does this mean for you? It means you can toss out your tattered old cookbook and use this instead.

4. Plan Your Wedding

Pinterest, wedding ideas
loading...

Whether you’re looking for the right tie for your tux or that perfect white dress, Pinterest’s Wedding & Events category has awesome photos and links for everything you need to plan your ideal wedding.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo

While it’s great to have all your favorite stuff on the internet show up in one spot, it’s not a free-for-all. Technically, there are a few restrictions in place that are causing a debate amongst media outlets.

For one, you are ultimately held responsible for whatever you post on Pinterest. Meaning, if you submit a copyrighted photo without the permission of the owner, you can technically get in some legal trouble; that’s assuming the owner of the content decides to come after you.

According to Pinterest’s terms of agreement, by posting material you certify that:

… you either are the sole and exclusive owner of all Member Content that you make available through the Site, Application and Services or you have all rights, licenses, consents and releases that are necessary to grant to Cold Brew Labs the rights in such Member Content, as contemplated under these Terms.

Furthermore, and this one is a doozie, if Pinterest gets sued over something you posted, you have to reimburse them for their legal fees arising from said lawsuit.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Cold Brew Labs, its officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your access to or use of the Site, Application, Services or Site Content, (ii) your Member Content, or (iii) your violation of these Terms.

Is Pinterest as addicting as other social media sites?

Yes, there are a lot of active users — about 10.4 million — but what most don’t realize is that this is only after two years of being live. In the same amount of time, Twitter was only able to reach 3 million.

The typical American Pinterest member spends an average of 1 hour and 17 minutes, a lot more than Twitter (36 minutes), LinkedIn (17 minutes) and Google+ (6 minutes). Of course, Pinterest has yet to even come close to Facebook in terms of being a drain on your time. According to recent data, an average Facebook user spends between 6-8 hours on the site. Pinterest will need a lot more “pins” to catch up.

More From Hot 107.9