Pinterest Welcomes Brands With Biz Accounts

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In a further indication that Pinterest is courting brands, the company announced today that organizations can now sign up for their own business accounts, or convert their existing user accounts to business accounts.

In doing so, companies agree to a new set of terms of business that Pinterest has now established. Until now, users were technically limited to "personal, non-commercial use" of the online bulletin board.

Signing up as a business will also give companies access to new features designed to make it easier for them to share their content with other Pinterest users. "We want to help more businesses provide great content on Pinterest and make it easy to pin from their websites," said Pinterest Product Manager Cat Lee in a blog post today, indicating that the new business accounts would be suitable for publications, designers, bloggers, retailers, online merchants, non-profit organizations, or local businesses.

A verification badge will help people more easily locate businesses, for example. Companies can also integrate the Pin It and Follow buttons, as well as the Profile or Board widgets, making it easier for users to save and pass along the content from corporate accounts. Businesses will also receive updates on future products and services designed to help them better understand their audience.

Companies who go to sign up for an account will also find case studies on companies such as Etsy, Organized Interiors, and Petplan Insurance, all of whom are actively using Pinterest to promote themselves. They will also find information on how to adhere to Pinterest logos, trademark, and marketing guidelines.

Large brands including Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Anthropologie, Real Simple, and Amazon also have an active presence on the online bulletin board.