Blog The Written Word

The Bastardization of Pinterest has Begun: A Rant

Dan Perez1195.9K views

Ah, Pinterest. We hardly knew ye. There was a time when we could open you up on our computers and view cute baby pictures, adorable furry little critters, the latest “bling”, pictures of exotic locations around the world, recipes, art, our favorite rock stars. It was the age of Pinterest innocence. Alas, it was all too brief.

Suddenly, Pinterest became the Fastest Growing Site Ever! It began to drive More Traffic Than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn Combined! Pinterest became a social media revolution! Those of us who were already pinning started to feel special (yeah, I pin. You got a problem with that?). The secret was out, somebody let our little kitty out of the proverbial bag.

Now, the serpents have arrived in Eden. Run little kitty.

The Usual Suspects

The social media “experts”, who held back thinking Pinterest was just an online women’s Tupperware party, have gotten themselves into the game. They’ve loaded up their Pinterest boards with über lame social media quotes (their own, of course), their Favorite Social Media Books (with their own book included, of course), social media stats, and the dreaded social media infographics. Oy vey.

Spamming. That’s what it is. Plain and simple.

Oh, and it’s only just beginning. Once the Pinterest Gold Rush is in full swing, all the sheep will see what the shepherds are doing and say, “Well, gosh darn it, if they’re sticking their social media marketing propaganda on Pinterest, so will we!” And then the self-indulgent social media shitstorm will really hit the Pinterest fan and splatter all over our cute baby pictures. Our innocence lost.

There’s A Storm Coming

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” [Matthew 23:13] Yeah, I’m almost as pissed off as Jesus was. Even my wife (who has finally found an interactive online platform she enjoys) has noticed the influx of social media related content. Sorry honey, that’s just the way it is when lots of eyeballs come into play.

So prepare to see more social media hyperbole creep into your Pinterest experience a little more each day (where have all the cute puppies gone?). I mean, with 10 million monthly visitors, how can the social media pundits possibly resist? Choose to unfollow them if you wish (I certainly will) and hopefully they’ll realize why we were there in the first place and stop trying to bastardize yet another online platform with their social media malarkey.

Heck, there’s always tumblr.

Related posts

Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart: 2026 Cor Unum Awards

10 Alternative Movie Posters for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”

Cudillero (Asturias): One of Spain’s Most Beautiful Coastal Towns

119 comments

Mark W. Schaefer February 12, 2012 - 9:32 am
Absolutely. Where corruption can occur, corruption will occur. This is the pattern that has been repeated with every platform that gets hot. The key to Internet success is keeping the SEO tricksters and spammers at bay. Sad but true.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:08 pm
I don't know if you'd call it "corruption" but if you're gonna preach "hype-free" social media, don't get on Pinterest and hype yourself. Just saying. Nice to see you here...
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 6:41 pm
Dan, don't be so dense. If I was actually trying to hype myself, would I post 18 Pinterest images to a board within 12 minutes, on a Saturday? Seriously? First, the last thing I need is more hype. Second, give me more credit than that for knowing how to actually create hype. I was clearly testing some stuff, and I'm glad you got a link bait post of it, but come on. You know my stuff better than that. 
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:17 pm
The last thing you need is more hype? Seriously, Jay. 
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 7:29 pm
My point is that if I was trying to build my business or my reputation on Pinterest, I would certainly do it in a meditated way. I was clearly messing around, and if that offended your belief system about how the platform should be used, then I am guilty as charged. 
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:57 pm
I did the exact same thing last night as a test Jay. I loaded a TON and might beat the 12 minute record.  I did for same reasons as you... as a test. And yup, it's #2 traffic driver today. Have good # of opt-ins, social shares.  So this is where I question what's wrong with it? If people want to view the content, share it, pin it, there are clearly people interested in it.  Some people like dogs and puppies. Some like infographics. Some like data analysis. Some like geeky books. Me, I like all of the above. That's why it's MY pinterest boards. If people choose to follow, like, pin, comment then it's their choice. 
Chris Eh Young February 12, 2012 - 11:30 am
And the self-righteous shall inherit the platform. They shall come forth in large numbers and drive out the native inhabitants with their delusions of goodwill.  The best thing for Pinterest would have been to call it anything but a social media site. It wouldn't matter though. Like the phone, mail, internet, marketers will find a way to force themselves in and wreck it for everyone. The biggest difference now though, is that marketers are using the facade of doing it to connect everyone and be more social. It's just a different set of lies they're selling us.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:22 pm
Social media marketers are starting to give defense lawyers and used car salesmen a run for their money, aren't they?
Marjorie Clayman February 12, 2012 - 11:38 am
Hi Dan, I took the gold rush approach to my post too. Coming at it from the business/marketing end of things, I find it really frustrating that Pinterest is being touted as the newest silver bullet for companies (not that there is ANY silver bullet out there, mind you). Posting pictures of your company's products is simply not going to work in most cases, and even if it did, companies for the most part wouldn't know how to track it. I am finding this outbreak of social media euphoria even more scary than the Google Plus thing that happened last summer. The sad thing is that I think Pinterest is fun and could be a really interesting way to share your interests with people online, but I'm so tired of hearing about it I'm hesitant to even use it. Nice post.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:14 pm
I think it's also good for many businesses to promote themselves. Just don't go preaching one thing then litter Pinterest with your supposedly "hype-free" self-indulgent social media 'media'. You know?
Marjorie Clayman February 12, 2012 - 9:42 pm
I do.
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:53 pm
Good point. I didn't write about it because of that reason Marjorie! Same reason why I don't write a ton of posts on Google+.  I am guilty of creating a board on Pinterest called Pinterest though. I thought of deleting it but figure it's good fodder for folks like Dan! ;) Muahahaha
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 12:02 pm
Funny post.  Reminds me of other gate-keeping campaigns - you know the ones when the settlers want to keep out new immigrants.  The problem here is one of intention.  Pinterest didn't create an open-source playground for us - they have a BUSINESS model (intention to make money)!  It's not that social gurus are invaders - they and other businesses have been invited in by Pinterest to achieve the company's financial goals.  So maybe someone should cozy up to a free-coder and create the garden of eden you thought of as Pinterest.  After all, as is said about Facebook.  If you're not paying - you're the product!!!
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:24 pm
That's easy to forget when you're looking at pics of sleeping puppies and kittens. Just saying ;)
Aaron M Fraser February 12, 2012 - 5:56 pm
Therein the "beauty" of the model, it seems.  
@pbarbanes February 12, 2012 - 12:05 pm
Heh. Nice post, Dan. Always love the *way* you write, as much as *what* you write. Been watching the clamor about Pinterest with bemused cynicism. Seems like the marketers are doing the opposite of that old story about the lobsters in a boiling pot climbing on top of each other to get out; instead, the marketers are trampling all over each other trying to get in. Too funny. I have no interest in Pinterest.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:15 pm
They wanna get in on the fun (which usually screws up the fun, yes?) Nice to see you here...
JC Little February 12, 2012 - 12:34 pm
I wonder where my work stands in all this....if I choose to pin my own drawings does it count as spam? Am I guilty of social media marketing...?  
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:16 pm
You know where I stand from my facebook comment, yes? You may now go in peace...
Tonia Ries February 12, 2012 - 1:06 pm
I don't know what's sadder:  people pinning stuff that's all about me me me, people pinning 30-inch infographics that are completely inappropriate for the format, or the fact that this is being done by people who are supposedly the experts in the social media industry... 
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:17 pm
Let's start a movement to ban all social media infographics. I mean, does anybody really read those? Seriously... 
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 1:08 am
I can totally get behind a ban of infographics on Pinterest. No matter how cool they look- they just stand out for all the wrong reasons. Infographics are clunky, and a ton of them are also incredibly misleading. I've lost count of the number of infographics I've seen on Pinterest, blogs and Twitter that have misleading headlines, faulty analogies and my personal fav (the numbers/percentages don't add up). 
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 10:13 pm
Just say no to infographics on Pinterest...and yes to cute little kittens. Nice to see you here :)
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 11:45 pm
1000% agreed, Dan! Pinterest needs more cute kittens and puppies. :) 
NikkiPilkington February 12, 2012 - 1:31 pm
Hmm maybe I'm wrong, but you only see what you follow? Don't like it? Stop following it... 
NikkiPilkington February 12, 2012 - 3:24 pm
at risk of .. erm... promoting myself and .. erm possibly disagreeing with you, my response is here  http://www.nikkipilkington.com/pinterest-being-taken-over-by-marketers-dont-make-me-laugh/
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:29 pm
But then my awesome opinion wouldn't be heard. Not good...
NikkiPilkington February 12, 2012 - 4:33 pm
there's probably a nice animated gif somewhere that depicts that - you should pin it ;)
Danny Brown February 12, 2012 - 1:58 pm
You could always just create a board called "Marketing Shysters Who Make Pinterest Shit" and pin their blog posts and Google+ updates there... ;)
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:18 pm
That's why you get paid the big bucks, yes? Big ideas...
Erica Allison February 17, 2012 - 8:49 pm
Now *that* is brilliant. Well done, Danny. Well done. ;)
John Capone February 12, 2012 - 2:16 pm
I see you have the "pin it" button on this post. Guess that makes you a pretty savvy social media marketer, huh?
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:25 pm
My stuff should be pinned to Pinterest. Just my opinion (my mom's, too).
Dr. William J. Ward February 12, 2012 - 3:01 pm
Great points. Many social media experts missed the rise of Pinterest because it was not discovered or predicted by the usual tech crowd or old boys network. Women discovered Pinterest and were the early adopters this time. Now men and the social media expert crowd are playing catch up. The simple concept of Pinterest and the ease of use ushers in the rise of the amateur vs. needing a tech pro to use and understand it. Pinterest is a great tool for curating, learning & sharing so I am glad to see more than just puppies and recipes. Meanwhile: Here is a link to some photos of my dog: http://dld.bz/aJCs4
Trasberry February 12, 2012 - 3:10 pm
Ha! Did you think that the creators of Pinterest created it solely for people to post pics of their dogs & kids? You can do that on Facebook or a blog. They created a product that they want to be financially viable & tons of cute little personal pics aren't going to be enough. As far as businesses and/or social marketers using it - so what. If you can use it, why can't they? You can control what you see. I don't follow boards about food or animals b/c I have no desire to see that. Don't wanna see social media related pins? Don't follow those boards.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:19 pm
Then I wouldn't have anything to write, would I? But I do see your point :)
Steve Birkett February 12, 2012 - 6:40 pm
I was just about to post something similar. Much as I love a Perez rant, I think you just need to follow the boards you want to follow. Filter, filter, and thrice, filter ;-)
geechee_girl February 12, 2012 - 3:35 pm
You know what's nice about Pinterest? Hitting UNFOLLOW on the marketing weenie boards. 
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:19 pm
Why didn't I think of that? :)
kosso February 12, 2012 - 4:04 pm
CO-OPT ALL THE THINGS! :)
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 6:50 pm
now THAT is funny!
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:11 pm
It's my wife's favorite (and only!) source of social media enjoyment - I had to speak up for her ;)
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 4:12 pm
As much as I try to find platforms to get me away from the usual twitter stuff, the more I see the usual twitter stuff. Dang.
David Long February 12, 2012 - 4:40 pm
Blimey - and I thought the UN had first dibs on double standards
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:22 pm
Wrong again.
Bschooled February 12, 2012 - 4:44 pm
I recently joined, but then I deleted my account because I was already having enough trouble keeping up with Twitter and FB while traveling.  I'm thinking of joining again, just so I can pin this. And Buddy videos, of course.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:22 pm
Pinterest was made for Buddy. Nuff said.
Jack Giesen February 12, 2012 - 5:39 pm
The odd thing is, social media infographics and information are AIMED at people who use social media for business. If you're outside that area, it's of no interest or use to you, but I don't see why having it available to business users is a bad thing. On the other hand, the amount of missing-the-point, product-related crap is bound to increase now that all eyes are on Pinterest. And infographics don't work as a format on Pinterest to begin with.
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 6:46 pm
I agree Jack. The affiliate crowd are going to be a LOT bigger problem than the social medi crowd. Just watch. 
M Zayfert February 12, 2012 - 8:07 pm
Already there.....http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/10/technology/pinterest_affiliate_links/index.htm
Linda Bernstein February 12, 2012 - 6:11 pm
It's not the social media people I mind so much but the marketers who are going brand crazy. But, yeah, Mr. & Ms. Pinterest were really smart making a product that could make them money. And really savvy to realize that people wouldn't read the TOS. I mean, who reads TOS? Do you even read the stuff from your bank let alone TOS on a social site?
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:21 pm
Got no problem with people making money. Just show me the puppies...
Linda Bernstein February 12, 2012 - 7:47 pm
Well, exactly. Except I don't understand why there are hardly any unicorns on Pinterest. Now that can't be right.
AmyVernon February 12, 2012 - 8:25 pm
 Just for you, Linda, I'm going to start a board of Unicorn pictures. Preferably zombie unicorns.
Linda Bernstein February 12, 2012 - 8:37 pm
Well, I already made one. I'm using real unicorns. I mean, the real kind of unicorns, Amy.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 3:32 pm
Zombie unicorns? Now you're talking!
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 6:26 pm
It's been gearing up for the past few weeks. I've read so many posts about Pinterest in the last couple of weeks, you would think there was nothing else online. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. I hope it doesn't implode on itself.
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:20 pm
It's sickening, isn't it? ;)
Jim Mitchem February 12, 2012 - 6:29 pm
And yet, who cares? (I'm not being facetious.) Besides, at best Pinterest is just residual gluttony. http://obsessedwithconformity.com/1127/pinterest-satan/
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:20 pm
Who cares? Well, you must care enough about Pinterest to have written your own post about it and stuck the link here. Hmmm.
Jim Mitchem February 12, 2012 - 8:19 pm
You're right. That was bush. I'll attribute any spike on my blog to you, Dan. My point, however, was that who cares who is there or what they're doing? Nothing's exclusive for long. 
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:51 pm
ha funny...
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 6:30 pm
I'm not sure I see the point here Dan. If people experiment with the mechanics of a site, it's spam? If people post business images rather than cupcake and puppy photos, it's spam?  I've been messing around with Pinterest myself, and am "guilty" of the transgressions you document. But you have to realize that messing with Pinterest (and everything else social that comes down the line) is my JOB. Every single client is asking about it every day. Could I have experimented with photos that you deem more "appropriate" to the ethos of Pinterest? I guess so. But I'm not sure anyone in the world wants to see pins from me on those topics (although for the record, my first board was favorite tequilas). ;) I know it seems like the inmates are all of a sudden running the asylum, but it's just a phase. It will revert back to the pointless hobbyism you crave soon enough (or when they get bought, whichever comes first).
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:15 pm
Jay, First of all it's my blog and I'll about write whatever the hell (or who) I want to write about. You don't agree? That's fine with me. I don't agree with a lot of what you write but I don't get my panties all up in a bunch about it.  Secondly, unlike many "bloggers", I'm not here to win any popularity contests so I don't care if people disagree with me, that's cool. And as far as "link bait", don't you think that's kind of the pot calling the kettle black? Seriously. Thirdly, your Pinterest stuff looked spammy to me (especially the Social Media Quotes with your "branding" all over them). Period. And not that I really care but I'm not the only one who felt that way. Sure, I can always just unfollow or ignore but then if we all just ignored the things that bothered us (yourself included) the world would kind of suck, wouldn't it? That's what social media is about, isn't it? Expressing ourselves? Our views? I guess when most people think your shit don't stink, it must come as quite a shock when someone doesn't agree with your point of view. Deal with it, it ain't the end of the world. After all, I'm just a stupid filmmaker who likes pictures of cute puppies and kittens...what do you care?
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 7:45 pm
Actually, you've often been perturbed about what I write, but that's neither here nor there, as I've never written a post calling you out and questioning your expertise and your motivations.  It may be trivial to you, or a case of you writing about whatever or whomever you want, but this is in fact my occupation, and if you're going to write a blog post that calls into question how I practice that occupation, yeah I do care. It doesn't particularly bother me that we disagree on this point, because I know my intentions were experimental and innocuous, but I also care what you think, otherwise I wouldn't spend time commenting.Unlike many in social media, I do not consider not caring about what other people think as a badge of honor. I'm not trying to win a popularity contest either, but you are not just a stupid filmmaker. You're a smart guy that has a lot to offer, with a consistently interesting perspective. And that's why I care. I respect your opinion. I believe you've made a mountain out of a molehill in this case, but that's your right, especially on your own blog. As to the puppies and kittens thing, I'm with you on 50% of that equation. 
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 9:42 pm
I don't "abhor" you (you know that). I just took issue with something that bothered me, that's all. At the end of the day, you can't please everyone, right? Sometimes you're gonna get someone who disagrees with something you do and takes issue with it, regardless of how stupid you might think that is. Why should social media be any different than "real life"?  Moreover, your occupation is still mostly based on ideas and "thoughts" and that leaves a lot of room for discussion/debate, no? It's ideology, not science. No different than filmmaking - some people will hate a film while others will love it. It's art, not science. You see how similar our professions are? ;) Fortunately for you, most people think you're a genius (you've got the blog subscribers to prove it) and I've got the film festival awards and an enviable South Florida clientele so that I can still sleep soundly even if someone thinks my work sucks eggs.  If we were to ever meet up and you wanna take a slug at me, that's cool. If you don't, the tequila's on me. Fair enough?
jaybaer February 12, 2012 - 9:59 pm
I'd never take a swing at you. Not my style, and you're from New York, IIFC. But it would be great to meet sometime, somewhere. I'd enjoy a tequila or seven with you.  I do agree that the social "profession" is a work in progress. But, as a 18-year practitioner of digital (focused on testing and optimization), I'm hoping it gets more scientific than ideological. That's my background - and my passion - figuring it out because it demonstrably works, not because I say it works. I suppose it is art today, but that's not the optimal state, at least in my estimation.  If people think I'm a genius, I would hope that it's for the successes we put up for our clients, and not for anything I write on my blog, but I know that's an unrealistic expectation. First, because the blog reaches an audience that is much larger than our client base. And second, because I am pretty quiet about the work we do for companies, and the fact that Convince & Convert includes a lot more people than just me.  In addition to the South Florida clientele, you also have the enviable South Florida climate. And shivering in Indiana watching the beautiful people at the Grammy's, your side of the aisle is looking better and better. 
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 11:21 pm
The social profession does leave a lot of blog fodder for the rest of us, yes? :) You're a good man, Charlie Brown. It's only blogging, not personal. That's never my intention. Really. Now go...and sin no more on Pinterest. PS - It's actually "freezing" down here right now (low 50's). Yeah, I know...
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 3:01 pm
I'm with Jay on this one too. The whole reason I love social business is it's one big massive, crazy puzzle that will take years to figure out how to put together. I just as Jay am not a fly by night social media guru that decided to take advantage of this overnight. I worked in corporate for 15+ years doing social media before it was called social media.  Drives me bonkers when people bucket the profession with folks that are doing it for short lived snake oil profit versus the ones that are truly passionate about it and yes are guilty of eating, sleeping, breathing, tweets because they love it! I'm guilty! 
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:59 pm
Hey one of my blog posts has a photo of a cute dog... does that count double points or negative points? ;) 
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:04 pm
Cute dogs are always a plus :)
Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 7:23 pm
You can cut the irony with a knife, can't you? ;)
David Berkowitz February 12, 2012 - 8:38 pm
Fortunately, you have the option to not follow any so-called experts. The kittens and wedding dress pics will still dominate for the masses.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:03 pm
Ever see "28 Days Later"? That's how quick these social media mystics can pollute an online platform. You've been warned :)
jmacofearth February 12, 2012 - 9:41 pm
I'm glad you were there first to warm the channel. Pinterest is now on the map. Prepare to be assimilated. - from a social media pundit who's f-in crazy about Pinterest and Pinterest-clones.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:06 pm
The first shall be last and the last shall be first - that's how it works in social media :)
jmacofearth February 12, 2012 - 9:42 pm
PIN THAT.
Josh Davis February 12, 2012 - 9:57 pm
I think the bigger issue will be seeing mass following to try to get follow-backs. We saw it work on Twitter for years, then people did it on Google+. Pinterest might not be prepared to check against this as illustrated by one guy following one million accounts in one day.  Blog post I wrote on the subject: http://llsocial.com/2012/01/guy-who-follow-1-millon-on-pinterst-24-hours/ That said, comments on my blog post seem to indicate that they imposed some type of follow limit which is a good step. In the end, I think many different types are going to find a home on Pinterest, and if social media marketers want to share infographs, there is space for that too.
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:49 pm
That's crazy! Don't understand why people would even spend the time following so many people, particularly in one day. How many followers does he have now? Did it work? 
Sherree W. February 12, 2012 - 10:21 pm
Dan - As I said on FB, I'm in total agreement with you. It's truly sad what this platform has become in the past few weeks. I fear, it's only going to get worse. Tumblr - here I come.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:01 pm
I'm already there. The ONE place on the internet where I can escape social media hyperbole...
Sherree W. February 13, 2012 - 4:11 pm
See you there...I recently signed up :) Cheers.
Amy February 13, 2012 - 7:03 am
The worst part is, once this is ruined, someone will invent yet ANOTHER social media vehicle I feel obligated to pay attention to.. I will literally run out of time to breathe, and die.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 3:59 pm
World's gonna end in 2012 anyway so don't worry too much about that...
Katie February 13, 2012 - 7:37 am
Boo! Guess we need to watch who we follow...
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 3:58 pm
As in life, yes?
Dorien Morin-van Dam February 13, 2012 - 8:38 am
I think Pinterest is fun.  I think it *could* have great results for a business. (social media or not)  I wrote a post about it and:  My traffic spiked.  My YouTube channel got hits. My Facebook Page got new likes.  That means something.  For a small entrepreneur, Pinterest could have great possibilities.  Just like on Facebook where 800 million people live happily together in harmony, why not on Pinterest?  If you do not want to 'like' the Facebook pages of the Avon lady, the sex toy manufacturer or the Irish Pub next door, you do not have to.  The same principle stands on Pinterest, in my opinion.  Just do not follow the social media manager trying to make a living and using an hour of creativity here and there to 'brand' their business (that's what I am going for). I loved your rant.  Very well written.  Enjoy your Monday.
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 3:58 pm
It does sound rather easy until those people you do follow for their content begin pinning self-indulgent social media content on their boards (and on my stream). I will be more conscious of who I follow, though... Thanks for the comment :)
uber.la » Pinterest More Than Shoes, Skirts and Happy Kitty Pictures < Is It A Social Network? February 13, 2012 - 1:28 pm
[...] The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun – A Rant [...]
PamMktgNut February 13, 2012 - 2:42 pm
Hey Dan! Guilty as charged. I signed up for Pinterest when they were in beta. I loaded photos of dogs, kids, vacations, hairstyles etc.  But have to admit I loaded some of our blog posts lastnight and yup, it is #2 traffic driver to site today.  I get what you are saying and i was thinking the same thing... yet I did it. I could follow less folks but that's too much work to unfollow. I did search for a dog lastnight and got all kinds of photos. I was thinking the same thing that "why infographics!?" Uggghhh...  Maybe soon they will add more options to just see babies and puppies. I'm with ya. I don't go on there to look at social media stuff. I see it everywhere else I go. However, why not post our own stuff if that is what some people want to see? I think it's kind of funny actually because I consider you a social media guy too even if you don't want to call yourself one. Thanks for making me laugh as always. xoxoPam 
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 3:55 pm
Pam, there are no "guilty" charges when it comes to social media, this is just my stupid opinion. I got no problem with people posting their blog posts on Pinterest (really) and I think Pinterest is a great marketing tool for many businesses (I've already outlined several in my comments). Where I have a problem is when people generate Pinterest-specific "media" with the sole intention of self marketing/promotion. Oh, and don't get me started with the lame social media infographics starting to circulate my stream. I think I was pretty clear on what irked me. We shouldn't turn Pinterest into the self-indulgent marketing platform that twitter and facebook have become. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it. You really should see my wife on Pinterest with her new ipad. I tried to get her on twitter (hated it) and facebook (disinterested). But she could spend hours on Pinterest just looking at different pictures, recipes, clothing, etc. She'll call me over every two minutes to show me a sleeping kitten or a pair of shoes. She loves it.  That's what Pinterest should be. We sometimes forget that most people don't give two hoots about social media marketing - they just wanna spend time looking at cool pictures. You wanna blow your own horn? Stay on twitter or facebook. Leave Pinterest for people like my wife... Nuff said. Appreciate your comment, always nice to see you here :-)
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:04 pm
Now THAT'S a board I wanna follow :)
uber.la » Just Click It: Feb 13, Social Media as Community, iPad 3, Career Mistakes, Writing Solutions February 13, 2012 - 4:11 pm
[...] The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun – A Rant (Dan Perez Films) [...]
jmacofearth February 13, 2012 - 4:14 pm
I'm pretty sure everyone knows I'm a cute little kitteh on Pinterest. OH and a SOCIAL MEDIA GURU. That too. Sorry I'm flooding your Cute Overload with Data. (grin)
bradshorr February 13, 2012 - 4:17 pm
Sigh ... My daughter turned me on to Pinterest around Thanksgiving, and my first thought was, this is cool. My immediate next thought was, we Internet marketers are going to ruin it. The social media chatter doesn't concern me as much as the potential for SEO gaming. If social media people want to talk to each other about social media, who cares? That's what we do. At least on Pinterest it's easy to follow/unfollow boards, so you can easily tune out stuff you don't care about and keep yourself posted on the rest. SEO manipulation is another thing altogether. At the moment, Pinterest is allowing follow links to the image's origin URL, which makes Pinterest a fertile field for cultivating quality inbound links. My guess is that if marketers are throwing up a lot of crumby looking images, their motivation is SEO, not social. And since users can change the destination URL of a Pin -- I can't believe Pinterest allows that -- there would seem to be lots of room to play games. None of this is going to help Pinterest maintain high standards for content or user confidence. 
Anonymous February 13, 2012 - 4:31 pm
You see, all this rambling on my part and you said it better than I have: When it's about SEO and not about social, the platform starts to suck monkey balls. And if that's not the intention of the "experts" on Pinterest, then don't preach it on your blog posts. You shouldn't try to remove the speck from your brother's eye when you have a board lodged in yours, yes? Thanks for the comment :)
bradshorr February 13, 2012 - 5:25 pm
Well, Dan, you put that very colorfully, but I think it is possible for SEO and social sites to peacefully coexist. But unless Pinterest clamps down in a hurry it's going to bring out the worst in SEO abuse, I'm very sure of that. 
Merlin U Ward February 14, 2012 - 12:23 am
I agree with you on this... Although I use pinterest to keep track of all the great infographs I find, I also enjoy the other albums I maintain - and a lot of others seem to as well. I'm not necessarily for any more "kitty content" on the web, or kiddy for that matter, but the places, food and shopping is fun!
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 10:11 pm
Great infographics? Where's Mimi? I need to talk to her...
bewitched in salem February 14, 2012 - 10:31 am
Let's not dis our favorite fun filled chocolate covered Uno-horn.  But all kidding aside, Lancelot- the "Living Unicorn" has a place in history!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Glory_Zell-Ravenheart#Living_unicorns I do like the idea of zombie unicorns!
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 10:16 pm
Unleash the zombie unicorns on anyone caught pinning a social media infographic on Pinterest...
bewitched in salem February 14, 2012 - 10:33 am
This is unfortunately the fact that I probably would never have come across your blog were it not for Pinterest.
Anonymous February 14, 2012 - 10:14 pm
Ironic, isn't it? :)
A Content Marketer's Pinterest Purity Pledge February 15, 2012 - 6:24 am
[...] week, Dan Perez wrote a rant titled The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun.  I dug it.  He was talking to me, [...]
Posthumorously [sic]: @danperezfilms @jasonyormark @thesneeze @tedcoine @CraigMcBreen @TMFproject « The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna February 17, 2012 - 9:43 am
[...] Perez Jason Yormark Captain Smack The Steve Craig McBreen Ashley Ambridge … … 1. The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun: A Rant by Dan [...]
danperezfilms February 17, 2012 - 1:14 pm
Sarah, I do believe Pinterest can be very effective for several different industries. My problem is when it's used solely for SEO purposes by those who preach engagement on the social platforms. (Why, that's a mighty large board you have stuck in your eye and you wanna remove the speck in mine?) Seriously. Thanks for your comment :)
Erica Allison February 17, 2012 - 9:07 pm
Why am I so late to this Pinterest party? I just saw this post in Olivier B's status update and headed over. I was also late to Pinterest as well, primarily because of the deluge of posts written on it. When I finally ventured over and began pinning, I quite enjoyed it- because it was missing the social media posts, snazzy memes and infographics. Lo and behold, I started seeing those gargantuan infographics this week and man, are they not only annoying, but out of place in this context. Yes, we can unfollow, but the thing is, you still see them. Lurking. Enjoyed this very much, Dan.
danperezfilms February 17, 2012 - 11:02 pm
Erica, I feel the exact same way. Leave it to the social media experts to screw up social media, yes? I fear it's only gonna get worse. There's always tumblr. Nice to see you here - glad you enjoyed the post :)
David B. Thomas February 18, 2012 - 8:36 am
I'm a social media marketer and I love Pinterest. I pin clothes I like to my Clothes board. I pin recipes I like to my Food board. I pin social media infographics I like to my Social Media board. Don't follow it, don't follow me, you'll never see them. Just like with every other social network, the latecomers will abuse it, we'll learn how to filter them, and the idiots will be ignored.
Bølgeskvulp uke 8 | Making Waves February 24, 2012 - 4:59 am
[...] Ubehagelig sosial markedsføring har begynt å oversvømme Pinterest [...]
uber.la » Pinning for Pleasure; How Business Might Be Missing the Pinboard Metaphor March 2, 2012 - 1:54 pm
[...] The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun – A Rant (Dan Perez Films) [...]
The Bastardization of Pinterest has Begun: A Rant « March 16, 2012 - 9:48 am
[...] This post originally appeared over at DanPerezFilms.com [...]
Are Marketers Walking the Content Marketing Talk? | The Content Wrangler March 28, 2012 - 2:50 pm
[...] and Google+ and blog after blog after blog. In short order, we’ll be buried under the same mountain of sludge on the new darling, Pinterest. Brad Shorr, Director of Content and Social Media, Straight [...]
Stop Trying to Take the Easy Way Out | Social Media Strategery April 7, 2012 - 10:20 pm
[...] Perez wrote a post a few months ago - "The Bastardization of Pinterest Has Begun: A Rant" - where he noticed how marketers, advertisers, and PR people have flocked to Pinterest, [...]
AllieRambles April 13, 2012 - 3:00 pm
I'll admit I placed my favorite posts and blogging tips there.  But I prefer my "Man Candy" board any day.
Myth: Marketing consists of just talking to people (or what is Social Media Marketing) April 16, 2012 - 12:00 am
[...] make people feel like marketers and marketing are yucky (professional term). Note, for example, how Dan Perez reacted when marketers started jumping onto the Pinterest bandwagon. Certainly those kinds of tactics aren’t positive [...]
Anton Stetner April 20, 2012 - 8:40 am
LOL.  This is good and so true.
Myth: Marketing Consists of Just Talking to People (Or What is Social Media … | ResidualRx.com April 21, 2012 - 8:38 pm
[...] make people feel like marketers and marketing are yucky (professional term). Note, for example, how Dan Perez reacted when marketers started jumping onto the Pinterest bandwagon. Certainly those kinds of tactics aren’t positive [...]
Myth: Marketing Consists of Just Talking to People (Or What is Social Media … | Second Income Education April 21, 2012 - 9:23 pm
[...] make people feel like marketers and marketing are yucky (professional term). Note, for example, how Dan Perez reacted when marketers started jumping onto the Pinterest bandwagon. Certainly those kinds of tactics aren’t positive [...]
Add Comment