Why is pinterest invite only

Users can create various pages of interest by pulling in images from around the Web. If someone spots an image - of, say, a beautiful garden, a hairstyle, shoes or a thoughtful quote - she can use a plugin to grab it and add it to her board. People who follow the user can see her pinboards, repin their favorite images and comment on them. The site is a collection of collections, which offers a look into the worlds of fashion, travel, cooking and religion, as much as it offers a view of the people who are sharing their passions.

Online traffic monitor comScore called Pinterest the "fastest growing social media site" in terms of unique visitors and clicks on search engines. Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.

Her email address is sgaudin computerworld. See more by Sharon Gaudin on Computerworld. Previously, people needed invites to become members and "pin" online images onto its virtual "boards". Launched in , Pinterest became the fastest-growing site ever, passing 10 million users in nine months. Although it has tried different money-raising techniques, the company has not yet disclosed a commercial plan. One social media analyst told the BBC that having invites had been part of Pinterest's marketing strategy.

Fashion and recipes have quickly become top topics on Pinterest, and women outnumber men on the site. Its number of users grew hugely over the past year, according to a digital media analytics company Comscore. It said that last June, there were 1. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Nicholas Carlson. Taking a cue from Gilt Groupe, Pinterest makes new users request an invitation to join.

You have to ask to belong. A couple days later, you get this brilliant email — an invitation. What's smart about it? Leveraging Facebook Connect means new users won't get bogged down in filling out tons of forms. The Facebook screens also give Pinterest another chance to tell you what you're signing up for. It also means Pinterest can use the user's photo right away.

Why this is smart: It made me feel like I already belong. There's me! Next Pinterest asks new users to ID their favorite topics. With those categories in mind, Pinterest automatically sets the new users up with a bunch of accounts to follow. This is smart because too many social sites start users with a blank page. Next Pinterest asks you to describe how you'll be contributing to the site. It provides suggestions. Pinterest uses the sign-up process to teach new users 1 how to use the site 2 what kind of users they should be.