(hubze.com) If you have been paying attention, you’re probably familiar with Pinterest, the social media site that everyone’s talking about. The two year old website is becoming a valuable tool for businesses. According to Compete, Pinterest had 7.51 million unique visitors in December and is becoming a top five referrer for several retailers

I just joined Pinterest after being on the waiting list for a week (yes, there’s a waiting list. I’m not sure why; maybe they want to feel like the hottest designer bag?) So far, the website seems cool. You get to choose your interest and follow “pinners” and pin or re-pin things that you like on your online bulletin board.  This might sound similar to Tumblr but images are linked directly to the website or retail stores instead of the original post within the website. For example, when you see a dress that you like on Target.com, you can pin it and write a short description. Your followers will see the dress and they can “like,” re-pin, or click on the link and purchase the dress. If you’re planning a Valentine’s Day dinner, you can start a board and collect recipes, décor ideas, pictures and outfit inspirations.

The best thing about Pinterest is that it is way more dynamic than other social media sites. Pinterest’s mission is “to connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.” Things you like are what represent you and construct your identity on Pinterest.

If you’re a business owner, you should definitely think about starting a profile on Pinterest. Post your products on Pinterest board and link them back to your website. Pinterest users can share your product with their followers and you can also see what people interested in your product are into. This can help you target your customers more effectively.

Here’s a infographic provided by Monetate: