Pinterest drives more traffic to sites than 100 million Google+ users

While representatives at social networks like to continually mention how many users have signed up for a service, social upstart Pinterest is quietly becoming a dominant force on the Web with users focused on style and substance.

According to a recent study conducted by Sharaholic, Pinterest drove more referral traffic to sites in January than Google+, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn and MySpace all combined. In addition, it’s threatening to unseat Twitter, Google news, Google images, Gmail and Stumble Upon in the coming months to slide into the number two spot behind Facebook. Since July 2011, referral traffic from Pinterest has grown from 0.17 percent to 3.6 percent in January 2012. While Facebook holds the top spot at over 25 percent of all referral traffic, the rate of growth from Pinterest is astounding for a social network that’s so young.

While Ancestry.com founder Paul Allen believes that Google+ has recently reached over 100 million users, Google’s social network isn’t driving people to other sites on the Web according to Sharaholic’s data. While the percentage of referral traffic may grow over time as more Google products are integrated with Google+ profiles, the lack of referral traffic suggests that content isn’t being shared on the service or users aren’t paying attention to content that is shared on Google+. However, sites may also see more Google search traffic as Google+ author profiles are linked to articles on the Web and search rankings may potentially increase over time. 

Similar to Tumblr, Pinterest is an extremely visual social network. Sites that offer large resolution, beautiful images with smart, intelligent content are far more likely to be shared than sites with lower quality images and poor content. Content from sites around the Web are “pinned” to a virtual cork board broken up into a wide variety of varied categories such as photography, DIY, home, women’s apparel, pets, fitness and architecture. Users can create their own boards on the service and “pin” anything that they see on the Web. Pinterest has also rolled out a variety of tools to pin content including a browser bookmark and on-site buttons.

Similar to a service like Twitter, users can follow other users to watch what they pin. In addition, users can follow specific boards rather than following all of the boards of a particular user. While users can also “repin” content found on Pinterest on a personal board, they can also like content on the site as well as leave comments for other users. On each pin and repin, a link back to the original content is included. This allows users on Pinterest to visit the site where the content originated and look around for similar content. 

According to a recent demographic study conducted by Ignite Social Media, Pinterest’s audience is predominantly made up of females between the ages of 25 to 54 and content that appeals to females ultimately sends more referral traffic back to sites around the Web. In addition, Pinterest users are likely to have completed some college courses and make between $25,000 to $75,000 a year. The study also found that Pinterest users are likely to originate in the mid-west United States. 

While Pinterest still remains an invite-only social network, Pinterest users are currently allowed to invite an unlimited number of friends to the service through the admin interface. Brands, particularly fashion labels and clothing stores, are also flocking to Pinterest to advertise new products and attract the attention of consumers. Online shopping website Etsy is probably the most successful example of attracting consumers with over 44,000 followers on its Pinterest brand page. Every time Etsy pins a new product to the page, it can directly influence potential customers and attract new sales on the main site. Other brands are also using the social network to run contests or use boards as a virtual focus group through the commenting system.

Mexican Corn Soup Recipe (Sopa de Elote)

Ingredients:

• 4 Cups fresh corn kernels
• 1/2 Cup chopped onion
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 2 Cups chicken broth
• 2 Cups milk or cream
• 1 Cup cheddar cheese
• 1 Can chopped green chiles
• 1/2 Cup crumpled crisp bacon
• Salt to taste
• Tortilla chips

Directions:

Saute corn and onion in the butter. Cook over medium heat until onion has softened. Stir in flour.

Gradually add in broth and milk and stir until thickened. Do not let boil. Stir in cheddar cheese and green chiles. Cook until cheese melts over low heat.

To serve, add 4 or 5 tortilla chips and sprinkle with bacon.

Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts More Winter, Other Groundhogs Say Spring is Coming Early

Punxsutawney Phil, America's most famous weather predictor, showed his shadow Thursday, predicting winter for six more weeks, but he was in the vast minority among other groundhogs who think that spring is coming early this year.

Phil emerged from his lair Feb. 2 to see his shadow on Gobbler's Knob to predict the weather.

But groundhogs in other five states - West Virginia's French Creek Freddie, Georgia's Gen. Beauregard Lee, Ohio's Buckeye Chuck and New York's Staten Island Chuck - did not see their shadows, Associated Press reported.

Even Ontario's Wiarton Willie and Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam did not see their shadow.

More than 18, 000 people gathered at around 7.30 a.m. at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to witness the prognostication ceremony.

The celebration of Groundhog Day lies in a German superstition that says if a groundhog dog sees his shadow Feb. 2, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last another six weeks and if no shadow is seen, spring will come early.

However, regardless of Phil prediction, winter hasn't really started in much of the country.

Check out the pictures of Phil's prediction.

Famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil prepares to make his annual weather prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter.

WTAJ meteorologist Joe Murgo tries to interview famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil after Phil made his annual weather prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter.

Groundhog handler Ron Ploucha holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil after his annual weather prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. Phil saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter.

Al Donst of Belvidere, New Jersey, waits with thousands of people for famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil to make his annual weather prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012.

Groundhog handler John Griffith holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil up to the crowd before Phil makes his annual weather prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 126th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012. Phil saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter.

Wiarton Mayor John Close gestures next to groundhog Wiarton Willie during the Wiarton Willie Fesitval on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2012. The albino groundhog did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring.

Chesney Miller, 6, and Maggie Klunder, 7, wait to see if groundhog Wiarton Willie sees his shadow during the Wiarton Willie Festival on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2012. The albino groundhog did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring.

Bonnie Woodstra (L), Sue Allison (C), and Mary Lou Mayoux, who call themselves the 'Retired Rodenteers', wait to see if groundhog Wiarton Willie sees his shadow during the Wiarton Willie Festival on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2012. The albino groundhog did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring.

Wiarton Mayor John Close announces groundhog Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring, during the Wiarton Willie Festival on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario, February 2, 2012.

Groundhog Co-Handler Ben Hughes holds weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil while Co-Handler John Griffiths kisses him just before his annual prediction on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 124th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2010. Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Official Groundhog Handler John Griffith (L) holds famed weather prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil as he makes his annual prediction to Groundhog Club President Bill Deeley (R) on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on the 125th Groundhog Day, February 2, 2011. Phil did not see his shadow, signaling an early spring.