Brafton has compiled a list of ten holiday Pinterest marketing boards that are drawing us to click as we choose gifts for our family, friends and fellow content marketers.

This holiday season, pinners, posters and marketers alike are turning to Pinterest to promote their brands, offering inspiring and creative examples of how the platform can be used to create brand awareness as shoppers make their buying decisions. Pinterest has enjoyed significant growth in 2012– Brafton reported that the social media platform has seen a 1074 percent increase in use.

 

Some brands that put real spirit in their boards this holiday season, retailers – and some unexpected companies – post garlands, jingle bells, gift ideas and decorations to branded boards that put viewers in the shopping mood. We’ve compiled a list of ten holiday Pinterest boards that are drawing us to click, click, click as we choose gifts for our family, friends and fellow content marketers.

1. Anthropologie- “It’s A Wrap”

It’s not just about gifts, it’s also about how they’re packaged. That’s why clothing retailer Anthropologie has a board dedicated to the art of wrapping presents. Paper, bows and ribbons aside, this creative approach to content marketing encourages consumers not only to buy gifts, but to wrap them beautifully with Anthropologie’s unique products.

2. Driscoll’s Berries- “Holiday Decor”

How can a California grower of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries gain recognition during December, when most of the country’s fields are covered in frost? Driscoll’s Berries created a number of boards on Pinterest to promote the use of berries in decorations and holiday dishes. These DIY, out-of-the-box ideas that incorporate holiday cheer with Driscoll’s products, bringing attention to the brand as consumers decide how to deck their halls and dress their desserts.

3. Pottery Barn- “Celebrate Hanukkah”

“Away in a manger” isn’t the only song playing this holiday season. Hanukkah, the festival of lights, brings holiday cheer in blue, white and silver. Pottery Barn, well known for its upscale Christmas-y products, skillfully included a board dedicated to celebrating Hanukkah. Those who light menorahs rather than wait for Santa will appreciate Pottery Barn’s relevant pins (and products).

4. Target- “Trees & Wreaths”

Target sells Christmas bulbs, cookie cutters, holiday cards, extension cords and pretty much everything else on consumers’ lists as they prepare for the holidays. Even though the retailer seems to sell all the toys Santa makes in his shop, Target put together “Trees & Wreaths,” a Pinterest board of unconventional decor that inspires users to buy materials for crafty creations from Target.

5. Beauty Bridge- “Holiday Inspiration”

Beauty Bridge, a cosmetics company, created a board full of beauty ideas with holiday spirit. This season, Beauty Bridge is speaking to prospective customers who want to take holiday style beyond their reindeer sweaters and opt for nail art, featuring belt buckles, candy stripes and Santa hats.

6. Dallas Cowboys- “2012 Holiday Gift Guide”

People use Pinterest to pluck ideas for weddings, home decoration, houseware and other domestic delights, but the Dallas Cowboys marketing team is capitalizing on the popularity of the platform to promote gifts for sports-lovers this season – perhaps giving users who prefer to pin home decor some shopping inspiration for the super fans on their lists. The NFL team suggests that players on Pinterest “Make It A Cowboys Christmas” with an array of gifts for the football aficionado.

7. Saks Fifth Avenue- “PIN IT to WIN IT”

Saks Fifth Avenue’s PIN IT to WIN IT campaign isn’t a holiday-themed board, but an inspiring example of how Pinterest promotes products and engagement during a high-buying season. The luxury retailer is giving away $2,000 toward gifts from Saks to five users who pin its items. Participants will be inspired to check out Saks’ offerings, even if they’re not one of the lucky five winners.

8. Sunrise Senior Living- “Craft Ideas for Assisted Living”

Many believe that social media is for the younger generation, but Sunrise Senior Living is shredding that stereotype this season with a board of craft ideas for those in assisted living. The senior-centered facility took advantage of the festive, holiday spirit to put their brand on the map with a dynamic, Pinterest board that is appealing to all ages and gives residents plenty of activities to celebrate.

9. Home Depot- “Holiday Crafts, Ideas, and Inspiration”

Home Depot created a board of DIY projects made from repurposed items, such as the washers depicted here. Rather than accepting a label as a seller of trees and wreaths, the home improvement store offered crafty suggestions to promote its brand and inspire repinning as homes undergo decorative transformations.

10. Lucky Magazine- “Lucky Friends: Holiday Bling”

Lucky Magazine is enjoying Pinterest’s collaboration tools through a board that invites retailers and individuals to share their ideas for hairstyles, makeup, jewelry and dresses for holiday parties. Lucky shows off that it’s an authority on style (for any season!). At the same time, it engages other brands as well as dedicated readers and prospective customers by creating an interactive board that encourages users to share and play.

Emma Siemasko is a former member of Brafton's editorial team. Emma has experience with blogging, travel writing, industry news, SEO and content marketing. She used to live in South Korea, where she mastered the art of using metal chopsticks.