So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

Being a serious Pinterest user isn't for the faint of heart. Yes, it's a fun site, but the fun tends to peter out when the only notification emails you get anymore are from new spam followers. So when we get the opportunity to talk to someone who really has Pinterest figured out — ya know, beautiful boards, intriguing pins, a gajillion followers — we listen to what they have to say. Meet Justina Blakeney, the super-sweet creative consultant and the force behind a gorgeous self-titled blog. Oh right, and she's a pinning wizard. Under the name Compai, Blakeney culls the best, most inspiring of the web and curates a mind-bogglingly colorful array of boards, for an audience of over 1.2 million followers. We think her magic has something to do with the specifics — she's got boards focused on natural afros, wearable folk art, and pompoms, just to name a few — but we went straight to the source to learn how she got started with Pinterest, how she decides to follow others, and how she decides which pins make the cut.

So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

Justina has amassed over 1.2 million followers! She was kind enough to answer some of our questions on her history with Pinterest and how she does what she does (so well). Read on for her advice accompanied by some of our favorite pins.
So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

The Fashion Spot: When and why did you get started with Pinterest?

Justina Blakeney: I first started using Pinterest mainly as a way to catalog, organize, and trace sources of images I was going to use for blogging or work-related projects. You could say that I was an 'early adopter' — as a designer and design blogger, using Pinterest was a no-brainer and immediately proved to be an indispensable tool.

Pictured: Stair Risers.
So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: What do you like about Pinterest?

JB: My favorite thing about Pinterest is that I can follow some random Japanese architect, a Spanish fashion designer, and a Brazilian interior stylist and be introduced to projects, blogs, people, and stories that I never would have otherwise come across. Traveling through Pinterest is almost like hopping on a plane and visiting a totally new city with a really stylish tour guide. For me, looking at people's boards is like visiting their dream home, or walking through their dream closet—and you can get a glimpse of that person's psyche. It's pretty crazy.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: What is the key to maintaining a successful Pinterest account?

JB:

1. Do it only if you love it. Don't be discouraged if it takes a lot of time to build an audience.

2. Dig deep to find out what your 'niche' is, then be true to it, but don't be a slave to it.

3. Write thoughtful commentary in the space provided.

4. Be generous — you are sharing (mostly) other people's ideas so don't feel too much 'ownership' of your pins. Link with love!

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: How do you decide when to follow someone?

JB: When I'm looking at someone's feed, if I find 3 pins that I haven't seen before and love enough to repin, they get a follow from me.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: How often are you on Pinterest in a given week (or day)?

JB: It varies a lot, but a couple hours a day I'd say — sometimes for work inspiration or blogging — sometimes just for play. I always have Pinterest open in my browser. I often use it as a search engine instead of, say, google image, so I use it all the time.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: What makes someone a good pinner?

JB: I think a 'good pinner' has a strong editorial voice and a style that is well defined, but still surprising. A good pinner cites sources and creates a good balance between repins and pins from around the web.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: What do you love to pin the most?

JB: Anything that makes me smile or think about things in a new way.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: How else do you use Pinterest?

JB: I use Pinterest to create inspiration boards for clients. I also use it to meet and connect with other creatives and discover new things, especially from international design communities. I also use Pinterest for cooking ideas and to find recipes. In addition, I love Pinterest because it is a clear way for me to actually see my taste, it helps me define my own design identity and flavor in a way that no platform could beforehand.

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So Pinteresting: A Chat With Pinterest Super-User Justina Blakeney

tFS: What advice would you give to someone just getting started with Pinterest?

JB: Be true to your taste. Visit other people's blogs and Pinterest boards. Leave thoughtful comments. Be nice. Engage with the community. Cite sources. Link with love. Be true to yourself and your taste. Be humble.

Have a blast.

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