Pinterest versus Reddit: Why I think you should join both in 2022
I remember in early 2020 I read “Reset” by Ellen Pao, former CEO of Reddit. As I was reading her book, I considered: had I ever really explored everything Reddit was?
I’ll pause right there to say, Reddit can never truly be fully described — and I’ve by no means crawled through every community and subreddit.
As my relationship with Reddit has evolved throughout the years from seeking out dating advice, recommendations on where to buy a laptop, dealing with a break up (related, unfortunately, to the dating advice) as well as how to get past a challenging level in a video game and unsolved mysteries — I know I’ve only tapped the tip of the iceberg of Reddit.
But why Pinterest?
As a lifelong people observer, I’ve noticed that Pinterest and Reddit reflect two audiences in search of the same experience, but with different learning styles. And bear with me here; I surmise that Reddit is obviously for people who don’t mind reading. The platform can host videos and images, sure, but a majority of replies are text, meaning people are engaging in conversations about the content they’re interacting with. Reddit is witty, enjoys fast quips and uncovering the unknown.
I have found Pinterest to be the visual sibling to Reddit. I love how Reddit predicts and informs me of other communities I may want to look into based on conversations I’m having. Pinterest has certainly been reviewing and suggesting content to pin since its inception — but have you ever stopped to consider that the two platforms could be speaking the same language?
I am a visual learner, meaning everything I want to take in I either have to read or see a picture to conceptualize and generally I prefer both to make sure I really get something. I love the way I can go through Pinterest and find photos relative to what I’m looking for, and continue through suggestions — niching down the exact image or inspiration I had in my head. This is a sort of non-verbal search, and perhaps what we see is often reflected in futuristic AI interpretations. A system taking what we see in our mind and finding suggestions to show us in-app. I believe Reddit is doing the same thing, in words.
Pinterest and Reddit: more similar than you think
Users go to both platforms seeking out information — Pinterest is often written off for bloggers, models, influencers, home decor, or “cutesy” vibes. I think this is because Pinterest users have a type, as a majority, and the algorithm knows to suggest these sorts of content first since it’s most likely that’s what people came to look for. but even now, Pinterest is testing for more ways users can interact in-platform, and an app that was once a primarily anti-social platform where users went to curate their own islands of content, is seemingly making a pass for more users engagement in 2022. Pinterest has Reddit-like undertones that can suck you in, and that’s what I think people are overlooking because they haven’t given Pinterest the chance it fully deserves.
Why should you care?
In 2022 I predict Pinterest is going to explode — in a positive way. I think influencers are going to get a handle on how to promote their work cross-platform, and with the migration away from Instagram due to video promotion over photography, many small business owners are going to be looking for a new image-based platform to grow their client population: cue, Pinterest.
I also think Reddit, in general, is much more relevant than it’s given credit for. I am seeing a lot of overlap in what people enjoy about Twitter, being emphasized on Reddit. I love Reddit for everything it isn’t; it’s not short and to the point (unless you’re in r/TwoSentenceHorror), it’s elaborate, winding, and full of loose thought patterns, opinions, and reactions. I love Reddit for its anonymity, how people create accounts to lurk, to learn, to engage. There are dark and twisty sides to these communities — but even Pinterest and Twitter have issues with many of the popular critiques Reddit is faced with.
Pinterest marketing in 2022
In 2022, I’m encouraging clients to invest their time in Pinterest, and their free time in Reddit. I think both hold a plethora of information and valuable pockets of untapped networks looking for the next cool thing, and I don’t anticipate either platform going under any time soon. That’s a hefty prediction to make, but given how often Instagram and Facebook have gone down in the last three months, I’m willing to put this out there.
