My Carmine Media Pinterest account is part of a select group of accounts testing a new feature called News. In the left section of the feed, which is usually labeled “recent activity,” I now see a new “news” feature that directs me to a new tab on my page. According to Pinterest, this feature aims to help users easily find relevant and interesting pins, as well as discover new ones to enjoy. Their help section states that News includes board activity and recent pins but does not show new followers. The testing started on January 16, and Pinterest is seeking user feedback through an online form. Users cannot see the feedback results, so there’s no way to know how this new feature is being received.
I took a look at this new feature and here’s what I’m seeing.
Pinterest News Section
In the news section, pins are set up on a grid instead of a feed like in recent activity. You can easily see the pin, the user, and the board where the activity is happening. Is this feature meant to boost engagement, or is it a step toward a more business-friendly layout? It might be too early to say.
Read more about using Pinterest for business in an earlier blog post and check out my Using Pinterest for Business slideshare presentation if you’re interested in learning more about the marketing side of Pinterest.
Are you among the group of pinners being tested for this new feature? Do you like it? Let me know in the comments.