The Journey of Pinterest: From Small Traction to Success

The Journey of Pinterest: From Small Traction to Success

Pinterest, the popular visual discovery platform, has become a household name in the world of social media. With its grid-like design and emphasis on collections, it has revolutionized the way people share and discover ideas. But the road to success for Pinterest was not an easy one. In fact, it had a slow start with small traction and faced numerous challenges along the way.

Meet Ben Silbermann, the brilliant young co-founder of Pinterest. Silbermann's love for collecting things, from insects to stamps, played a crucial role in his determination to make Pinterest work. He believed that what you collect says a lot about who you are, and he wanted to create a platform that would help people continue their collections online. This personal connection to the idea kept him going, even when the initial growth of Pinterest was disappointing.

In the early days, Pinterest had less than 10,000 users after nine months, with many of them not using the site daily. Silbermann, however, reached out to the first 5,000 users personally, establishing a personal connection with them. He even gave some of them his cell phone number, showing his dedication to the platform and his willingness to communicate with the users directly. This hands-on approach, doing things that don't scale, played a significant role in keeping Pinterest alive during those tough times.

One of the reasons Silbermann didn't give up on Pinterest was the fear of admitting failure. He didn't want to face the embarrassment of telling everyone that they had blown it. This fear, combined with his passion for collecting, fueled his determination to keep improving the platform. He saw the world as a series of people's collections, and he wanted Pinterest to be a reflection of that.

Pinterest's grid-like design was not initially embraced by everyone. At the time of its launch, most of the world was focused on real-time feeds and text-based platforms. However, Silbermann stayed true to his vision, even when the trend was against him. He believed in the power of collections and the unique value that Pinterest could bring to the table. Eventually, his persistence paid off, and the site started to gain traction.

The story of Pinterest's slow growth and eventual success resonates with the quote by Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life. Glass talks about the gap between our taste and our skills when we first start doing creative work. We have good taste, and we know what we want to create, but our skills aren't there yet. This gap can be discouraging, and many people give up during this phase.

Glass emphasizes the importance of doing a lot of work to close this gap. Putting ourselves on a deadline and finishing one project every week is crucial. It is through this volume of work that we can improve our skills and bridge the gap between our taste and our abilities. Creativity is not something that happens overnight; it's a process of practice and reinvention over time.

So, what can we learn from the journey of Pinterest and the wisdom of Ira Glass? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Find your passion: Just like Silbermann's love for collecting, find something that truly resonates with you. Your passion will keep you motivated even when things get tough.

2. Do things that don't scale: Don't be afraid to go the extra mile and establish personal connections with your users or customers. This personal touch can make a world of difference in building a loyal following.

3. Embrace the process: Understand that creativity takes time and effort. Don't be discouraged by the initial gap between your taste and your skills. Keep working, keep creating, and eventually, you will see improvement.

In conclusion, the story of Pinterest's journey from small traction to success is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and embracing the creative process. By staying true to his vision and continuously improving the platform, Ben Silbermann turned Pinterest into a global phenomenon. So, whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a creative individual, remember that success is not always immediate. Keep pushing forward, keep creating, and you might just create something that truly matters.