Tumblr vs. Pinterest – Social Media Marketing Showdown

Tumblr and Pinterest are both big names in social networking. Both relatively new, with Tumblr arriving in 2007 and Pinterest in 2010. Both counting their visitors in 7 or 8 figures, with 15 billion page views per month for Tumblr and 11 million for Pinterest and both making it easier than ever to share content.

Both are useful for internet marketing as both have a significant reach. On the surface, it would be easy to assume they both did the same thing, but look a little closer and you’ll see the differences.

Tumblr

Tumblr is a micro blogging platform made for people to share snippets of information, rich media and audio. The demographic is generally younger and cooler. It’s easy for users to share your content and search for new stuff. It’s a single click to share your post, and very simple to begin conversations.

Pinterest

Pinterest definitely has social media leanings, but is much more about sharing visual content. It’s more of a bookmarking tool than micro blogging and definitely skewed towards images. Like Tumblr, it’s easy to share content through pinboards and to have conversations.

While Tumblr actively encourages marketing activities, Pinterest does not. It’s terms of service prohibit the platform from being used for self-promotion. While that hasn’t stopped anyone using it for that, brands are having to be clever about how they do it.

This makes Tumblr a far easier network from which to market your brand. It’s more text-friendly and allows marketing efforts in its terms. Tumblr is where the big brands are marketing and where you should to if you’re considering a social media marketing campaign.

Which One is Better For Social Media Marketing?

That isn’t to say Pinterest doesn’t have a place, because it does. The primary demographic for Pinterest is females aged between 25 and 44. If that’s your target market, that’s the network you should use.

It’s also the network of choice if your campaign uses a lot of visuals, as this is what Pinterest is all about. You will find many lifestyle brands leveraging the power of Pinterest because campaigns can be led by imagery. A quick browse will bring up a wide range of big brand who are creatively marketing without breaking the Pinterest TOS.

Tumblr’s demographic is much younger, between 18 and 25, of both sexes, so if that’s your target market, you know where to go. With an audience in the billions, Tumblr is definitely the network of choice for internet marketing if neither platform includes your target audience.

The sheer number of configuration and theming options available means it can be quickly branded and made into something that rises above. Hundreds of thousands of companies have a presence on Tumblr. Not only is it an easy system to use, the multitude of media types makes it easy to marketing campaigns to gain traction.

Of the two, Tumblr has the widest audience and the most freedom. Pinterest has the most visual appeal, so which to choose? Choose the platform where your target market hangs out, and be creative!