Maryland Connects with Entrepreneurs on Pinterest

It's now par for the course for mayors and government agencies to communicate with citizens via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. But few governments have a presence on Pinterest, despite the fact that it's the fastest-growing social networking platform. Is the popular visual pinboard site a viable social media platform for government?

Governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland recently demonstrated how governments can use Pinterest to creatively engage with citizens, with the Maryland Pinterest Business Pitch Contest. Government Technology has more details:

Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced winners of a first-of-its-kind contest that challenged entrepreneurs to make a case for their existing business or idea via the visually oriented, bulletin board-style site.

While public-sector social media gurus are inundated with options as to where to focus their efforts at citizen engagement, recent reports rank Pinterest right behind Facebook and Twitter as the platform of choice. And government agencies are taking notice.

O’Malley is active on Pinterest, with six boards featuring pins on books he recommends, policy goals for the state and photos he took at various public events. His latest pins are the winners of the business pitch contest.

Part of a broader effort to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the state, the contest invited business-minded Marylanders to submit 10 images to sell their idea for a business. Existing small businesses were also eligible to compete.

In all, 43 entries were received in two categories: student entrepreneurs and “boot strappers.” While most entries were highly visual, most competitors included written captions with their pinned images that told the story of their business or idea, offered compelling statistics and market information, and other details to round out their pitch.

Read the full story on GovTech.