Valued at more than $1bn in the USand still growing, according to Comscore figures from March, at a rate of 145% since the start of 2012, it’s easy to see why marketers are seeking to capitalise on a new social sharing channel such as Pinterest.

This adoption is even visible from looking at how the site has grown in the UK – its user base more split evenly between male and female; its content much more based on sharing venture capital, blogging resources and, tellingly, web stats, than the female oriented crafts, gifts, hobbies and leisure pins commonly displayed in the US.

Add to this Instagram’s $1bn acquisition by Facebook and we can identify a new and booming visual economy, which will be driven onward by brands looking to engage with consumers and their passions. Read more »