Thursday Tools: Determining Your Pinterest Influence

When it comes to measuring your influence for shared images, whether on Flickr, Instagram, or Pinterest, there's not yet an aggregated influence score. (With Klout you can link your Flickr and Instagram accounts, but Klout is not yet incorporating statistics from these social channels in the overall score. Flickr provides high-level account statistics, as does Statigram, an Instagram application that I looked at a few months ago. There doesn't appear to be an influence measurement tool for these channels yet.)

Today I look at two online tools for determining your Pinterest influence -- Pinpuff and PinReach (formerly PinClout). Both of these are in early development. Side by side, Pinpuff has the edge right now, giving the best breakdown for influence on Pinterest. Pinpuff doesn't dive into effectiveness of specific content - for example, most popular repins or likes. If you want to see most popular repins to judge effectiveness of your content, you'll also need to periodically check PinReach. Currently neither tool shows you which content is most liked.

Pinpuff

Pinpuff measures your Pinfluence, "a relative measure of your popularity, influence, activity, reach (& celebrity levels if applicable) on Pinterest on the scale of 100. It also decides monetary value of your pins & traffic your pins generate."

Average pinfluence, according to Pinpuff, is approximately 32, with a good score being 50 or above. Pinfluence is comprised of three components: Reach, Activity, and Virality. For each component, Pinpuff provides context as to whether the score is below average and includes tips for improving.

Unfortunately, Pinpuff does not currently track your score and its components over time. To view history, you need to create your own chart using Excel by regularly calculating your pinfluence, recording the score and component metrics, and generating your own graphs.

PinReach (formerly PinClout)

PinReach is "the source for Pinterest analytics. [They] are working to empower people and brands with the tools necessary to monitor trends, understand activity, and gauge impact, easily." With PinReach you can view an overall score, as well as statistics on popular boards, popular pins, and more.

PinReach, like Pinpuff, also has limitations. Currently unlike Pinpuff, PinReach does not mention how its overall score is calculated or state what an average score is. It also doesn't provide tips for improving ones score.

How are you tracking your influence on Pinterest?

Happy Analyzing!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Color Challenge: Slices of Orange

We're almost at the end of the third month of the year, which means it's time to move from this month's color - Orange - to a new color - Green - for the 2012 Photo Challenge. To see other photos that I've taken for the 2012 Color Challenge, visit Flickr.

Are you participating in any photo challenges this year? Which ones?

Tomorrow I'll share a few photos from Fat Mum Slim's March Photo A Day list. If you're looking for inspiration for your photography, check out Fat Mum Slim's April Photo A Day list.

Happy Shooting!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Type Tuesday: Putting Down Roots

Growing up I was surrounded by old maps. They decorated the walls of my parents' house and both of my grandparents' houses. When I stumbled across a Brooklyn Neighborhood Type Map by James McDonald on Etsy, I was hooked and thought about decorating our hallway with type maps that highlight our roots.

The Finds (top left clockwise): 8.5" x 11" San Francisco Typographic Map, $20; 1000mm x 700mm World Type Map, $99; 500mm x 700mm New York City Type Map, $69; 8" x 10" Italy Map, $20.

Ciao Bella!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Bold and Noble, Megan Elizabeth, and Urban Footprint Design. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Type Tuesday: For the Love of Cooking

For years I've had six sepia photographs of various fruit and vegetables from a local's Farmer's Market hanging in my dining room or entry hall. Lately I've been thinking about what else could go in those frames -- maybe typography prints of frequently used ingredients or common cooking or baking techniques?

The Finds (top left clockwise): 13" x 19" Kitchen Conversions Typography Print, $28; ; 8" x 10" Herb Typography Print, $22; 8.5" x 11" Wine Poster, $16; 2 - 8" x 10" Cook and Bake Typography Prints, $25.

While these prints would work with a black and red (or purple) color scheme, unfortunately they won't work with the Patina Steel frames we have from Room and Board.

Anyone else wish Etsy had a search by color feature? It would make finding coordinating accessories for events and home decor so much easier.

Bon Apetit!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by their respective Etsy sellers: Delivered by Danielle; Longfellow Designs; Sweet Fine Day; and Tidbits Studio. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Thursday Purseday: Bring on the Orange

Maybe that it's Clementine season and that's why I'm loving orange accessories. But there's just something about orange that brightens a day. Take a gray business dress and toss in one of these handbags and bam!

The Finds (top clockwise): MICHAEL Jet Set Travel Logo Medium Tote, Tangerine, Michael Kors, $278; Robinson Gusset Bag, Tory Burch, Blood Orange, $475; Flicker Scout, Kate Spade NY, Flo Coral, $368; and Katy Satchel, Big Buddha, Orange, $94.95.

Do you have any orange in your closet?

Ciao Bella!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Kate Spade NY, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Zappos. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

In the Moment: Showers for Gates

I hate the spotlight, choosing to be the one behind the camera over being the one in front of it. Where most moms-to-be look forward to their baby showers, for most of my pregnancy I dreaded mine; I needn't have. A dear friend took charge and ensconced me in an intimate gathering with my girlfriends, free of traditional shower games.

We had one of my favorite flowers, Gerbera Daisies, for our hair. (If you like knowing the meaning associated with flowers, Gerbera Daisies represent innocence and purity, beauty, and cheerfulness.) For the guestbook, there was a Polaroid camera with an assortment of Impossible Project Instant Film in black and white and color. (I can't wait to see the finished album.)

We also had some of my favorite foods - Buttermilk Pancakes, Cheese (Ewephoria, Benning Goat Gouda, and Drunken Goat) and Crackers, Country Loaf from Tartine Bakery, and water with citrus.

At work, colleagues surprised me with a shower on my last day working from the office. They transformed our main conference room: the glass wall covered with clotheslines from which baby clothes were pinned, and the credenza with a cupcake buffet of vegan chocolate, carrot cake cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting, and red velvet. The cupcakes were so professionally decorated and delicious that unless you were told, you would have thought they were from a specialty cupcake shop. (I wish I got a picture of them but I didn't think to bring my iPhone with me to the conference room.) There was even a diaper cake that matched the color palette for Gates' nursery! Not wanting cubes to miss out on the surprise, I decorated Gates' nursery with the clothesline and signs.

Ciao Bella!

Eden

 

Credits: All collages created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life. All images in the first collage were taken by Nina Ramos. All images in the second collage were taken by Jessica Palopoli. With the exception of the top left image in the third collage which was taken by Lisa Menestrina, images were taken by me (Eden Hensley Silverstein).

What I Crave: Mostly Healthy Food

Since working from home my diet has gravitated towards more simple foods. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Tomato with Guacamole on Toast. Salads. Clementines. Ice Cream from BiRite Creamery.

An unintended consequence for me of being pregnant? My diet is mostly pescatarian now. And like when I was in college on a vegetarian diet, I again became anemic. Instead of getting iron from steaks (a staple in my diet), I now take Iron supplements. (I can't wait until I can have a medium rare steak again.)

I say my diet is mostly pescatarian as once or twice a week I enjoy thoroughly cooked pork and beef in Puerto Alegre's Chili Verde, Tortilla Heights' Conchita Pibil, BiRite's Beef Stew, and Chow's Spaghetti and Meatballs.

What are your favorite comfort foods?

Bon Apetit!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Tuesday Shoesday: Everything's Coming Up Daisies

The weather's been so gorgeous the past couple of days that all I can think about is grabbing a hat and tote, packing up my lunch, and enjoying my food under a tree in a nearby park. These adorable flats from Born scream Spring, don't you think?

The Finds (far left clockwise): Gemma Floral Flat, Born, $89.99; Floppy Straw Hat, $34.90; Caribbean Swirl Sunhat, $48; Farmer's Market Tote, $45; VO26775 Sunglasses, Vogue, $69.95.

Ciao Bella!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Anthropologie; J. Crew; Nordstrom, and Sunglass Hut. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Organizing Your Pantry with Retro-Inspired Canisters

Want a retro look but are not a fan of stalking the Internet or frequenting flea markets or thrift shoppes for Lincoln BeautyWare or Masterware Canette? Today's type roundup features mid-century inspired containers for your pantry.

The Finds (far left clockwise): Homemade Cookie Jar, 6.25" diameter x 8.35" tall, $24.95; Mint Green Metal Canisters, 4.25" diameter x 8" tall to 7" diameter x 11.5" tall, $13.56 to $18.36; Bristol Canisters, 4.75" diameter x 6" tall to 5" diameter x 7.25" high, $59.95; Italian Spice Jars, 2.5" diameter x 3" tall, $3.49 each.

The only thing these reproductions lack are Art Deco fonts which I adore and were my primary motivation for acquiring Lincoln BeautyWare.

Bon Apetit!

Eden

 

Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Crate and Barrel, Pier 1 Imports, Sur La Table, and Williams-Sonoma. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Accessories Perfect for Mad Men-Themed Party

One of my go to stores for business apparel and cocktail dresses is Banana Republic. As their Spring 2012 Mad Men-Inspired Collection goes on sale today, I couldn't help but pick a Jason Wu purse suited to go to a Mad Men Season 5 Premier Party.

The Finds (left clockwise): Miss Wu Tote, Bordeaux, $2,495; Retro Swing Coat with Fox Fur Collar, Lilli Ann, $295; 4-Inch Leather Gloves, Burgundy, $85; Tuxbow Kitten Heels, Fire Quasar, Stuart Weitzman, $176.99.

What are you wearing for the premier of Mad Men Season 5?

Ciao Bella!

Eden

 

Credits: Banana Republic 2012 Mad Men Collection Print Advertisement spotted on EnStarz. All product images taken by their respective sellers: Jason Wu, Solo Classe, Wear It Again! of Wear It Again Sam Vintage, and Zappos.com. Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.