Pinterest Business Model

This Business Model Canvas was used to evaluate Pinterest, a pinboard style, photo sharing website made for collecting and organizing the things you love.  The site launched in 2010 and by 2011 had already received a lot of notoriety, including Time Magazine's 50 best websites of 2011, and was bringing in 11 million visits per week.  To date, the company boasts a $2.5 BILLION valuation.

Where's the money?
As it stands, Pinterest's business model is still a little unclear to many people.  They have not ventured into a advertising, freemium, or sponsored posts model like many of their social media counterparts.  Though there is a lot of speculation that some of these traditional revenue streams will find their way onto the site, I am sure they are very sensitive towards infringing on the user experience.  To help preserve the experience, Pinterest has implemented a much more seamless source of revenue.  It is through affiliate links.  When a user clicks through on a "pin" to certain retailers websites and that user "converts", then that conversion is attributed to Pinterest and they receive a commission.

Although I can't confirm, there is also a lot of speculation that Pinterest sells its data to other people.  Not necessarily in terms of personal data, but more macro level trends.  Pinterest is able to collect deeper insight into its users interests in the offline world far better than other sites.

Whats in it for me?
Pinterests value proposition sounds so simple that many don't see why they should use it, but the moment someone actually uses it they are instantaneously drawn into its design, accessibility, and usability.  Within minutes of use many users already find themselves planning their wedding, designing their new house, and organizing their summer wardrobe.

Ya, but how?
Pinterest's was able to create a seamless platform with such a clean and effortless user-interface that it is almost invisible to the user, so all they see is the great content.  Since it's inception, I have seen other sites try to copy it's layout and design, and no one has been able to provide the user experience that Pinterest has.  Their platform has been the key resource in aggregating such rich content, and drawing in so many visitors.