The Secret To Pinterest's Astounding Success: A Brilliant Sign-Up Process You Should Copy

1. Taking a cue from Gilt Groupe, Pinterest makes new users request an invitation to join. You have to ask to belong.

2. A couple days later, you get this brilliant email – an invitation. What's smart about it? 

3. …"our little community"…

4. …the section on "Pinterest Etiquette"…

5. …and the suggestion to join using Facebook.

6. Leveraging Facebook Connect means new users won't get bogged down in filling out tons of forms

7. The Facebook screens also give Pinterest another chance to tell you what you're signing up for
8. It also means Pinterest can use the user's photo right away. Why this is smart: It made me feel like I already belong. There's me!
9. Next Pinterest asks new users to ID their favorite topics.

10. With those categories in mind, Pinterest automatically sets the new users up with a bunch of accounts to follow. This is smart because too many social sites start users with a blank page.

11. Next Pinterest asks you to describe how you'll be contributing to the site. It provides suggestions.
12. Pinterest uses the sign-up process to teach new users 1) how to use the site 2) what kind of users they should be

13. The training continues on Pinterest's final screen where there's a helpful video showing you how to use the screen you are looking at.

14. Finally, Pinterest sends all its users another email after they sign up. The "tips" are brilliant

15. The big lessons…
Pinterest makes the actual sign-up process very easy by encouraging users to click on the big blue Facebook button.
Pinterest teaches its users not only how to use the site, but how to be good, productive users that other users will enjoy.
Even though it's been done by millions of others, Pinterest makes signing-up feel like a special privilege.
Users finish the sign-up process as active members who already following others. No one starts with a blank page.
It also gets the new users thinking about what kind of content he or she will pin to the site.


Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-secret-to-pinterests-astounding-success-a-brilliant-sign-up-process-you-should-copy-2012-1#taking-a-cue-from-gilt-groupe-pinterest-makes-new-users-request-an-invitation-to-join-you-have-to-ask-to-belong-1