I admit, I am one of those people that could sit on Pinterest forever, looking for new inspirational things to make, wear, or cook. I pin different recipes and clothing items, but never do these pins ever turn into a purchase. Many of the products I come across are out of my budget or are out-dated and are no longer in stock. A new social network that I recently read an article about that caught my interest is Luvocracy.
       Luvocracy is a San-Francisco based start-up that is similar to Pinterest in that users can take products they like and pin them to boards. They can also repin products from friends, brands, and stylists. Luvocracy differs from Pinterest by focusing more on the idea that we buy products that our friends recommend. According to Nielsen reports, 92% of customers trust word-of-mouth over any other type of advertising. Luvocracy has therefore ensured that all products featured on their site are in stock. Users are forbidden to post products to the site if they aren't available to be purchased. This differentiates Luvocracy from Pinterest where numerous products are either not yet available or are out-dated and no longer available. Luvocracy also has a plug-in that Pinterest does not offer that when downloaded it allows users to pin products to their Luvocracy account that they come across on various retailers' sites, such as Nordstroms or Etsy. When pinning products you can also pin them in your "Backroom" that is available to only you and not your friends. To further make them a site focused on buying products that your friends recommend, Luvocracy rewards consistent users with a small percentage of money back if someone buys one of your recommended products. While it takes multiple purchases to receive money back, it is still an incentive to continue participating on the site.
       While similar to Pinterest in the way products are pinned and shared, Luvocracy seems to have done a great job differentiating themselves. It therefore won't be a question of which site is better, but what you want to get out of the sites. If you are looking for inspiration then you might want to use Pinterest, and if you are interested more in purchasing the actual products then Luvocracy will better suit your needs. I personally have found use in both sites. I enjoy using Pinterest for recipe ideas and health tips and fitness inspiration, but I like using Luvocracy for buying products, whether it is clothes, jewelry, or decorations for my home. Luvocracy is yet to state how many users they have to-date, but I hope people continue to join this site because it really is a great new way to go shopping online.

~Katie