Photo pinning service Pinterest, Inc. announced that it has raised $367 million in a round of funding from previous investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer Venture Partners, with the participation of new investors. This new funding puts Pinterest’s valuation at $11 billion, landing it on the list of the world’s most valued startups.

But what has made the photo pinning site so valuable? For one, brands are continuously leveraging its users to reach and engage with a wider audience. Such advertising tactics are no longer confined to radio, TV, newspapers or magazines as more people are now on their computers consuming media. Also, leveraging the power of the Internet tends to make things spread faster.

Earlier this year, Pinterest extended its Promoted Pins beta to more businesses in the U.S. The photo-pinning service is looking to be on par with what other social media platforms are offering to brands.  One thing that sets Pinterest apart from other social media promotional tools is that businesses are only charged for clicks, making it an appealing option for startups on limited advertising budgets.

Those who have used Promoted Pins reported that re-pins or shares are up to 11 times per advertisement and prove to be effective in driving visitors to sites even when the campaign is over.

Pinterest isn’t the only one that offers a way for brands to reach a broader audience. Facebook Inc. offers Boost Your Post, Twitter Inc. has Promoted tweets and Instagram has Sponsored Photos and Videos.

Find out more about these social media marketing tools and how Pinterest’s own offering stacks up to them here:

How to use Promoted Pins: Pinterest vs. Facebook Boost, Sponsored Tweets