Popular social media site Pinterest is shattering records all over the Interwebs. The site, which allows users called “pinners” to post “boards” of collections full of images, has seen rapid growth in the past months.

We have Pinterest Referrals Beat YouTube, Google+, & Reddit Combined” target=”_blank”>noted here before that Pinterest has overtaken several other referrers in sending traffic to retail sites. Though they have seen their share of controversy over questions regarding Pinterest Copyright Policy vs Pinterest Terms” target=”_blank”>copyright violations, Pinterest is hanging on and flourishing.

Pinners have the ability to share images directly from the site they originate on, can upload their own images, or can “re-pin” images others have already shared. The site is most popular among women and has a primary focus of design and artistic material. But, even if the majority of that audience seems to be a narrow demographic, they are packing a hefty market punch.

Pinterest is showing itself a force to be reckoned with through traffic numbers alone. According to The 2012 Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report released by Experian:

Pinterest is the third most popular U.S. social networking site behind Facebook and Twitter, with trraffic up nearly 50% in February 2012 compared to January 2012… The invitation-only site received nearly 21.5 million total visits during the week ending January 28, 2012, almost 30 times the number of total visits versus just six months prior.

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Pinterest is attracting star power to add to its credibility as celebrities use the site. President Obama pins, as does Pinterest Combo for Randy Jackson” target=”_blank”>Randy Jackson from American Idol.

Recently, Pinterest heard pinners pleas and Pinterest Adds Pinboard Covers; No Private Boards” target=”_blank”>activated a new feature that allows them to choose a specific image as a pinboard “cover, or default image. Many users have been requesting to be allowed to make one or more of their pinboards private to allow them to collect gift ideas and plans without being seen by children or others they wish to keep the secret from. That is a popular request, but is as yet unheeded by Pinterest. Still, the base is loyal and continues to drive Pinterest‘s numbers up.