Are you feeling frustrated or disappointed with your results on Pinterest? Before you throw in the towel, take a minute to read these tips and see how you can apply them to your Pinterest strategy. These are tried and true methods that I use with every single one of my clients to get their accounts moving and working on autopilot, driving clicks and traffic to their pins and to their websites every single day. Pinterest marketing is a lot of work upfront. I will not lie to you and tell you how to get your account to 1 million views and thousands of followers within 30 days. That’s not how Pinterest works.
What I will do is help you find your specific strategy based on your specific business and your personal energy. What works for one business might not work for yours because you are unique and have your own flow and human design. That being said, there are some fundamentals that are undeniable when it comes to marketing your online business using Pinterest.
10 tips on how you can quickly improve your Pinterest strategy
1. Make sure your Pinterest account is optimized so you show up in search results
First and foremost, Pinterest is a search engine. It’s video and image-based and it’s driven by keywords and search terms. That’s how Pinterest users find content. They head to the search bar and start typing. They often click on a suggested search term that appears in the guided search or they simply type in their search terms and click enter. Pinterest takes those keywords and gives them pins and profiles based on what they searched for. So how do you make sure your pins and profile are found? By making sure you are using the keywords your audience is using when they search for whatever it is they are looking for. Pinterest is a search and discovery platform. Users are there to find something. They have a specific idea, topic, or question in mind and they are searching for it based on the words they use. The trick to making sure your content is found is figuring out what words your audience is using and using them when you create pins and create your profile.
For more training on how to do this, grab my FREE Pinterest Starter Guide and Checklist
2. Create both idea pins and standard pins on a weekly basis
Pinterest requires new content on a regular basis to keep your account fresh, relevant and thriving. I will say you do not have to create anywhere near the amount of content you do for other platforms, so there’s that. Plus you can repurpose your Facebook posts, your Instagram reels, and your TikTok videos and turn them into Pinterest idea pins. There are some best practices to keep in mind so make sure you read the next tip before you run off and share all of your content on Pinterest.
When it comes to idea pins, it’s best to use video and sound plus beautiful, high-quality images. Please do not worry about having some perfectly edited video of yourself, that’s not what your audience is looking for. They are looking for the authentic you, someone they can relate to and resonate with.
When it comes to standard pins, know they are not getting the traction idea pins get right off the bat but they are still so important. This is where high-quality images and excellent keywords are a must. I highly recommend checking out other profiles within your industry to see what they are doing, get inspired, and make it your own. Do not copy someone else. Simply gain inspiration and get the wheels turning so you can create pins for your own business. Plan to create at least 10 per blog post and page on your website and spread the pins out so you aren’t posting the same link back to back. More on best practices are below.
3. Make sure you are using current Pinterest best practices
Pinterest 2022 is way different from Pinterest 2019. Tailwind used to be the winning ticket, but now not so much. If you don’t know what Tailwind is, that’s a good thing. It means you don’t have to unlearn that part of Pinterest marketing.
Here are the current best practices.
Standard pins:
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Use high-quality, vertical images that will stand out in people’s feeds. Think colorful images or backgrounds, different ways you can add text, and use text of different fonts and sizes. If you would like access to the Canva templates that I use for my clients’ pins, check out the Hand In Hand Pinning Membership where you get free templates every month.
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The standard pin size is 1000 x 1500 pixels
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Create branded standard pins. That means making sure you are using your brand colors and playing around with how you use fonts, text size, and text color. Use images that are relevant to your brand and the experience you are wanting your audience to feel.
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Add your logo or website to every standard pin. Keep it small but noticeable and avoid the bottom of the pin since that’s where Pinterest puts profile and pin information. Adding a logo, website, or business name also acts like a watermark which makes it harder for others to steal your pins (yes, it happens, unfortunately.)
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The text overlay you add to your pin needs to be clear and concise. Use emotion, motivation, and words that invoke a feeling or response.
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Use relevant symbols or emoticons in your pin title to make it stand out. You can do this when uploading your pin using the Pinterest app and your iPhone. Clear titles with keywords are best. Make sure the pin descriptions also use keywords to help your pin get discovered in the search. You can use up to 100 characters for your title and up to 500 characters for your description.
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Always add a destination link. That’s the link your pin is attached to and where the pinner will go when they click on the pin. Make sure the web page loads properly, quickly, and is ready for traffic.
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Use the Pinterest native scheduler to easily schedule your pins to post automatically so you don’t have to be on the platform every single day. This also allows you to spread out your pins the appropriate 7-10 days or more (so they are considered fresh pins) when using the same destination link. Do not repin the same pin over and over again to different boards. That is an old practice that Pinterest has been very clear about them not wanting us to do anymore.
Hi beautiful. If you are looking for Pinterest training, 1:1 coaching, Canva templates, cheatsheets and how-tos, and online courses that are created with you in mind that will help you build, grow, and scale your online soul led business + the love and support of other female soloreneurs, check out the Hand In Hand Pinning membership. This is where you get access to the foundational course Pinterest 101: Deep Dive plus From Blog to Pinterest: The Pinning Process where I walk you through my exact steps I use for my business as well as my clients’. There’s so much more goodness inside, too! Click the button to learn more!
Idea Pins:
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The idea pin size is 1080 x 1920 pixels
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Go for video as the first slide. You can get pretty creative if you don’t want to do TikTok style or Instagram Reel-like slides. The video can be of you and is super easy to do using the Pinterest app but it can also be moving text, stock video, or different shapes and elements moving. The bottom line though, video is best for Idea Pins. They catch the person’s attention faster than static images. Don’t forget to add text overlay that’s keyworded and tells the person why they need to check out your pin. This helps with showing up on Pinterest as well as for those who watch with the sound muted.
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Use original content for Idea pins and tell a story, give a quick win, a takeaway or tip they can apply right away, or a how-to they can follow along with and do themselves after watching your pin. Give the full story too, no teasers.
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You can repurpose your content but make sure you remove any watermarks from other platforms, like TikTok, and make sure the content you are repurposing fits your Pinterest audience. If you are addressing your TikTok audience or mentioning the platform or feature on that platform and it’s not a how-to video about that platform, your Pinterest audience will get confused and feel the disconnect. It’s better to redo the content idea but make it for your Pinterest audience.
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Think of idea pins as a way for your audience to connect with you, see your personality, feel your energy, and resonate with you. You don’t have to do all of your pins as video with you on camera but some is a good idea.
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Make sure you have a call to action on your pins that clearly tell them what you want them to do. Make sure you include a title that is keyworded and a detailed pin description. This is a gold mine of space for you to really use keywords to your advantage and a great opportunity to further connect with your audience.
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Don’t include links on the pin slides. The links aren’t clickable and no one is going to remember the website address.
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Don’t include links in the pin description either. Users using the Pinterest app cannot copy and paste the link in the descriptions and mobile users account for over half your audience. Instead, put links in the comments section and tell your audience to check the comments for the link.
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Double and triple-check your work. You cannot edit the idea pin once it is published so you need to make sure everything is looking good before you hit that publish button.
4. Use good keywords in the text overlay, the pin title, and the pin description
Keywords are everything on Pinterest. There are lots of free ways to find keywords using the actual platform. Start with the guided search results and go from there. Then look at the pins that show up in the search results and what keywords they used on their pins, pin titles, and pin descriptions. You also want to check out profiles within your industry to see what keywords they are using.
For more help with keywords, check out this blog post:
5. Always strive to meet your audience where they are at
When it comes to Pinterest and other search engines, you need to know how they are searching so you can meet them there and give them what they want. That oftentimes means creating content that might not be of the greatest interest to you. You are the expert, they are not. You have to start with the beginner stuff, the stuff you know like the back of your hand, and then talk like they talk so you are using the words they use. When you do this, they find you in the search results, click on your pins, follow you, and click on your website. That’s when you get them into your world and show them you understand them and where they are at, from their perspective, while giving them the support and guidance through your coaching and higher-level experience.
Also, don’t be afraid to talk about other stuff that is still relevant to your business or coaching program but might not be as obvious but is something your ideal audience is interested in. An example would be thinking of different modalities, styles, tools, and topics you cover in your coaching program or your services. You might have your main topic but if you dig deeper there’s more….lots more. Often times you will catch your ideal client when they are searching for something else, something that isn’t your main keyword. It’s more of a supportive topic, something this is just outside of the problem or the solution.
For instance, let’s say you are a Mindfulness Coach. Mindfulness is the obvious keyword but your ideal audience is searching for so much more than just mindfulness. They are searching for tips, ideas, and solutions within the mindfulness category. And you are so much more than just mindfulness. Think of what encompasses mindfulness and what tools or techniques you use with your clients. They could be searching for stress management, better sleep, how to deal with disappointment, relationship tips, positive thoughts, and how to get out of a funk. And of course, there is so much in each of those topics!
Now try it with your business. What is your overarching topic and how can you break that down? Then within each of those topics, what could your audience be searching for that would lead them to the solution or service you provide?
6. Promote your pins across your other social media channels
This is how you are going to grow the fastest, it’s by pulling in your existing audience from other channels and platforms. Just like you cross-share from one social media channel to the other, don’t forget to add Pinterest to the mix. Make sure you add a “Follow me” link in your email signature, turn on your social sharing button for Pinterest on your website, add your Pinterest website to your Facebook and Instagram profile, share your idea pins to your Facebook page and groups, and do a weekly round-up for your email list.
7. Be clear and direct on what you want your audience to do next
It’s all about the customer journey and you create the map for them, guiding and nurturing them along the way. That starts with your pins and your profile. Just like a map tells you which way to go, you have to tell your audience where to go, too. Be crystal clear with your directions. Tell them to save your pin, to click on the link, and check the comments for more details or a link. Don’t assume they will read the pin details on an idea pin, either. Most don’t. The most important text is on the actual idea pin or in the video(s) you include. That’s what most will pay attention to. The pin details are still important for Pinterest SEO but also for those who follow your instructions or know to expand the details and read more. I recommend including a “Follow Me” slide and a slide to include a board sticker where they can click on the board you direct them to. This is a feature only available using the Pinterest app.
8. Know your numbers and don’t take them personally
This one can be the most challenging for my clients. It’s important to know your numbers but don’t obsess over them or take them to heart. The numbers are there simply to give you an idea of how things are doing and to spark ideas of how you can improve. One is always improving on Pinterest and in all online marketing. No one does it perfectly out of the gate. There’s lots and lots and lots of experimenting going on. If we could be a fly on the wall of every single person that searches Pinterest, that would be amazing and make things a heck of a lot easier but we aren’t. What we do have to go off of is really good (and continuous) keyword research, pin research, market research, and analytics. Then it’s up to us to take all the pieces and create a picture that gets clearer over time, as we experiment with pin design, different topics, keywords, and fine-tune our message. Your numbers tell you how close you are to hitting the mark. It’s important to understand what the numbers mean and which ones are important.
The numbers to pay attention to and what they mean
The #1 number I find clients looking at is the monthly views and it’s actually the least important number to pay attention to. This number will go up and down as your pins trend. It’s not very stable and really doesn’t tell us much. It’s a vanity number that makes us feel really good when it’s up and makes us question everything when it starts to fall. If you start to see this number go down rapidly, check to see if a pin that was trending up is now trending down. I know it’s hard, I still catch myself all the time looking at this number, but it’s really not important.
Impressions simply mean how many times your pin showed up in search results and on the screen. It doesn’t mean anyone clicked on it. If your numbers are high, that means you are on the right track with keywords.
Clicks are how many times your pins were clicked on, either to view an idea pin, enlarge a standard pin, or click the pin and go off the platform to the website you have listed as the destination link. Clicks are important. If you have high impressions but no clicks, that means the keywords are right on but your audience isn’t resonating with your pins. This is an indication you need to experiment with your pin design to find what your audience does like and wants to click on to see more.
Saves tell you the health of your pin and will always be the lowest number. It’s a very important number though because saves mean your pin is getting repinned onto others’ boards and that could cause a pin to gain traction and go viral very quickly. It also signals to Pinterest that you are creating quality content that people want to keep for later. That’s the whole point of Pinterest, to save pins of interest to boards. You gain quite a bit of credibility with the Pinterest algorithm with saves.
Followers are the number of people who click the “Follow” button. This means your pins will now show up in their Home feed. Followers are important on Pinterest but not in the same way as other platforms and you don’t get followers nearly as quickly as you do on Instagram and TikTok. It’s a slow growth unless you tap into an existing audience off Pinterest and bring them to your profile and tell them to follow you.
Bottomline, the two most important numbers to compare and work with are the impressions vs the clicks. Impressions tell you how good your keywords are and clicks tell you how interesting your pins look and if they resonate with them enough to click and view them.
9. Be ready and willing to change things up every 3 months
Pinterest runs in 3-month intervals. It’s a good idea to come up with a Pinterest strategy that works for you and your business goals, create pin templates, and a pinning schedule and stick with it for 3 months. Then check your stats and see where you are at. You want to look at your numbers, stay curious, and put the pieces together to tell a story of how your pins are being received by your audience. You will have to change things up, most likely a couple of times before you see some steady results and even then don’t get too comfortable because things always change on Pinterest and we need to be on the ball and ready to adapt.
Things to take into consideration when thinking of your strategy, what content to create, and your pinning schedule:
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Seasonal changes
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Holidays
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Big cultural events
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What could be going on in your ideal audience’s life
You want your pins out there circulating before these trends hit. You can use the Pinterest Trends tool to check the flow. It’s not an exact science, it’s a forecast.
10. Trust the process
Pinterest marketing is a process. It’s one giant experiment that ebbs and flows, changing with the market, current trends, and new features. I know it can seem overwhelming. You do not have to do all of the things. Do what you can, what makes sense for your business and your energetic flow. If something doesn’t feel right to you, explore that feeling. Is it your intuition or is it resistance? If it’s resistance, explore that feeling to find out the root cause. If it’s because you simply aren’t interested or do not enjoy it but it’s been determined it’s pretty darn important for progress then find a way to outsource that part of your marketing.
You can do this. Find what you do enjoy and do more of that. Be open to change, embrace uncertainty, stay curious, and trust the process.
with gratitude,
Britni Wige
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