Pin It to Win It: 5 Expert Pinterest Marketing Tips for Beginners

Why Pinterest Marketing?

Pinterest is the third largest search engine after Google and YouTube. So what does that mean for you and your business?

It means there’s a whole platform looking for what you have to offer!

Pinterest marketing is an amazing way to get traffic to your website, promote your products, services, and change the trajectory of your business. Aka- skyrocket your sales.

Pinterest is often seen as a social media platform instead of what it actually is. A SEARCH ENGINE.

People come to Pinterest for 6 reasons: inspiration, planning, learning, purchasing, discovery, and trend spotting.

Pinterest is the most underrated search engine platform.

Lifespan of a Social MEdia Post

Many times we spent countless hours creating content for TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or whatever social media platform you’re being consumed with. Yet, often that content flops and you’re disappointed in all the hard work you did for 7 likes.

I get it, I’ve been there. What if I told you, that you could create content with no makeup, no pants, and no extreme algorithm? Would you be interested? Yes. I thought so. Let’s talk about Pinterest.

Getting Started With Pinterest

When getting started with Pinterest, you need to create content. This means on your website / blog, YouTube channel, podcast, or any platform you create content for. This will be the baseline for the pins you create. Also know as “evergreen” content. Before we jump into all of that. You might be wondering…

What Is A Pin?

A pin is a form of content that has an image with a- title, description, tags and often a link. There are 3 types of pins you can create:

• Standard (static) pin-an image, title, description, and link.
• Video pin– the same as static pins, just in video format instead of an image.
• Idea pins– these are a mixture of video/static pins. You can create a carousel of images(pins) that can be linked.

With Pinterest, people are actually looking to leave the platform. So when they come across your click worthy pin it should take them somewhere that’s going to wow them!

Setting Up Your Account

Pinterest is more than a social media platform. It is a business tool.You must view it as a business tool. That it why you want a business account with Pinterest. You may already have a personal Pinterest account. If you’re serious about growing your business, I would start a new page dedicated to your business. Also, with a business page you’ll be able to claim your website.

When you’re able to claim your website you can tag products and link directly back to your item you are showcasing or the exact blog post you want your target audience to come back and read.

A business account allows you to:

1. run ads- if you choose to run ads this is a great place to run them!
2. take an in depth look at your insights and analytics. This comes in hand when you’re creating content. It let’s you know what your audience is loving.
3. get access to special offers only for business accounts.

You can not do these things with a personal account. You’re analytics are going to tell you a variety of things from impressions, pin clicks, outbound clicks, saves, and more!

Creating Content

If you’re already creating content for your social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube-shorts, Lemon8, or whatever new platform that comes out between today and tomorrow). You can repurpose that content onto Pinterest pins. This is a great way to get more bang for your effort. Using the mobile version of Pinterest you can upload your video content as an idea pin and add text overlay, music, draw, stickers, and even a voice over. Then you can continue and upload with a title, description link, tags and everything else. This is a quick way to use short form video content on Pinterest.

Another way to utilize Pinterest is through creating long-form content. This means writing blog posts, filming YouTube Videos, podcasts and sharing your products from your website.

For example:

I wrote a blog post about a road trip I did with my family. I shared 9 activities I bought for my 2 & 3 year old.

This is considered long-form content. People will be able to find it and refer to it for YEARS! Creating long form content is the bread and butter of Pinterest. Pinterest is a long game. There’s not overnight success. But there is consistent and strategic success.

Next, you can create different eye catching pins linking BACK to your long form content. Such as these pins.

I create all my pins in Canva.

More Content Creation

Creating a variety of pins leading back to the same place is going to be one of the ways that drives traffic to your website. Even if your main platform is YouTube where you already make thumbnails. Turn those thumbnails into Pinterest size pins. Use word texts to convey what you’re talking about in your video. Same for Podcasts.

Now what if you don’t have a website or create long form content…yet.

You can still use Pinterest to build an audience. Remember, people on Pinterest are looking for inspiration.

For example if you’re into fashion, share your #teacherootd. If you’re an Amazon Affiliate or a LTK creator, turn those posts IN TO PINS! Link the clothes using your personal affiliate links. A better way to use your Amazon Affiliate is having a website for potential customers to land on and binge.

Take a picture in your outfit and link the outfit details in your pin url. Whether it’s to your LTK or the exact shirt on amazon.

This sweater is the exact sweater I would link in the Pinterest pin url from my website (https://teachernoire.shop/products/valentines-day-sweater). When people are searching “Valentine’s Day Sweaters”, they may come across my pin and want to know where they can buy it. BOOM! You’ve linked your outfit and made a small commission or sale off of your pin.

SEO & KEYWORDS

Next, and most importantly you’ll need to do some keyword research.

You want your targeted audience to be able to find your content. Remember, Pinterest is a search engine. Therefor you need to use SEO (search engine optimized) keywords. You need to think like the person searching for your content would.

Example:

If my content is about “road trip activities for kids” what else might someone looking for road trip activity ideas for their kids be looking for?

In addition all of these other options come up for “road trip activities for kids”- therefore you want to make sure to include these keywords in your content as well.

Now that you have your keywords. Make sure to include them EVERYWHERE. In your pin boards, title, description, alt text, url slug, and even your pin image.

Strategy & Consistency for Pinterest MArketing

Pinterest is an amazing marketing platform for your business or platform. However, if you’re not using it with strategy you’re not going to reap it’s rewards. Before you start, understand WHY you’re sharing this content and WHO your target audience is.

Do you want to capture email leads? Increase your brand awareness? Get readers to your blog? Increase your products sales? Or get more clients? Set goals you want, just make sure you know why you’re on Pinterest and who exactly you’re pinning for.

Pinning every once in a while is NOT going to give you the results you are looking for. Pinterest is a long game. Give it 90 days minimum to start to see your efforts flourishing.

Be consistent.

For business, you should be pinning a minimum of 1-3x’s a day at the bare minimum. 3-10x’s a day is even better! 7 days a week. You can use a scheduling system called Tailwind. With Tailwind can schedule out your pins for the day, week, bi-weekly, or even month using it.

Just like any other platform, Pinterest is looking to see if you’re consistent with your content as well.

I hope this helped you get a better understanding of Pinterest marketing. If you’d like to learn more download my Pinterest guide to refer to as you begin your Pinterest marketing journey here