Dear Elegant Explorers, if you’re new to blogging or digital marketing, you have probably heard or read a dozen times now that Pinterest is the easiest “IT” place to get your site or business grooving. And as a beginner, even the easiest of steps may seem daunting and overwhelming; however, don’t worry, we have all been there. Which is why I welcome you to this simplified and comprehensive guide on mastering Pinterest for beginners.
Pinterest is one of the best platforms for businesses, bloggers, and creators to expand reach, bring traffic and engage with their audience, regardless of the number of followers as it is a visual discovery engine, (and NOT a social media platform, as opposed to popular beliefs). Millions of users actively engage and dive into Pinterest for the sole purpose to gain more inspiration and ideas across many different niches. With its unique take on enticing creativity, curation and communities, Pinterest brings unparalleled opportunities for brand and individuals to display their offerings and connect with their desired audience.
Before we dive into the deets, strategies and tactics, I’d like to let you know that this post contains affiliate links, this means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission.
Building Your Profile
First step, as you already probably know, create a business profile (if you already have an account, just go under “Edit Profile”, then “Profile Management”, and click “Convert to Business Account”. The good news is that there are no prerequisites to having a business profile and it is completely free!
And now to the optics. Nothings says visual search engine without compelling visual graphics. Your next important step here is to CREATE content, visually appealing, and compelling. Since your profile is somewhat of a digital storefront that sells your product or service, the first impression is crucial. Do not stress though, take it slow, step by step, and you will grow (that’s how I did it, and continue to do so). Begin by writing your bio, make sure it’s informative and reflects your brand’s value and personality. Then, add the profile picture (preferably your business logo), and a link to your website or store so you can drive traffic directly from Pinterest. Moving on, create boards, I suggest around 6-10. Boards showcase your interests and products and services to give your clients a deeper understanding of what your brand is really about. See the boards as a visual explanation for different category of your business.
Crafting a detailed and well-rounded profile not only helps you establish your brand identity but it also helps increase your chances of being discovered by users interested in your niche. Remember to utilize keywords related to your industry in your bio and board description to improve your visibility and ranking in Pinterest search results. To provide value to your audience and display your expertise, I suggest to incorporate mix of original content and curated pins.
Create Visually Compelling Pins:
Pins are the essence in this platform and they serve as visual bookmarks and inspirations that users save to their boards for future reference (I would know… 80% of my recipes are from there, I cannot resist those food pins). To get the most out of your pins, focus on visually compelling graphics that grab attention and convey your message loudly. And I highly suggest to play around, such as try different formats like static images, videos, infographics, carousels so you can cater to diverse audience preferences. When you design your pins, focus on elements, colour schemes, fonts, and typography so coherence and readability are ensured. Incorporate brand elements, like logo, brand colours to maintain consistency and to strengthen brand recognition. Also, include your website name or social media tag. Remember to optimize your pins for mobile devices as majority of Pinterest users navigate the platform via their smartphones and tablets. One of my favourite tool as a beginner (and someone who’s not the best in graphic design), is Canva, it has numerous pre-made templates that you can edit and match according to your brand's image.
Boosting Your Visibility with Pinterest SEO
As mentioned earlier, Pinterest works as a visual search engine, where users discover content through keyword searches and recommendations. To boost your visibility on the platform, optimize your pins and board for Pinterest SEO by adding relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions and boards. As always, conduct your keyword research to identify popular search terms and tags as well as trending topics in your niche and strategically integrate them in your content. One of the greatest tools that come with Pinterest (and that’s free!) is their “Trends” (under Analytics section) which lists the popular keywords that are currently ranking on their platform. If you want your views and impressions to rise, it is crucial you use it. Trust me, it is a game changer. And always use all 10 keywords, even better, write long tails-keyowrds, as they actually have a chance of reaching a wider audience when you use those!
In addition to keywords, use hashtags to categorize your pins so their reach could expand to users interested in similar topics or themes. I also suggest to join group boards related to your niche and collaborate to those as it can amplify your content’s reach and engagement by exposing it to a broader audience. And my digital nesters, remember, you're building here, so post content EVERYDAY. Content is evergreen on this platform, that is your biggest advantage, their shelf life lasts a while. A good rule of thumb is to post between 3-10 posts per day if you want to ensure traffic and impressions on your profile and website. I suggest you plan your posts in advance and schedule them so you don't have to worry about posting regularly, it would be all automated.
Build and Grow Your Following:
In order to grow your audience on Pinterest, you need to adopt a proactive approach to engagement and community building. Engage in content from other users or your own, by commenting, responding, and resharing. It displays that you’re active and authentic. Don’t be shy to share a mix of original content as well as curated pins that align with your brand’s value and resonate with your target audience.
Once you’re established and grown your monthly views and impressions, consider collaborating with influencers and industry experts as it increases your visibility and credibility on Pinterest. Partner with influencers whose audience are similar to yours so it can help reach new followers and drive traffic to your profile and website. Organize contest, giveaways and quizzes in your pins, as it can encourage engagement among users and create a sense of community around your brand.
Hire a Professional for your Pin Creation
Starting a business or a blog can be very overwhelming and draining, trust me, I get it. If you’re short on time, or don’t find you have the best skills in graphic design, outsourcing your pin creation to freelancers on Fiverr can be a game changer to boost traffic to both your Pinterest and website/online store. If you’ve never heard of Fiverr, it’s a platform where freelancers offer services, from writing letters to building an entire website at a very affordable price. Fiverr has a wide range of design services, including custom pin graphics, templates and branding packages, all which suit every kind go budget and style preference. As a beginner, I hired a freelancer who helped me create bundles and templates for my designs which came in very very handy and helped me from spending entire weekends designing pins for my platforms, and all that for very affordable prices (as opposed to “experts”, which I find are a rip off). If you feel overworked and still want to make a lot happen for your blog/online store, I suggest you go explore the options offered in the platform because they can help you a lot, and the professionals do cater to your needs and communicate efficiently, before and after your purchase. Go look over Fiverr’s extensive catalog of freelance designers and browse the right candidates based on their portfolio, reviews and expertise. By working with a freelance designer, you can leverage their skills and creativity to make pins that match your brand’s theme and also look professional at the same time. Throughout the process, you can also collaborate with the designer to provide feedback. Another plus point is that most designers offer unlimited revision which definitely ensure that the final deliverables meet your objectives and vision exceedingly! Also, as you can see on the image above, you can get great pin packages for under 30$. Click here to discover what Fiverr has to offer.
Assess Results and Make Improvements
Something that you will need to do on a regular basis is to check how well your Pinterest strategy is performing so you can see what needs to improve and change. Use Pinterest Analytics to keep track of how often your pins are seen, clicked and saved and how people interact with them. See which pins and boards are doing well and why. Also look at which type of content is performing well including their designs and when they were posted. Based on your analysis, adjust and improve your strategy by optimizing underperforming pins, experimenting different content formats and refining your targeting and message. Stay up-to date with Pinterest’s algorithm changes and best practices to ensure that your content stays relevant and visible to your target audience. It is best to regularly review your goals and objectives and to adjust your strategy accordingly to stay on track on your way to Pinterest success!
With the strategies outlined in this guide, you should have all the tools you need to succeed on Pinterest and expand your brand and audience. By showcasing an appealing profile, making attractive pins, using Pinterest SEO effectively, growing your following and getting help with pin design/creation, and reviewing your strategies and progress, you can definitely make the most of your presence in the visual search engine. Pinterest offers unmatched opportunities for brands and creations to display their products and services, connect with their audience and drive meaningful engagement. Implements these strategies now and watch as your brand grows! And most importantly, be patient, as you may have heard it many times, success doesn’t happen overnight; it cultivates and grows with time.
Talk soon, Digital Nesters!