Drive traffic and increase engagement with expert Pinterest marketing techniques

Key Takeaways:

• Pinterest is a visual discovery platform that allows users to save images and videos to curated boards and can be highly effective for certain business types.
• Major benefits of Pinterest marketing include increased brand awareness, website traffic, online sales, and an engaged community.
• To maximize results, develop a comprehensive Pinterest strategy including optimizing your business profile, creating high-quality Pins, distributing Pins across platforms, and regularly analyzing performance.
• Post consistently, leverage analytics, and tailor your approach based on your core business from small business to ecommerce.
• Use Pinterest and other visual marketing tools to create stunning Pins, manage your account, and grow your audience.

With over 400 million monthly active users, Pinterest presents a major opportunity for businesses looking to reach new audiences in a visual and engaging way.

In fact, 96% of Pinners say they’ve taken action after seeing Pins of products or services. This makes Pinterest a powerful platform for driving results across key marketing objectives from boosting brand awareness to increasing sales.

But simply signing up for a Pinterest account isn’t enough to capitalize on Pinterest’s potential. You need a strategic approach.

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to maximize your Pinterest marketing, from setting up your account to executing tactics tailored for your business type. Follow these tips and you’ll see your brand, website traffic, online sales, and Pinterest community grow.

Introduction to Pinterest Marketing

Before diving into Pinterest marketing tactics, let’s review the basics of how Pinterest works and why it’s worthwhile for businesses.

What is Pinterest and How Does it Work?

Pinterest is a visual discovery platform enabling users to discover and “pin” images and videos to their own boards, organized by different categories and interests. Over 200 million people use it monthly to get inspiration for their lives and interests.

Users can browse the feeds of boards they follow or search for specific content using keywords. When they see a pin they like, they can save it to their own boards for future reference. This creates a highly targeted, visual collection of content.

For businesses, the platform allows you to create branded boards and pins to showcase your products, blog content, videos, and more to reach new audiences.

Benefits of Pinterest Marketing

There are several key reasons Pinterest marketing can be highly effective for driving results:

Increase Brand Awareness

Pinterest is inherently visual, making it ideal for showcasing your brand personality and products through eye-catching imagery. Having an active Pinterest presence increases brand exposure and awareness as users engage with your content.

Drive Traffic to Your Website

Pinterest Pins allow you to link back to content on your website. Consistently sharing great content can send qualified users who are already interested in your brand or products to your site.

Boost Online Sales

With 93% of Pinners saying they’ve made a purchase based on seeing a product on Pinterest, the platform can directly impact your ecommerce success. Share Pins strategically highlighting your products to generate sales.

Grow Your Community

Pinterest allows you to directly engage with your audience through likes, comments, and back and forth conversations. You can also grow your following by interacting with others’ content.

Developing Your Pinterest Marketing Strategy

The foundation of any successful Pinterest strategy is setting up your account for success and mastering Pinterest best practices. Follow these tips:

Setting Up Your Pinterest Business Account

Register for a free Pinterest business account. This unlocks additional analytics and features.

Choosing the Right Categories

Select relevant category and interest keywords so your content reaches the right people. Include both broad and niche terms.

Optimizing Your Profile

Craft profile and board descriptions focused on what makes your brand unique. Use branded visuals and your website to look professional.

Creating Eye-Catching Pins

Upload visually compelling, high-quality images and videos aligned with your brand style.

Using High-Quality Images and Videos

Invest in professional, consistent images and videos. Avoid grainy or amateur-looking content.

Writing Compelling Captions

Write clear, succinct captions summarizing the Pin. Include strategic keywords and calls-to-action driving clicks.

Incorporating Keywords

Include keywords in your captions and on boards so Pinners can easily find your content.

Distributing and Promoting Your Pins

Maximize reach by sharing Pins across other platforms and social accounts.

Sharing Pins on Other Platforms

Post Pinterest content natively on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Stories, and elsewhere.

Using Pinterest Ads

Run paid campaigns to boost the reach of your best Pins to more targeted users.

Engaging with Other Accounts

Like, comment on, and follow other accounts in your industry to gradually build an audience.

Executing Your Pinterest Marketing Plan

Once your foundation is set, it’s time to focus on consistently implementing the right tactics.

Posting and Scheduling Fresh Pins Consistently

Post at least 5 times per day, with a focus on your highest-traffic hours. Use a scheduling tool to space out Pins in advance.

Analyzing Performance and Optimizing

Use Pinterest Analytics to see which Pins drive the most repins, clicks, and engagement. Make data-driven decisions.

Leveraging Pinterest Analytics

Constantly refine your approach based on your top-performing content styles, captions, and keywords. Adapt to maximize results.

Pinterest Strategies for Different Business Types

While the fundamentals remain the same, the specific way brands use Pinterest differs based on your core business.

Pinterest for Small Businesses

As a small business, focus on sharing behind-the-scenes content, highlighting your products, staff, and expertise. Goal: build an audience.

Pinterest for Bloggers

Bloggers should repin content from your blog, share lifestyle photos, and focus on driving website traffic through affiliate links.

Pinterest for Ecommerce Brands

Ecommerce brands should primarily Pin product images with links to purchase. Share curated boards for inspiration and user-generated content.

Pinterest Tools and Resources

Leverage these top tools to maximize the impact of your Pinterest efforts:

Top Pinterest Management Tools

Tools like Hootsuite, Later, and Tailwind allow you to easily schedule Pins in advance and manage multiple accounts.

Best Apps for Creating Pins

Design resources like Canva, Pablo, and Piktochart help you craft stunning branded Pins that stand out.

Key Plugins for Driving Followers and Engagement

Use plugins like Pinterest traffic boosters and engagement tools to grow your following and get more repins.

By implementing the strategies in this Pinterest marketing guide, you can drive real results for your brand in the form of increased website traffic, sales, and a loyal audience. Consistency and high-quality visuals are key. Analyze what resonates and keep refining your approach to maximize your reach and return on investment.

FAQs

Q: How do I create a business account on Pinterest?

A: To create a business account on Pinterest, go to pinterest.com/business/create/ and follow the instructions.

Q: How often should I Pin?

A: It’s recommended that you Pin at least once per day. However, you can experiment with different posting frequencies to see what works best for your business.

Q: How do I measure the success of my Pinterest marketing strategy?

A: You can measure the success of your Pinterest marketing strategy by tracking metrics like clicks, saves, and engagement rates. You can also use tools like Google Analytics to track traffic from Pinterest to your website.