Introduction to Pinterest Marketing

Guest writer for "The NZDream" blog

https://www.mynzdreamblog.com/write-for-us-and-author-interviews

By Melanie Boyd

My name is Melanie, a Pinterest manager, educator, and coach. You may have used Pinterest for finding new recipes, DIY projects, and fashion inspiration, but did you know that many businesses are using it to grow their business and so can you.

Pinterest has about 478 million active monthly users, which means people are coming to Pinterest for inspiration, education, and solutions to their problems. If you’re a blogger, author, writer, product, or service provider, Pinterest is a platform you can leverage to reach a wide net of potential clients to grow your business.

I’m excited to introduce you to Pinterest marketing as a beginner and how you can use it to uplevel your business.

What is Pinterest?

While Instagram and Facebook are great for marketing, the algorithm can make it difficult for your followers to see your content, especially if they’re not engaging with you regularly. Pinterest isn’t social media, so you don’t have to rely on followers to reach your target audience. Pinterest is a visual search engine, so your target audience can use keywords instead to find your products or services.

Pinterest Benefits

1. Drive traffic to your website- capitalize on the millions of Pinterest users by using strategies to bring them to your website.

2. Promote your content- easy and effective way to share your content and connect with your ideal customers.

3. Expand reach- reach new customers by using keyword-rich text so they can discover your products or services.

4. Convert visitors- convert visitors into customers by creating valuable and shareable content they want to save and interact with.

5. Visual appeal- reach potential customers through visually appealing photos to get them interested in your products and services.

6. Grow email list- promote your downloads and freebies to gain new subscribers that can become future customers.

Pinterest Expectations

Please understand that Pinterest is a long game. Many businesses give up too quickly. They didn’t see immediate results and assumed it wasn’t worth their time. Here are some tips to help you understand Pinterest marketing so you don't make the same mistake.

1. Pinterest is a slow burn. Results do not come immediately. Just like Instagram, it takes time to build up your account, but also for Pinterest to index your content. Keep pushing through and give yourself time to build up your account.

2. Expect a lot of experimentation. What you try first will change over and over again. Allow yourself to see what’s working and what’s not.

3. Always keep design top of mind. Pinterest is a visual platform, so quality photos and videos are important.

4. Frequency and consistency are important for success. The great thing about Pinterest is you don’t have to be on Pinterest every day, but your content does. The Tailwind scheduler is a great way to help you show up on the platform every day.*

Content to Promote on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform because it’s so diverse. The kind of content you’ll see is very different. As a blogger, author, writer, or someone similar in that space, here are some content ideas that you can share.

1. Blog posts- these are the most popular as they’re very detailed and provide links and instructions that most people are looking for. I strongly recommend that if you have a website and don’t have a blog, I suggest creating one. Blogs are a great way to convert followers into customers or clients.

2. Freebies- downloads are perfect for sharing something related to another piece of content. It’s a great way to add people to your email list.

3. Podcast episodes- while not the most popular, it’s a great way to promote your show and get people interested in your brand. I imagine podcast pins will grow more popular in no time.

4. YouTube videos- while long-form media content doesn’t see a lot of playtime on the home page, linking to a longer video is a great option for your audience to dive deeper into

5. Instagram posts- if done right, leading an audience to your Instagram can also grow that account. Please make sure the post you’re leading them to educate, inspire, or entertain them.

6. Product/service pages- there is about a $50 spending threshold. Pinterest shoppers are willing to spend on unbranded businesses. Please don’t expect a lot of sales to come from this strategy, but if shoppers are in the right mindset to shop, it’s a great way to sell your products, services, or courses.

Pinterest is a great way to diversify your content and reach a wider audience. To learn more Pinterest tips as a beginner, I’d love for you to join my free Facebook group Pinterest for Beginners to ask questions and how to get started.

-Melanie Boyd