Although it is a form of social media, Pinterest is a beast all on its own.
I know that I am not the only one who has been stumped by Pinterest a time or two, has stared at a Pinterest board and willed it to grow, has followed an absurd amount of people in hopes of gaining even a follower or two, or even got confused when I did absolutely nothing to grow the platform, yet come to find out that the account I did nothing for has grown more than it had when I had put in all the work.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to Pinterest success, but there are certain elements that can impact your performance. With that being said, here are some best practices that you can follow to help grow this gentle giant we call Pinterest:
1. PIN CONSISTENTLY & PROMPTLY
We’ve been told our whole lives that consistency is key and Pinterest is no exception. Consistent, daily activity is a must. We recommended posting at least one time per day. Rather than posting a ton of Pins all at once, spread them out over the course of a few days.
As for upcoming holidays and other seasonal content, be sure to post that at least ~45 days in advance so that you can take full advantage of these opportunities.
2. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE (Vertical) VISUALS
This should come as no surprise, but make sure that the images you are posting are high-quality. Pinterest is a very visual site. Be sure that your images are attention-grabbing. Although there is no “right size” for Pins, vertical images typically look (and perform) best. This is because Pins are organized in columns, so try using a 2:3 vertical aspect ratio.
Bonus Tip: Convey your Pin topic / main message with text overlay. This makes your Pins stand out, helps to tell a better story, and creates a clear understanding of what to expect by clicking on that link. The text should be simple and sweet. Use a platform such as Canva to add in text overlay.
3. KEYWORDS, KEYWORDS, KEYWORDS
Say hello to your new best friend: Keywords. SEO drives Pinterest, so using words that will optimize your brand is key to its success. This will help your Pins appear in the search. Make sure the description of your Pins and of your Boards tells viewers exactly what they will find if they click on the link. Include keywords, but don’t overdo it.
4. USE LIFESTYLE SHOTS
Do more than post product shots. Think of how you can show that your brand or product can fit into someone’s life and then portray that. Pinterest found that product photos typically do not perform as well as lifestyle shots. That’s because people want to see context and how something is used.
For example: If you are a florist and are trying to sell plants, figure out a way to show how your plants would transform someone’s place. That is how you will really shine on Pinterest.
5. USE BOARD NAMES
Optimize your boards by naming them wisely. The names should be relevant and specific. They should resonate with your audience and contain keywords. This will help with SEO.
6. SAVE PINS REGULARLY
If you want engagement on your page, you have to engage with the Pinterest community as well. Liking and sharing other images and following other boards or accounts that are relevant to your industry or brand helps with your own engagement.
For example: Naot Footwear, an Israeli footwear brand, has an entire board dedicated to outfits that you can pair with their shoes.
7. USE YOUR OTHER SOCIAL PLATFORMS
Do you have a large following on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or another social platform? Use that to your advantage. Direct your fans/followers on other platforms to your Pinterest page. Any little boost can help increase exposure and drive traffic to your page.
8. LEARN FROM PIN PERFORMANCE
Daily or Weekly – Tap on any of your Pins for a quick overview of its impressions, saves, closeups, and clicks.
Monthly – Use Pinterest Analytics to see what content of yours has been hot and what’s not. You will be able to learn what has been working and what hasn’t been performing well. By gathering these valuable insights, you will be able to tweak your content specifically based on these results.
9. PROMOTE YOUR PINS WITH PINTEREST ADS
Are you looking to increase in store sales, boost traffic, build brand awareness, increase sales, etc.? Consider Pinterest Ads. Investing in ads can help to provide exposure for your brand. Not only does this increase your paid reach, but it will also improve organic reach. Learn more about promoting Pins here.
___________________________________________________
Pinterest is not for the weak of heart. It takes a while to grow a strong following. However, if you stick with it and follow these stellar tips, your business could reap some major benefits.
I’d love to hear what your best tips are. Comment below. ⤵
