How to Get Thousands of Free Clicks, Leads, and Sales with Pinterest with Nadalie Bardo

Unlock Organic Growth and New Customers with Pinterest Marketing

Are you looking for a way to drive hundreds of thousands of organic views and connect with new customers and clients without the constant pressure of social media? Do you want to build a legitimate and profitable online business without relying on fleeting trends and aggressive sales tactics? Then it’s time to unlock the power of Pinterest marketing.

What is Pinterest Marketing?

Many people still think of Pinterest as just a place to plan weddings or find home décor ideas. However, for businesses, Pinterest marketing is a potent strategy focused on organically reaching potential customers through visually appealing content. Instead of constant posting and direct engagement, Pinterest marketing centers around creating pins – images or videos – that link back to your website, blog posts, product pages, or other online content.

Think of it this way: your potential customers are already on Pinterest, actively planning projects, researching ideas, and looking for solutions. Whether they're envisioning their next vacation, seeking a business coach, or searching for local services, they are using Pinterest as a visual search engine. Pinterest marketing is about positioning your business as the answer to their needs and aspirations, becoming the pin that gets saved to their boards – their digital vision boards and plans.

Don't underestimate the breadth of topics covered on Pinterest. While home décor, food, and fashion are popular, the platform is also filled with users seeking business advice, looking for services, and exploring various industries. The key is to shift your perspective and consider how your expertise or offerings can align with the planning and research mindset of Pinterest users. With over half of Pinterest users in the USA and a significant female millennial and growing Gen Z demographic, understanding the core audience can help tailor your Pinterest marketing efforts.

The Power of Pinterest for Marketing

What makes Pinterest marketing so powerful? Unlike traditional social media platforms where content has a short lifespan, Pinterest pins can continue to generate traffic for months, even years. In fact, studies show that pins can peak in engagement as much as two years after being posted. Compare that to a tweet that lasts mere minutes or an Instagram post that sees minimal engagement after a couple of days. If you have limited time, investing in Pinterest marketing means your efforts can yield long-term results.

The core of Pinterest marketing lies in the pin. A pin is an image or a video that, most importantly, can contain a direct link to your online content or creations. This is a crucial differentiator from platforms that often restrict direct linking outside of paid advertisements or require users to navigate to a profile's bio. Whether you have blog posts, podcasts, YouTube videos (your content), or products on Shopify, Etsy, or your own website (your creations), you can drive traffic directly from Pinterest.

While visually driven, Pinterest functions fundamentally as a search engine. This is where keywords become paramount in your Pinterest marketing strategy. Users actively search for specific terms related to their interests and needs. By strategically incorporating relevant keywords into your pin titles and descriptions, you ensure your content appears in those search results. This organic discoverability is a cornerstone of effective Pinterest marketing and doesn't require the same time and energy as constantly trying to beat social media algorithms. The foundational principles of getting found on Pinterest have remained remarkably consistent over the years.

Getting Started with Pinterest

Ready to dive into Pinterest? Here’s how to get started:

• Create a Pinterest Business Account: This is the first and essential step. It’s completely free and unlocks valuable features like Pinterest analytics and trends. If you already have a personal account, you can easily convert it to a business account.
• Conduct an Audit: Analyze your competitors and other successful accounts in your niche. What kind of images and content are they posting? Also, take a self-audit of your existing content and products. What blog posts, videos, podcasts, or product listings do you have that you can promote on Pinterest?. Categorize your content by seasonality to align with user search behavior throughout the year.
• Perform Keyword Research: Forget expensive third-party tools initially. Utilize the Pinterest search bar. Start typing in terms related to your business, and pay attention to the auto-complete suggestions. These are actual keywords people are searching for on the platform. Also, explore Pinterest Trends, a free tool available with your business account, to see the search volume for different keywords over time.
• Design Compelling Pins: While keywords are crucial for discoverability, visually appealing pins are essential for attracting clicks. Use a tool like Canva, which offers free templates specifically designed for Pinterest. Brand your pins with your fonts and colors for consistency. Ensure your text is clear and easy to read, especially on mobile devices, as 85% of Pinterest users are on mobile.

Mastering Pinterest Keywords

Keywords are the language of Pinterest marketing. Without them, Pinterest won't know who to show your pins to.

• Utilize the Pinterest Search Bar: As mentioned, this is a primary way to uncover relevant keywords. The autocomplete feature reveals popular search terms.
• Analyze Competitor Profiles: Use the search bar and filter by "Profiles" to find experts in your niche. Examine their profile names, board names, and pin descriptions to understand the keywords they are targeting.
• Explore Pinterest Trends: This tool provides data on the search volume of keywords over time, helping you identify trending topics and plan your content accordingly. Interestingly, Pinterest trends often mirror Google Trends, especially regarding the seasonality of searches. Get ahead of the curve by publishing seasonal content slightly before the peak search period.
• Strategic Keyword Placement: Incorporate your primary keyword phrase into your pin title (100 characters max) naturally. Your title should be click-worthy but not misleading. Utilize the pin description (up to 800 characters, though 500 is often sufficient) to further elaborate on your pin's content and include relevant keywords. Start with a question, briefly explain the benefit of clicking, use your primary keyword, and then add 2-3 related keywords you discovered during your research.
• Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Don't overload your pin descriptions with irrelevant keywords in an attempt to game the system. Write naturally, as if a human will read it, even though Pinterest's algorithm is also analyzing the text. Focus on your primary keyword phrase and a few closely related terms.

Creating Effective Pins

Creating visually appealing and informative pins is key to driving clicks and engagement in Pinterest marketing:

• Image vs. Video: While Pinterest supports both, studies show that nine out of ten viral pins are images. Unless you are already creating videos for other platforms, focus your initial efforts on high-quality images.
• Pin Dimensions: The recommended size for image pins is a 2:3 aspect ratio, specifically 1000 x 1500 pixels. For video pins, the standard short-form video size of 1080 x 1920 pixels applies. Canva offers pre-set dimensions for Pinterest pins, making design easy.
• The Power of Links: Every pin can and should have a link directing users to your desired destination. Unlike some platforms, Pinterest encourages outbound clicks. Ensure your links are accurate and lead to valuable content or product pages. Avoid linking directly to your homepage or generic social media profiles.
• Compelling Titles and Descriptions: As discussed, these are crucial for both user engagement and search engine optimization. Make your titles enticing and clearly state what the user will find by clicking. Use your description to provide more context and incorporate relevant keywords.
• Clear Call to Actions: While not always necessary, consider adding subtle text like "Click here to learn more" or a visual cue to encourage clicks, especially for content pins. For product pins, lifestyle images that showcase the product in use often suffice.
• Branding: Incorporate your logo or a recognizable brand element into your pins to build brand awareness. Use consistent colors and fonts that align with your overall brand identity. Claim your domain on your Pinterest business account to further establish your brand's authenticity.