Pinterest Marketing Strategies That Actually Work

Pinterest Marketing Strategies That Actually Work (Even If You’re Just Starting Out). When I first started using Pinterest for business, I honestly thought I was just pinning pretty pictures. Aesthetics? Sure. Traffic? Not really. Sales? Not even close. But here’s the wild part — once I stopped treating Pinterest like a digital scrapbook and more like a search engine with a visual soul, everything changed.

Now Pinterest is one of my favorite low-effort, high-reward marketing tools. And no, it’s not just for DIYers and dinner recipes anymore.

If you’re wondering how to make Pinterest actually work for your business — whether you’re selling products, services, or content — keep reading. I’m breaking down the exact strategies that helped me grow visibility, drive traffic, and even make sales…all without spending a dime on ads.

Know Who You’re Talking To

Before you dive into the deep end, take a second to think about who’s scrolling through Pinterest. It’s not your average social media crowd. People come here with intent. They’re looking for ideas, planning purchases, and saving inspiration for later.

If you sell handmade products, digital downloads, coaching, or run a blog — your audience is definitely here.

So ask yourself:

• Who am I trying to reach?

• What problems are they trying to solve?

• What kind of content would make them pause and click?

Spoiler: The more specific your answers, the better your strategy.

Pinterest Marketing Strategies That Actually Work

Create a Pinterest Business Account

If you’re still rocking a personal account, stop right there. You need a business account. It unlocks Pinterest Analytics, allows you to run ads later (if you want to), and lets you claim your website.

Just a few clicks and voilà — you’re official.

While you’re at it:

• Claim your domain so Pinterest knows you’re legit

• Enable Rich Pins so your products or blog posts auto-populate info

• Set a profile pic and write a bio that’s both keyword-friendly and friendly-friendly (yep, that’s a thing)

Build Boards That Actually Get Clicks

Think of your Pinterest boards like shelves in a cute boutique. You want each one to be:

• Organized by theme or product category

• Named with keywords (e.g. “Boho Bedroom Decor” > “My Dream Space”)

• Described clearly with helpful, searchable words

Trust me, naming your board something witty like “Stuff I Love” won’t help anyone find you. Save the sass for the captions.

Create Pins That Pop Off the Page

Here’s the fun part: designing Pins!

Your Pins need to stop thumbs mid-scroll. That means:

• Bright, high-contrast images

• Clear text overlays (use bold fonts that are easy to read on mobile)

• Vertical format (2:3 ratio — think 1000 x 1500 pixels)

• Branding like your logo or website at the bottom

You don’t need to be a graphic designer either. Tools like Canva make it ridiculously easy. I usually batch 5–10 Pins per blog post or product, all with slight variations.

Fresh Pins (new images or designs for the same link) are Pinterest’s current fave, so mix it up and repin regularly.

Pinterest Marketing Strategies That Actually Work

Master Pinterest SEO (Yep, It’s a Thing)

Pinterest is more search engine than social media platform. That means keywords are everything.

Here’s where you should use them:

• Pin titles and descriptions

• Board names and descriptions

• Your bio

• Image alt text if you’re uploading directly from your site

Use Pinterest’s own search bar to find what people are typing in. If “minimalist home office” starts auto-filling? Use that phrase in your content. Easy.

Pin Smart, Not Hard

You don’t need to Pin all day, every day. I usually schedule Pins in batches using Pinterest’s native scheduler or Tailwind (great tool if you’re juggling multiple platforms).

Start with:

• 1–2 new Pins per day

• A mix of your own content and repins from others

• Seasonal and evergreen content (think: holidays and year-round guides)

Stay consistent, and over time, Pinterest will start rewarding you with reach.

Common Pinterest Mistakes to Avoid

Let’s talk about what not to do:

• Pinning horizontal images: They disappear in a sea of vertical Pins.

• Ignoring descriptions: Keywords = discoverability. Don’t skip it.

• Over-pinning: It’s not 2015 anymore. 100 Pins a day will just look spammy.

Final Thoughts: Treat Pinterest Like a Garden, Not a Race

Pinterest is slow-burn magic. Don’t expect viral traffic overnight — but plant your Pins, water them with consistency, and you’ll see growth. I’ve had Pins from years ago still driving traffic every month.

So if you’ve been sleeping on Pinterest? It’s time to wake up, friend. Your people are out there, searching — and all you have to do is show up where they’re looking.