Pinterest Part II: My Top 5 Most Asked Questions About Pinterest, Answered by a Pinterest Expert
This is the second post in a series! Click here to read Pinterest Part I: How To Use Pinterest Legally!
I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz about using Pinterest for your business. If not, here’s why you might want to consider jumping on board: As of August 2019, there are over 300 million active users on Pinterest, making it one of the most rapidly growing platforms right now. Maybe you consider it as just another social media platform but think again. Pinterest is a visual search engine that people turn to when they want to share or discover new things, research to buy something, or plan for their next big life event. In fact, Pinterest was ranked the best visual search engine in 2019 rivaling Google's image search. With over 2 billion monthly searches, Pinterest sets itself apart from Google by allowing you to discover and "follow" other people, brands, and boards in order to curate your own custom Pinterest discovery feed. So are you thinking of getting your business on Pinterest now? If you are still overwhelmed, let me answer my top 5 most asked questions about using Pinterest for your business.
1. Does Pinterest work for both service and product-based businesses?
Yes! When people come to Pinterest, they are in discovery mode. 93% of active pinners said they use Pinterest to plan for purchases and 87% said they’ve purchased something because of Pinterest. If you have a business account set up and are actively pinning your content (i.e. products, blog posts, services you offer, opt-ins, portfolio, etc.) then you will show up when they are searching for inspiration and ideas. So whether you sell digital products, an e-course, or a 1-on-1 coaching service, you can show up in front of your target audience as they are in this research-and-buy mindset.
2. How often and how many pins should you pin a week?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get about Pinterest marketing because it may feel like the most overwhelming….but, trust me, it really doesn’t have to be. However, the answer may surprise you… There is no rule as to how many pins you should pin a day. Rather, the key to success on Pinterest is CONSISTENCY. Go ahead and pin as little as five pins a day, but just make sure you are pinning at least that every day. Pinterest rewards consistency by showing your pins more frequently in the discovery, search, and related pins feed. So don’t go on a pinning rampage one day and ghost it for the next three. **I’ll let you in on a little secret… you can do this without having to actually be on Pinterest every day! Tailwind is a lifesaver when it comes to productivity on Pinterest. It is a Pinterest-approved partner that allows you to schedule out your entire week’s worth of pins in as little as an hour! Click here to try Tailwind for FREE. (*This is an affiliate link - If you choose to sign up through this link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
3. What kind of content do you see perform better?
Really, any kind of content can perform well on Pinterest if you know how to optimize it for your audience. The very first step to a successful Pinterest marketing strategy is knowing who your target audience is. A Pinterest Strategist (like me) can help you identify your audience and what type of content they engage with most so you can optimize your profile and pins for maximum engagement.
4. If I have a personal Pinterest account already, should I convert that to a business account or start a new one from scratch?
This question comes up most for people who have been on Pinterest for a long time and have a ton of boards and followers. You have to look at what type of content you had been pinning on Pinterest (i.e. recipes, fitness, fashion inspo, home decor, etc.). Remember, your followers “follow” you because they want to see more of that content. So if you are a brand designer and your target audience are new entrepreneurs, then the people who followed you for your recipe pins won’t find your brand mood board pins too exciting. This will result in a low overall engagement of your audience. However, if you are a lifestyle blogger and you share recipes, fashion tips, and decorating ideas on your blog, then these people will continue to engage with the content you are sharing. *Pro Tip - curate your Pinterest profile and boards for the audience you are serving...not for YOU.
5. Do ads on Pinterest work?
Yes! Ads on Pinterest are called promoted pins and that is essentially just what they are. You pay to boost a pin to get in front of a wider audience with a specific goal in mind. Now there is a lot more to it than just setting a daily budget on a current pin you have. You have to be sure to set up your account properly, install Pinterest conversion tags on your website in the correct places, and understand what keywords and how to use them in your promotion. This can be overwhelming if you are unfamiliar with how to do them, but that is another reason a Pinterest strategist or manager comes in handy! (wink, wink). What sets promoted pins apart from Facebook or Instagram ads is that your pins can live on for weeks, months, and even years after you have ended your ad campaign. Also, as of Sept. 2019, Pinterest is developing the option for you to run a limed-time only promoted pin. Meaning, you can run a promoted pin for a sale you might be having and users will only be able to click on the pin but not save it for later. I am REALLY looking forward to that feature!
I hope this convinced you that you should definitely start using Pinterest in your marketing strategy! If you are looking for more tips and tutorials, follow me over on Instagram @thehalcyonhive.
For fun, test how well you are using Pinterest for your business with my free quiz! Take the quiz here!
Cheers!
Cali, Pinterest Marketing Strategist
