Pinterest today is a visual discovery engine that can elevate your marketing to the next level. Pinterest followers amplify distribution and trust, helping you maximize your reach and connect with high-value prospects you might otherwise miss.
In this blog, you’ll learn from Ashley Nigro, Sr. Social Media Strategist, all about how to make money on Pinterest and, more broadly, how to use Pinterest for business to grow your following and extend your online reach.
What You’ll Learn:
- How Pinterest Discovery Works (What Actually Drives Follower Growth)
- Keyword Workflow for Pinterest
- Content That Earns Followers
- Creative Best Practices for Marketers
- Distribution That Compounds (Beyond Just Posting)
- How to Encourage Saves (Without Being Spammy)
- Measure, Optimize, Scale (Analytics for Follower Growth)
- Common Reasons You’re Not Getting Followers
- 30-Day Pinterest Growth Plan (For Busy Marketers)
- FAQs
My Expert Opinion on How to Make Money on Pinterest
Pinterest remains one of the most popular visual marketing platforms for all types of brands, and it’s potentially among the most profitable. 55% of users on the platform shop on it, and 85% of weekly Pinners have bought something based on a Pin they saw.
If you want to know how to use Pinterest for business marketing and get the most from this platform, there are many strategies you can use to build your Pinterest following and inspire sales among the platform’s shoppers.
From effective account setup and search engine optimization (SEO) to regularly producing and distributing high-quality, fresh content, there are plenty of approaches you can take to get the best results from your Pinterest strategy.
Now, let’s dig deeper into all things Pinterest marketing, including how to get followers on Pinterest and maximize your popularity and sales.
How Pinterest Discovery Works (What Actually Drives Follower Growth)
If you want to figure out how to make money on Pinterest, you need to understand how to get people to discover you and become loyal Pinterest followers.
Pinterest discovery works using four primary signals:
- Pin Quality: This measures the quality of your Pins, including how much engagement Pins receive and the kinds of actions they drive, along with the number of people who save Pins, click through to a site, and zoom in on images. Boost quality by creating highly engaging and well-targeted Pins that drive engagement.
- Relevance: This signal helps determine whether your Pins reach the right people at the right time by matching titles, descriptions, and topics to audiences based on their searches. With effective SEO and trend following, you can target the right keywords based on popular topics in your industry.
- Freshness: The recency of your content also signals to the Pinterest algorithm whether your content is fresh, boosting visibility for newer content. Posting quality content frequently will help maximize freshness.
- Engagement: This tracks the kind of engagement your Pins experience, including saves, outbound clicks, Pin clicks, and the length of time people spend on the linked website. High-quality Pins will naturally encourage people to interact with your content to boost engagement metrics.
Pinterest SEO Foundations
If you want to know how to find someone on Pinterest with your posts, you need effective SEO that optimizes content for both the Pinterest algorithm and search engines.
To start with, let’s go over how to create a Pinterest business account:
1. Go to Pinterest.com/business to set up your account and enter your information. Alternatively, you can convert an existing account into a business account.
2. Edit your profile information; choose a display name and bio that incorporates relevant keywords in your industry.
3. Claim your content.
4. Set up boards with keyword-optimized titles and descriptions.
When setting up boards and Pins, consider the specific factors that go into Pinterest SEO:
Text optimization is a big component here, influencing your Pin and board titles and descriptions. To help you dominate SEO in your industry with topical authority, look at trends and find out what’s popular, developing topic clusters for title and description ideas.
For example, a fitness brand might develop a topical cluster covering “best home workouts,” with individual posts covering “best home workouts for building abs” or home workouts for weight loss.”
Keyword Workflow for Pinterest
To determine which keywords are worth targeting with your content and optimize accordingly, here are some specific steps to follow:
1. Use Autosuggest
One way to find the best keywords for SEO on Pinterest is to look at the autosuggest feature when you begin a search on the platform.
2. Look at Trends
Another feature to try is Trends, which could include everything from recent shopping trends to search query trends.
Be sure to look at trends in your specific industry to see what people are interested in based on the most popular topics.
3. Map Keywords to Boards
Based on the topic clusters you develop and their corresponding keywords, you can map terms to various boards.
For instance, the Cleveland Clinic organizes boards based on different types of medical topics and graphics:
4. Optimize Pin Titles and Descriptions
You should also integrate your keywords into Pin titles and descriptions, but avoid stuffing them and instead focus on writing compelling descriptions that are relevant to the post and supplement it.
5. Add Topics
Over time, you can add more topics to cover in your boards and Pins. Keep looking at Trends and see what competitors are covering in your industry, which can give you some ideas for terms to target with your content.
Conversely, if you notice that some topics are underperforming, get rid of them as needed and focus more on the ones that drive real engagement and profit.
6. Measure the Results
Using Pinterest’s own analytics tool, along with external analytics platforms like Sprout Social, you can measure your campaigns to determine whether they’re successful or need some adjustments.
Content That Earns Followers
In learning how to make money on Pinterest, you need to create high-quality content that surpasses your competitors’ posts.
Try to post fresh Pins weekly to maintain relevance and appeal to Pinterest’s freshness signal, but be sure to prioritize quality over volume. Focus on creating the best posts over the most posts, as this will ultimately build more consistent engagement and attract more Pinterest followers.
One example of a brand that has found success with its content is Anthropologie, which has nearly two million followers and thousands of well-organized and frequently posted Pins.
Anthropologie keeps factors like seasonality in mind when developing board and post topics, such as Valentine’s Day during the month of February and tips for Spring home design.
There are multiple types of content you can post on Pinterest to connect with audiences, such as:
- Images: Standard image Pins can share photos, graphics, infographics, and inspirational posts using a single resonant image.
- Videos: You can also share short video clips or animations that automatically play in people’s feeds, helping you stand apart from static posts for a given topic and build your video marketing strategy.
- Carousels: These Pins consist of two to five images that users can swipe through, such as a product collection highlighting specific offerings with corresponding product pages.
Just make sure your content is evergreen and can maintain relevancy for years after your initial post.
Creative Best Practices for Marketers
Want to get the most from your Pins? Here are some tips to help you maximize Pin quality to connect with audiences and build followers:
Text Overlay Rules
One element to consider is the text overlay of your posts.
Keep in mind that most people access Pinterest on mobile devices, making mobile-first legibility crucial here. As such, you should use bold fonts for your text that are clearly visible on mobile screens.
You can also employ the 30% rule, ensuring that your text overlay doesn’t cover more than 30% of the image.
Benefit-Driven Headlines
When writing your headlines, focus on the value your post brings to audiences.
For example, don’t simply include a product name in the headline. Instead, explain the “why” behind it, such as “Best Organic Lotions for Soothing Dry Skin.”
You can also build “how-to” guides, visual listicles, and infographics with keyword-optimized headlines extolling the content’s benefits.
Vertical Ratios
When designing image and video Pins, use vertical formats with a 2:3 or 9:16 aspect ratio.
1,000 px by 1,500 px is the ideal size for standard Pins, fitting on most mobile devices.
Save-Worthy Design
Put together original designs that stand out from competitors and compel users to save them.
You can also encourage people to save your images with a call-to-action like “Save this image to your board!”
Brand Consistency
To help build brand awareness with your Pins, it’s also best to practice effective brand consistency across all of your posts.
Integrate a defined logo and color scheme, potentially in footers or headers to differentiate your content and make it unmistakably yours.
Templates are a great way to streamline this process and maintain branding uniformity.
An example of a brand that maintains good brand consistency is Affirm, which has a branded footer complete with consistent colors and logos.
Distribution That Compounds (Beyond Just Posting)
Once you’ve created your posts, you need to know how to make money on Pinterest with a strong distribution strategy. Good distribution will build more saves through earned media, compounding your ability to reach and attract audiences, as people’s saved posts will appear in their followers’ feeds.
Here are some ways to distribute your content on all relevant channels:
Embedding Pins
One method of distribution for Pins is to embed them in other content, such as your web pages or social media posts.
Many website builders make it easy to embed pins with a URL or embed code, allowing users to view the post or even save it through the content linking to it.
Follow Buttons and Widgets
Include follow buttons and widgets that make it easy to build a following on Pinterest.
On your website, for example, you can include a social media follow button for Pinterest in the footer with a clickable icon.
Meanwhile, on relevant blog posts, you can encourage people to follow your Pinterest with a clear CTA at the end.
Email and Blog Promotion
Don’t shy from promoting your Pinterest on blogs and emails when appropriate.
Emails could include footers with links to your social media profiles, like your website footer, or you can directly ask audiences to check out your Pinterest for more content.
Blog posts could include buttons or links to your post, or they may incorporate embedded images that people can conveniently save without leaving your site.
How to Encourage Saves (Without Being Spammy)
We’ve talked a bit about saves and how to earn them, but what makes them so important?
Well, saves are essential because they serve as the primary indicator of high-intent engagement, signaling to Pinterest that your content is of high value. As mentioned, saves also show up in people’s followers’ feeds, introducing more people to your content who might not see it otherwise.
In turn, more saves translates to more reach for your posts.
You have the ability to encourage saves directly, but it’s important to do so tactfully to avoid turning people away.
The language you use in your CTAs here should be clear and direct, such as “Save this pin for your next campaign” or “Pin this guide to your board!” You can include this CTA in your pin description to supplement the rest of your description and headline.
In some cases, you can include this CTA within the image or video itself via a text overlay, ideally toward the end of image slides/carousels and videos.
Measure, Optimize, Scale (Analytics for Follower Growth)
With every campaign, you need to consistently measure your efforts with good reporting and analytics.
Tracking the right social media key performance indicators (KPIs) can help you determine whether your strategy is helping you achieve your goals.
Some critical metrics to track in your campaigns include:
- Saves
- Outbound clicks and outbound click rates to your website
- Impressions indicating the total number of times your Pins appeared in people’s feeds
- Pin Clicks
- Engaged audience metrics, including people who clicked or saved your Pins
- Followers
Just remember to track follower growth rate—don’t rely on totals alone, as you could identify a pattern over time to help gauge overall success.
You should perform regular reviews every week, month, or quarter, depending on how active you are on the platform, and always follow up shortly after making any significant changes to your account.
Based on what’s doing well and what’s underperforming, you can decide what to test next with your strategy.
When experimenting, try out A/B tests to see which version of a content piece performs best with a single element changed, such as a text overlay, image, description, or CTA.
Common Reasons You’re Not Getting Followers
You might ask, “How do I get followers on Pinterest?” or “Why am I struggling to build a following?”
Here are some reasons you might struggle to gain Pinterest followers:
- Thin Boards: One issue could entail thin boards with minimal Pins; be sure to build your boards up with relevant and popular topic clusters, including multiple Pins covering subtopics under this umbrella.
- Weak Creative: Another issue could involve low-quality creative, with bland visuals that don’t differentiate you in any way, illegible text overlays, or poor branding consistency.
- No Keyword Strategy: Always try to optimize your titles, descriptions, and other content elements for relevant keywords to help with SEO and ensure more people find your content both on Pinterest and across search engines.
- Inconsistent Fresh Pins: Try to maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your Pinterest boards updated with fresh posts, which will help you signal to Pinterest that your content is regularly up-to-date and that your brand is truly active and relevant. You’ll also consistently engage followers with regular posts.
- Mismatched Landing Pages: The content your posts link to should always correspond with the landing page, keeping people moving down the funnel with effective conversion rate optimization.
30-Day Pinterest Growth Plan (For Busy Marketers)
Want a specific roadmap to success with your Pinterest strategy? Here is a 30-day week-to-week plan to get you started:
Week 1: Planning and Building Trust
Start by creating or converting your account, taking the steps outlined in our guide on how to create a Pinterest business account above.
You can then begin your keyword research and figure out which topics to cover, along with industry terms to optimize your business name and bio.
Establishing a reputable business profile will help build trust among your initial target audiences.
Week 2: Content Strategy and Design
During week two, you can take those keywords you gathered and develop topic clusters and individual content pieces to target them.
Create boards and image, video, or carousel posts with appealing designs, proper formatting, and consistent branding.
Week 3: Consistency and Scheduling
Set up a posting schedule to keep your content fresh and continuous, signaling to Pinterest that your content is relevant while consistently engaging your existing follower base.
More high-quality content will also help you extend your reach as you dominate the most popular topics in your industry.
Week 4: Analysis and Optimization
Finish by measuring the results of your strategy. Specifically, choose which metrics to measure based on your marketing goals, whether you want to find out how to get Pinterest followers more easily, drive more engagement for your posts, or bring more traffic to your website.
Based on the results, you can then take steps to optimize your content for better performance.
If you need some help with your Pinterest strategy, Ignite Visibility can implement a plan that works just for you.
FAQs
1. How do I get followers on Pinterest?
In determining how to use Pinterest for business, you can attract more followers by posting consistently high-quality content, encouraging people to save your videos and subsequently expand your reach, and building trust for your brand with consistent branding and creative design.
2. How often should you post on Pinterest to gain followers?
Most sources advise posting on Pinterest about three to 10 times per day, keeping your Pins fresh with regularly updated content. However, this number will fluctuate depending on your specific industry and the availability of relevant topics to cover.
3. Do keywords really matter on Pinterest?
Yes, keywords are critical components of any Pinterest strategy, as they help you optimize your Pins and profile for good SEO within the platform and outside on Google and other search engines. Keywords should be relevant and naturally appear in board titles, profile titles and bios, and post descriptions and headlines.
4. What are Rich Pins, and do they help with followers?
Rich Pins are pins that sync with your website’s content based on the latest data. These can include product, recipe, or article rich Pins that update when the corresponding website data changes.
5. Why am I not getting followers on Pinterest?
There are several reasons why you might not be getting followers on your Pinterest, such as thin boards with minimal content, weak creative, failing to optimize for target keywords, and mismatched landing pages.
Discover How to Get Popular on Pinterest With Ignite Visibility
Want to figure out how to make money on Pinterest the right way? The professionals here at Ignite Visibility may be able to help. We could help you develop a high-performance Pinterest profile that connects with audiences and maximizes profitability, supplementing the rest of your marketing efforts.
With our experts by your side, you can:
- Create a well-optimized Pinterest business profile
- Identify the best keyword opportunities
- Develop high-quality content regularly
- Continually measure your strategy
- Integrate it into other digital marketing strategies
- Adjust your strategy based on performance
- And much more!
Reach out to us today to schedule a free proposal with our team and find out how to get followers on Pinterest who are most likely to convert.
