Pinterest is NO longer a place of just vision boards. It is no longer a place to just find recipes and inspiration for the deco of your new house. Pinterest is now used for the development of any business in the online world!

Pinterest is now using the power of educational content and imagery to help entrepreneurs and online businesses attract clients to their website. So why do you need to start using Pinterest in your business?

On the pod this week, we had the amazing Claudia Gebhardt to talk about Pinterest, why you need it and how you can start using it to attract aligned clients and an aligned audience!

If you find value in this blog, make sure you share it with me on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram! Even better, share it with your audience! You can also listen to the episode below!

Let’s take a dive into all things Pinterest, after this I KNOW you will be SO inspired to jump on and start pinning!

What is Pinterest?

We know Pinterest right? But do we really know what the platform is? Because you know it isn’t actually a “social media platform”. It is more of a social search platform for images. A space where you search for content and are presented with images that represent what you are searching for.

As Claudia explains, it is like a search engine. When you type in your keyword, you are presented with a range of images that represent what you are looking for. So when it comes to Pinterest, this means your image and your headline is SO important to attract views to your content.

Of course, this also means “re-pinning” content is important too! If you are repinning someone else’s content and someone searches that keyword, your pin may be presented (even if it isn’t your content). This allows you to attract people to your other content, which should be directly linked to your website.

To learn more about how to use Pinterest as more of a user (not a business), please click here!

Why do you need Pinterest for your business

Once you realise what Pinterest is (as another form of search engine), it seems like a no brainer to be joining the platform. It is now filled with “how-to” content and information people obtain to not only be inspired but also educated.

Pinterest is used as a lead magnet to your business, which you can create from one piece of content. A piece of content you have already created on your website (a web page, sales page, blog etc.).

Just like Google, it is another way you can be found by your audience. Of course, it is recommended you understand the time needed to be spent on Pinterest before diving into the platform. You also want to understand if your target audience is using the platform as well.

Pinterest is another funnel building platform, giving your business brand awareness and from your pins giving your ideal clients the opportunity to consider you and then of course convert. You just need to make sure your content and pins are eye catching and engaging.

How to get started on Pinterest

When you first get started on Pinterest (as a business account). The first thing you want to do is “claim your website”. As Pinterest said: “Claim your website to get access to analytics for the Pins you publish from your site, the analytics on Pins that other people create from your site and let people know where they can find more of your content”. Now, you might be thinking, what the?! But here is a step by step guide on how to do it, it is simple!

Next you want to optimise your title and bio on your profile. You want to make sure you add who you are and how you help. Make sure this is clear and concise so people know exactly how you can potentially help them! When you are optimising your profile, also add your profile image. It is important to have people in your image, if you can make it you, GREAT! It adds to the trust factor.

Lastly, optimising your board is important. So pinning content to your board that is relevant to your brand and your industry. Claudia gives great examples of this in the podcast episode! You also want to do the keyword research, look at what people are searching and what content comes up for certain keywords related to your niche - this is how you help with your Pinterest SEO (search engine optimisation).

Here are some more tips and tricks by Later on Pinterest for business.

Why you need to start using Pinterest in your business

What content to create for Pinterest

So what content do you actually create for Pinterest? What pins do you create to help your business. Look at your website and start repurposing your blogs, podcasts, courses and promotions. The goal is to get people to your website, so make sure you have offers there once people click through!

You might have a pop up or a call to action button on your page (even if you link to a blog). But it is all about looking at the content you have already created and embedding them into Pinterest. You can get inspiration also by looking at the tips and words people are searching for within the platform.

Do the research, get ideas and then even create blog content on what people are looking for! This is a great way to generate content ideas for your content across your other social media platforms and your blogs and podcasts.

Then of course you can create content/pins related to your business like “how you started your business” or “how you become a digital nomad”, things your audience will be interested in! Make sure your content is also relatable.

Then of course you will pin content already created by other businesses to attract people to your page and your profile!

As Claudia said, “if you have a URL, you have content for Pinterest”. You can also use this content multiple times with different images and headlines.

What is pinning other people's vs your own content on Pinterest?

As mentioned, pinning other people’s content helps your profile get visibility. You want to have balance with how much content you create that is organic and your own content.

As Claudia recommended, it is all about quality over quantity and she recommends two pins of her own content (to her website) and then 4 to 5 of other people’s content pinned to her board (so around 5-10 a day). However, if you are starting out, keep it small and build from there! Do what works for you - always!

What tools to use for Pinterest?

You don’t have to over complicate things, so here are a few tools.

Canva: your bestie! You can create the designs for your pins using Canva. They even give you the design specs
Your website: of course you will be directing people to this
Pinterest: to do your keyword research
Calendar: to keep you in order and to ensure you know when to post and what to post (I would personally use Google Calendar)
Scheduling app: you can use Planoly, Hootsuite etc to schedule your pins!

DONE! How good is that! Nothing complex.

Should you do paid advertising on Pinterest?

With any online platform, it is always recommended to have organic content before you start paying for advertising. Have your content first and start with an organic strategy before you start paying for advertising. Be smart, build up a profile first!

Of course, when it comes to advertising, also think about the money you are putting in and focus on bigger offerings!

What else do you need to know about Pinterest?

Here is a list of things also mentioned by Claudia in the podcast that you will want to think about!

Don’t repurpose content from Instagram (use your website content)
Video pins work well, especially with the algorithm update
Make sure you website is easy to navigate once people land on it
Get the set up done from the beginning
Have a strategy (we have already given you a good start)
Do the target audience research
Be consistent (always)

Final thoughts

We aren’t sure about you, but we got a LOT out of this episode and feel a lot better about the world of Pinterest.

If we remember it is a social search platform, not a social media platform, it makes it a lot easier to digest and use! It is all about having more of a strategy and reusing content already created to attract people to your website for MORE engagement!

Of course, make sure you listen to the podcast to hear more from Claudia about Pinterest as she shares her incredible knowledge!

You can also see more resources below that might help you build your business using content creating platforms.