If you’ve read my blog before now, it won’t surprise you that I’m about to talk about Pinterest. Like most people, I had used the platform previously to gather collections of motivational quotes, hairstyles and tattoo ideas. But it wasn’t until last year that I harnessed the power of Pinterest marketing and used it to triple my website traffic in less than a month.
After implementing a simple strategy, my reach increased more dramatically than I ever would have expected from such a small amount of effort. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a case of setting up a Pinterest account and visitors flooding your site, but the simple tips below will get you off to a great start for your Pinterest strategy.
1. Set Up a Business Account
If you haven’t already done so, you should set up a business account, or convert your existing account to a business one. This will give you the ability to access Pinterest analytics, adverts and other features. To convert your existing account, first log in and then go to the Pinterest for Business page. Click on ‘Convert Now’, fill in your details and then select ‘Convert’.
2. Strategically Place Keywords
A great feature on a Pinterest business account is the ability to use a business name on your profile, rather than fields for your first and last names. This is the perfect opportunity to strategically place keywords, so that anyone searching for accounts or content in your industry is more likely to find your profile. Below is a screenshot of my profile. Notice I have used my full name, as well as keywords relating to what I do.
3. Write a Clear Bio
You will notice, on my bio above, that I have included exactly what I do. This makes it clear to a first time visitor what they can expect from me and my account. If you can, relate your Pinterest bio to information on your website. This creates consistency and means that the people who like your profile are also likely to be interested in the content on your website.
4. Create a Board Just for YOUR Content
The first board on your profile should be dedicated only to your own content. This is the first board that anyone will notice when visiting your profile, and therefore they are likely to take note of the content pinned to it.
5. Review Board Names and Descriptions
Make sure you board names are clear. It should be obvious from a first glance what each board includes. When writing your board descriptions, be sure to include keywords, as boards are displayed in relevant searches.
6. Enable Rich Pins
Rich pins are pins that display your website name and icon beneath the image, easily directing the user to the source. Enabling rich pins is a fairly simple process. If you are unsure, you can use this guide.
7. Schedule Regular Pins
In order to increase engagement with your account, you should pin consistently. Consider content that your website’s target audience would be looking for. Remember the 80/20 rule: try to pin 80% other people’s content and 20% your own.
These tips alone will not create consistent growth in your website traffic, although they are an effective starting point for implementing a Pinterest strategy. From starting to do these things, I tripled my traffic in a very short amount of time, but I have had to be consistent in my activity to keep this reach up.
The key is to remain consistent with your pinning and interaction on the site. And, of course, make sure you are creating valuable content that people are interested in reading. Remember to include visually appealing images with each post.