Why Every Creative Should Be Using Pinterest (and How to Maximise Your Reach)
As a busy creative, you’re likely juggling multiple projects, deadlines, and platforms. So when it comes to promoting yourself and your products, you want to invest your time in strategies that deliver real results. Enter Pinterest—a platform often misunderstood as just another social media site but actually one of the most powerful tools for creatives. If you’ve been wondering whether Pinterest is worth your time, or how to make the most of it, this blog post is for you. Let’s explore why Pinterest is a game-changer and how you can start using it strategically to grow your reach and attract more clients.
Why Pinterest?
While Pinterest is often lumped in with other social media platforms, it’s actually more akin to a search engine—one of the largest, in fact. What makes Pinterest unique is that it’s entirely image-based, making it the perfect platform for creatives to showcase their work. Whether you’re a graphic designer, illustrator, or product creator, Pinterest allows you to present your work to an audience that’s actively searching for the types of visuals you create. The key is to make it as easy as possible for them to find you.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. In the relatively short time I’ve been using Pinterest strategically, it’s become the largest referrer to my website. Not only have I seen increased traffic, but I’ve also gained sales and new clients directly through the platform. The best part? Pinterest continues to work for you in the background, even if you’re not constantly active on it. Pins have a long lifespan compared to posts on other platforms, meaning your content can keep driving traffic and results long after you’ve posted it.
Tips for Maximising Your Reach on Pinterest
Now that you understand the potential of Pinterest, let’s get into the strategies that have worked for me:
1. Create a Variety of Pins from Your Content
As a creative, you likely have a wealth of work that you can share on Pinterest. But rather than just posting your work as is, consider reformatting it to create multiple pins from a single piece of content. For example, if you have a photo mockup of a package design you’ve created, don’t just post the mockup on its own. Instead, create two additional versions: one with a text overlay saying “package design,” and another that combines the artwork, mockup, and text together. Each version can target different audiences by providing context or highlighting different aspects of your work. This approach not only maximises the visibility of your content but also helps you test different formats to see what resonates most with your audience.
2. Optimise Everything for SEO
Pinterest is a visual search engine, so treating your entire account as an SEO exercise is crucial. This means optimising not just your pins, but also your headings, descriptions, board titles, and overlay text. Start by ensuring your Pinterest profile name includes your profession—this helps people find you and understand what you do at a glance. When it comes to your pins, instead of giving them generic titles, describe what you’re sharing in detail and include relevant keywords. For instance, if you post an illustration of a pattern, title it something like “Vintage Strawberry Pattern Perfect for Packaging, Apparel, and Products” and expand on it in the description. The more specific and keyword-rich your descriptions, the easier it will be for your ideal audience to discover your work.
3. Create Multiple Pins for Blog Posts
If you have a blog, Pinterest can be an incredible tool for driving traffic to your posts. For each blog post, create 2-3 different pins with varying designs. What works for one post may not be as effective for another, so it’s beneficial to experiment with different visuals and formats. This approach also turns a single piece of content (your blog post) into multiple opportunities to attract viewers—3 pins plus the original blog post means 4 pieces of content from one idea. I like to recycle images from my blog posts into pins, and I also create text-only versions. Interestingly, some of my best-performing pins are just text, which shows that variety is key to reaching different segments of your audience.
4. Consistency is Key
When you’re first starting out on Pinterest, consistency is crucial. Aim to post 3-5 pins daily. While some experts suggest posting more, I found that 3-5 pins per day felt sustainable and effective without overwhelming my schedule. Pinterest’s scheduling tool is a lifesaver here—use it to plan your pins ahead of time, so you’re not constantly logging in to post. This keeps your Pinterest activity consistent without adding to your daily workload.
5. Always Link to the Right Destination
This may seem obvious, but it’s essential: always link your pins to the correct destination. Misleading users with incorrect or irrelevant links not only damages your reputation but can also lead to penalties from Pinterest. By consistently providing high-quality pins and accurate links, you’ll build trust with your audience and the Pinterest algorithm, which in turn will push your content higher in search results, leading to more visibility, saves, and clicks.
6. Claim Your Domain
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you get credit for your work on Pinterest is to claim your domain. Before I started using Pinterest strategically, I was already receiving referrals because other users had pinned my work. By claiming your domain, you ensure that any pins linked to your content are attributed to your account, no matter who saved the pin. This drives traffic directly to you and enhances your Pinterest profile’s credibility and visibility.
Wrapping Up
Pinterest might not be the first platform that comes to mind when you think of marketing your creative business, but it’s one of the most powerful tools available. By understanding its unique advantages as a visual search engine and implementing the strategies outlined above, you can significantly grow your reach, drive more traffic to your site, and attract new clients—all while letting Pinterest do much of the work in the background. So, if you’re ready to see real results, start incorporating these Pinterest tips into your creative marketing strategy today. Happy pinning!
