Why Bloggers Should Consider Pinterest
If you're a blogger and not currently using Pinterest, you’re missing out. Pinterest is often mistaken for just a social media platform, but it’s actually much more than that — it’s more accurately a **visual search engine**. People use Pinterest not to communicate with friends or family, but to find inspiration, solve problems, or discover ideas. This makes Pinterest an invaluable tool for bloggers who want to drive traffic to their blogs and grow their audience.
What sets Pinterest apart from other social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook is the longevity of its content: **pins can live for months or even years** after they’re initially posted. In contrast, a tweet or Facebook post is usually buried within days or hours. This allows bloggers to use Pinterest as a steady source of organic traffic over a long period of time. In fact, Pinterest has over **465 million active users** each month, many of whom use it to discover blogs and websites, making it an ideal place for bloggers to showcase their content.
Getting Started on Pinterest for Your Blog
Let’s dive into how you can leverage Pinterest effectively to boost your blog’s visibility and grow web traffic. Follow these simple steps:
1. Set Up a Pinterest Business Account
If you're serious about using Pinterest for your blog, the first step is setting up a business account. A business account offers features like **Pinterest Analytics**, the ability to upload **Rich Pins**, and **Pinterest Ads**. If you already have a personal account, you can easily switch over to a business account.
Here’s how to set up a Pinterest business account:
- Log in to Pinterest or create a new account.
- Go to Pinterest Business and click "Convert" or "Sign Up" if you're creating a brand-new account.
- Follow the steps to set up your business account, providing all relevant details, including your blog's URL and description.
- Once set up, claim your website from your account settings to enable rich pins, which provide additional information directly on your pins.
By using a business account, you’ll gain access to insights that allow you to measure and tailor your approach—essential for any successful strategy.
2. Optimize Your Pinterest Profile
Just as with any platform, a well-organized, visually appealing Pinterest profile can make a significant difference in attracting your target audience. Here’s how:
| Profile Section | Optimization Tips |
|---|---|
| Profile Picture | Use a clear, high-quality image that represents your blog, ideally the same across all social media channels for brand consistency. |
| Profile Description | Clearly describe what your blog offers, using relevant **keywords** that your target audience may be searching for. |
| Boards | Organize your content into relevant boards. Each board should have its own description filled with **keywords** related to the topics you cover. |
Speaking of keywords, Pinterest works similarly to Google in that it takes cues from keywords to figure out what your content is about. So including them in your description helps Pinterest serve your pins to the right audiences.
3. Create Eye-Catching Pin Images
Pinterest is a visual platform, so the design of your pins is **critical** to attracting users’ attention. The more visually appealing your pins, the more likely they are to get saved and clicked on. Here are some tips for creating high-quality pins:
- Use vertical images with a 2:3 aspect ratio (like 1000px x 1500px). These perform best on Pinterest.
- Add bold headlines and text overlay to visually clue viewers into the subject of the blog post.
- Incorporate relevant and high-quality images that connect to your blog content.
- Make sure your branding is present — include your logo or blog name so people know where the content comes from.
There are plenty of free tools like **Canva** and **Adobe Spark** that allow you to create beautiful Pinterest graphics in minutes. Using these tools regularly can help you produce aesthetically pleasing pins without requiring a graphic design background. Canva even offers Pinterest-specific templates, making the creation process easier.
4. Use Keywords and SEO Everywhere
Remember that Pinterest is a **search engine**, so optimizing everything for keywords and SEO is essential. This includes your profile description, board titles and descriptions, and, of course, your pin titles and descriptions. Use relevant, specific keywords that apply to your blog content or pin to enhance the likelihood that your pins will rank highly in search results.
When doing keyword research for Pinterest, start by using the platform’s own search bar. You can type in a general topic and see suggested keywords to get an idea of what your audience might be searching for. Here’s how to incorporate these keywords effectively:
- **Pin Title**: Keep it clear, to the point, and optimized around relevant keywords.
- **Pin Description**: Use as many of the relevant keywords as possible, and aim for a description length of around 100-250 characters.
- **Board Titles**: Make sure your boards are specifically titled with relevant keywords and aren't too vague.
- **Board Descriptions**: Load up on descriptive keywords in a well-organized and readable board description.
5. Enable Rich Pins
Rich Pins automatically sync information from your blog's website to your Pinterest pins. This provides more context for your content and increases your chances of getting engagement. There are four types of rich pins: **app**, **product**, **recipe**, and **article**. As a blogger, article pins will be your focus.
Rich article pins feature a **headline**, **author**, and **description** that are automatically pulled from your website, making it easier for users to understand what your blog post is about before clicking through. Follow Pinterest’s official guide to setting up Rich Pins for your blog.
6. Pin Consistently
Pinterest rewards consistency and prefers users who frequently post new, high-quality content. Experts recommend **pinning between 15 to 25 pins per day**, spread across different boards. You don’t need to spend all day manually pinning. Tools like **Tailwind** allow you to schedule pins in advance, helping you keep up a steady flow of content without spending too much time on the platform daily.
It’s also important to repin content from **other users** that is in line with your niche to show Pinterest that you’re actively engaged and to widen your exposure. Repinning also helps you build relationships with other bloggers or pinners in your space.
7. Engage with Other Pinners
Engagement is just as important on Pinterest as it is on other social platforms. Repin, comment, and like content from fellow bloggers and brands within your niche. **Join Pinterest group boards** related to your niche to further distribute your content. These boards are collaborative spaces where multiple pinners contribute pins, which exposes your blog to new eyes and helps in building a network of like-minded users. You can find group boards relevant to your niche by searching for them or connecting with other bloggers in your community.
8. Utilize Pinterest Analytics
Once your blog and Pinterest efforts have been running for a while, use **Pinterest Analytics** to improve your strategy. You can track which pins are driving the most traffic to your blog, which boards are getting the most engagement, and determine which content resonates best with your audience. Based on these insights, you can adjust your content strategy to better align with what your Pinterest audience is interested in.
Additionally, Pinterest Analytics helps you track what your "Top Pins" are. These are the pins that drive the most clicks and engagement, allowing you to replicate successful pin formats for future content.
Final Thoughts
For bloggers, Pinterest is more than just a social platform—it's a powerful tool to increase traffic, grow your audience, and amplify your brand. Building a Pinterest strategy might require time and patience, but the results are undeniable. By optimizing your profile, creating eye-catching and keyword-rich pins, engaging with other users, and utilizing Pinterest Analytics, you can unlock a stream of valuable, consistent traffic to your blog.
If you're not yet leveraging Pinterest for your blog, now is the time to start. With perseverance and a solid posting strategy, you’ll start to see Pinterest generate long-lasting results for your blog. It's a resource that no blogger should overlook.
