As president and marketing director of Silver Frog Marketing, I gained over a decade’s experience planning, placing, and optimizing social media campaigns. My clients are well aware of the marketing potential of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook; however, many overlook the advertising power of Pinterest. Read on to find out about this social media platform, Pinterest, and why it is critical to your small business’s marketing strategy.
Build Your Brand on Pinterest
If you spend any time on Google, you are aware of just how frequently Pinterest pops up in Google searches. Pinterest is a social media platform known for sharing inspiration. Visitors share inspiration by pinning images. In addition, visitors connect with other users by re-pinning their pictures and ideas on other sites all across the web.
As a small business, you use Pinterest to tell your story through pictures. Your Pinterest board is a picture portfolio, because it is a visual representation of what matters most to you. Your board graphically demonstrates who you are and your expertise. The images you select are ones you think entertain and inspire your followers.
Most importantly, center your Pinterest brand on your passions. Once you do this, use that brand to create actionable pins that drive traffic to your website and products. In addition, take every opportunity to highlight your brand. Every pin you make should creatively include your logo and website.
Gain Increased Visibility Through Your Pinterest page
People who follow you on Pinterest re-pin the things they like. As a result, make your Pinterest page as visually appealing as possible. Use high-quality images for your pins. The most effective pins have multiple images that clearly illustrate your message. For example, large images, such as 1,000 x 1,500 pixels, work best.
Websites for Photos
Fill your Pinterest board with great photos even if you are not a pro photographer. Websites offering free, high-quality pictures include:
- PicJumbo
- Pixabay
- Pexels
On Pinterest, vertical images are best. Most followers view your pins on their mobile devices. A ratio of 2:3 is an appropriate average length.
A fantastic photo is not enough. Select a background to match the picture’s theme. Keep in mind bright backgrounds gain more attention.
Websites for Adding Text
Make sure you add text to your graphic. Free tools to help with this job include:
- Canva
- PicMonkey
People engage with pins that contain unique content. Add a description to clarify your message. In the description, let your followers know what they get from this pin, and ask them to share.
If you use Rich Pins, you ensure your Pinterest syncs with the content on your website. Rich Pins update your Pinterest content whenever you make changes to your site. This tool saves you time and keeps your content reliable.
Drive Traffic to Your Pinterest Page and Generate Inbound Links
Pinterest is like other social media platforms, and gaining a following on Pinterest takes commitment. Both quantity and quality count when it comes to your content. As a result, offer engaging content and pin several times a day.
Websites for Scheduling Pins
Switching the time you make your pins keeps your community engaged. Several useful automation tools in scheduling pins ahead of time include:
- Sendable
- Tailwind
Pinterest is a graphic search engine, and SEO is crucial to driving traffic. If you research relevant keywords, your content more likely pops up on image searches.
Check your Pinterest profile to make sure you optimized with relevant keywords. A keyword should appear prominently in your profile name. Brand-specific keywords pepper your profile’s bio as well. The name of your board features popular keywords that followers use to search for that topic. Use these keywords tastefully throughout your board titles, board descriptions, pin descriptions, and the alt-text for your images.
Visit Pinterest’s search box, and find popular keywords. When you type the subject of your post, Pinterest sends suggestions for related searches. Add these words to your titles and descriptions for more exposure.
Drive traffic with a call to action in your descriptions. A call to action lets followers know what you want them to do. Simply say, “Click here for more information.”
Develop Community Among Followers
Become familiar with your followers, and look at the products they pin. You get insight into their preferences by watching these interactions. This insight targets your marketing strategy. Re-pin content from your followers to strengthen the relationship. Re-pinning their content demonstrates that you appreciate their ideas.
Follow brands similar to your own to obtain inspiration for your pins. Check out their boards, because you catch gaps in your marketing strategy or become aware of up-and-coming marketing trends. Users you follow are notified, and some possibly choose to follow you back.
Group Boards
Also consider joining Pinterest’s group boards. These boards enable several Pinterest users to add pins to one themed board. By collaborating on group boards, you network with potential followers who share your interest. These boards help you reach new audiences and increase exposure for your brand.
Once your Pinterest board drives traffic to your site, then it is a good idea to make your website more Pinterest-friendly. Add images and photos to your site that Pinterest followers will like. In addition, a “Pin It” button on your website lets guests share content from your site to Pinterest and also save your content to Pinterest boards. A “Follow Me” button on your site allows followers to find your Pinterest page in multiple locations across the web.
With the internet becoming more and more graphic as time goes on, Pinterest is poised to be an indispensable online marketing tool.
