If you have a blog, you may want to learn how to use Pinterest. Sure, it’s not as popular as TikTok or Instagram, but it can be a good platform to use.
Read on for some tips to help optimize your account and create good content. That way, you can turn impressions into clicks and loyal blog readers.
Use a Pinterest Business Account
One of the most important things to do is to set up a business account on Pinterest. You can do this when creating a new account, or you can convert your current personal account to a business account.
Having a business account will give you access to analytics and even Pinterest ads, if you want to use those. Your analytics can tell you what content is performing the best for you.
That will help you know what colors or graphic styles to recreate for future pins. Plus, you can connect your blog so that you can see when others pin your posts and how those pins do.
Connect Your Blog
Speaking of connecting your blog, you should connect your website to your Pinterest account. Go to Settings, then Claimed Accounts, and look for the website section.
Then, you can click on Claim to get an HTML tag or TXT file that you can connect to your website. After you do so, Pinterest will look for that connection proving you own the website you say you do.
I’ve connected one of my blogs to Pinterest, and it’s nice to see when others share blog posts from that site. The process is a bit technical, but you only have to do it once for each blog you start.
Create a Blog Board
On Pinterest, you share pins to different boards on your account. I’d recommend creating a board and naming it after your blog, then arrange your boards so the the blog board shows up first.
Pin all of your blog posts to that board so that people have an easy place to access all of your content. You can then re-pin those pins to other relevant boards that you add to your account.
Putting your blog Pinterest board first will help tell people what your account is about. Then, they can decide to follow you or your blog board to learn about new posts.
Add Other Boards
I’d also recommend creating another 10 to 15 boards that are related to your blog niche. If you blog about food, you could create a recipe board and a separate kitchen tools board.
Then, you might make boards for different types of recipes, like 30-minute meals or vegetarian recipes. The exact boards you create will depend on your niche.
If you don’t know what boards to create, check out similar users on Pinterest. Look at the boards they have on their profiles, and use those as inspiration, but try not to copy the name exactly.
Be Consistent
Now, you’re ready to start posting content on Pinterest. You can share posts directly from your blog if you already have images in your blog posts, or you can create graphics in a program like Canva.
Either way, you need to post new pins consistently. That way, you can get on the good side of the Pinterest algorithm, which can help you get your pins in front of more users.
The nice thing about Pinterest is you don’t need a ton of followers to get a lot of content views and impressions. However, you do need to be active on the platform to start seeing results.
Follow Other Bloggers
I’d also recommend following other bloggers in your niche. Some niches are more active on Pinterest than others, so you may only be able to find a few accounts.
That’s okay, but you should follow who you can. Their pins will show up in your following feed, and you can re-pin any content you like that you think your followers will enjoy.
Now, this can seem odd because it feels like you’re promoting your competitors. However, it’s a great way to share content when you don’t have a new blog post of your own, and you don’t have to share others’ content to your own blog board.
Experiment With Idea Pins
A newer feature that Pinterest launched is Idea Pins, which is their take on TikToks and Reels. You can create pins using videos or photos, and they will live on your account forever (they used to be temporary, like stories).
Unfortunately, you can’t link to a blog post in these pins. However, you can use them to build awareness of your brand, and you can grow your following so that people see and click on more of your regular pins.
I haven’t made any original Idea Pins, but I have downloaded and shared some of my Reels. The videos have gotten more views than some of my regular pins, so I think they’re a great tool if you want to grow on the platform.
Design Different Graphics
If you want to share your blog posts to Pinterest, you need to design graphics. You can share them using regular images, but the photo won’t tell people what the post is about or where the link goes.
I use Canva to design at least one graphic for every blog post I write. Sometimes, I’ll design a few different templates so that I can share unique content to more of my Pinterest boards.
Sharing multiple graphics can help your posts get more attention. Some graphics will do better than others, so you can experiment with different colors and templates to see what works for you.
Schedule Your Pins
Going back to the point on consistency, it helps to schedule your content. That way, you can share a few pins every day, but you don’t necessarily have to create pins every day.
You can set aside a few hours one day per week to design all of your graphics. Then, you can use the built-in scheduler in Pinterest to write out your pin descriptions and schedule the pins to post throughout the week.
It will look like you’re active on the app or platform, but you don’t have to touch it. Unlike some social media platforms, Pinterest can be pretty hands off, so it’s pretty easy to use.
Track Your Analytics
After you start using Pinterest, check on your analytics every month or so. Consider what content is performing the best, and use that information to decide what types of content to share in the future.
Every account is going to get different results, so what works for me might not work for you. That’s why you need to watch your own analytics and use the data for guidance.
Keep tracking your analytics every month because what works now might not work in the future. You need to be able to adapt to the changes that Pinterest makes so that you can get more clicks and views.
Why Use Pinterest to Grow Your Blog
You can choose from a variety of social media platforms to promote your blog. Pinterest is one of the best options, especially when your blog is in the early stages.
Consider a few advantages of choosing this platform over others, like Instagram.
A Search Engine
Pinterest is like a mix between a social media network and a search engine. Sure, you can follow people and comment on pins (and reply to comments on your pins).
But a lot of people use Pinterest to search for and save content. It’s one of the few platforms where people go when they want to read a blog post or find one to save and read later.
If you use SEO within your pin descriptions, your content can show up in search results. That applies to both search results on Pinterest and even on Google.
Long-Term Traffic
Some of my top-performing pins are pins I shared months or even years ago. They still get impressions and the occasional click, which helps my various blogs get traffic.
With many other social networks, you have to constantly share new content to get views and clicks. As you pin more and more of your content, you can start to get more impressions and clicks.
You don’t have to worry about your older content dying off and never getting attention. That can be nice if you don’t have a lot of time to dedicated to growing your account.
Free to Use
You can use Pinterest to grow your blog for free. As long as you create the graphics and do all of the scheduling or posting, you don’t have to spend any money.
Sure, you could hire a Pinterest assistant to do some of the work for you, but that gets expensive. Pinterest ads are also an option, but they can get expensive too.
If you want to save money when starting your blog, you should go with free marketing options. And when it comes to free methods, Pinterest can be very efficient.
Less Time Intensive
You don’t need to spend a ton of time on Pinterest to see results. Of course, you need to create the content and post it, but you don’t have to spend hours engaging with people in your target audience like on Instagram.
Pinterest will show your content to people even if they don’t follow you. That way, you can still get some views on your account, and you can turn those views into followers or at least into blog traffic.
Other platforms require hours of work before you can see results. If you want something that won’t waste a ton of time, add Pinterest to your blog promotion schedule.
The Point of It
Another reason I love using Pinterest to grow a blog is the point of the platform. The point is to find and save content that you like and want to refer back to.
That can make it easier to get people to click on your pins and click through to your website. Especially compared to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, getting web traffic from Pinterest isn’t too difficult.
Plus, you don’t need a massive following to get a good number of clicks. And you don’t have to post video after video of yourself to try and grow an audience.
Is Pinterest Hard to Use?
Pinterest isn’t too difficult to use, especially after you get used to it. It can be a little hard to figure out at first, but you can click on pins to see different options, like saving or sharing.
Will Pinterest Work for My Niche?
Pinterest can work for most niches. Some, like design or crafting, are easier because Pinterest is the perfect place for those types of things.
But even if you’re in another niche, you can give Pinterest a try. If it doesn’t work, you can use other social platforms to promote your blog.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to use Pinterest is crucial if you want to grow your blog fast. Be sure to consider how to set up your account and what boards to create.
Then, you can start sharing pins and getting views on your account and blog. Check out some of my favorite resources for more blogging tips and tricks!