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The Ultimate Guide to Effectively Marketing Your Business on Pinterest

Let’s talk about the social powerhouse that is Pinterest. First of all, its has great potential to drive traffic to a website. In fact, Pinterest is the second highest referrer of traffic to websites, with the first being Facebook. That fact alone makes Pinterest a social media platform that shouldn’t be ignored. So, if you’re ready to use the marketing power hidden within Pinterest, keep reading and let this blog be your “ultimate Pinterest marketing guide!”

Here are some quick stats on Pinterest:

  • 93% of pinners shopped online in the past six months.
  • Pinterest accounts for 25% of retail referral traffic.
  • It’s been estimated that 47% of online shoppers in the U.S. have made a purchase based on a recommendation via Pinterest.

Have I gotten your attention yet?

If you aren’t using Pinterest for your business, you’re missing out on a world of opportunity.
To harness the magic of this platform, users have to understand both what it is — its core purpose — and what its users are there for. Much like Instagram, Pinterest is a highly visual platform. Therefore, it’s easy to assume that users are there for visual inspiration, tutorials, gift giving guides, recipes, etc.
Therefore, if you’re going to market on Pinterest, your pictures must be HIGHLY appealing.
Before you say, “But I’m not a photographer” or “But I don’t own a professional camera,” remember that you most likely own a smartphone and have access to wifi. Thanks to the continuing advancements of smartphone camera technology, a smartphone and the right lighting might be all you need. However, if you do have something a little more robust than a smartphone, be sure to read our crash course on product photography. Otherwise, keep reading for our secret smartphone editing tips!

Smartphone Photo Editing Tips

Using your phone’s camera (so long as it’s not blurry or grainy) will work just fine! All you’ll need to bring your product to life is a great backdrop and good lighting. Be sure to focus on the overall look of the picture. Again, your image should be visually appealing and inspiring– you want them to buy it afterall! Help customers see the product as something they want and need by showing them multiple ways of viewing the product (e.g., in use, on a model/mannequin, in a room, in a design etc.). Show potential customers how the product could work in their life, on their body, and in their home. For example, a boutique that sells clothing has a few modeling options: they could have someone model it, they could put in on a mannequin or a hanger, the clothes could be laid out flat, or the boutique could put together an outfit. Remember, use the image to give your customer the experience of owning whatever you are selling. Once you’ve got the image, it’s time to edit. Particular attention to this detail makes a huge difference, and just a few seconds spent on editing can lead to more clicks on your pin.

Photo Editing for Beginners:

I’m going to let you in on my best kept secret: Picmonkey.com.
Simply upload your picture on this free editing website and click “auto adjust” and you’re done. It takes less than 30 seconds for this entire process, so there’s no reason not to do it, especially when it makes such a noticeable difference. For more PicMonkey photo editing tips, visit PicMonkey’s tutorial, “Photo Editing for Cool Newbies.”

Now that you have your picture ready, it’s time to start pinning your images and products to Pinterest!

Once you’re ready to start pinning, make sure to reference the following tips:

  1. Use simple titles that are more likely be searched for in the Pinterest query. Terms such as “fall outfits” or “blogging tips” will increase your chances of being found.
  2. Link the pins to matching or appropriate product pages within your website. Don’t just link them back to a random page– take them to the exact page where they can buy your item.
  3. Utilize the prime times for pinning, which research finds are between the ranges of 2:00 – 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM.
  4. Curate a board for your items but also create other boards that your target consumer would likely enjoy looking through. It’s important to pin content that isn’t just yours. This will help you seamlessly integrate into the Pinterest community, rather than come off as spammy.
  5. Be a consistent pinner. Set aside 30 minutes a day to pin. Pins cycle and your content will get lost in the feed if you do not regularly pin!
  6. Since Pinterest users are typically eager online shoppers, it’s vital that your visually-based business taps into this incredible community and learns to speak their language. Do this, and soon you’ll be watching your traffic (and ultimately sales) spike. Pinterest can be highly effective if used effectively, but as with all things successful and profitable, it takes time, effort, and above all: consistency.

Follow @smartersearches on Pinterest for tips on social media marketing and beyond!