Using Pinterest to Grow Your Audience

Pinterest is a powerful social media tool that began its rise to prominence in 2010. It is now the third largest social media website on the web, right behind Facebook and Twitter. Although Pinterest is not right for every business, many online brands and websites can utilize its features and large, engaged audience to grow their business.

Here are a few tips for using Pinterest to grow your audience, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately increase conversions.

The Complete Pinterest Setup Process

When you set up your brand or business on Pinterest, make sure you take the following steps:

  • Complete your profile with a tagline or bio, and make sure you link back to your website
  • Link your Twitter and Facebook accounts
  • Verify that you “own” your brand through Pinterest’s verification process
  • Place a link to your Pinterest account on your website
  • Link to Pinterest from your Facebook Page via a custom tab

These five steps will not only help drive new fans from your Pinterest page to your website, but will ensure that existing fans have every opportunity to find and follow you on Pinterest. This approach can help boost your follower count very quickly, and keep you from feeling like you’re broadcasting in outer space.

Although verification isn’t required, the Pinterest verification process doesn’t take long at all, and may increase the trust that users have in your page.

Post High-Quality Images or Photography

Now that you’re set up, you probably want to start pinning from your site, right? Well, when you do this, make sure the images you are pinning aren’t small or pixelated. Pinterest users prefer high quality images or photography, and studies have shown that the most attractive images get repinned far more than small or poor quality ones.

If you don’t have great photos of your products, why not take some? Borrow or invest in a digital camera and a light or two and produce beautiful, high-definition photos that are worth sharing. These images will be beneficial not only to your presence on Pinterest, but could also boost the traffic or engagement on your website!

Strategic Repins

Your Pinterest page should not be all about you. In fact, it should be the exact opposite! Pinterest is your best opportunity to position yourself as a “thought leader” by strategically repinning content created by other users.

Let’s say you run an online clothing store. Why not pin accessories or shoes that go with your dresses and jackets? You could also pin photos that link to closet organization tutorials, or create a “dream closets” board that includes pins of photos from the rich and famous. Your followers will love it, and by pinning relevant content — or repinning things you’ve found on Pinterest — you are more likely to be found and followed by more users. And the more users you have, the more likely they are to visit your site.

Helpful Pinterest Tips

Here are a few general tips for using Pinterest:

  • Always make sure your pins link to their source. DON’T download images from other sites and pin them as if they’re your own!
  • You can install the “Pin It” extension in your browser to pin images directly from other sites (with the link intact) to your boards.
  • Editing the comments or text below an image within a pin can help you personalize your messaging and target more users. (“These shoes would look great with our green scoopneck dress!” is far more compelling than “cute shoes.”)
  • Be prepared to reply to comments. Engaged brands can sometimes get a lot of questions, and answers may help drive even more people to your site!
  • Avoid pinning too much at once. Nobody wants their feed flooded by someone who went on a pinning spree! Space out your pins to give followers some time to breathe.

Do you use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website? Has it helped you? Let us know!

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