How to Use Pinterest: An Easy Start Up Guide for Handmade Businesses

Hi, fellow small business owners! I’m guessing you found this guide because you’ve researched how to use Pinterest for your business.  If you want to take your handmade business to the next level, Pinterest might be the secret ingredient you’ve been missing.

I’ve been on Pinterest for over ten years and it has been my best traffic source for most of those years — both for products and blog posts.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the essential steps to get started on Pinterest, and how you can leverage Pinterest to boost your online presence, drive traffic to your shop, and ultimately increase your sales. Let’s get started!

Outline:

• Why Should I Use Pinterest for a Handmade Business?
• Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Account
• Step 2: Create Boards and Pin Your Products
• Step 3: Engage with the Pinterest Community
• Step 4: Optimize for Search (SEO)
• Step 5: Analyze and Adapt
• Step 6: Promote Your Pinterest Presence

Why Should I Use Pinterest for a Handmade Business?

In the digital age, social media platforms have become indispensable tools for small businesses to showcase their products and connect with potential customers. Among all the platforms, Pinterest stands out as a powerful visual discovery engine that seems to be specially made to benefit handmade businesses.

The last time I looked, Pinterest had 518 MILLION monthly active users!

Personally, I also use Facebook and Instagram, but Pinterest has always driven more traffic to my sites than both of those combined. (I also have a Twitter account but it has never driven much traffic to either my sales platforms or my blogs.)

Pinterest’s visual search engine is uniquely suited for handmade businesses due to its visual nature and the platform’s emphasis on creative content. Here’s why you should consider using this platform:

1. Visual Showcase: Pinterest is all about visuals. It allows you to display your handmade products in a visually appealing way, making it ideal for showcasing your unique creations.
2. Searchability: Pinterest operates like a search engine, making it easier for users to discover specific types of content, including handmade products. This means potential customers can find your products organically.
3. Inspiration and Trends: Pinterest users often browse for inspiration and ideas. By showcasing your products here, you tap into a community actively seeking new and unique items.
4. Link Sharing: Each Pin can link directly to your website or online store, driving traffic and potential sales.

Now, let’s dive into the steps to kickstart your Pinterest journey for your handmade business.

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Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Business Account

If you don’t already have a Pinterest account for your business, follow these steps to create one:

1. Go to Pinterest: Visit pinterest.com and sign up for a business account.
2. Complete Your Pinterest Profile: Use your business name, add a profile picture (like your logo), and write a clear bio that describes your business and what you make or offer.
3. Claim Your Website: Verify your website. This will enable you to track analytics and metrics for pins that link back to your site.

Step 2: Create Boards and Pin Your Products

Boards are where you organize your pins. Think of them as categories or topics. Create boards that reflect your brand and the types of products you offer. For example:

• “Handmade Jewelry”
• “Artisan Ceramics”
• “Unique Handcrafted Gifts”

Make sure you write a detailed description for each board.

When you Pin your products:

1. Important Information: Each pin has 4 parts — the photo, the title, the description, and the destination link.
2. Use High-Quality Images: Images are key on Pinterest. Ensure your product photos are clear, well-lit, and visually appealing.
3. Use Vertical Images: I use Canva to create pins with a 2:3 ratio for each product and all my blog posts.
4. Write Compelling Descriptions: Include relevant keywords and descriptions that highlight the unique features of your products.

How many Pinterest boards do I need?

The answer to that question is — as many as you need. I know… not very accurate. But it will depend on how many products you have, the type of products or services you provide, and other variables.

How many pins do I need?

Each board should have enough pins to make it look full — I try to start out with 10, which means I may need to keep a board secret until I have enough. I also repin from other accounts when it makes sense and doesn’t compete with my product.

How often should I pin?

Regularly and consistently. Once a week I have a “Pinterest Day” on my schedule. I work on creating and scheduling pins that day but use Tailwind to schedule them out so it doesn’t look like I’m just pinning once a week. This app is not necessary to purchase but once you get serious it will be super helpful.

Step 3: Engage with the Community

Pinterest is a social platform, so engagement with other pinners is crucial for success. Here’s how you can engage effectively:

1. Follow Relevant Accounts: Follow other handmade businesses, influencers, and potential customers.
2. Repin and Like Content: Show support for others’ content by repinning and liking pins that align with your brand. You can pin other products that are complementary to your product without sharing businesses that are direct competitors.
3. Comment and Respond: Engage authentically with users who interact with your pins or boards.

Tips:

• Install the app on your phone so you can pin whenever you have some downtime.

Step 4: Optimize for Search (SEO)

To maximize visibility, optimize your pins and boards for search:

1. Use Keywords: Research and use relevant keywords in your pin descriptions and board titles. Make sure these keywords are in your profile description, board descriptions, AND pin descriptions.
2. Enable Rich Pins: Rich pins provide additional information directly on the pin, enhancing the user experience.
3. Stay Consistent: Regularly update and maintain your boards with fresh pins and content.

Tips:

• Find keywords by starting to type your product into the search bar. A drop-down menu of options will appear. Do any of these fit your product?
• Use another browser, like Google or Bing, to do the same thing.

Step 5: Analyze and Adapt

Monitor your analytics regularly to understand what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to refine your strategy:

1. Track Performance: Identify your most popular pins and boards. Make more pins like these.
2. Experiment: Try different types of pins (e.g., product shots or lifestyle images) to see what resonates best with your audience.
3. Adjust Accordingly: Adapt your strategy based on insights gained from analytics.

Tips:

• There’s no need to edit or delete old pins. Just keep making new ones.
• Do more of what works.
• Pinterest is a long-term game. You may not see traffic immediately. But I’m still seeing traffic on things I pinned YEARS ago!

Step 6: Promote Your Pinterest Presence

Integrate Pinterest into your overall marketing efforts:

1. Share Pins on Other Platforms: Cross-promote your pins on other social media channels and your website.
2. Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers or bloggers in your niche to reach a broader audience.
3. Run Promoted Pins: Consider investing in promoted pins to increase visibility and reach. Personally, I only tried promoting pins a couple of times. It was confusing to me so I stopped. For me, it works even without spending money on ads.

Tips:

• Add the Pinterest icon to any of your social media platforms that will allow it.
• Share on your email list.

Conclusion

Pinterest is not just for weddings, home decor, holiday decorations, DIY projects, and recipes! It offers handmade businesses (with or without an e-commerce site) a powerful platform to showcase products, connect with customers, and drive sales. By following these steps and staying consistent with your efforts, you can establish a presence on Pinterest and effectively promote your handmade business.

Remember, success on Pinterest requires patience and ongoing engagement. So, start to upload pins today and watch the clicks come into your handmade business. Flourish in the world of creative inspiration!

More Small Business Tips

Read more on my blog:

• Small Handmade Business Tip #1 | Start Before You’re Ready
• How to Build Your Email List at Vintage Flea Markets
• Business & Blogging Resources

Keep working on your business!

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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