How to Start Selling on Pinterest

Pinterest is a visual search engine that allows users to discover and save ideas in the form of “pins.” These pins can range from DIY projects to fashion inspiration, recipes, and, importantly, products. Users organize these pins into boards, creating a virtual scrapbook of ideas they may want to try in the future. For businesses, Pinterest offers a platform where you can present your products in a visually appealing manner to users who are already in a discovery mindset.

Why Sell on Pinterest?

Pinterest is distinct from other social media platforms due to its unique user behavior. People visit Pinterest to find inspiration and often turn their discoveries into purchases. Here are some compelling reasons to start selling on Pinterest:

• Targeted Audience: Pinterest’s algorithm tailors content to user preferences, ensuring your products are shown to people who are most likely to be interested in them.
• High Conversion Rates: Pinterest users are often closer to making a purchase decision than users on other social media platforms, leading to higher conversion rates.
• Increased Visibility: With over 450 million active users worldwide, Pinterest provides a massive audience for your products.
• SEO Benefits: Pinterest is also a search engine, meaning well-optimized pins can continue to drive traffic and sales long after they’ve been posted.

Types of Seller Accounts on Pinterest

When starting your journey as a seller on Pinterest, you have several account options, each offering different features and benefits tailored to different business needs.

1. Pinterest Business Account

The foundation of selling on Pinterest is setting up a Pinterest Business Account. Unlike a personal account, a business account offers essential tools such as Pinterest Analytics, Ads Manager, and the ability to claim your website. A Business Account is necessary to access advanced features, including Pinterest Ads and Rich Pins.

2. Pinterest Verified Merchant Program (VMP)

The Verified Merchant Program is designed for businesses that meet Pinterest’s guidelines for quality and customer experience. Joining the VMP gives you a blue checkmark on your profile, which signals trust to potential customers. Additional benefits include access to advanced analytics, priority in distribution in Pinterest’s shopping experiences, and eligibility to feature your products in the “Shop” tab.

3. Pinterest Shop Tab

The Shop Tab is a feature that allows users to shop directly from your Pinterest profile. It’s particularly useful for Verified Merchants, as it offers a curated shopping experience tailored to each user’s interests, directly increasing the likelihood of conversions.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Create a Seller Account

Setting up your seller account on Pinterest is a straightforward process but involves several important steps to ensure your business is ready to thrive on the platform.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Pinterest Business Account

1. Visit Pinterest.com: Navigate to Pinterest and click on the “Sign up” button. Ensure you select the “Business” option instead of the personal account option.
2. Enter Your Business Details: Fill in your email, create a password, and provide your business name. Make sure your business name reflects your brand accurately, as it will be displayed on your Pinterest profile.
3. Set Up Your Profile: Customize your profile by adding a profile picture (ideally your logo), a brief business description, and your website URL. A professional and well-branded profile establishes credibility and trust with potential customers.

Step 2: Claim Your Website

1. Access Account Settings: Once your profile is set up, navigate to the settings menu and select the “Claim” option from the left-hand menu.
2. Enter Your Website URL: To claim your website, you’ll need to add a meta tag to your website’s HTML or upload an HTML file provided by Pinterest. This step allows Pinterest to verify that you own the site and enables features like Rich Pins, which automatically pull in data from your website.
3. Verify Your Claim: After adding the required code to your website, click the “Verify” button on Pinterest. Once your site is successfully claimed, you’ll have access to valuable analytics and enhanced pin features.

Step 3: Apply for the Verified Merchant Program

1. Ensure Eligibility: Before applying, ensure your business meets Pinterest’s Merchant Guidelines, which include having a Pinterest Business Account, a claimed website, and a product catalog that complies with Pinterest’s requirements.
2. Submit Your Application: Visit the Verified Merchant Program page on Pinterest and click “Apply.” Fill in the necessary details, and your application will be reviewed by Pinterest’s team.
3. Wait for Approval: The review process typically takes a few days to two weeks. Upon approval, you’ll receive a notification, and the verified badge will be added to your profile, enhancing your brand’s credibility on the platform.

Documents Needed and Time Required for Approval

To set up a seller account and apply for the Verified Merchant Program, you’ll need the following:

• Business Information: This includes your business name, address, and contact information.
• Website Verification: You must own and verify a website to link it to your Pinterest account.
• Product Catalog: A product data feed in CSV, TSV, or XML format is required for Rich Pins and catalog management.
• Compliance Documentation: Depending on your country, you may need to provide tax IDs or other business verification documents.

Approval for a basic business account is typically instant, but joining the Verified Merchant Program can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on the volume of applications and the completeness of your submission.

Tips on How to Research and Select Profitable Products

Selecting the right products to sell on Pinterest is crucial for your success. The platform’s visual nature means products must not only be appealing but also in demand.

Step 1: Identify Market Trends

Pinterest provides tools like Pinterest Trends and Pinterest Analytics that can help you identify what’s currently popular on the platform. By analyzing trending topics and popular searches, you can discover products that are in high demand.

• Pinterest Trends: This tool allows you to see what people are currently searching for on Pinterest, offering insights into seasonal trends and long-term interests.
• Pinterest Analytics: Once your business account is active, you can use Pinterest Analytics to track which pins and products are performing well and adjust your product offerings accordingly.

Step 2: Analyze Competitor Success

Understanding what your competitors are doing can offer valuable insights into the types of products that sell well. Look at successful competitors’ profiles to see which pins are getting the most engagement.

• Tools for Competitor Analysis: Tools like Pinspy and Tailwind can provide in-depth insights into your competitors’ most successful pins and strategies, allowing you to learn from their success.

Step 3: Evaluate Product Demand

In addition to Pinterest-specific tools, use broader market research tools like Google Trends to gauge the overall demand for a product. High demand, coupled with low competition, often indicates a good opportunity.

• Keyword Research: Use Pinterest’s keyword planner and Google Keyword Planner to find keywords that users are searching for. Products associated with high-traffic keywords are likely to perform better.

Step 4: Consider Profit Margins

Finally, it’s essential to consider the profitability of the products you choose. Calculate your costs, including manufacturing, shipping, and advertising, to ensure you have enough margin to make a profit.

• Profitability Tools: Use cost calculators to factor in all potential expenses, ensuring the products you select offer a healthy profit margin after all costs are deducted.

Information on Where and How to Source Products

Once you’ve identified the products you want to sell, the next step is sourcing them. The method you choose depends on your business model and the level of control you want over the product and brand.

1. Wholesale

Wholesale involves buying products in bulk from a supplier at a lower price per unit. This method is ideal for businesses that want to keep inventory and have more control over order fulfillment.

• Popular Wholesale Platforms: Alibaba, SaleHoo, and DHgate are among the most widely used platforms for sourcing wholesale products. These platforms offer a vast selection of suppliers and products, allowing you to find the best deals.

2. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model where you don’t need to keep products in stock. Instead, you partner with a supplier who ships the products directly to your customers. This model reduces overhead costs but can limit your control over the shipping process.

• Popular Dropshipping Platforms: Oberlo, Spocket, and AliExpress are popular platforms that connect you with suppliers who offer dropshipping services. These platforms often integrate with eCommerce platforms, making it easy to manage orders and track inventory.

3. Private Labeling

Private labeling involves sourcing generic products and branding them with your own label. This approach allows for higher profit margins and can help build brand loyalty, as your customers associate the product quality directly with your brand.

• Popular Private Label Suppliers: ThomasNet, Private Label Products, and Alibaba are great places to start if you’re looking to create a private label product. These platforms allow you to customize products with your brand’s name and logo.

How to Create Effective and SEO-Optimized Product Listings

Creating effective and SEO-optimized product listings is crucial for ensuring your products are discoverable on Pinterest and appealing to potential buyers.

Step 1: Use High-Quality Images

Pinterest is a visual platform, so the quality of your images can make or break a sale. High-quality, visually appealing images are essential to attract users and encourage them to click on your pins.

• Optimal Image Size: Use images with a 2:3 aspect ratio, with a minimum width of 600 pixels. Pinterest recommends using images that are 1000 x 1500 pixels for the best performance.
• Showcase Multiple Angles: Provide multiple images showing the product from different angles. This gives users a better understanding of the product and can help increase conversions.
• Include Lifestyle Images: Lifestyle images that show the product being used in real-life scenarios can be more engaging and help users visualize how the product fits into their lives.

Step 2: Write Compelling Descriptions

The description is your opportunity to convince users why they need your product. A compelling description should be informative, persuasive, and optimized for search engines.

• Incorporate Relevant Keywords: Use relevant keywords that your target audience is likely searching for. This will help improve your product’s visibility in Pinterest’s search results.
• Highlight Key Features and Benefits: Clearly describe the product’s features and emphasize the benefits. Explain how the product can solve a problem or improve the user’s life.
• Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage users to take action, such as visiting your website or making a purchase. Phrases like “Shop now,” “Discover more,” or “Buy today” can help drive conversions.

Step 3: Optimize for SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for ensuring your products are discoverable on Pinterest. By optimizing your pins with the right keywords and metadata, you can increase their visibility in search results.

• Use Rich Pins: Rich Pins automatically pull in data from your website, such as pricing, availability, and product descriptions. This makes your pins more informative and increases their chances of being clicked.
• Optimize Titles and Descriptions: Include relevant keywords in your pin titles and descriptions. However, ensure the text remains natural and easy to read.
• Utilize Hashtags: Although not as critical as keywords, adding relevant hashtags to your descriptions can help increase the reach of your pins.

Best Practices for Images and Writing Compelling Descriptions

Image Best Practices

Images are the most critical aspect of your Pinterest strategy. Since Pinterest is a visual platform, the quality and style of your images can significantly impact your success.

• Consistent Branding: Use consistent colors, fonts, and style across all your images. This creates a cohesive look that reinforces your brand identity and makes your pins instantly recognizable.
• Bright and Clear: Ensure your images are well-lit, with the product clearly visible. Dark or blurry images can turn potential buyers away.
• Include Text Overlays: Adding short text overlays to your images can highlight key features, promotions, or product benefits. This can help draw attention and increase engagement.

Description Best Practices

Writing compelling descriptions is an art. A well-crafted description can significantly increase the likelihood of a sale.

• Focus on Benefits: While it’s important to describe the product’s features, focusing on how the product can benefit the user is even more critical. Explain why the product will make their life better.
• Keep it Concise: While detailed descriptions are good, keep them concise. Aim for descriptions between 100-200 words, ensuring they are easy to read and to the point.
• Use Bullet Points: Bullet points make it easier for users to quickly scan the product’s features and benefits. They are particularly useful for listing specifications or key features.

Fulfillment Options

Choosing the right fulfillment strategy is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and managing costs effectively.

1. Self-Fulfillment

Self-fulfillment involves managing and shipping products yourself. This option gives you complete control over packaging, shipping times, and customer service, but it requires more effort and resources.

• Pros: Full control over the fulfillment process, customizable packaging, and potential cost savings if managed efficiently.
• Cons: Time-consuming, requires storage space, and can be challenging to scale as your business grows.

2. Third-Party Fulfillment

Third-party logistics (3PL) providers handle storage, packing, and shipping on your behalf. This option is ideal for businesses that want to scale without investing in their own logistics infrastructure.

• Popular 3PL Providers: ShipBob, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), and ShipStation are popular options. These providers offer integrated services that connect with your eCommerce platform, making order management seamless.
• Pros: Scalable, reduces operational burden, and often provides faster shipping options.
• Cons: Less control over the packaging and shipping process, potential for higher costs.

3. Dropshipping

As previously mentioned, dropshipping eliminates the need for inventory management. When a customer places an order, the supplier ships the product directly to them.

• Pros: Low overhead costs, no need for storage, and easy to start.
• Cons: Less control over product quality and shipping times, lower profit margins, and reliance on suppliers.

Pricing Strategy

Your pricing strategy plays a significant role in the success of your Pinterest store. Setting the right price can help you attract customers and maximize profits.

Step 1: Research Competitors

Understanding how your competitors price similar products can give you insights into the market’s expectations. Competitor analysis can help you identify a pricing sweet spot that balances competitiveness with profitability.

• Tools for Pricing Research: Use tools like Price2Spy, Competera, or even manual research to track competitor pricing and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Step 2: Consider Costs

To set a profitable price, you must consider all costs associated with the product, including manufacturing, shipping, marketing, and any fees from platforms like Pinterest or your payment gateway.

• Cost Analysis Tools: Use tools like ProfitWell or QuickBooks to calculate your costs accurately and ensure you’re not underpricing your products.

Step 3: Test Different Price Points

Experiment with different pricing strategies, such as offering discounts, bundles, or tiered pricing. This can help you understand what resonates best with your audience and maximizes your revenue.

• A/B Testing: Consider running A/B tests to determine which pricing strategy yields the highest conversion rates.

Pinterest Advertising

Pinterest offers robust advertising options that can help you reach a larger audience and drive more sales. Advertising on Pinterest allows you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.

Step 1: Set Up Pinterest Ads Manager

Once your business account is set up, you can access the Pinterest Ads Manager. This is where you’ll create, manage, and analyze your ad campaigns.

• Creating Your First Campaign: Choose from various campaign objectives, such as brand awareness, traffic, conversions, or catalog sales, depending on your goals.

Step 2: Choose Your Campaign Objective

Your campaign objective should align with your business goals. For example, if you’re looking to drive sales, choose a conversions objective; if you want to increase brand visibility, go with brand awareness.

• Common Objectives: Brand awareness, traffic, conversions, and video views are popular choices among advertisers.

Step 3: Target Your Audience

Pinterest’s targeting options allow you to reach your ideal audience. You can target users based on interests, demographics, location, language, and keywords.

• Advanced Targeting: Pinterest also offers retargeting options, allowing you to show ads to users who have already interacted with your pins or visited your website.

Step 4: Set Your Budget

Determine a daily or lifetime budget for your campaign. Pinterest offers flexible bidding options, allowing you to control how much you spend per click or per 1,000 impressions.

• Bidding Strategies: Consider using automatic bidding to let Pinterest optimize your bids for the best results, or manual bidding if you want more control over your ad spend.

Step 5: Analyze Performance

Use Pinterest Analytics to track the performance of your ads. Metrics like impressions, clicks, and conversions will help you understand how well your ads are performing and where you can improve.

• Adjusting Your Campaign: Based on the analytics, you may need to adjust your targeting, budget, or ad creative to improve performance.

Dealing with Competition

Competition is inevitable in any business, and Pinterest is no different. However, by employing smart strategies, you can stand out and thrive even in a crowded market.

Step 1: Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is what sets your product apart from the competition. Whether it’s superior quality, better pricing, or unique features, make sure your USP is clear in your product listings and marketing materials.

• Highlighting Your USP: Ensure your USP is prominently featured in your pin descriptions, titles, and images. This will help potential customers understand why they should choose your product over others.

Step 2: Monitor Competitors

Keeping an eye on your competitors can help you stay ahead. Regularly check their Pinterest profiles to see what products they’re promoting, what’s working for them, and where you can differentiate.

• Competitor Analysis Tools: Tools like SEMrush or SimilarWeb can help you track competitor activity and performance, providing insights that you can apply to your own strategy.

Step 3: Engage with Your Audience

Building a loyal community around your brand can give you a competitive edge. Engage with your audience by responding to comments, encouraging user-generated content, and creating pins that resonate with your followers.

• Community Building: Consider creating a dedicated board for customer testimonials, reviews, or user-generated content to foster a sense of community around your brand.

Brand Registry and Intellectual Property

Protecting your brand and intellectual property on Pinterest is crucial, especially as your business grows and becomes more visible.

Step 1: Apply for Brand Registry

If you have a registered trademark, apply for Pinterest’s Brand Registry to protect your intellectual property. This program helps prevent unauthorized use of your brand and ensures your products are represented accurately on the platform.

• Benefits of Brand Registry: Brand Registry gives you more control over your brand’s presence on Pinterest, allowing you to remove infringing content and protect your intellectual property.

Step 2: Monitor for Infringement

Regularly search for unauthorized use of your brand or product images on Pinterest. If you find any infringing content, you can report it through Pinterest’s reporting tools.

• Monitoring Tools: Tools like Brand24 or Mention can help you track mentions of your brand across Pinterest and other platforms, making it easier to spot potential infringements.

Step 3: Educate Your Audience

Educate your audience about your brand’s authenticity and encourage them to purchase only from verified sellers. This can help prevent customers from buying counterfeit products.

• Educational Content: Create pins that explain how to identify authentic products and why buying from authorized sellers is important.

Handling Account Suspensions

Account suspensions can happen, but knowing how to handle them can help you get back on track quickly.

Step 1: Understand the Reason for Suspension

If your account is suspended, the first step is to understand why. Pinterest will typically send an email explaining the reason for the suspension, whether it’s due to policy violations, suspicious activity, or other issues.

• Common Reasons for Suspension: Violations of Pinterest’s community guidelines, inappropriate content, or spammy behavior are common reasons for account suspension.

Step 2: Appeal the Suspension

If you believe the suspension was a mistake, you can submit an appeal through Pinterest’s support center. Provide any necessary documentation or information that supports your case.

• Appeal Process: Be clear and concise in your appeal, explaining why you believe the suspension was an error and what steps you’ve taken to correct any issues.

Step 3: Prevent Future Issues

To avoid future suspensions, familiarize yourself with Pinterest’s policies and guidelines. Regularly review your account activity to ensure compliance and consider setting up alerts for any unusual activity.

• Best Practices: Adhere to Pinterest’s guidelines on content, community interaction, and advertising to minimize the risk of suspension.

Inventory Management

Efficient inventory management is crucial to ensuring you can fulfill orders promptly and maintain customer satisfaction.

Step 1: Use Inventory Management Software

Implementing inventory management software can help you track your inventory levels, sales, and orders in real time. This software can also integrate with your eCommerce platform to automate the process.

• Popular Software: Tools like TradeGecko, Stitch Labs, and Veeqo offer comprehensive inventory management solutions that can help streamline your operations.

Step 2: Set Up Inventory Alerts

Set up alerts to notify you when inventory levels are low. This ensures you can reorder products before they run out, preventing stockouts and lost sales.

• Automatic Reordering: Some inventory management systems offer automatic reordering features that trigger when stock reaches a certain threshold.

Step 3: Regularly Review Inventory Levels

Conduct regular inventory audits to ensure your records match your physical stock. This helps prevent discrepancies that could lead to overselling or stockouts.

• Inventory Audits: Schedule monthly or quarterly audits to keep your inventory data accurate and up to date.