How to Start Selling on Pinterest

With over 450 million monthly active users, Pinterest has emerged as a powerful platform for businesses to showcase their products and services. Its visual nature and highly engaged user base make it an ideal platform for selling products online. If you’re looking to tap into this market and start selling on Pinterest, you’ve come to the right place.

1. Understanding Pinterest as a Sales Platform

Before diving into selling on Pinterest, it’s essential to understand the platform and its user base. Pinterest is primarily a visual discovery engine, where users discover ideas, inspiration, and products through images, known as “pins.” These pins can link back to websites, making it easy for users to purchase products they discover.

Pinterest users are often in a shopping mindset, actively seeking inspiration for their next purchase. This makes Pinterest an excellent platform for businesses looking to showcase their products to an engaged audience.

2. Setting Up Your Pinterest Business Account

The first step in selling on Pinterest is setting up a business account. If you already have a personal account, you can easily convert it to a business account or create a new one specifically for your business.

• Go to Pinterest.com and sign up for an account if you don’t already have one.
• Once logged in, go to your profile settings and click on “Switch to a business account.”
• Follow the prompts to complete the setup process, including adding your business name, website, and other relevant information.

3. Optimizing Your Pinterest Profile

Optimizing your Pinterest profile is crucial for attracting potential customers and driving sales. Here are some tips to make sure your profile stands out:

• Use a high-quality profile picture that represents your brand.
• Write a compelling bio that clearly communicates what your business is about and what products you offer.
• Include relevant keywords in your bio and profile description to improve discoverability.
• Verify your website to gain access to additional features like Pinterest Analytics and Rich Pins.

4. Creating Compelling Pins

The key to success on Pinterest is creating visually appealing pins that catch the user’s attention and inspire them to take action. Here are some tips for creating compelling pins:

• Use high-quality images that showcase your products in the best light.
• Experiment with different pin formats, including standard pins, carousel pins, and video pins, to see what resonates with your audience.
• Add informative and engaging descriptions to your pins, including relevant keywords and hashtags.
• Include a call-to-action (CTA) in your pins to encourage users to click through to your website and make a purchase.

5. Building Boards to Showcase Your Products

Boards are collections of pins organized around a specific theme or topic. Creating boards to showcase your products is an excellent way to organize your content and make it easier for users to discover your products. Here’s how to create boards for your products:

• Create boards based on different product categories or themes relevant to your business.
• Add a mix of your own pins and repins from other users to keep your boards fresh and engaging.
• Use descriptive board titles and keywords to improve discoverability.
• Arrange your boards strategically on your profile to highlight your best-selling products and promotions.

6. Leveraging Pinterest Features for Sales

Pinterest offers several features designed to help businesses drive sales and increase conversions. Here are some key features to leverage:

• Rich Pins: Rich Pins provide additional information about your products, such as pricing, availability, and product descriptions, directly on the pin. This makes it easier for users to make purchasing decisions.
• Shop the Look Pins: Shop the Look Pins allow businesses to tag specific products within an image, making it easy for users to shop directly from the pin.
• Promoted Pins: Promoted Pins are paid advertisements that appear in users’ feeds and search results, helping businesses reach a wider audience and drive traffic to their website.

7. Measuring Success with Pinterest Analytics

Pinterest Analytics provides valuable insights into how your pins are performing and how users are engaging with your content. By tracking key metrics such as impressions, clicks, and saves, you can gain a better understanding of what content resonates with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

8. Driving Traffic and Sales

Once you’ve set up your Pinterest account and optimized your profile and pins, the next step is to drive traffic and sales to your website. Here are some strategies to help you get started:

• Share your pins across other social media platforms to reach a wider audience.
• Collaborate with influencers or other businesses in your niche to reach their followers.
• Run Pinterest ads to promote your products and drive traffic to your website.
• Continuously monitor your Pinterest Analytics to identify trends and adjust your strategy accordingly.