The 5 Best Ways To Use Pinterest Marketing As an Online Shop Owner
Are you wanting to know how you can use Pinterest marketing to grow your online shop as a business owner or entrepreneur? If so, then I have the perfect blog post for you.
This guest blog post feature is from Cathy Heflin, a former online shop owner & Etsy seller who has now transitioned to becoming a Pinterest Marketing Consultant specializing in helping business owners with online shops. She knows a thing or two about the challenges of owning an online business, but also the amazing benefits of using Pinterest to drive traffic and makes sales with half the effort you would be putting in with other marketing platforms.
I know a good majority of you who follow me & read my blog posts are entrepreneurs or small business owners that have an online shop to their website or sell on third-party platforms such as Etsy or Creative Market. This blog post will help to address some of the common questions online shop owners have when it comes to using Pinterest.
Let’s get started!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to using Pinterest?
I started my online business journey as a DIY blogger and online shop owner. I found Pinterest to be an incredibly powerful tool for marketing my business and it quickly became the number one driver of traffic to my blog and shop website! As I learned more about Pinterest, I started helping other businesses and online shops with their Pinterest Marketing.
I became a certified Pinterest Strategist and Manager trained by Meagan Williamson, an industry-leading Pinterest Expert. While I work with clients to provide ongoing account management, I also love to help people who are just getting started on Pinterest. Getting set up correctly is key to your success on Pinterest.
Why is Pinterest a great marketing tool for creatives?
Pinterest is a visual search and discovery platform (aka a search engine). As a visual platform, Pinterest is a place where creatives thrive! Pinterest has an enormous number of users (at last count over 478 million active users each month) who go to Pinterest to search, plan, find products to buy. People use Pinterest to plan for the future. As a creative entrepreneur, you have an opportunity to reach them there.
A few fun facts: nearly all Pinterest searches are unbranded, most users are researching or planning a project, most weekly Pinners have discovered a new brand or product on Pinterest! As a creative business, show off what you have to offer in your pins. Be there for people to be inspired by your ideas!
What should be the focus on when it comes to using Pinterest to promote digital or physical products?
For businesses who own their own website/domain, make sure you have claimed your account on Pinterest (in settings). If you are on Etsy or Creative Market you won't be able to do this but you can certainly still link to your products. You’ll also want to:
Pin a variety of pin styles and views for your products. Different people will be attracted to different pin styles so have something for everyone.
Use your keywords on text overlay, in the Pin Title and Pin Description. This is critical to helping Pinterest serve your content to the right people.
Describe some unique ways shop owners can stand out on Pinterest?
Businesses that are offering content in addition to product pins will be the most successful on Pinterest. Think of Pinterest as the top of your sales funnel. It is a place people often discover you and then get to know you. I suggest providing them a way to do this. I recommend:
Blogging, podcasts, or YouTube Videos. This free content is a great place for people to get to know you and your expertise.
Offer freebies (could be a discount code, some sort of swipe file that helps solve a problem related to your expertise). These opt-ins/freebies will help to grow your email list. Once they are on your list, you can nurture them, send them shop info and specials, seasonal info, etc.
Update your Profile. With the increase in Profile visits from Idea Pins, I suggest you update your profile to represent who you are, what your business is about and show your brand off. Your profile is a place you will connect with your audience so make it a visually appealing space. This includes an up-to-date profile picture (I suggest a personal photo), adding board covers to give your account a cohesive look, and a clear and easy-to-understand profile description.
Create branded pins that make them recognizable and scroll stopping. Use clear text overlay and a creative call to action.
Try using Idea Pins and Video. I can't say this enough. Idea Pins and videos are getting lots of attention on Pinterest. Use your creative skills to get noticed! Check out my blog post here on why Idea Pins are taking off & how you can get started creating some for your content: A Guide to Pinterest Story Pins.
Tell me some of your top Pinterest tips for shop owners?
When it comes to selling products on Pinterest - Digital or Physical - there are several things I recommend to businesses:
Ensure that your product or landing page is ready for your Pinterest Traffic. This means:
Is your site easy to navigate?
Are your product descriptions clear?
Will your new visitor understand what you are selling and how it will help them?
Your goal is to be sure your shop or website visitors have a positive user experience.
Try a variety of Pin types. Be creative and use Idea Pins and Video in addition to static pins.
Show your product in multiple views. If it is a physical product, share lifestyle images as people want to imagine what it will look like in their life.
If you aren't already, consider a blog or other way to share free content (Podcast, YouTube videos). This is a great way for a cold customer to get to know you.
Consider Pinterest Ads to expand your traffic and audience. Pinterest Ads don't have to be expensive and even a small ad spend can bring you, new customers. If you’re wanting to get into Pinterest Ads, I have a great blog post article that will help you here: How to Run your First Promoted Pin Ad Campaign on Pinterest.
In conclusion
There’s no doubt that Pinterest is a great place to drive traffic & promote a shop owner’s digital or physical products for sale.
The tips above will help you with getting the most out of Pinterest and set you up for long-term growth and sustainability in the online marketing space.
Once you add Pinterest to your marketing workflow, you’ll see how well Pinterest brings your customers & clients to your website on auto-pilot, without the constant upkeep like some other social media platforms. This allows you to not only have more time to focus on your business and provide for your audience.
I’ve created a quick 10 Essential Tips for Pinterest Success in 2021 checklist to help you grow your Pinterest audience & make more online sales. Want in on this goodie? Simply sign up here & your FREE 10 Essential Tips for Pinterest Success in 2021 will be sent directly to your inbox!
About Cathy
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@cwillisandco
