Your Quick Start Guide to Pinterest for Small Business.

You’ve probably heard a lot about Pinterest lately. The visual social media platform has been growing steadily over the past few years, and now has more than 400 million monthly users. That’s a lot of people who could potentially see your small business’s pins!

If you’re not already using Pinterest to promote your business, you might be wondering how to get started. This quick start guide will give you all the information you need to create a Pinterest account and start using it to market your small business.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual search engine that allows users to share and discover new interests by posting and viewing images and videos. Pinterest is also a powerful marketing tool for your small business. You can use Pinterest to get inspired, plan your next event, or find the perfect gift.

How to Sign Up for a Business Account.

If you're a small business owner, you may be wondering how to get started with Pinterest. The good news is that it's easy to sign up for a free business account and get started promoting your products or services on this popular social media platform.

To sign up for a business account, simply go to the Pinterest website and click on the "Business" tab. Then, enter your business information, including your name, website, and a brief description of your business. Once you've completed these steps, you'll be ready to start creating pins and boards for your business.

What to Pin on Your Business Account?

As a small business, you have a lot to offer on Pinterest. But what should you be pinning on your business account? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Your products or services: Showcase your products and services in action. Use high-quality images and videos to give potential customers a sense of what you have to offer.

2. Your team: Introduce the people behind your small business. Share photos and bios of your team members so that customers can put a face to the name.

3. Your story: Share the story of your small business. Why did you start it? What are your core values? What sets you apart from the competition? Customers want to know that they’re supporting a business with a purpose.

4. Your process: Take customers behind the scenes of your business. Show them how you make your products or deliver your services. They’ll appreciate getting a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into their purchase.

5. Your happy customers: Pin testimonials, case studies, and reviews from happy customers. This is social proof that others have had a positive experience with your small business, which can encourage

*Note: Creating a blog to go along with your products or services is a great way to create more URLs to make pins from. Further if your business has a shoppable catalogue you may be able to upload it directly if you meet Pinterest's guidelines.

Creating Pinnable Images.

As a small business owner, you know the importance of creating high-quality, engaging content that will interest your target audience. But did you know that Pinterest is a powerful platform for driving traffic to your website or blog?

To get started with Pinterest, you need to create pinnable images - images that are visually appealing and would make someone want to pin them to their own board. Here are some tips for creating great pinnable images:

1. Use soft, warm, colors and interesting patterns. 2. Use close-up shots to show off details. 3. Create infographics or other types of visuals that are easy to digest. 4. Use a text overlay to explain what the image is about. 5. Make sure the image is the right size - 600x900 pixels is a good rule of thumb.

By following these tips, you can create images that will stand out on Pinterest and help drive traffic to your small business website or blog.

*Note: Don't forget to include social sharing buttons on your website for people to pin directly from your website.

Tips for Successful Pinning.

As a small business owner, you know that every little bit counts when it comes to promoting your business. So why not take advantage of one of the hottest visual platforms around and start using Pinterest for small business?

Not sure where to start? This quick start guide will give you everything you need to get started with Pinterest, including tips for creating pins that drive traffic to your website or blog.

1. Create Pins That Are Visually Appealing.

When it comes to Pinterest, visuals are everything. In fact, pins with attractive images are 80% more likely to be re-pinned than those that don't have high quality. So take the time to create pins that are not only eye-catching but also relevant to your business. (Programs like Canva, Crello, and Picmonkey are a good place to start.)

2. Use Keywords in Your Pin Descriptions.

Just like with any other form of content marketing, it’s important to use relevant keywords in your pin descriptions. This will help users find your pins when they search for topics related to your business. Keywords can be short or long-tailed, and you have up to 500 characters to use, so don't skimp.

3. Make Sure Your Pins Link to High-Quality Content.

When users click on your pins, they should be taken to a high-quality piece of content on your website or blog. Don't link to your front page, as that's a Pinterest no-no.

Measuring Your Results on Pinterest.

As a small business, you may be wondering how you can measure your success on Pinterest. After all, unlike other social media platforms, Pinterest is a visual platform that is based on pins and boards. However, there are still ways to measure your success and track your progress. Here are some tips:

1. Check Your Engagement Numbers.

One way to measure your success on Pinterest is to check your engagement numbers. This includes things like the number of re-pins, comments, and likes that you’re getting on your pins. To do this, simply go to your Pinterest profile and click on the "Analytics" tab. From there, you can click on the overview to see all of your recent activity and engagement stats.

For more on Pinterest's new conversion insights, stay tuned.

2. Monitor Your Website's Traffic

Another way to measure your success on Pinterest is by monitoring your website traffic. To do this, simply look at your website’s analytics to see how much traffic is coming from Pinterest. You can also use a free tool like Google Analytics to track this data.

3. Use Pin Insights.

If you have a business account on Pinterest, then you have access to Audience Insights. This is a tool that allows you to see where your main audience lives and what demographic they are made up of. You can see the devices they are viewing you on. It's a good idea to view this so you know how much to tweak your site's look for mobile vs. desktop.

Conclusion

Pinterest can be an incredible asset for small businesses. With the ability to reach a large audience and drive traffic to your website, it’s no wonder that so many businesses are using Pinterest to their advantage. If you’re new to Pinterest or just getting started with your small business, this quick start guide will give you all the tips and tricks you need to get ahead.

If you are still lost and wondering how to best get started, be sure to reach out and chat with me. I love talking about Pinterest and am more than happy to answer your questions!