Pinterest is a powerful marketing tool for Etsy sellers. If you haven’t already started using Pinterest for your Etsy shop, now is the time to do so! This guide will take you through everything you need to know about promoting your Etsy shop on Pinterest, from setting up your account to using expert strategies to increase traffic and sales.
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Why Use Pinterest to Promote Your Etsy Shop?
Besides just marketing on Etsy, why do many sellers promote Etsy on Pinterest?
Unlike traditional social media platforms where content quickly disappears in feeds, Pinterest allows your content to remain relevant for months—even years. This makes Pinterest an excellent tool for long-term marketing strategies.
When you post a pin, it doesn’t just disappear into the void like on Facebook or Instagram. Instead, it remains searchable and can continue driving traffic to your shop for a long time.
Pinterest provides numerous advantages for Etsy sellers looking to expand their reach.
Some of the key benefits include:
How to Start Promoting Your Etsy Shop on Pinterest
Many Etsy sellers make the mistake of randomly pinning their products without an overall strategy, which leads to underwhelming results. Instead, take the time to establish a professional presence that aligns with Pinterest’s best practices.
Before diving into advanced strategies, it’s essential to build a solid foundation. A well-optimized Pinterest Business account, an engaging profile, and strategic board creation set the stage for long-term success.
Step 1: Set Up Your Pinterest Business Account
Before you start pinning and promoting your products, the first step is to create a Pinterest Business account.
A business account provides you with important tools such as Pinterest Analytics analytics, advertising options with Promoted Pins, and access to features like Rich Pins, which allow you to automatically sync product details from your Etsy shop. These valuable analytics and advertising tools can help you track performance and improve your strategy over time.
How to Create a Pinterest Business Account:
- Go to Pinterest for Business and click Sign Up.
- Enter your business name, email, and password.
- Choose E-commerce as your business type to align it with your Etsy shop.
- Add a profile picture that represents your brand, ideally your Etsy shop logo or a high-quality image that reflects your niche.
- Write a compelling bio that clearly explains what you sell and who your target customers are.
- Add your Etsy shop link in the website section to direct potential customers to your store.
- Click Claim Your Website to verify your Etsy shop with Pinterest. While optional, this step is highly recommended because it enables better tracking and analytics for your pins.
If you’re currently using a personal account, don’t fret—you can easily convert it to a business account.
Step 2: Optimize Your Pinterest Profile
Your Pinterest profile is like your shop’s window display—it should be inviting and informative. An optimized profile is essential to making a great first impression, so make it cohesive and visually appealing.
Key Optimizations:
Your Pinterest profile should reflect your brand identity while making it easy for users to find your products. Here’s how you can do it effectively:
- Use a high-resolution profile picture that represents your brand. If you have a logo, use it to maintain consistency across platforms.
- Write a keyword-rich bio that describes your shop and its products. Think of what potential buyers might search for, such as “handmade jewelry,” “custom gifts,” or “boho home decor.”
- Claim your Etsy shop on Pinterest to increase credibility and ensure your pins display your shop’s URL.
- Enable Rich Pins to automatically pull product information from your Etsy listings, such as pricing and descriptions, keeping them up to date without manual updates.
A great Pinterest profile isn’t just about aesthetics—it must also be functional. Think of it as an SEO-driven landing page that guides users toward your Etsy shop seamlessly.
Step 3: Create and Organize Pinterest Boards
Pinterest boards function like virtual shelves, helping to categorize and display your content effectively. Instead of treating boards as generic dumping grounds for your pins, curate them like a professional visual merchandiser.
How to Set Up Boards for Your Etsy Shop:
When setting up boards, think about how customers might search for your products. Instead of simply naming a board “My Etsy Shop,” create specific boards that relate to your products and audience’s interests.
- Categorize your products into boards like “Handmade Jewelry,” “Personalized Gifts,” or “Boho Home Decor.”
- Use descriptive keywords in board names and descriptions to help with SEO for Etsy and Pinterest. For example, avoid vague titles like “Jewelry”—opt for searchable terms like “Handmade Wedding Accessories.”
- Feature your best-performing product as the first pin in each board to immediately grab attention.
- Curate a mix of your own products and complementary content such as styling tips, customer testimonials, or seasonal inspirations to make your boards more engaging and useful.
By thoughtfully organizing boards, you create a natural flow that encourages users to explore and save your pins. Users rarely follow individual accounts but frequently follow boards, making it crucial to have multiple high-quality boards aligned with customer interests.
8 Expert Ways of Using Pinterest to Promote An Etsy Shop
Once your Pinterest account is set, it’s time to implement expert strategies to maximize traffic and conversions. These eight methods will ensure that your Etsy shop gains consistent exposure on Pinterest and attracts the right customers.
1. Create Stunning, Click-Worthy Pins
Unlike other social platforms, where engagement happens in real-time, Pinterest works as a search-based discovery tool. Pinterest reports that engaging visuals can boost interaction by 50%.
Your pins must be designed to stand out amidst thousands of others competing for attention.
- Use vertical images (1000×1500 pixels). Pinterest favors taller images because they take up more space in the feed, making them more likely to be noticed.
- Choose high-resolution, bright images. Dark or blurry images don’t perform well. High-contrast and vibrant colors are more likely to attract clicks.
- Overlay text on images. Adding clear, readable text can make a pin more informative. For example, a pin for handmade jewelry could say, “Handmade Gold Earrings – Perfect for Any Occasion.”
- Incorporate branding. Your pins should have a consistent look and feel. Using a recognizable color scheme or adding your Etsy shop name subtly to your pins helps build brand recognition.
2. Optimize Every Pin for Search
Pinterest is not just a social media platform; it functions like a visual search engine. Users type in queries to find inspiration, products, and solutions. That’s why Pinterest SEO is crucial for success.
- Write keyword-rich pin titles. Instead of simply titling a pin “Necklace,” use “Handmade Silver Necklace for Everyday Wear – Minimalist Jewelry.”
- Craft detailed descriptions. Use keywords naturally while making the description engaging and informative. For example: “This delicate handmade silver necklace is a must-have for minimalists. Perfect for layering or wearing alone.”
- Use relevant hashtags. Though Pinterest’s algorithm does not heavily prioritize hashtags, using a few relevant ones like #HandmadeJewelry or #EtsyFinds can still improve discoverability.
- Add keywords to alt text. This helps with search visibility and also makes your pins more accessible to visually impaired users.
Pinterest’s search engine favors well-optimized content. By strategically using keywords, you ensure your pins stay relevant for a longer period, continuously driving traffic to your Etsy shop and potentially get 20 times more exposure compared to unoptimized pins.
3. Pin Consistently and Strategically
Consistency is key on Pinterest. The algorithm prioritizes accounts that are active and consistently pinning content over those that post sporadically.
- Pin at least 5-10 times per day. Unlike Instagram, where frequent posting can be overwhelming, Pinterest thrives on regular activity.
- Use scheduling tools like Tailwind. This allows you to schedule pins in advance and ensures your content is evenly distributed over time.
- Repin your best-performing content. If a pin is doing well, repin it to different relevant boards for extended reach.
- Engage with other content. Repinning high-quality content related to your niche increases visibility and helps grow your account.
The potential result? Accounts that pin daily experience 150% more engagement than those that post sporadically.
4. Utilize Seasonal and Trending Content
Pinterest users plan purchases in advance, especially for seasonal occasions like holidays, weddings, and special events. Smart Etsy sellers can leverage trends to get more Etsy traffic by planning their content calendar accordingly.
- Start pinning seasonal content early. Pinterest recommends pinning holiday content 45-60 days in advance because users begin searching early.
- Monitor Pinterest Trends. Pinterest’s built-in Trends tool helps identify popular search terms and trending topics.
- Create seasonal boards. For example, if you sell handmade candles, create a board like “Cozy Winter Candles for Holiday Gifts.”
- Adapt your descriptions and keywords. Instead of a generic pin title, use “Valentine’s Day Handmade Jewelry – Perfect Gift for Her.”
Seasonal content isn’t just timely—it’s impactful. Aligning your pins with trending topics can result in 30% higher engagement during peak periods. Your Etsy shop can also capitalize on high buyer intent when customers are actively looking for products like yours.
>>> Read more: Best Products to Sell On Etsy: Recommended by Top Sellers
5. Join and Leverage Group Boards
Group boards are a great way to expand your reach and get your pins in front of a larger audience. These collaborative boards allow multiple pinners to share content, giving your pins higher exposure.
- Find active group boards in your niche. Use PinGroupie or search within Pinterest to locate high-engagement boards.
- Request to join relevant boards. Many boards have instructions in their descriptions for how to become a contributor.
- Post consistently but avoid spamming. Group board admins value contributors who add value rather than self-promote excessively.
- Engage with others’ content. Repin high-quality pins from the board to increase visibility.
Group boards act as powerful traffic boosters and can help drive steady traffic to your Etsy shop without spending on ads. Sellers who actively participate in group boards often experience up to 300% more exposure than those who don’t.
6. Run Pinterest Ads for Faster Growth
For Etsy sellers looking to scale quickly, Pinterest Ads (Promoted Pins) can provide an immediate boost. Unlike organic growth, which takes time, ads allow you to reach a highly targeted audience instantly.
- Set clear goals. Are you aiming for brand awareness, traffic, or conversions? Choose your objective before running a campaign.
- Use specific targeting. Pinterest allows you to target users based on demographics, search behavior, and interests.
- Optimize for conversions. Ensure your landing page (your Etsy shop) is optimized for purchases.
- A/B test creatives. Experiment with different pin designs to determine which performs best.
Pinterest ads can significantly amplify your results when used strategically, making them an excellent option for Etsy sellers who want faster results. Businesses using Pinterest Ads report up to 2x higher ROAS compared to other social platforms.
7. Engage with Followers and Build a Community
Unlike platforms that rely on direct social interaction, Pinterest encourages engagement through saves and shares. A strong Pinterest community naturally leads to more repins and increased visibility, keeping your Etsy shop top-of-mind for buyers.
- Follow users who engage with your pins.
- Encourage users to save and share your pins.
- Comment on and engage with trending content.
- Cross-promote your Pinterest on other platforms. Share your boards on Instagram, Facebook, and your Etsy store.
An engaged audience is more likely to convert. In fact, followers who interact with your content are 5 times more likely to become customers.
8. Analyze Performance and Adjust Your Strategy
Regularly tracking your performance helps you refine your strategy for better results.
- Monitor Pinterest Analytics. Track impressions, saves, and clicks to see which pins perform best.
- Identify your highest-converting pins. Focus on promoting content that drives the most sales.
- Experiment with different pin styles. Try carousel pins, video pins, and different text overlays.
By analyzing performance data, you can continuously optimize your strategy, ensuring long-term success. On average, sellers who consistently analyze their performance gain up to 30% more traffic within 4–6 months.
Best Practices for Promoting An Etsy Shop on Pinterest
To maintain long-term success on Pinterest, it’s essential to implement best practices that not only enhance your current strategies but also future-proof your Etsy shop’s presence.
What are the secrets that Mega Digital experts can tell you?
Keep Your Branding Consistent
Consistent colors, fonts, and imagery build trust and make your content instantly recognizable, so ensure all your pins follow a cohesive theme.
In fact, consistent branding can increase recognition by 80% and foster stronger connections with potential buyers. Plus, consistent branding can boost revenue by up to 23%.
Diversify Your Pin Formats
Don’t stick to just one type of content. Video pins, carousel pins, and story pins can engage different audiences and keep your content fresh. Video pins, in particular, see up to 40% more engagement than static images, making them a valuable asset for showcasing your products in action.
A video can be as simple as this pin by ariel that shows products about to be launched on their Etsy shop.
Optimize Monthly Based on Data
Make it a habit to review your Pinterest Analytics regularly. By understanding what’s driving traffic and sales, you can refine your strategy and continue to grow. Sellers who consistently track and adjust their strategies see a 20% improvement in engagement rates over time.
Create Value-Driven Content Beyond Products
Don’t just showcase your products—provide value to your audience. Share tutorials, how-to guides, and inspirational content that aligns with your brand. This approach builds authority and encourages followers to engage with your pins regularly.
Take this short but appealing behind-the-scenes pin by createdbychristineco.
Refresh Old Pins to Extend Their Lifespan
Old content doesn’t have to fade away. Update and repin older high-performing content with new descriptions, hashtags, or slight design tweaks to breathe new life into them and keep them circulating.
Conclusion
Pinterest is a powerful tool for Etsy sellers, providing long-term visibility and a steady stream of organic traffic. With these expert strategies from Mega Digital, using Pinterest to promote an Etsy shop effectively will no longer be an unsolvable puzzle. Let’s turn Pinterest into one of your top-performing marketing channels!
