Introduction to Pinterest

But what is Pinterest, really? Is it a social network? A search engine? A digital mood board?

Think of this platform like a giant visual library where every image is a book cover leading you to something inspiring. And if you’re a creator or entrepreneur, it can be one of the most powerful tools to grow your audience, drive traffic, and showcase your brand.

In this guide, we’ll break down what is Pinterest in the simplest way possible – no complicated jargon, no unnecessary fluff, just real, practical, and proven strategies you can apply today and see explosive results!

A brief history and development

Pinterest was founded in 2010 by Ben Silbermann , Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra , with the idea of ​​creating a digital tool for organizing inspiration. The platform quickly became popular, especially among DIY enthusiasts, interior designers, and bloggers.

Today, Pinterest has more than 480 million monthly active users and is one of the most powerful visual search engines on the internet.

1. How Pinterest Works

Platform is built around images and links called Pins, which users save to folders called Boards. Every Pin can lead to a blog post, online store, YouTube video, or landing page.

Unlike other social platforms where posts quickly disappear in the feed, Pins stay discoverable for months or even years.

2. Pinterest for Creators and Entrepreneurs

If you’re a business owner, artist, blogger, influencer, or seller, Pinterest offers unique benefits:

• Long-lasting visibility
  Your content doesn’t disappear after 24 hours—it keeps gaining traction.
• High buying intent
  Users come to Pinterest looking for ideas they can turn into action.
• Massive organic reach
  You don’t need millions of followers to go viral.
• Traffic driver
  Pinterest is one of the strongest referral platforms for websites.

3. Setting Up a Pinterest Business Account

A Business Account gives you access to analytics, ads, scheduling tools, and more. Here’s how to set it up:

Steps:

1. Go to Pinterest and choose Create a Business Account
2. Add your business name and website
3. Select your category (creator, blogger, retailer, etc.)
4. Claim your website for better insights
5. Upload a clean, recognizable profile photo

This takes less than 10 minutes and opens the door to Pinterest’s full potential.

4. Understanding Pins and Boards

Pins

Pins are images, graphics, or videos linked to a URL. A strong Pin includes:

• A compelling image
• Clear text overlay
• A keyword-rich title
• A destination link

Boards

Boards are collections where Pins are organized. For example:

• “Home Office Ideas”
• “Healthy Recipes”
• “Small Business Tips”

Organizing Boards helps Pinterest understand your content and recommend it to the right people.

5. Pinterest as a Visual Search Engine

Many people assume Pinterest is social media but it’s actually closer to Google, just with images. Users search for topics like:

• “Minimalist living room decor”
• “Business name ideas”
• “Easy gluten-free meals”
• ” What is Pinterest?

That means creators can use keywords to get discovered. Pinterest SEO is real and powerful.

6. How the Algorithm Works

Pinterest’s algorithm focuses on three things:

1. Relevance

Does your Pin match what people are searching for?

2. Quality

Is the image good? Is the content valuable?

3. Engagement

Are people saving, clicking, or interacting with your Pin?

The more your Pin meets these factors, the more Pinterest pushes it forward.

7. SEO Best Practices

Pinterest SEO doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s what matters:

Use keywords everywhere

• Pin titles
• Descriptions
• Board names
• Your profile
• Alt text

Choose the right category

This helps Pinterest understand your niche.

Stay consistent

Pinning daily, even just a few Pins, helps the algorithm trust you.

8. Creating High-Impact Pins

High-performing Pins share common traits:

1. Eye-catching visuals

Use bright colors, readable fonts, and clean layouts.

2. Clear text overlay

Tell viewers exactly what they’ll get:

• “10 small business ideas”
• “How to meal prep in 20 minutes”

3. Strong call-to-action

Examples:

• “Save for later”
• “Click to learn”
• “Shop the collection”

4. Vertical format

Pinterest prefers 2:3 ratio images (1000 × 1500 px).

For video or idea pins 1080 × 1920px with aspect ratio 9:16.

9. Using Idea Pins for Engagement

Idea Pins (formerly Story Pins) are short, multi-page posts. They’re great for:

• Tutorials
• Recipes
• Step-by-step guides
• Behind-the-scenes content

While they don’t link out, they’re fantastic for brand exposure and audience growth.

10. Driving Traffic to Your Website or Shop

Pinterest is one of the top traffic drivers online. Here’s how to maximize results:

Add a link to every Pin

Always connect Pins to:

• Blog posts
• Product pages
• Funnels
• YouTube videos

Use rich descriptions

Explain what users will get when they click.

Create multiple Pins for each content piece

A single blog post can have 5–10 different Pins, multiplying your reach.

11. Pinterest Analytics Overview

Pinterest Analytics shows important insights:

• Impressions – how many people saw your Pins
• Saves – how many saved your content
• Outbound clicks – how many visited your site
• Top-performing Pins – so you can double down

Creators can use analytics to adjust their strategy and grow faster.

12. Monetization Opportunities on Pinterest

Pinterest offers several ways to make money:

1. Affiliate marketing

Link your Pins to affiliate products.

2. Promote your online store

Pinterest users love shopping inspiration.

3. Grow your blog or YouTube

Pinterest can send thousands of visitors monthly.

4. Sponsored Pins

Brands pay creators to make content featuring their products.

13. Common Mistakes to Avoid

New users often run into the same errors:

1. Ignoring Pinterest SEO

Without keywords, your Pins won’t be discovered.

2. Pinning randomly

Your Boards and Pins should fit a niche.

3. Low-quality graphics

Visuals matter – a LOT.

4. Posting once in a while

Pinterest rewards consistency.

Pinterest vs. other social networks

Comparison with Instagram and TikTok

While Instagram and TikTok are focused on immediate trends and communication, Pinterest focuses on long-term interests and lasting inspiration.

Pins have a long lifespan – often up to several months, while posts on other networks only last a day or two.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Pinterest: Conclusion

So, what is Pinterest? It’s much more than a place to save pretty pictures.

It’s a powerful tool for creators and entrepreneurs who want visibility, growth, and long-term traffic.

With thoughtful Pinterest SEO, consistent pinning, and strong visuals, you can turn Pinterest into a steady source of inspiration and income.

Learn more on the Pinterest official website

We hope you found this text informative and that we were able to convey a part of our Pinterest experience to you.

Invitation: We are nearing the end of creating a new business profile on Pinterest. The idea is to create a public profile where anyone interested can sign up and gain access to posting. It is important that as many members as possible join. This way, the profile will quickly start ranking and your pins will also have more views. When we finish it, we will add a contact form for signing up here. If you have an idea for what it could be called, please write a suggestion in the comments! See our current profile here.

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