All right, I’m back this week with a new episode: Two Things I’d Tell You If Your Pinterest Wasn’t Working. This one is a bit of a spinoff of an earlier episode—maybe from a few weeks ago (okay, probably a couple of months ago)—where I talked about what to do if your blog posts aren’t working. That was Episode 72, and it was a good one. In that episode, I broke down whether you’re dealing with a traffic problem or a conversion problem.
In today’s episode, I’m applying that same framework, but this time we’re talking about Pinterest. So, let’s dive in.
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Table of Contents
For some reason, I hear people say “Pinterest isn’t working” more often than “my blog posts aren’t working.” Not necessarily from clients—more from general industry chatter.
There’s so much to unpack here, but the first thing I want to say is this: Pinterest is very top-of-funnel. So often, it can feel like Pinterest isn’t working, when in reality, it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to—you just might be expecting it to do something else.
I love that many of us are asking “How did you hear about me?” on our inquiry forms. That’s smart. But if you’ve been marketing your business for years and have had a following for a while, it’s likely that people don’t remember where they first found you. If you’re using Pinterest, there’s a good chance it played a role… just a slow-burn one.
It’s also possible they found you on Google, but through Pinterest. Pinterest boards often show up in search results, and pins frequently appear in the Google Images tab. If you’re in a visual industry, this is especially relevant. This isn’t the main point of the episode, but I’d be remiss not to mention it:
Pinterest rarely gets the credit it deserves.
I was talking to my friend Ally from Akari Digital and we were chatting about Google Analytics and data. She had just sent an email about how GA often counts traffic as “direct” when it’s actually coming from other sources. I immediately replied, like, “Thank you for saying this!”
Pinterest traffic is notorious for being misattributed as direct traffic. Ally agreed—it’s one of the biggest offenders. Because Pinterest links directly to content, it often gets missed or misattributed in GA.
So, before we even get into the two things I want to share today, let’s remember:
- Are we expecting Pinterest to do more than it’s meant to—like convert people, when it’s actually just supposed to bring new people into your orbit?
- Is it possible that your Pinterest data is being misattributed in analytics?
Both are important questions to ask before deciding whether Pinterest is “working.” Now let’s actually get into the two things I’d tell you if your Pinterest isn’t working.
First: Is it genuinely a traffic issue?
If you’re thinking, “Listen Kara, I’m doing everything on Pinterest and still can’t gain traction to save my life,” here’s what I’d say:
1. How consistent are you—and for how long?
Before writing Pinterest off, I’d want to see six months of consistent pinning at a rate of 8+ pins per day. If you haven’t hit that level of effort yet, it’s too soon to say Pinterest doesn’t work for you. That’s my first filter for diagnosing a traffic issue.
But let’s say you have been consistent. You’re pinning daily, eight times a day, for six months straight.
2. What’s the quality of your content and keywords?
How many fresh pins are you creating? And what do they look like?
I was watching a presentation from Tailwind recently, and they addressed something we’ve all been wondering since Pinterest announced they prioritize “fresh pins.” We all asked: what does that actually mean? A new graphic? A new title? A different URL?
Tailwind clarified that Pinterest evaluates degrees of freshness.
- A pin with a new graphic but a reused title and description is somewhat fresh.
- A completely new graphic and fresh text elements will be considered more fresh.
- Reusing the exact same pin over and over? That’s the least fresh of all.
So here’s what I recommend:
Create 50 brand-new graphics in Canva each month. You can use templates, but make sure these are genuinely new visuals—not just tweaks.
Then pin each of those 50 graphics to five different boards. That gives you 250 total pins per month (roughly 8 pins per day).
I’m not saying you need to make 300 new graphics a month. Just make 50 strong ones and strategically repin them. That’s what consistent, smart effort looks like on Pinterest.
But—if you’re doing all that and still not getting traffic, then we look deeper. Specifically:
- Are your graphics competitive in your niche?
- Are you targeting the right keywords?
Start by checking:
- Do you know what keywords you’re targeting?
- What related keywords or long-tail terms are relevant to your audience?
Let’s say you’re a website designer. Sure, you’re targeting “website design,” but also consider adjacent keywords like:
- abstract logo design
- typeface logo ideas
- modern graphic designer
- Showit website inspiration
Then, actually search those keywords on Pinterest. What do the top-ranking pins look like?
Now, here’s where it gets a little controversial:
Don’t try too hard to stand out.
Pinterest often favors content that looks similar to what already performs well. It leans into patterns it recognizes.
I had a client—a photographer with bold, bright branding. We tested more neutral-toned graphics, and they performed better.
Why? Maybe Pinterest’s algorithm preferred the neutral look for those keywords. Maybe users were more drawn to it. Either way, it worked.
So while I’m not saying to copy anyone’s branding, I am saying: take cues from what Pinterest is already showing love to in your niche.
So, if you’ve been consistent with volume and time, and your pin quality (design + keywords) aligns with what’s ranking, then we can say you’ve given Pinterest a fair shot—and we’d dig deeper from there.

If all of that is true—consistency, volume, quality, and keywords—then here’s what I’d say next. (And spoiler: for most people who’ve told me Pinterest “isn’t working,” not all of that is true.)
But if it is, then the solution is usually to go more niche.
Let’s say you’re trying to rank for something broad like “timeless wedding decor” or “New England wedding planner.” Sure, those are great keywords, and yes, we all want to rank for them—but they’re very competitive.
Instead, zoom in. Think hyper-specific, like:
- “coastal blue seating chart display”
- “Cape Cod waterfront wedding bouquet”
No, these may not be your “dream” keywords, but smaller, niche wins help Pinterest understand how your content performs. It helps you build credibility with the algorithm, improve your click-through rates, and reduce bounce rates—which, by the way, sends negative signals to Pinterest.
I get it. You want to rank for your profession—photographer, planner, designer, whatever it is. But if you’re already trying and it’s not working, go more specific. That’s what I’d tell you.
Second, you are getting Pinterest traffic, but it’s not converting.
I’ve already given my disclaimers, so I won’t repeat them—but here’s the key question:
What’s the warmup like?
Pinterest users are known for high bounce rates. So if people are landing on your site and leaving right away, it’s probably not your Pinterest strategy that’s broken. It’s your website experience.
Let’s say you’re getting 5,000 monthly views from Pinterest, but zero sales. Then it’s time to audit your site.
Here’s an example:
You’re a wedding photographer, and you wrote a blog post like “25 Wedding Venues in [Your City].” A bride finds it on Pinterest, clicks through, skims the list, checks out a few venues, and moves on. Maybe she even saves your pin.
But does she know you are a photographer?
Because here’s the thing: so many similar posts are written by publishers or ad-driven blogs—think The Knot, Budget Savvy Bride, etc.—not by service providers. Most Pinterest users don’t know the difference unless you explicitly tell them.
My Simple Blogging Formula
So here’s my soapbox moment (again):
Please introduce yourself.
Every blog post should follow a simple formula:
- Introduce the topic immediately.
- Introduce yourself and explain how to work with you.
- Then dive into the content.
- End with clear calls to action—like links to your services, contact form, or even your Instagram.
Make your blog content skimmable, bingeable, and full of internal links. Lead people somewhere—preferably into your funnel.
One funnel I love is:
Pinterest → Blog → Instagram
Pinterest is great for discovery. Blog posts build trust and provide value. Instagram helps seal the deal and deepen connection.
That said, if Instagram isn’t your thing, that’s okay. What matters most is this:
Once someone lands on your site from Pinterest, how are you nurturing them?
Are you encouraging email sign-ups? Are you guiding them to your services?
Pinterest isn’t a platform where people make impulse buys. You’re not selling $20 planners—they need a warm-up. And too many people skip that step or rush it.
Now, I’ve talked about Hotjar on the podcast before, but I recently switched to Microsoft Clarity. I know—when someone first recommended it, I was like, Microsoft? Total corporate flashbacks. But it’s actually great.
It’s similar to Hotjar, but free, and it gives you:
- Session recordings
- Heatmaps
- Scroll-depth tracking
You don’t see individual identities—just behavioral data. And that’s what you need.
If you’re getting traffic but not conversions, tools like Microsoft Clarity can help you optimize your site based on real user behavior.
Now, here’s a little rant I had with a friend recently:
Everyone on Instagram is like, “It’s the little tweaks that make a difference.”
And I’m over here like, No, it’s not. I’ve tried all the little tweaks, and honestly? I think most of them are a waste of time.
I tend to jump from one big project to the next—and that’s something I’m trying to work on. I need to spend more time on the “boring” stuff: the detail work, the slow but meaningful improvements.
One insight I got from Microsoft Clarity:
People are spending a lot of time reading my testimonials—and even trying to click them. So now I’m thinking I need a case studies page. More screenshots, more proof, more compelling storytelling.
No, it’s not sexy work. And yes, I’m kind of complaining. But I do believe this kind of stuff moves the needle.

Blogging and Pinterest can sometimes feel… anticlimactic. It’s like, “And then we blogged for four years, and look how well it worked!” Not exactly sexy. Especially compared to the kind of marketing we see on Instagram, where it’s all, “Give me your account for 90 days and I’ll make you a billion dollars.”
Anyway—I’m off topic.
But seriously:
Get Microsoft Clarity.
Use it to see where people are falling off your site. Then start optimizing those friction points. Even if you’re not totally sold on the “little tweaks” narrative (and to be honest, neither am I), these micro-improvements can help if you’re strategic about them.
Now, if you want to take things even further, let’s look at the actual content you’re creating for Pinterest.
1. Pinterest is not a fan of clickbait.
For example:
If your pin says “25 Wedding Venues in [Your City],” but clicking it leads to a landing page that asks for an email address before showing the list, you’ll lose people fast.
Or if your pin says “5 Mistakes People Make With Their Rebrand,” and the content is just a paragraph—or worse, just links to an Instagram post—that’s going to feel underwhelming. And people will bounce.
Ask yourself honestly:
- Is this pin actually enticing to someone who’s researching and looking to binge content?
- Does the content behind the pin deliver on the promise?
2. Does the content support your funnel?
Let’s say you’re a wedding planner.
A blog post like “How to Create the Best Wedding Welcome Bags” might seem helpful, but here’s the thing:
By the time someone is searching for that, they’ve already made key decisions—including whether or not to hire a planner.
Unless you offer day-of coordination, this content might not align with your ideal client’s buying stage.
So we need to ask:
- Is this topic appealing to someone who is early in their journey—maybe even before they realize they need your service?
- Does it address a problem before they’re even problem-aware, let alone solution-aware?
That’s where the best Pinterest content lives.
Here are the three types of content I recommend creating for Pinterest (and honestly, for most of your content strategy):
1. Evergreen Content
This is the timeless stuff. It doesn’t go out of style.
Examples:
- “Why You Need a Blog”
- “6 Tips for Blogging as a Service Provider”
- “How to Use Pinterest for Long-Term Marketing”
This type of content builds steady, reliable traffic over time.
2. Timely Content
These are posts that are relevant to right now—either a current event or a recurring season.
Examples:
- “Holiday Gift Ideas for Clients”
- “Q4 Goal Setting”
- “Spring Color Palettes for Wedding Designers”
Yes, timely content has a shorter shelf life than evergreen, but it tends to drive spikes in traffic. Plus, seasonal topics come back year after year—so it’s not necessarily one-and-done.
3. Trendy Content
So with trendy content, you’ll often see a larger spike in traffic—but only for a limited time.
Think:
- When Pantone announces the Color of the Year
- A post like “2026 Content Trends” or “2026 Logo Ideas”
- Even something like a timely Coldplay CEO meme
Sure, that might blow up for a few days, but three weeks later? It’s outdated.
So the goal is to mix all three content types:
- Evergreen
- Timely
- Trendy
That balance creates a Pinterest strategy that’s both steady and responsive. I might actually do a full podcast episode just on those three types of content. There’s a lot there.
One last thing I wanted to share—from a recent Tailwind study: The top 1% of viral pins account for over 50% of total impressions and clicks across all fresh pins published in the last 90 days.
In other words:
When you’re active on Pinterest, it’s normal to have one or two pins that totally outperform the rest.
And I don’t mean by a little. It’s not like, “Oh, this pin got 60 clicks and that one got 40.” It’s more like: “This one got 200 and the next best got 40.”
There’s usually a big gap.
And while it would be amazing if we could only create viral hero pins all the time, that’s not realistic. It takes volume and consistency to land those hits.
Also worth noting: Pins often take 1–2 years to peak. Yes—years.
So, most of the time, when Pinterest “isn’t working,” the real answer is:
You need to keep going.
But in those rare cases where you’ve ruled out all the usual suspects—you’re pinning enough, pinning high-quality content, you’re targeting good keywords, your funnel is solid—and it’s still not converting, then yes, there’s likely a specific drop-off to troubleshoot.
Because let’s be honest—Pinterest has 585 million monthly users.
The idea that none of them convert, or they all bounce? That’s just not reality.
I hear some wild myths about Pinterest. But I’m guessing if you’re still here, listening to the very end, you don’t buy into that noise—and I love that.
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