In this post, I’ll be sharing how to use Pinterest for small business growth with three simple strategies that can boost your traffic, creativity, and visibility.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pinterest is more than just a place for finding dreamy kitchens or holiday outfit inspiration… It’s one of the most powerful (and underrated) marketing tools for small business owners, especially creative entrepreneurs. Whether you sell digital downloads, handmade goods, or run a blog filled with cozy content, Pinterest can help you build an intentional online presence that works behind the scenes for you, 24/7.
Unlike social media platforms that rely on constant posting and real-time engagement, Pinterest functions as a visual search engine. That means your content continues to show up in search results weeks, months, and even years after you post it. With a little planning and some simple SEO strategy, Pinterest can become a long-term driver of traffic, subscribers, and sales.
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If you’re just getting started or want to use Pinterest more strategically, this guide will walk you through three creative ways to tap into the platform and help your small business grow.
1. Use Pinterest Trends to Inspire Your Small Business
One of the most useful tools Pinterest offers is the Pinterest Trends dashboard. It’s a free, built-in resource that shows you what people are searching for, and when. It’s updated regularly and allows you to see the seasonal rise and fall of keywords, so you can plan blog posts, products, and content ahead of time.
For example, if you notice a surge in searches for “boho dorm decor” in July, that’s a clear sign to get your college-themed content ready a few months in advance. If “holiday party tablescapes” spike in October, you’ll want your pins live by August or September so the Pinterest algorithm has time to rank your content.
Another tool to bookmark is Pinterest Predicts. This annual trend report is released by Pinterest at the start of each year and highlights emerging topics across wellness, style, home, parenting, and food. While these trend predictions may seem abstract, they are based on actual user behavior and interest growth, which makes them especially valuable if you want to align your content with what’s coming next.
For small business owners, this data is gold. If you’re launching new digital products or writing blog content tied to trends, Pinterest helps you get in front of users who are already searching for ideas and inspiration in your niche.
Check out some of my recent blog posts related to this year’s top Pinterest trends:
– All Things Cherry Coded | Curated Trends
– Sultry Seawitchery Vibes | Curated Trends
– Discover the Alluring Fusion of Moto Boho | Curated Trends
2. Create Private Boards to Organize Inspiration and Plan Projects
If you’ve ever saved 200 photos to your camera roll only to forget about them two days later, this tip is for you.
Pinterest’s secret boards are perfect for creative minds who like to gather inspiration visually. These private boards are only visible to you (and collaborators if you choose to add any), and they act like digital mood boards you can revisit anytime.
You can use secret boards in so many ways:
- Planning new product collections or seasonal launches
- Curating color palettes, fonts, or style inspiration for your brand
- Saving recipe ideas or blog post inspiration
- Keeping track of marketing graphics or templates
- Uploading your own screenshots, videos, or ideas from your phone (great way to save space on your phone!)
Think of it like your own cozy Pinterest studio space where you can brainstorm, collect, and play without the pressure to post.
I often use secret Pinterest boards to establish the general vibe and overall aesthetic for my hand-drawn clipart bundles, like in this example below:
Another bonus: the Pinterest algorithm learns what you’re saving and browsing, so it starts suggesting pins that match your vibe. It’s a subtle but smart way to stay creatively inspired and discover fresh content you might’ve missed otherwise.
3. Drive Evergreen Traffic to Your Website or Shop
If you’ve ever felt burnout from the constant social media content hamster wheel, you may be looking for a platform that hosts evergreen content. This is where Pinterest truly shines.
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While Instagram and TikTok focus on real-time engagement, Pinterest content is designed for longevity. One pin you post today can still drive traffic to your site six months or a year from now.
That’s because Pinterest works like a search engine. Users come to the platform to find ideas and solutions. Whether they’re planning a party, looking for outfit inspiration, or searching for a digital planner to help them organize their week, your small business can show up in the feed at any time.
Here’s how to make your pins work harder for you:
Write Keyword-Rich Pin Titles and Descriptions
Do some light keyword research using the Pinterest search bar. Start typing in your product or blog topic and see what auto-suggests populate underneath. These are real-time searches Pinterest users are making, and they offer great insight into how people describe the content you’re posting.
Use these phrases in your pin titles and descriptions naturally. Focus on clarity over cleverness. For example:
Instead of: “The Coziest Planning Bundle Ever”
Try: “Undated Daily Digital Planner for iPad | GoodNotes Sticker Bundle”
Your pin should clearly tell Pinterest what it is and who it’s for. The algorithm can’t promote what it can’t understand.
Design Click-Worthy Graphics
Pinterest is a visual platform, so your pin design plays a big role. Use clean, easy-to-read fonts, soft but high-contrast color palettes, and mockups that show your product or blog post in use. Vertical pins (2:3 ratio) perform best, and tools like Canva make it easy to create branded pin templates you can reuse.
If you sell digital downloads, lifestyle or flat-lay mockups that show your product in context work beautifully. If you’re promoting a blog post, consider adding a photo and overlaying the title to catch attention.
Link Strategically
Make sure every pin links directly to a relevant product page or blog post. Don’t send users to your homepage unless it makes sense for the pin. The easier it is for someone to find what they were promised, the more likely they are to stay and explore.
Grow Your Small Business with Pinterest: Tips to Keep in Mind
If you’re ready to start pinning more intentionally for your small business, here are a few final suggestions to help make Pinterest part of your weekly workflow:
- Batch create 5–10 new pins each week, mixing new content with older evergreen posts
- Schedule pins using Pinterest’s built-in scheduler or a tool like Tailwind
- Refresh old blog content with updated graphics or keywords and re-pin
- Create a branded “Freebie Library” or opt-in and promote it on Pinterest with lead magnet pins
- Use a call-to-action like “click to download,” “tap to shop,” or “read the full post” to drive conversions
Pinterest doesn’t require constant engagement or keeping up with the latest social media trends. Instead, it rewards creativity, consistency, and visual storytelling.
Why Pinterest Works So Well for Creative Entrepreneurs
At its core, Pinterest is a place of possibility. People are browsing with projects in mind, from planning a dream kitchen to organizing their morning routine or finding an aesthetic mood board for their next journal spread.
That’s what makes it such a natural fit for artists, makers, bloggers, and small shop owners. If your work brings beauty, organization, or inspiration into someone’s life, Pinterest is a place where your content belongs.
Whether you’re just getting started or have been on the platform for years, it’s never too late to refine your strategy, optimize your pins, and use Pinterest as the powerful business tool it was always meant to be.
Pinterest is more than just a source of inspiration; it’s an effective tool for fostering intentional and effortless business expansion. By weaving strategy into your creativity, you can build a visual presence that brings steady traffic, dream customers, and long-term growth.
So, grab a cozy drink, create the right atmosphere, and begin pinning with intention. Your next wave of success might be just one pin away.
Looking for more inspo!? Check out my Pinterest for tons of design and lifestyle content… updated daily!
This post was all about how to use Pinterest for small business. If you like this content, check out these posts below!
– Thriving As A Multi-Passionate Creative | Design Your Dream Career
– 5 Helpful Habits For A Creative Small Business
– 20 Passive Income Ideas For Creatives
Xx- Laura
PS – Follow along on Instagram for more posts and stories related to this topic!
PIN THIS FOR LATER!
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