Social media can be a powerful, scalable traffic source for almost any online business—when you choose the right platforms and publish content that matches how people actually use each network today.
But which network is right for you?
For most businesses, it makes sense to start with the largest, most active networks. No matter how narrow your audience is, it’s very likely you’ll find members of that audience active on these networks.
This means that many businesses start testing one of the following:
- X (formerly Twitter)
Although they are all huge, they are very different networks with different content formats, discovery models, and user intent.
The best one for you depends on your customers, your niche, your resources for content creation (text, image, or video), and your marketing preferences.
Pinterest remains one of the top drivers of social referral traffic to websites—especially for evergreen topics like home, food, beauty, fitness, travel, DIY, personal finance, and ecommerce product discovery.
Despite that, it still tends to get less attention than Facebook, X, or LinkedIn in many B2B circles.
Pinterest is also unique: every post is a Pin (image or short video) with an optional title and description that can link directly to your site.
If your niche lends itself to visuals—photos, diagrams, how-to graphics, short clips, before/after shots—Pinterest can be an amazing, compounding source of qualified traffic and sales.
And while there’s a learning curve, Pinterest is straightforward once you understand a few platform-specific best practices (Pin formats, sizing, titles, descriptions, keywords, and boards).
In this post, we’re going to show you how to drive thousands of targeted visitors a month to your website with Pinterest—using up-to-date tactics that align with how Pinterest works today.
2 reasons why Pinterest is an amazing traffic source
Pinterest’s unique mechanics are exactly why it can succeed for businesses that struggled to get traction on other social platforms.
In particular, there are two core reasons to use Pinterest—and understanding them will help you decide if it’s the right platform for your content and products.
Reason #1 – Pins have great longevity
On most networks, posts fade fast—often within hours. Discovery relies heavily on recency and real-time feeds, so the tail on your content is short.
Pinterest is different. It behaves more like a visual search engine: Pins rank in search, surface in the home feed based on interest signals, and keep resurfacing as they earn saves. A single strong Pin can send traffic for months or even years.
That staying power compounds, especially when you publish fresh, high-quality Pins regularly.
No, it’s not as predictable as search engine rankings—but in social, nothing comes closer to evergreen reach than a well-optimized Pin strategy.
If you stay active with new Pins and periodic updates to proven content, the traffic adds up fast.
Reason #2 – Pinterest was designed for sharing
Pins live longer because people are constantly saving and resharing useful visuals to personal boards—projects to try, products to buy, or guides to follow later.
Here’s what a typical Pinterest home feed looks like: it’s a mosaic of personalized recommendations, followed accounts, and related ideas—each save can expose your content to new audiences.
If a user likes a Pin, they can save it, visit your link, or share it. Great visuals routinely earn hundreds or thousands of saves, especially on evergreen topics.
Unlike feed-first social networks built around status updates, Pinterest’s entire experience revolves around discovering, saving, and acting on ideas—making it ideal for content and product referrals.
Creating an account that attracts followers (3 key areas)
First, learn the basic building blocks: profile, boards, and Pins. That’s the foundation of Pinterest SEO and distribution.
It may feel unfamiliar at first, but it’s simple once you understand what each element does.
Start by creating a free business account so you can access analytics, claim your website, and add a data source if you run a shop.
When other users visit your profile, they’ll see something like this:
Your profile is composed of 5 main areas:
- Your logo – Use a crisp, recognizable logo or branded image that’s legible at small sizes.
- Your brand name – Match your business or use a professional personal brand. Keep it consistent with other platforms.
- Your website URL
- A description – One-to-two lines describing who you help and what people can expect. Include natural keywords people would search.
- Boards – Boards are topic “silos.” Create boards that reflect your core categories. Name them with clear, searchable phrases (e.g., “Minimalist Home Office Ideas,” not “Stuff I Like”).
Setting up your account: Go to Pinterest and create a free business account. Complete your profile, claim your site, and enable analytics.
Then, fill out the fields completely: brand name, bio, profile image, country, and website. Keep everything on-brand and keyword-aware.
You can edit your profile anytime—go to your profile and click “Edit Profile.” Keep testing copy that clarifies your value and includes relevant keywords.
Using Pinterest is simple: Everything is a Pin—image or short video—with a title, description, and destination link (for articles, products, or lead magnets).
Each Pin should include a compelling visual, a clear title, and a keyword-rich description (hashtags are optional; plain-language keywords work best).
Include phrases people actually search for in your title and description so your Pins surface via Pinterest Search and Related Pins.
You can save Pins you love or click through to the full Pin to visit the source. Always provide a useful destination.
Users typically see many Pins at once as smaller tiles, then tap to view details. This is why vertical images that fill more screen space perform best.
People discover Pins via the search bar, the home feed, and related suggestions on Pin detail pages. Followed accounts help, but keywords and quality carry most of the reach.
That’s the basic flow—now let’s turn it into traffic.
How to drive insane referral traffic with pins
Pinterest makes it easy to send people to your site because links are a native part of the Pin experience—especially for articles, tutorials, and products.
Here’s the basic idea:
- Create attractive, vertical Pins (image or short video) for your blog posts, landing pages, or product pages.
- Add a keyword-rich title and description, and set the destination URL.
- Earn saves and engagement to build distribution via search and the home feed.
- Publish fresh Pins consistently to compound reach across boards and topics.
- Watch qualified referral traffic grow as your library of evergreen Pins expands.
There are nuances at every step—formats, sizing, creative choices, and keywords—which we’ll cover below.
Creating a Pin the right way: You can upload images or short videos directly, or save from your site. Use the “Create” workflow, then add your title, description, board, and link.
Sometimes your audience will Pin your images for you. Great—encourage it and then publish your own fresh versions to maintain momentum.
To see what’s already working, use Pinterest Analytics in your business account to review top Pins, boards, and outbound clicks.
Tip: Use Pinterest Analytics to find Pins that consistently drive clicks, then create fresh variations (new images, angles, and headlines) that link to the same URL.
Regularly add your own Pins to relevant boards, and mix in curated saves from others to keep your boards comprehensive and useful.
Pinterest supports uploading a visual first, but you’ll get far better results when every Pin includes a strong title, a descriptive summary, and a relevant destination link.
To create a new Pin, open a board or use the main “Create” menu and upload your image or video.
After uploading, add your title, description, board, and destination URL.
A Pin without a link is just inspiration. A Pin with a useful link becomes traffic.
Click into the Pin to edit details at any time—keep testing titles and descriptions for clarity and keywords.
Use the edit controls on the Pin to update the destination URL or move it to a more relevant board.
This brings up a panel where you can adjust the Pin’s title, description, board, alt text for accessibility, and destination link.
Choose the most relevant board and write a clear, benefit-focused description with natural keywords. Then add the exact URL that satisfies the Pin’s promise.
It’s tempting to drop people on a sales page, but you’ll drive more engagement and sales by linking to the most relevant page first (article, guide, or product detail) and letting the content do the convincing.
Once your destination is set, users can click either the main “visit” button or the link in your description on the Pin’s detail page.
Now that you can create Pins, the next step is critical: choosing visuals people love to save.
4 types of images that Pinterest users love
We’re big believers in pairing useful content with beautiful visuals—especially on Pinterest, where the image is the hook.
Most users prefer to consume information visually; Pinterest is built for that. Use clear composition, legible text, and vertical dimensions.
Use a 2:3 aspect ratio (for example, 1000 × 1500 px) so your Pins don’t get cropped in the feed. Keep titles concise (the first 40–60 characters matter most), and write descriptions up to ~500 characters with natural keywords.
Four visual approaches consistently earn saves and clicks. Mix and match them to build a strong library.
Type #1 – Beautiful background + clear text overlay
You’ve seen these as blog featured images and lead magnets. They work because the visual sets the mood and the text explains the promise.
The left Pin below is a simple example:
To build one: start with a high-quality vertical photo, add a translucent shape, and place a bold, high-contrast headline (legible on mobile). Keep brand fonts and colors consistent.
First, choose a vertical background image that hints at the topic. Then add an on-brand text overlay that states the benefit or outcome (“7 Easy Weeknight Dinners,” “Small-Space Office Layouts”).
Finally, add your brand mark subtly and export at 1000 × 1500 px. Save a few headline variations to test.
If you want a quick workflow, use your go-to design tool and batch templates so every new post ships with a fresh, on-brand Pin.
Aim to create at least one strong, vertical Pin for every blog post or landing page—and publish fresh variants over time.
Type #2 – Infographics (or parts of them)
Infographics distill complex info into a single, save-worthy visual. On Pinterest, they can outperform for years if they’re easy to scan and genuinely useful.
Avoid ultra-tall “giraffe” graphics that get cut off. Instead, design a 2:3 “summary” version for the feed and link to a full infographic on your site.
Step-by-step visuals also perform well—think recipe steps, DIY sequences, workout flows, or checklists that solve a problem quickly.
Create a frame for each step with short labels and cues, then link to the complete tutorial for details and downloads.
Beyond shareability, infographics often earn clicks because people want the deeper context, printable version, or product list on your site.
Type #3 – We all relate to other people
Faces and real-life context stop the scroll. Lifestyle shots, results photos, and creator demos often outperform stock-only imagery.
If you’re comfortable on camera, create simple photos or short clips showing the outcome your audience wants. If you use stock, customize it—crop, color-grade, and add your own overlays.
Original visuals generally earn more trust and saves, so shoot your own when possible.
Type #4 – Custom images always stand out
Custom illustrations, charts, wireframes, or annotated photos pop in the feed and can rack up saves because they feel unique and educational.
These perform especially well on Pinterest, where users value how-to information presented clearly and beautifully.
One well-designed graphic can earn thousands of saves. It’s an investment—but an asset that keeps paying off.
If you don’t have in-house design talent, consider hiring a freelancer. Costs vary widely by complexity and style; prioritize legibility and brand consistency.
Get hundreds (or thousands) of followers with Pinterest contests
By now, you understand the mechanics. Next comes audience growth—because a larger, relevant following amplifies every Pin you publish.
Followers see your Pins in the home feed and help kick-start distribution as they save and share—exposing your content to their own networks.
Viral hits do happen, even with small accounts, but consistent growth is more reliable when you build a base of engaged followers.
If you have thousands of followers, it’s much easier to earn the first wave of saves on new Pins—leading to more impressions, more clicks, and more followers in a positive feedback loop.
In short: growing followers matters if you want predictable Pinterest results.
Here are a few strategies to gain followers and increase exposure.
We’ll start with Pinterest contests.
Offer a relevant prize and invite people to create or save brand-aligned Pins using a campaign hashtag. Choose a winner at random from eligible entries and announce it clearly.
Pinterest enforces specific rules for promotions. You can’t require actions like saving a specific image or offering extra entries for follows or repins as a condition of entry. Always publish official rules on your site and make it clear Pinterest isn’t sponsoring the promotion.
If your prize is attractive and the ask is simple, contests can still reach a wide audience and bring in high-intent followers.
Step #1 – Come up with a simple idea and prize
Summarize the contest in a clear, on-brand image you can Pin (title, dates, how to enter, and the prize).
You can’t force specific Pinterest actions for extra entries, but you can link to a rules page on your site with full details, eligibility, dates, and disclosures.
A great prize is something your specific audience truly wants—ideally your own product bundle, a store credit, or access to a paid resource.
Give participants a simple, brand-safe task (for example, “Create a mood board for your small office makeover” using your campaign hashtag).
Avoid requiring follows, saves, or comments as conditions of entry. Keep it compliant and fun to participate.
Step #2 – Set up your landing page
It’s hard to quantify a single Pinterest follower’s value. One thing is clear: email subscribers are consistently more valuable.
So pair your contest with a landing page that explains the rules and collects email addresses to notify the winner. Offer a relevant consolation (discount, free template, mini-guide) to non-winners to drive conversions.
When someone clicks your contest Pin, they should land on that rules page. Make eligibility, entry steps, and timing unmissable.
Request an email address so you can contact winners and follow up with valuable content. Be clear about how you’ll use their information.
Important note on contests: Don’t launch a big giveaway to a cold audience. Build some organic traction first so your Pins get initial saves and the contest reaches enough people to be worth the prize.
Promote the contest across your other channels for a lift: email, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and your site’s banners or interstitials.
The side benefit: contests can convert casual Pinterest followers into email subscribers where you can nurture them more effectively.
Prefer to start from zero without a giveaway? Try this:
Have spare time? How to get thousands of followers naturally
Social media is about connection, and Pinterest is no exception. The simplest scalable tactic: follow relevant accounts and engage with their content thoughtfully.
When you follow or meaningfully interact with someone’s Pins, they often check your profile. If your boards look helpful and active, you’ll earn a follow back.
Commenting, saving, and creating complementary content works—but following is the most time-efficient lever at scale when your profile is strong.
Keep your boards populated with fresh, relevant Pins and keyword-rich titles so visitors instantly “get” what you do.
Aggressive, repetitive following or other spammy behavior can trigger limits and account actions. Grow steadily and focus on relevance and quality.
With 15–20 focused minutes a day, you can compound follows over time—especially when paired with consistent publishing and strong visual templates.
As your Pins earn saves beyond your followers, growth accelerates—your “earned reach” multiplies the audience you didn’t have to pay for.
Success depends on whom you follow. If you publish home decorating content, follow users and boards engaged with interiors—not random interests.
Use the two methods below to find people who already care about your topics.
Finding people to follow – method #1 (keywords)
Pinterest Search is strong. Type your topic into the search bar and explore Pins and boards that match. The people saving and creating those Pins are your audience.
This reveals Pins, boards, and creators aligned to specific keywords—rich with potential followers and collaborators.
If someone saves content that fits your niche, they’re interested. Click through to the board and then to the creator’s profile.
Open the board that contains the Pin, then click the profile to assess fit: do they save and create content similar to yours?
If so, follow them (and optionally the most relevant boards).
On profiles, use the red “Follow” button. Prioritize creators and pinners with active boards and recent saves.
Alternatively, open the original Pin and scroll below the comments to see who saved it. You can follow from there as well.
This is highly targeted but takes time—so pair it with method #2 to scale.
Finding people to follow – method #2 (competitors)
Find people who are definitely interested in your niche by looking at competitor audiences.
How? Search Pinterest for a well-known competitor or publication in your space and open their profile.
For example, if you publish social media marketing content, search for a leading publisher’s account. If they have a strong presence, you’ll see it under “People.”
Click through to their profile to assess their boards and content mix.
Strong competitors usually have thousands of followers. Click that follower count to view recent followers and evaluate relevance.
Follow the most relevant people—prioritizing those with real profile photos, active recent saves, and boards aligned to your topics.
You’ll notice a follow button next to each person. Skip obviously inactive accounts and focus on engaged users.
Automation tools that mass-follow or “bot” engagement violate Pinterest rules and risk bans. Manual, steady growth is safer and leads to a healthier audience.
If you truly can’t spare the time, hire a trusted assistant with clear SOPs—but understand there’s risk any time a third party accesses your account.
Bottom line: show up daily for a few minutes, follow relevant people, publish fresh Pins, and keep your boards updated. Boring? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
Hint: Make this change on your blog posts to amplify their reach
We’ve covered the essentials you need to win on Pinterest:
- how to create an account
- how to pin and repin images
- what kinds of images work best
- how to get followers
Do this consistently and you’ll see results.
Now supercharge your reach by making it effortless for readers to Pin images from your site.
Since you’ll create most visuals for your blog posts and product pages first, let other readers share them in one click.
You can use a WordPress plugin that adds a “Save” (Pin It) button on image hover. Make sure it loads fast, works on mobile, and doesn’t block core web vitals.
With the button, a reader can Pin any image in seconds—spreading your content to new audiences with zero extra effort from you.
After installing, review the plugin’s settings so it displays on key post types and doesn’t overlap other UI elements on mobile.
The critical option is enabling the hover button and choosing a size and color that’s visible against your images without being distracting.
A steady stream of reader-generated Pins extends the life of your content and helps it resurface in search and home feeds over time.
Every time someone saves an older image, it can climb back to the top of relevant searches and reintroduce your content to fresh audiences.
Conclusion
Pinterest is a unique hybrid of social and search—built for ideas you can act on. Its evergreen discovery and save-driven sharing make it a high-leverage marketing channel for publishers and ecommerce brands alike.
Follow the steps in this post: set up a strong profile, publish vertical, keyword-optimized Pins consistently, and keep your boards organized. Do that, and you’ll start sending a reliable stream of qualified visitors to your site.
As traffic grows, focus on turning those visitors into subscribers and customers with valuable lead magnets, helpful product pages, and clear next steps.